In fifty years New York will be what the Italians make it.... In

New York there is only one native American to twenty foreigners.

Waterbury, Connecticut, has a population of 30,000, 20,000 being

aliens.... New Haven and Hartford, cities of long-established

colleges, have an un-American population which in ten years will

outnumber the natives.... Parts of New Jersey are more hopelessly

de-Americanized than New England. Perth Amboy has at least three

to one non-Americans. Cincinnati and Milwaukee have been German

cities for a quarter of a century; Chicago hardly less so....

Wherever I take a meal I am served solely by foreigners.... It

seems odd that I should seldom ever see or meet Americans except

in a social or professional way, and the professions are being

rapidly filled by men of foreign names.... The Yankee no longer

counts in the industrial and commercial life of New England.

In his place is to be found the Italians, Hungarians. French,

Polocks, Scandinavians and Jews.... Thoroughness, therefore,

must now be the watchword of the native American if he hopes to

survive in the terrific commercial battle now waging all over

the world.... This sort of thing must be stopped at once or we

are lost.... Take the half-past-seven Sunday morning train from

the New York Grand Central station, and you will see at every

way-station a swarm of dark, sturdy foreigners entering or

quitting the train at the little towns along the way—for this

is a local train and makes all the stops—and these people are

thus enabled to visit their friends and acquaintances. And there

appears to be no town, however small, where these foreigners have

not gained some footing as laborers, farmers and small tradesmen.

I should say that more than half of the Sunday railroad traffic

in New York, New Jersey and New England is foreign. I took a

train from New York some thirty miles into New Jersey one Sunday

morning in October and the conductor told me that he did not think

the native Americans constituted ten per cent of his passengers.

I asked him whether that was the usual thing on Sundays, and he

said, “No, not quite so bad as to-day, but we always have more

foreigners than natives on Sunday.” ...

Six millions of aliens are necessary, we are told, to the

development of the resources of our country. Now, it is perfectly

plain that these foreign hordes are necessary to the development

of the multi-millionaires, the trusts and the monopolies; but it

is not so plain that they are necessary to the peace, happiness

and prosperity of this country.... The normal increase of the

native American population in the last forty years would have

been amply sufficient for the proper and healthy development

of this country. Had not the foreigner been called in in such

hordes, we should have been forced to do our own work ourselves

and would have been all the happier and richer for it.... There

must be a check put upon immigration. Self-preservation is the

first law of nature, and the time has come when we must resort to

it.... We need time to train our children to compete with these

people and during that time the foreigner must be held at bay.

Immigration must be checked. The resources of this land are being

too rapidly developed by means of these aliens.... Some radical

change for the worse has taken place in the last quarter of a

century in the fibre of our life, our manhood and our national

character.... Indiscriminate and immoderate immigration is, I

believe, the main cause of this deterioration. We have ceased long

since to assimilate the vast hordes of heterogeneous peoples who

have been dumped down upon our shores and who swarm all over this

land in the eager pursuit of the mere physical necessities of

life. This is the object, the sole ambition of nine hundred and

ninety-nine out of every thousand. Such an invasion is actually

as disastrous to a country as the invasion of Germany by the

Huns who were impelled solely by hunger (the very same motive

that brings the vast majority of immigrants to this country) and

whose ravages devastated the whole of Germany and scattered its

inhabitants beyond the Alps to the Rhine and to the borders of the

Mediterranean.... Such masses of crude humanity as pour in upon

us cannot possibly be taken up into healthy circulation, but must

lie undigested in the stomach of the nation, seriously affecting

its health and happiness.... The curse these immigrants bring

upon themselves is plainly to be seen, for it is immediate. They

form a body incompatible with the healthy growth of this country.

The greater curse of this country is that they do the work that

should not be done by them at all, the work that should be done

by natives. They take the work and the bread out of the hands

and mouths of native Americans, and the question of their means

of living must soon become one of the most pressing economic and

social problems of the day.

Such extended quotations are made from one writer (Mr. Monroe Royce;

“The Passing of the American”) only because these truths of ten years

ago are equally true to-day and more true. In the past ten years our

census map has changed yet more. And now into this crude population

of ours we have inducted all the seeds of discord of this war. We

have learned a sudden distrust of a large number of our citizenry.

Our returning soldiers will bring us yet more problems. The spirit of

unrest in this hour of anarchy will add to all these problems.

It is time for another oath, sworn indeed for the protection of

America.

