Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-02-01
Aliens to Register.
Madison, Wis. Jan. q, 1918.


Dear Mr. Editor:
AS you doubtless know from the
press dispatches, the Attorney-General
has ordered the registration OF all ma
tives, citizens, denizens, or subjec6sof
the German Empire or of the Germ
an Imperial Government, being males
of fourteen years Of age or over who
are within the United States and are
not naturalized as American citizens.
This registration will be made by the
Chief of Police in all cities of five
thousand population or over and IN
all other areas by the Postmasters.
The registration will begin at six A.
n. on February 4th, and continue
each day between the hours Of 6 A.
NJ and PM until the close OF the
day on February 9th, All persons at
fected by the order are required to re-
port to their respective registration
officer during the time specified and
it'd out a QUESTIONABLE, blanks being
furnished by the registration officer.
The penalty for failure to register
is severe. Any person subject to reg
istratlon who fails to do SO will De sub
jec6 to arrest and confinement during
the remainder of the War, and pre-
sumo in severe cases, deportation back
80 Germany after the War is over. A
searching inquiry will be made for all
these who avoid or try to evade the
regulations.
Ny experience in registering aliens
in the prohibited areas leads me TO
know that the number of such per-
sons in the Western District of Wis
consinis very largely under-esti,nated.
A lar ge number of people of Ger
man birth who have been voting on
their so-cal1ed first papers, for many
years and many of them who have
considered themselves citizens of the
United States, are in fact not citiz-
ems. Some, for fear Of prosecution
because they have voted, have failed
to reveal that they are not citizens
and for that reason have claimed citi-
zenship while they in fact were alien
enemies There is no intention on
the part Of tine Government to dis
turb any person who meets these re-
uuirements if he fulfills the obliga-
tion of the registry in good faith.
ANY German of foreign birth is not
a citizen unless he has received his
full second papers. For their own
protection they should be urged to
meet all of the requirements prompt
ly, faithfully and fully.
As this work is important in the ex-
IRENE, it is the duty of every Ameri-
can citizen to assist the registrar and
make known to the Chief of Police
and Postmaster the name Of any per-
son who he has reason to believe is a
German allan enemy, and it should be
Haae duty of every good citizen to as
,sEist during the time Of the registra-
lion in making the work complete in
every respect, even though he does it
at considerable sacrifice to himself.
The registration does not apply to
Austrians, but only to German aliens.
There is but one way in which we
can get this work thoroughly done
and that is by giving the entire mat
ter publicity. In getting this public
ity We must draw upon your patriot
ism and upon your desire to keep the
neighborhood in which you have in
-aiuence, quiet and peaceful There is
no fund available for advertising this
registration. Every person subject to
registration is bound to observe it,
and the law pre-supposes that he has
notice of the registration. / know
you have been called upon to give a
great amount Of space for advertising
in various matters which the Govern
ment has desired to bring before the
public, and expect you will be called
on again and again to do likewise.
j appeal to you as good citizen to
give this matter wide publicity in
every issue Of your paper between now
and the 9th of February, and l assure
you that whatever you may Go for
your country in this regard will be ap-
preciated.
Full instructions will be mailed to
your Chief of Police or to your Post
master within few days and he will
aoe glad to give you detailed informal
tion regarding the registration.
Yours very truly,
FRANK O'CoNNoR,
United States Marshal.