Tuesday, June 5th, Is The Registration Day
President Wilson Issues Proclamation Appointing Day for War RegistrationsAges Are From 21 To 31 Years
Heavy Penalty Attaches to Those Who Neglect or Refuse to Register June 5th
June 5th is registration day. And the publication of the president's proclamation is all the legal notice you have, if within the legal age, that you must register, the failure to do which carries with it a heavy sentence and punishment.
You will be asked and must answer the following questions:
1. Your name in full and your age on June 5, in years only.
2. Place of your permanent home, not the place where you work.
3. You must have the exact date of your birth on a slip of paper which you will hand to the registrar.
4. You must be prepared to state whether you are a natural-born citizen, a naturalized citizen, an alien, or whether you have declared your intention of becoming a citizen.
5. Town, state and county of your birth.
6. If you are an alien you must give the name of your country.
7. The exact nature of your present trade, occupation or office.
8. Name and location of the firm by which you are employed.
9. You must state whether you have a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister or brother under 12 who are solely dependent upon you for support.
10. Are you married or single?
11. Name of your race.
12. Complete details of any military service you have had.
13. If you claim exemption you must specify the grounds. Because you claim exemption, it by no means follows that you are exempt, according to the formal instructions from Washington.
That part of Pres. Wilson's proclamation dealing directly with the registration is given below:
Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States, do call upon the governor of each of the several states and territories, the board of commissions of the District of Columbia and all officers and agents of the several states and territories, of the District of Columbia, and of the counties and municipalities therein to perform certain duties in the execution of the foregoing law, which duties will be communicate to them directly in regulations of even date herewith.
And I do further proclaim and give notice to all persons subject to registration in the several states and in the District of Columbia in accordance with the above law, that the time and place of such registration shall be between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on the 5th day of June, 1917, at the registration place in the precinct wherein they have their permanent homes. Those who shall have attained their twenty-first birthday and who shall not have attained their thirty-first birthday on or before the day herein named are required to register, excepting only officers and enlisted men of the regular army, the navy, the marine corps and the national guard, and navy militia while in the service of the United States and officer in the officer's reserve corps and enlisted men in the enlisted reserve corps while in active service.
In the territories of Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, a day for registration will be named in a later proclamation.
And I do charge those who through sickness shall be unable to present themselves for registration that they apply on or before the day of registration to the county clerk of the county where they may be for instructions as to how they may be registered by agent.
Those who expect to be absent on the day named from the counties in which they have their permanent homes may register by mail, but their mailed registration cards must reach the places in which they have their permanent homes by the day named herein. They should apply as soon as practicable to the county clerk of the county wherein they may be for instructions as to how they may accomplish their registration by mail. In case such persons as, through sickness or absence, may be unable to present themselves personally for registration shall be sojourning in cities of over 30,000 population, they shall apply to the city clerk of the city wherein they may be sojourning rather than to the clerk of the county.
The clerks of counties and of cities of over 30,000 population in which numerous applications from the sick and from non-residents are expected, are authorized to establish such sub-agencies and to employ and deputize such clerical force as may be necessary to accommodate these applications.
The power against which we are arrayed has sought to impose its will upon the world by force. To this end it has increased armament, until it has changed the face of war. In the sense in which we have been wont to think of armies there are no armies in this struggle. There are entire nations armed. Thus, the men who remain to till the soil and man the factories are no less a part of the army that is in France than the men beneath the battle flags.
It must be so with us. It is not an army that we must shape and train for war; it is a nation. To this end our people must draw close in one compact front against a common foe. But this cannot be if each man pursues a private purpose. All must pursue one purpose. The nation needs all men; but it needs each man, not in the field that will most please him, but in the endeavor that will best serve the common good.
Thus, though a sharpshooter pleases to operate a trip hammer for the forging of great guns, and an expert machinist desires to march with the flag, the nation is being served only when the sharpshooter marches and the machinist remains at his levers. The whole nation must be a team in which each man shall play the part for which he is best fitted.