AT THE PEACE TABLE

Who shall sit at the table, then, when the terms of peace are

made—

The wisest men of the troubled lands in their silver and gold

brocade?

Yes, they shall gather in solemn state to speak for each living

race,

But who shall speak for the unseen dead that shall come to the

council place?

Though you see them not and you hear them not, they shall sit

at the table, too;

They shall throng the room where the peace is made and know what

it is you do;

The innocent dead from the sea shall rise to stand at the wise

man’s side,

And over his shoulder a boy shall look—a boy that was crucified.

You may guard the doors of that council hall with barriers strong

and stout,

But the dead unbidden shall enter there, and never you’ll shut

them out.

And the man that died in the open boat, and the babes that

suffered worse,

Shall sit at the table when peace is made by the side of a

martyred nurse.

You may see them not, but they’ll all be there; when they speak

you may fail to hear;

You may think that you’re making your pacts alone, but their

spirits will hover near;

And whatever the terms of the peace you make with the tyrant

whose hands are red,

You must please not only the living here, but must satisfy your

dead.

—_Edgar A. Guest._

CHAPTER II

THE PEACE TABLE

The Price of Peace—The First Days After the Armistice—Ferocious

Treachery of Germany in this Country—The Test of the Citizen—The New

America.

To the merely morbid mind, the white faces of the starved, the moans of

the maimed, the black habiliments of those who mourn, may be thought

parts of a drama whose terrible appeal has found no counterpart in the

human emotions. For the average man, soon to settle back to the grim

struggle of making his living, perhaps even these scenes will fade,

the world turning from them because the world can endure no more. But

someone must make the peace, must bind up the wounds. Someone must

point out the future to the staggering peoples, dizzy from their hurts.

And it is not alone Europe which has a future to outline. Our own

history is not yet written; our own problems lie before us still.

What shall a just peace be? If it must be tempered with mercy, to whom

shall we show mercy—to the foe whom we have beaten, or the coming

generation of Americans whom that foe has done all he could to betray

and ruin? Shall we fight this war through now until it actually is

done; or shall we face an indeterminate future, with possible further

yet bloodier and more appalling wars?

Now the dead arise and demand their justice. The world leans over the

rail of the arena, cold-faced, thumbs down, pitiless of the armed bully

who lies vanquished and whimpering. A race which would fight as Germany

has fought, and for such reasons, will fight again when possible. Such

a race understands nothing but force. Mercy is mistaken with a people

which knows not the meaning of mercy. Britain has a huge war bill

against Germany; that of France is larger still. What of our own bill?

And what of the total of all these sums, added to that which the war

has cost Germany herself? If the Germans should be serfs for centuries,

they could not pay the reckoning in silver and gold alone. But that is

not the great question. What of the silent dead, demanding also their

due before Almighty God?

Germany never can pay her bill. So long as her language is spoken, it

will be the tongue of a debtor race whose account never will be paid

and never can be. And why should the world forgive that debt or that

debtor, even should it find it impossible to collect the debt. What

outlaws such a debt in the just belief of the world? Shall continued

arrogance and treachery serve to outlaw that unpaid debt? Shall a

continuance in America of the old German ways in America serve to

outlaw her awful and eternally unpaid debt?

Why does such feeling as this exist in the minds of the most chivalrous

of foes against whom Germany ever fought? Why should America and France

and Britain feel an implacable hatred against a helpless enemy? In

other wars the sign of submission has arrested the wrath of warriors.

But not in this war. The world looks on beaten Germany to-day with

cold scorn and with no feeling of relenting. It is the way that she

fought—it is the spying that she did, the brutality that she showed,

which has awakened the ice-cold wrath of the world to-day. That wrath

means to exact its pound of flesh from the heart of Germany itself.

What of the dead who died unfairly? What of the innocent and the

unarmed dead? Only in her own tears of blood could Germany learn the

humble and the contrite heart. She has not yet learned her lesson. It

must be taught her for a century yet and more.

More and more as the facts shall come from Europe, uncovering the real

Germany, showing her ferocious treachery all over the world, her utter

insensibility to any feeling of responsibility, her abysmal ignorance

of such a term as honor, shall we be ready to make fair conclusions;

for these must be our only premises.

It is only those who really know Germany’s methods in America—those

who know her treachery, her duplicity, her efforts to undermine our

country—who can make up a fair judgment as to how Germany should be

treated in the future.

