The Cordova daily times., 1918-02-05

Of GERMANS IN
UNITED STATES
{ By United Press)

WASHINGTON, FEB. detailed in
formation, including personal habits,
and business relations of every Ger
man, together with his photograph
and finger prints, will be taken by the
department of justice in a national
registration week which began yes
terday.
A certified card, showing that he
has been registered, must be carried
at all times on the person of a Ger.
man alien, and he may not change his
place of residence without first noti-
flying and obtaining the permission of
the police or postmaster of the town or
city in which he lives.
Earlier plans for the gradual regis
tration of Germans in the United
States with those in the eastern sec
ton to come first were abandoned
when it was intimated that some Ger
mans might avoid registration by NOV
ing from one district to another.
The present penalty for violations
of any Of the provisions of President
Wilson's alien enemy proclamation is
internment for the period of the war,
but if policy suggested by high gov
eminent officials is pursued there will
be revision of the law in order to
make the punishment more drastic.
Before the clock strikes midnight
Saturday every one of the German
aliens in this country-not including
women or children under the age OF
ID years, must have registered or will
be considered a dangerous person and
will be informed The registration
does not apply to Austrians or Hun.
garians.
In announcing the provisions and
requirements for the registration the
department of justice took care tc
avoid creating the impression that the
government looks on each German
with contempt.
Registrars are not to be treated
as persons of evil dispositions" in
structions to registrars point out
land the registration officers are
urged to deal with them in a courte
Gus and friendly manner"
Cooperation of police, federal Off
GERS, postal employees and private citi
/ zens is expected by the department tt
see that the United States government
has accurate information of every Ger
man alien within the borders of thii
country.
! Certificates will be issued to regis
trants only after every item declared
has been checked from all possibl,
angles and found to have been correct
Information so gathered, officials be
| lieve, will be of material assistance
in tracing plots against this govern
ment and in discovering just which o
the Germans here should be mos
closely watched.
The task of registration is a grea
one. In cities of 5000 or more popu
! lation, as shown by the census of 1910
the chief of police and his assistants
will have charge of the work
In smaller communities and rura
districts registration will be conduct
ed by the postmaster, with the post
master in the largest office in the 10
cal judicial districts, which in mos
cases is the equivalent of a county il
charge 1t will be his duty to gather
, the reports and forward them to the
department of justice. In most cities
the work will be done by precincts.
Every German mGsE o - the of
flee of the regist"" AMI make ou
triplicate affidavit sfCrr at."1 blanks
and furnish four photographs of him
self-one for each of the blanks anC
one for his certificate. The photo
graphs must bear his signature writ
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