To this end, congress has provided that the nation shall be organized for war by selection and that each man shall be classified for service in the place to which it shall best serve the general good to call him.
The significance of this cannot be overstated. It is a new thing in our history and a landmark in our progress. It is a new manner of accepting and vitalizing our duty to give ourselves with thoughtful devotion to the common purpose of us all.
It is in no sense a conscription of the unwilling; it is rather, selection from a nation which has volunteered in mass. It is no more a choosing of those who shall march with the colors than it is a selection of those who shall serve an equally necessary and devoted purpose in the industries that lie behind the battle line.
The day here named is the time upon which all shall present themselves for assignment to their tasks. It is for that reason destined to be remembered as one of the most conspicuous moments in our history. It is nothing less than the day upon which the manhood of the country shall step forward in one solid rank in defense of the ideals to which this nation is consecrated. It is important to those ideals no less than to the pride of this generation in manifesting its devotion to them, that there be no gaps in the ranks.
It is essential that the day be approached in thoughtful apprehension of its signigeance and that we accord to it the honor and the meaning that it deserves. Our industrial need prescribes that it be not made a technical holiday, but the stern sacrifice that is before us, urges that as a great day of patriotic devotion and obligation when the duty shall lie upon every man, whether he is himself to be registered or not, to see to it that the name of every male person of the designated ages is written on these lists of honor.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this 18th day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventeen and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and forty-first.
WOODROW WILSON,
By the president:
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State
--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 24 May 1917, pg 1, 8
Government Gives Last Call On Registration
Registration Day is Next Tuesday and Prison Faces Those Who Fail to Register.Seven Points To Be Remembered
Don't Worry About the Exemptions, Uncle Sam Will Announce That Part Later
If you are a male person, 21 years or over on next Tuesday, June 5th, and not yet 31 years old, you must register for the military conscription even if deaf, dumb, blind, minus a leg, arm, foot, both eyes, or any other way physically unfit. And the failure to register means a prison sentence. There are some exemptions as to military service, but none as to the registration and the government has issued a warring saying "Don't worry about the exemptions. Do your duty by registering and at the proper time you can present your claims for exemption from the draft."
In order that there may be no misunderstanding as to the registration part the government has issued the final word covering the seven cardinal points to be remembered by all who must register. The registrations will be held at the usual voting places in Grundy county and the seven cardinal points are as follows:
One--There is only one day for registrations--June 5, 1917.
Two--The only exemptions are persons in the military or naval service of the United States, which includes the enlisted men of the regular army, the regular army reserve, the officers' reserve corps, the enlisted corps, the national guard and national guard reserve, recognized by the militia bureau of the war department, the navy, the marine corps, the coast guard, and the naval militia, the naval reserve force; the marine corps reserve, and the national volunteers recognized by the navy department.
Three--Registration is distinct from draft. No matter what just claim you have for exemption you must register.
Four--Registration is a public duty. For those not responsive for this duty the penalty of imprisonment, not fine, is provided for the draft act.
Five--Those who thru sickness shall be unable to register shall cause a representative to apply to the county or city clerk for a registration card. The clerk will give instructions as to how this card shall be made out. The card should then be mailed by the sick person or delivered by the agent to the registrar of his home district. The sick person will enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for return to him of his registration card.
Sixth--Any person who expects to be absent from his voting precinct on registration day should apply as soon as possible for a registration card from the county clerk where he may be stopping, or if he is in a city of over 30,000 to the city clerk. The clerk will record the answer on the card. The absentee shall mail this card to the registrar in his district so that it shall reach that official by registration day. A self address stamped envelope should be enclosed.
Seven--Registration booths will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on registration day, June 5, 1917.
--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 31 May 1917, pg 1
Register Next Tuesday
Don't Try To Dodge The RegistrationGovernment Will Make Rigid Investigation to Catch Those Evading the Requirement
If there are persons between the ages of 21 and 31 years in Grundy county who are of the opinion that they will be able to evade the responsibility of registering for "select service" on June 5, they may find themselves viewing the outside world thru prison bars.