The members of the A. P. L. have drawn aside the masks and found

hundreds of thousands of two-faced “citizens” amenable to no sense of

honor and fair play, hating the flag they have sworn to honor. America

does not need those people. America needs only the facts about them.

The judgment thereon will be written in the next two generations of

American history.

The plea of Germany for food after the Armistice was only part of her

old propaganda. Her attempts to split this country away from the Allies

is now carried on only as a part of her old systematic propaganda. It

behooves us to be well aware of such methods, since we once have known

them. Germany will not be allowed at the peace table. She will not be

allowed in the League of Nations. Why? Because she has lost the right

to shake the hand of honorable soldiers. How about honorable citizens?

There is not so much bitterness as cold and relentless reason in

all such statements. But you may get a trace of bitterness from the

press of Europe, suffering as Europe has all these years under the

ruthlessness of German war. There is indeed “every reason for belief

that other pledges would be as treacherously shattered did not the

victors control the only agency which Germany understands—sheer

material force. There can be no compassion based on any code of sound

morality for people so despicable as to snivel for help in the midst of

an orgy of cowardly iniquity. Germany in this last and most loathsome

of her ugly roles should excite about as much legitimate sympathy as a

hungry snake.”

The murders of Liebknecht and of Rosa Luxemburg have excited certain

strange comment in the German press. “What will the world think of us?”

asks the German paper _Vorwaerts_, “if we commit murders such as this?”

That certainly is a purely German question! It is a trifle academic.

What in Germany is the murder of one woman or one man? The seventh of

May, 1915, was proclaimed a national holiday in Germany. On the seventh

of May in 1916, 1917, 1918, the German people closed their shops and

their factories, and in holiday attire paraded the streets to celebrate

that glorious German victory when a submarine sank an unarmed vessel

and murdered more than a thousand persons, many of them women and

children. And now Germany asks what the world will think of her for

killing one or two of her own people!

The whole truth will never be known, but more than 100,000 citizens of

Belgium and France were put to death on various pretexts; thousands of

women made the sport of violent beasts who wore the Kaiser’s uniform;

thousands of little children maimed and tortured and every conceivable

barbarity and infamy committed upon them. And yet Germany apologizes

for killing two more persons! And Dr. Dernburg counts upon the future

friendship of America!

It must be the just men and brave men of America who shall constitute

the court to determine the treatment of the foreign element in America.

All of those men within our gates who retain their sympathy for Germany

are enemies of this country after the war as much as they were during

the war. They must share then in the defeat of Germany and must pay the

losses of the loser. The victor decides. “We are the victors. Let the

foreign element reflect on that—we are the victors, not they, in this

fight which they elected. It is only the man who makes the dollar his

Ten Commandments who will feel toward Germany in America after the war

as he did before.”

What we Americans need is not so much a League of Nations as a League

of Americans. The soul of the American Protective League—renamed,

rechristened and reconsecrated—must go marching on even though the

League be disbanded, its unseen banner floating no more over a definite

organization. As citizens we must unite in a common purpose, or the

war will have been lost for us no matter what shall be the treaty

at Versailles. If we open our hearts and homes again to the former

traitors at our own table, then we have lost this war. It is of little

consequence what is done with the Kaiser—he is too pitiable a figure

to be able to pay much, even with his life. But Kaiserism in America,

still growing, still reaching out in the old ways—that is a different

thing. We were leagued against that once, and must be leagued against

it forever.

It is accurate enough to say that this war was no lofty thing in any

phase. It was much like any other war, based on the biological impulse

of nations to go to war almost rhythmically, almost periodically.

Commercial jealousy brought out the war, and that it was “forced on”

Germany was never anything but a pitiable lie. Germany wanted to

control the Suez Canal, to enlarge her possessions in East Africa, to

obtain the rich Indian possessions of Great Britain. All this was to

follow her defeat of England and France, her absorption of Belgium,

Denmark and Holland, her consolidation of Middle Europe, her subjection

of the mujik population of Russia, already suborned and bought and

beaten by German propaganda. It was indeed a grandiose scheme of world

conquest. Nothing that Alexander planned could have paralleled it. But

it failed!

