Causing hardly a ripple on the surface of a beautiful fall day, Harvard's first peace-time registration passed into history yesterday with 4700 students and faculty members taking their place alongside of 16,500,000 Americans in the nation's military reservoir.
Organized to a point of over-efficiency, the University's registration system was strained only once, at 7 o'clock when early risers attempting to escape the confusion found themselves in the midst of a minor rush.
Ten C.O.'s Refuse to Register
Over 500 less than estimated registered. Most of these it is expected used local centers although at least ten conscientious objectors refused to register as a protest to the act. More than 35 conscientious objectors insisted in making their stand known on their blanks although it will do them no good.
Prosecution of non-registrants will probably be mild at first. Those who forgot or for any other reason were unable to register will have to do so. Those refusing to register as conscientious objectors will be forced to in court and probably will lose any right to plead for deferment. Draft dodgers who attempt to conceal themselves will face the F.B.I. and be liable to a $10,000 fine or five years in prison.
Thirty Registrars in Each Place
The bulk of the registering was done in the morning before 9 o'clock and after classes. It was virtually completed by 3 o'clock. With 30 registrars working all times in each place, there were never any lines. The average rate was two per registrar per hour although certain faculty wives, most noticeably Mrs. Dora Marshall, were pressed.
"A few gray hairs over the ears" marked down under distinguishing characteristics sent another undergraduate to the nearest barber while another found himself only weighing 15 pounds.
But all in all as Arthur B. Lamb, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, put it, the whole process was a great tribute to democracy running off with no incidents of unpleasantness on a completely voluntary basis.
Read more in News
Yardling FDR, WW Supporters Tangle in Election Eve Debate