The government intends to institute rigid investigation into the ages of every man who is not on the registration list, especially of those who have the appearance of being within the age limits. Those who are found to have evaded will be dealt with severely. The federal authorities have perfected a system whereby every man who is not registered can be detached if he is guilty of evasion.
The penalty for failing to register is one year in jail and after completion of the sentence, the individual is subject to draft. There is no alternative such as paying a fine.
Given a Certificate
When each man registers June 5th he will be given a certificate of registration. Section 16 of the registration regulations reads: "Police officers may require any person subject to registration to exhibit his registration certificate." Throughout the country on and after June 5th the police officers of the state, nation and municipalities will spread a drag net to ensnare those who have failed to register.
Upon demand every man must display his registration card to a police officer. If he cannot show it the police are authorized to hold the individual for investigation. If, after due investigation has been made, it is found that the man in question is duly registered, he will be released. Otherwise, no time will be lost in imprisoning him. Much inconvenience will thus be saved if every registered man carries his registration certificate with him at all times.
--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 31 May 1917, pg 1
Volunteers Wanted
When the registration cards are returned it will be necessary to copy them, duplicate lists, and quite a number have suggested they are willing to "do their bit" by volunteering for an hour or two or three for this work.If any girls or women who write a good hand are willing to serve their country in this work they can do that duty by seeing G. L. Eggleston, the county auditor.
--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 31 May 1917, pg 1
Grundy County Registration |
|||||
| Total registered |
Total disability |
Exemptions | Aliens | Alien enemy |
|
| Fairfield | 94 | 1 | 39 | 14 | 3 |
| Beaver and Stout | 97 | 51 | 3 | ||
| Pleasant Valley | 82 | 18 | 9 | 3 | |
| German | 78 | 7 | 27 | 5 | 3 |
| Shiloh and Wellsburg | 99 | 46 | 7 | ||
| Colfax and Holland | 82 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 4 |
| Lincoln | 72 | 33 | 5 | 5 | |
| Grant and Dike | 91 | 40 | 16 | 6 | |
| Black Hawk and Reinbeck | 185 | 1 | 90 | 13 | 6 |
| Washington and Morrison | 73 | 33 | 3 | 7 | |
| Palermo and Grundy Center | 196 | 6 | 87 | 10 | 7 |
| Melrose | 61 | 42 | 3 | 2 | |
| Felix | 69 | 43 | 3 | 1 | |
| Clay-Conrad | 54 | 1 | 33 | 1 | |
| Clay-Beaman | 58 | 31 | 3 | 1 | |
| ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | |
| Total | 1391 | 17 | 649 | 88 | 56 |
Source: The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 14 June 1917
How The Selective Draft Will Work
Local Boards Have Received InstructionsNames Will Be Drawn In Washington
When is the drawing of names of men to serve in the army to begin and how is it going to be done?
It is understood that the drawing of names of those registered on the 5th of last June will begin on or about the 15th of this month and that it will continue until probably a million names are drawn, as it is expected that out of a million names 600,000 will be fit for army service and not subject to exemption.
Every county or city over 30,000 will be known as one district. There are 4,900 districts in the country. Every time a name is drawn in Washington 4,900 men or one from each district will be called on to serve.
The jury wheel system will be used in drawing names of registered men. The drawing will be done at Washington. If the first number drawn should be No. 10 all of the number 10s in the country have been called upon to serve. There as many No. 10s in the country as there are voting districts.
As soon as the numbers are drawn, the men whose names correspond to them are notified. They must next report to the county exemption board for exemption whether they may wish to make claim for exemption or not. If the local board's examination shows that the man drawn is physicially unfit to serve he is excused.
No men are exempted from service as a class. Only those able bodied men drawn who are able to show that they have a family absolutely dependent upon them for support can be exempted from service. Those not satisfied with the decision of the local exemption board may appeal to the state board.