In our own country, we of the A. P. L. have seen treason weighed and

bought like soap or sugar, and the price was ready in German gold,

no matter how high. Our morale was continuously assailed. Through

our colleges, our schools, our churches, Germany always intended to

undermine America and to break down her patriotism. On the list of men

of intellect whom Germany had bought, there are, besides a long list

of college professors, fifty other names, including judges, editors,

priests, men of large affairs. The German satyrs of diplomacy juggled

huge figures carelessly in a cold-blooded commerce which dwelt in

hearts and souls and honor. That was done merely in the hope to divide

and conquer the United States, all in good time. German-American

citizens? Why, no. Why use even that hyphen? If they were not

Americans during the war, they are not Americans now. They are no more

demobilized than Germany’s army is demobilized. Their hearts are no

more changed than the heart of Germany has changed. If they were not at

one time above prostituting the most sacred offices in the world, they

are not above that now.

Let the dead speak at the peace table! Let them tell of the simplicity

and worthiness of the German character, the German “love of liberty.”

We are often told about Germany’s part in our Civil War. We are not

fighting that war now—we are fighting this war. We are asked to

distinguish between the German rulers and the German people; but the

obvious truth was that Germany was more united for this war than we

were united for it, more than Great Britain or France was united for

it. She planned it as the exact working out of a business system—she

made it her industry, her ambition, her business enterprise for this

generation. Is such an ambition as this stifled forever in her soul,

on either side the Atlantic? Let us not be too easy and too foolish.

We are just beginning to learn about our own citizenship. If Germany

struck medals to commemorate its gallant dead, each dead man of ours at

the peace table ought to bear that medal in his hand which would serve

as proof of Germany’s oneness with her Kaiser in this war!

In these merciful and liberty-loving terms a German apostle of “kultur”

writes:

Let us bravely organize great forced migrations of the inferior

peoples. Let them be driven into “reserves,” where they have no

room to grow ... and where, discouraged and rendered indifferent

to the future by the spectacle of the superior energy of their

conquerors, they may crawl slowly toward the peaceful death of

weary and hopeless senility.

Superior energy! Thrift! Efficiency! Let dead lips at the peace table

spell out those words. We remember the _Alamo_. We remember the

_Maine_. Shall we forget the _Lusitania_?

That statesmanship is not acceptable American statesmanship which plans

mercy for such a people, or which tolerates the thought of unsafely

letting in more of that breed within our country’s gates. It is a

false and weak statesmanship to mince matters in days like these. Had

Germany’s war been fought out honestly by soldiers in uniform only,

against soldiers in uniform, in accordance with the customs among

warriors, then that war might one day be forgotten. But Belgium and

France, plus von Bernstorff and von Papen and Scheele—No, no, and

again, No! We Americans can not forget.

The propaganda campaign is beginning again here, now, in America, even

in the existing confusion of our industries, in the hurrying of our own

plans for demobilization. We shall soon hear stories intended to make

us believe that France robbed us commercially, that Britain does not

love us and only used us. Can you not hear now the German song: “The

war is over now. We are at peace. Let us forget. Kamerad!”

But we are not at peace. Our dead stand at the table with all those

other gallant dead, to demand their hearing through all time. We

must be done with foresworn citizenship in America. We could forgive

a soldier; but we cannot forgive a naturalized German who foreswore

himself when he took the oath of allegiance to our country. That

treachery is one thing which must go—that is one thing which shall

never be forgotten or forgiven in America. Such men as these lost their

war. There is no injustice, no unfairness in any of these words, which

sound so harsh. They set lightly on the innocent, heavily on those who

have guilt in their hearts.

It is for every man of foreign blood to know his own heart—we cannot

know his heart for him. He alone knows whether he is German or

American. He knows which he wants to be. We know that he cannot be

both. That is the one test—the impossibility of a man being both a good

German and a good American. Let him choose. Let him read his own heart.

And let him remember that he is not the victor but the vanquished in

this war.

One great American—I fancy even his enemies will allow him that title

now—wrote as his final message to America the real answer to this war

as it applies to us in America. Colonel Roosevelt’s last plea was

for Americanism. It was read at an All-American Benefit Concert by a

trustee of the society, because of the Colonel’s indisposition:

I cannot be with you, and so all I can do is wish you Godspeed.

There must be no sagging back in the fight for Americanism

merely because the war is over. There are plenty of persons who

have already made the assertion that they believe the American

people have a short memory, and that they intend to revive all

the foreign associations which most directly interfere with the

complete Americanization of our people.

Our principle in this matter should be absolutely simple. In the

first place, we should insist that if the immigrant, who comes

here in good faith, becomes an American and assimilates himself to

us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else,

for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because

of creed, or birthplace or origin.

