A regular feature looking back at what was being printed around 100 years ago in the Bristol Daily Courier. This week’s entry comes from the February 8, 1918 edition of the newspaper.
Local German Aliens Are Not Registering Promptly
Credit: The Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library archive
German aliens in Bristol and in Bristol Township are not registering under the alien registration law, according to the authorities.
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Unless they do comply with every detail of that law on or before tomorrow night at 8:30 o’clock, they are to be rounded up by the State Police and local officers and be interned for the duration of the war.
The records last night showed that only nine persons classed as German aliens had registered from Bristol. Those in the township are registering with John A. McGlnley, postmaster, and then sent to the State Police at 204 Radcliffe Street where their fingerprints are taken. Up to this morning only four had come in from the township.
It is said that a number of the Germans are of the opinion that no one is in authority knows whether they are aliens or are naturalized. They are laboring under the impression that they can slide by without registering and giving their history, along with photographs and fingerprints. They think that no one will be any the wiser if they do not register.
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In this, they are mistaken, claim the State Police.
“We have compiled a list of all aliens in Bristol and vicinity. Unless they come forth by the closing hours Saturday night, we will place everyone of them under arrest beginning on Monday,” State Police said. Unless there is a grand rush at the registration office today and tomorrow, there will be about 40 aliens arrested.
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Private Dolan, of the State Police, is taking fingerprints and registering the aliens.
An advertisement from the February 8, 1918 edition of the Bristol Daily Courier:
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