The local boards are only a part of a machine whose duties and responsibilities will be so clearly defined that there will be one course for them to follow and they will be relieved of the burden of actually sending men to war or of ordering them to stay at home.
It is the general understanding that any man drawn who is physically fit will have to present a good cause to the state boards before his appeal for exeption is granted. It is not at all likely that any who have no families actually dependent upon them for support will be excused from duty. Single men will stand a very small chance of getting relieved from duty no matter what business they may be engaged in and it is not at all likely that, knowing the very stringent rules adopted by the government, many men passed by local boards will go before the state boards to make a plea for exemption from duty.
The men who are drawn can go on about their business until they are called into training which will probably be in September.
--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 5 July 1917, pg 1
Exemption Board Has Organized
The exemption board for Grundy county consists of sheriff Wm. Bockes, Auditor G. L. Eggleston and Dr. W. O. McDowell, received their instructions on Tuesday and because much of their work has to be done within the first week it was necessary for them to organize at once. Sheriff Bockes will be chairman of the board and Auditor Eggleston clerk. The board is hampered somewhat in their work that they must do this week on account of the absence of one member, Dr. McDowell, who is away from home and who did not receive official notice of his appointment before he left.The new and additional steps required by the provost marshal general of the local exemption board will require much clerical work and speed. It is expected that the board will have its work done by Saturday night.
The first duty of the board was to take possession of the registration cards and the copies that have already been made.
The fist work required for which clerical help will be employed, is to number the original cards and the copies. Starting with the first name in the township, the cards and the copy of each are to be numbered serially, beginning with No. 1, and continuing the numbers without a break thru the entire list. The townships will be arranged in alphabetical order.
When the cards and the copy of each has been numbered, all the copies must be signed as being "a true copy" by a member of the exemption board.
Four lists of the names as numbered in sequence must then be prepared. The board will keep one list, one is to be offered to the press for publication, another is to be posted in a public place for inspection, and the fourth is to be sent to the provost marshal general at Washington.
The provost marshal has issued instructions that the work must be completed by next Saturday night and it is expected that enough clerical help can be employed to number the cards and prepare the lists by that time.
--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 5 July 1917, pg 1
Order In Which Men Will Be Drawn
All Registered Men in Grundy County Classified in Order DrawnCountry Takes Keen Interest In Drawing
First 250 Men Drawn Needed On First Draft
Every man who registered on June 5th has been given another number. The new number is his call number. The number indicates the order in which he was drawn last Friday and the order in which he will be called for service. We have 1391 registered men in this county and each has a call number. The first man drawn for service in this county was Jens Petersen from Black Hawk township. His call will be No. 1 and he will be the first man called to be examined by the exemption board. George Purvis of Colfax township was the second man drawn and his call number is No. 2 and so on down the list. The last man on the list is George W. Hildebrand of Black Hawk township. He will be the last man of the 1391 men who will be called.
This county must furnish 109 men on the first draft. It is estimated that 250 of the men first drawn will have to be called before the 109 men needed are secured. It may take the first 300 to get the 109 able bodied men not subject to exemption to make up our first quota.
Every registered man in the county is very anxious to know what place has been given him in the draft. The Democrat has made a list of all of the registered men in this county and it publishes the names below in the order in which the men will be called for service.
The first 300 names or those who will likely be called on for examination on the first draft are printed by townships. The number before the name is the registration number. The number back of the name indicates the order in which the men will be called.
Numbers beginning with 300 are not arranged by townships. They are arranged in groups of 50. For instance No. 301 is Jack Ross whose registration number is 332. No. 349 is Otto Blakely whose registered number is 1121.
It is estimated that 300 men in this county will be called on the first draft. That the numbers from 300 to 600 will probably be called to make up the second draft which it is predicted may be made within a few months. From 600 to 900 would include the men who would be called on the third draft and so on down the list.
These list of names mean a good deal and it is advisable for every reader of this paper to preserve this copy of the paper for future reference.
(The actual list from the newspaper is not reprinted here.)
--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 July 1917, pg 1