But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming _in fact an

American and nothing but an American_. If he tries to keep

segregated with men of his own origin, and separated from the rest

of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American.

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an

American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We

have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes

the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and

civilization, just as much as it excludes any flag of a nation to

which we are hostile.

To that doctrine, and to that alone, can the dead at the peace table

nod their voiceless assent. By that doctrine only, continually kept

alive, continually enforced, can their deaths ever be justified and

made glorious indeed. Under that doctrine and for that purpose, we,

who have our war to fight out here in America for a generation and

more, can continue the battle, knowing that it is for a good cause, and

knowing that we shall win.

The old oath of the American Protective League exists no more. The

silent army has disbanded. But now it remains the privilege of each

of those men, and their sons and brothers, to enlist again in a yet

greater army, and to swear a yet greater oath, each for himself, at his

own bedside, gravely and solemnly:

_THIS is my country. I have no other country. I swear to be loyal to

her always, to protect her and to defend her always, and in all ways.

In my heart this is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the

truth. So help me God!_

THE END

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A

HISTORICAL STATEMENT OF HINTON G. CLABAUGH,

DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, U. S. BUREAU

OF INVESTIGATION

Shortly after the severance of diplomatic relations between the

United States and Germany on February 1, 1917, Mr. A. M. Briggs, then

vice-president of a poster advertising company of New York, Chicago

and elsewhere, whom I had met in connection with several official

investigations, called at the office of the Bureau of Investigation,

and made substantially the following statement: “Diplomatic relations

have been severed and in all probability this country will be drawn

into the European war. I am physically unable to join the active

fighting forces, but I would like to help in some way, and it has

occurred to me that a volunteer organization might be of great

assistance to an investigating bureau such as the one with which you

are connected. I hereby pledge all my time and all my resources. I am

not a man of much wealth, but the Government is welcome to every dollar

I possess, as well as my time, and I earnestly hope that if you can

think of any way in which I can be of assistance to this Bureau you

will command me.”

In the meantime I had a conference with the late Herman F. Schuettler,

then General Superintendent of Police of Chicago, and attended a

meeting of prominent citizens of this community in the Federal Building.

Subsequently, or a few days after the first conversation, I told

Mr. Briggs I had been thinking about his idea and believed that

an organization of volunteers would be of very great help to the

Department, and as a first step in connection with such organization

we could use some automobiles, which would enable the agents to cover

several times as much territory, to say nothing of the time thus saved,

but that there was no appropriation from which the Government could pay

for the upkeep of such cars. I also explained to him the substance of

some telegrams which I had exchanged on the subject with Mr. A. Bruce

Bielaski, Chief of the Bureau of Investigation at Washington.

Mr. Briggs on February 26th tendered the Chicago office three good

cars, and offered to furnish a car, or cars, for the New York and

Washington offices, as per my telegram to the Chief of the Bureau,

dated February 27, 1917.

On February 27, 1917, I wrote the following letter to Mr. Bielaski,

Chief of the Bureau:

“This letter will introduce to you Mr. A. M. Briggs, concerning

whom I have already telegraphed and written you. Please be sure to

have Mr. Briggs meet Mr. Wrisley Brown, Mr. Horn and Mr. Pike; and

I should also like to have him meet Mr. Suter if he is in.”

The Mr. Wrisley Brown referred to was Special Assistant to the Attorney

General, and is now Major Wrisley Brown of the Military Intelligence

Division. Mr. Raymond Horn, Mr. A. H. Pike and Mr. John Gardner were

assistants to the Chief of the Bureau. Mr. Suter was Private Secretary

to the Attorney General.

On February 28, Mr. Bielaski sent me the following telegram:

“Department Justice, Washington.

“Hinton G. Clabaugh,

Bureau of Investigation, Chicago.

“Wire immediately whether acceptance offer automobiles would be

used as advertisement in any way. Believe Congress opposed any

advertisement feature. Bielaski.”

On February 28, 1917, I wired Mr. Bielaski as follows:

“A. B. Bielaski,

Department Justice, Washington.

“Telegram received. Offer of four automobiles for Chicago, four

for New York, three for Washington, referred to in telegram, not

intended in any way as advertisement. In fact, specifically stated

to contrary. Clabaugh.”

