The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-06-13
MANY ENLIST OUTRIGHT
Work Done by the Board Was Efficient
With No Chance for Error in
the Registrants'
Standing.

Three hundred and seventeen per-
sons registered at the city hall We'd
nesday for service in the big army Of
Uncle Sap. Of these 224 were white
citizens of the United States, 90 were
aliens, and one was a negro.
This is more than 30 percent lower
than the estimate Of the registration
board, which had placed the number at
$50. This estimate was based ON the
registration of June S, 1917 which was
$500, it being thought that the regis
tration Wednesday would be 10 percent
of that of last yea1.
However the estimated number
would have been obtained in the city
had it not been that so many young
men, when they were assured they
would have to register, preferred to go
direct to Great Lakes and enlist out
right. Numbers Of permits were grant
ed to persons subject to the registra-
tion to go to Great Lakes, and so great
was the crowd of men who were trying
to enlist that some of them had to re-
turn and have their permit extended.
These were men who preferred to en-
list to being registered and drafted
and the registrar gave them three days
time to complete their registration if
they should fail to enlist. Some Of the
Kenosha boys were in line three days
down at Great Lakes without ever
being able to. reach the desk.
The report was received from there
this morning that there were 500 men
trying to enlist Wednesday.
The registration board has not yet
classified the cards as to aliens and it
is not known how many Of the aliens
are alien enemies.
In speaking of the registration board
this morning James Cavangh, chief re-
gistrar, said, "We had quiet, peace
full time and fine registration. T
chose a squad of good men and they
did good work. In fact it was abso-
lqtely perfect. got out set of in
structions for the registrars to go by
to supplement those of the department.
The registration board has done it's
duty and has done it gratis. We did
the work as perfectly, if not more so,
as the registration last year, and we
have not had single complaint against
that. 1t was seen to that every man 3
card was filed accurately so that there
was no possibility of an understand
ing, and we have not had single COM
plant that any man was registered
wrong or that he was selected impro-
perry or that any partially whatso-
ever was used"
Speaking of the powers Of the draft
board, Mr. Cavanagh said, "The draft
board is the most powerful body of
men in the world. 1t stands between
the citizen and military duty. 1t is the
court of last resort. Nobody can re-
view it. When it has acted it is final.
President Wilson nor Provost Marshal
General Crowder can not interfere. -
In Kenosha county outside of the
city of Kenosha 70 persons were re-
gistered seven of which were aliens.
The city board of registrars caught
several persons who should have regis
tered last year but failed to do so,
but 1t was not because they wanted
to or tried to evade registration.
They were men who had been members
OF the national guard and the com
handing officer had told them that
they were already in the military serv-
ice of the government and were not
required to register.
1t is thought that good many regis
tration cards will be received by the
city board within the next day or so
from kenosha boys employed else
where who will send in their cards by
mail, having had them filed out at
the local Office in the town where they
happened to be living temporarily.
Then again some of the boys who were
trying to enlist at Great Lakes NAV
not have been able to pass the ply
steal test and they will have to regis
ter just the same.
Now that the registration is com
pleted the next thing will be the certi-
flying of the list by the clerk of the
draft board to the adjutant general
They will then be given serial num-
Der and the list will be sent back to
the draft board and questionnaires will
be forwarded to the registrants which
must be filed out by them. The men
will then be classified and ready for
the call whenever it comes.