The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-02
To BE NO ESCAPE.
SIackers Cannot Escape Draft
Registration Successfully.
Government Has Powerful Ma
chinery for Catching Them.

Washington, Sept. An advance of
registration on September IL of all
male citizens between Is and As under
the new draft extension law, Provost
Marshal General Crowder has served
notice that powerfuY machinery has
been built up by the government to
round up siackers who fail to register
by registration day. General
Crowder said, there will be agencies
IN every part of the country to point
the finger of accusation at every man
of draft age who attempts to evade
! registration" .
General Crowder pointed out that
failure to register constitutes a misde-
meanor and that the law provides for
trial in the United States court and
imprisonment up to one year upon
conviction. The convicted Stacker also
will be registered and required to
serve his military term after release
| from prison.
Thousands Rounded Up.
The ways of the Stacker under the
original draft law have become in
creasingly hard" General Crowder
said. 1T is estimated that between
twenty thousand and twenty five
thousand have been rounded up since
June 5, 1917. The names of others not
yet apprehended because of absence
from the country are in possession of
the government, and prosecution faces
any one of them who, having fled the
| country to escape the draft, attempts
to return
| General Crowder revealed that the
department of justice has on file the
names of three thousand slackers who
fled to Mexico before June S, 1917,
to escape registration. Against each
| been prepared, so that Immediately
| prosecution can be undertaken the
moment the man attempts to recross
the border, whether the attempt is
made during the war or afterwards
The present wherea bouts of these
slackers in Mexico is known and they
are being closely watched.
Ostracized in Mexico.
Discussing the unhappy plight O.
the American slackerS in Mexico, Gen
era1 Crowder said:
Despite the fact that the majorit.
of these men are from wealthy fami
lies in the United States, who keel
them supplied more or less liberall!
with funds, their lot is one of con
slant harassment. In M exi C c
City, for example, where the NOR,
wealthy ones have established a sor
of colony, they are ostracized com
pletely, not only by other American
residents in the city who are abov,
draft age, but by the natives as well
lAty are constantly SUBJECTED TO
suits and taunts as they pass thru tn,
streets.
THE status Of those not wei
equipped with funds is in many in
stances desperate. Numbers of thes
slackers have sought peace in camp
in isolated sections among the noun
tains; others have been compelled t,
accept the lowest kind of menia
labor on ranches, despised by evel
the poems with whom they work"
; No Escape in Canada.
The government also has the name
of those who fled to Canada to escap
registration. These men must eithe
, face consumption into the Canadian
army or return to the United States t
face imprisonment and ultimate in
duction into the service.
Among the Stacker raids" Genera
Crowder made particular reference t
the arrest at Chicago, July IL last, O
three hundred actual deserters VIII
were turned over to military authori
ties, and four thousand delinquent
who had failed to file questionnaires
Women in all communities, par
ticularly those having relatives at tn
: 'front.'" General Crowder added, "hav
been particularly helpful to the gov
eminent in ferreting out young me
[ who failed to register. Tips from sue
women have time and again resulte
| in rOundupS of SlackerS''