Mr. Briggs also tendered a gift of fifty to seventy-five automobiles,

to be divided up among the various offices of the Bureau, in the

principal cities, where they could be used to best advantage, without

any cost to the Government whatsoever, as per my letter to the Chief of

the Bureau of February 27, 1917.

On March 14, 1917, I sent a personal letter to Mr. Bielaski, Chief of

the Bureau, enclosing a letter addressed to me by Mr. Briggs under date

of March 14, a copy of which I have and which is as follows:

“Hinton G. Clabaugh,

Bureau of Investigation, Chicago.

“My dear Mr. Clabaugh:

“Believing that the Department of Justice is at this time in

need of possible assistance in their work and that a volunteer

organization, properly built and controlled, could render valuable

and efficient service, I beg to submit the following for your

consideration:

Its Purpose: A volunteer organization to aid the Bureau of

Investigation of the Department of Justice.

The Object: To work with and under the direction of the Chief of

the Bureau of Investigation, of the Department of Justice, or such

attorney, or persons as he may direct, rendering such service as

may be required from time to time.

Membership: This organization is to be composed of citizens of

good moral character who shall volunteer their services and who

are acceptable to your Department.

Construction: It is proposed that national headquarters be

established either in Washington, or perhaps Chicago, because

of its geographical location, and that branch organizations be

established in such cities as your Department may direct.

Finances: It is proposed that headquarters organization and

branch organizations shall finance themselves either by outside

subscriptions or by its members.

Control: It is proposed that each unit of this organization

shall be under the control of the Government but will report to

and be under the direction of the nearest Department of Justice

headquarters.

Trusting you will give the foregoing your consideration,

(Signed) A. M. Briggs.”

On March 19, 1917, Mr. Bielaski telegraphed me as follows:

“Hinton G. Clabaugh,

Bureau of Investigation, Chicago.

“Replying your letter fourteenth Briggs should be encouraged in

organization volunteer association. Be glad talk with him about

matter. Letter follows. Bielaski.”

Mr. Bielaski confirmed his telegram by letter under date of March 20th,

which reads in part as follows:

“Hinton G. Clabaugh, Chicago.

“In reply to your letter of the 14th, with respect to letter

addressed to you by Mr. A. M. Briggs of Chicago under date of

14th, I beg to advise you that this Department is encouraging the

organization of volunteer associations to aid the Government in

securing information as to the activities of foreign Governments

or unfriendly aliens.

“In the pressure of business your desire for an immediate answer

was overlooked, but I have just telegraphed you the gist of this

letter. This organization should be handled as confidentially

as practicable, and care taken that nothing is done by it to

unnecessarily alarm aliens in this country or cause them any

apprehension as to the fair manner in which they will be treated,

and no arrests should be caused, except after consultation with

the federal authorities, in order that there may be no confusion.

“I will take no further action in this matter until I hear from

Mr. Briggs or yourself.”

On March 20, I telegraphed Mr. Briggs as follows:

“A. M. Briggs,

Hotel Claridge, New York City.

“Just received following telegram from Chief Bielaski: ‘Replying

your letter 14th, Briggs should be encouraged in organization

volunteer association. Be glad talk with him about matter. Letter

follows.’ Personally, foregoing makes me very happy, as it does

you, I am sure. Please wire what day you will confer with Chief.

Clabaugh.”

On March 20, I received the following telegram, dated New York, from

Mr. Briggs:

“Hinton G. Clabaugh,

Bureau of Investigation, Chicago.

“Great news. Will see Chief Washington Thursday morning nine

thirty. Please arrange appointment. Briggs.”

I then wired the Chief of the Bureau, and on March 22, Mr. Briggs wired

me from Washington as follows:

“Hinton G. Clabaugh,

Bureau of Investigation, Chicago.

“Very satisfactory interview. Chief has approved. Organization,

our original plan, to be formed immediately. See you Saturday.

Briggs.”

Thus it was that Chicago was the first city in the United States to

have such an organization. It was the idea of Mr. A. M. Briggs, and

of no one else. Although in public speeches, letters and upon other

occasions he has been generous enough to credit the idea to me, I want

it positively understood that the whole scheme was his thought, and it

is due to his untiring energy and sacrifice that the organization was

started and put on its feet during the early period of its history,

when many people were inclined to look upon it and ridicule it as “a

bunch of volunteer detectives, etc.” Mr. Briggs personally defrayed

all expenses in the early history of the organization. National

headquarters were here in the Peoples Gas Building and the Chicago

Division was formed as well. Thomas B. Crockett was Assistant Chief

of the national organization prior to the time, or until the time, he

was made a Major in the Army, and assigned to the Intelligence Branch,

Central Department.

At the beginning of the war, the Bureau of Investigation handled all

complaints of violations of so-called federal war laws, the enforcement

of which were not specifically charged to other departments or bureaus

by statute. In time, however, the military authorities established a

bureau of Military Intelligence, and the Navy established in Chicago

the Aid for Information and Naval Intelligence Bureau.

Under the direction of the Bureau of Investigation, a War Board was

formed, consisting of representatives of the following Investigating

Bureaus:

Chairman: Hinton G. Clabaugh, Division Superintendent, Bureau of

Investigation, Department of Justice.

Colonel Carl Reichmann, former Military Intelligence Officer, Central

Department, War Department.

Major T. B. Crockett, Military Intelligence Officer.

Lieutenant Edwin L. Reed, Aide for Information, 9th, 10th and 11th

Naval Districts.

Lieutenant Commander Clive Runnells, Naval Intelligence Officer.

General James E. Stuart, Post Office Inspector in Charge.

Colonel L. G. Nutt, Supervising Agent, Internal Revenue.

H. R. Landis, Inspector in Charge Immigration Service.

John J. Bradley, U. S. Marshal.

Charles Howe Bradley, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Department.

Davis S. Groh, Special Agent in Charge, Plant Protection Division, War

Department.

John H. Winterbotham, Chairman, Chicago Division, American Protective

League.

Robert A. Gunn, Chief, Chicago Division, American Protective League.

John H. Alcock, former Acting General Superintendent of Police.

John J. Garrity, General Superintendent of Police.

Morgan Collins, former First Deputy, Superintendent of Police.

By degrees the League, through the Bureau, tendered its services to

these several branches.

In this necessarily brief and naked sketch of the early days of the

American Protective League, I ought to add just a word or so regarding

the composition and the purposes of this War Board. I called a meeting

of the heads of the various federal investigation bureaus of the

several departments of the Government, having to do with investigation

involving the detection and prosecution of crime under Federal laws,

and the general superintendent of police, who represents the local

authorities. The purpose of this meeting of the committee was to

discuss various matters relating to individual bureaus, with the idea

of coördinating the work and to have maximum efficiency with minimum

confusion and expense, and thus to avoid unnecessary duplication of

work. A committee representing two or three departments was appointed,

which met almost daily for many months. This committee was of

invaluable assistance. It kept the various heads of bureaus working

together in harmonious coöperation, and many constructive ideas were

put into effect.

Chief Thomas I. Porter, Operator in charge of the Secret Service

Division, Treasury Department, nominated me for Chairman. The

nomination was seconded by Colonel Carl Reichmann, Military

Intelligence Officer, and unanimously approved, although I favored

the selection of one of the older men. Captain Charles Daniel Frey,

later of the Military Intelligence Division at Washington, and one of

the National Directors, attended the first meeting, and was selected

secretary of the committee.

_The Chicago Bureau, assisted by the American Protective League, has

conducted some of the most important investigations in the country.

It is my judgment that the convictions under war laws in the Chicago

district will equal that of any three cities in the country. While

comparisons are odious, I am referring to the record as a matter of

pride rather than egotism._

Topping the list with the famous I. W. W. trial, as late as May, 1917,

it was believed that the I. W. W. situation was one which should be

handled by the state authorities, but their activities and the history

of the organization were such that the Government undertook to follow

it up officially shortly after that time.

I was placed in charge of the investigation at Chicago. A branch bureau

was established in the McCormick Building, and assisted by a number

of Special Agents, we worked there continuously, not coming near the

Federal Building for eight or ten weeks, until on September 5, 1917,

the Government, through search warrant process under the Espionage Act,

raided I. W. W. headquarters in approximately one hundred different

places throughout the country simultaneously. The prosecution was in

charge of Special Assistants to the Attorney General, Frank K. Nebeker,

Frank C. Dailey and Claude R. Porter, as well as Oliver E. Pagan,

Indictment Expert and Special Assistant to the Attorney General, and U.

S. District Attorney Charles F. Clyne.

Indictments were subsequently returned. A trial, lasting a number

of months, was had, which resulted in convicting about one hundred,

or practically all of the active leaders of the I. W. W. movement,

ninety-seven of whom were sentenced by Federal Judge Landis and are

now serving sentences in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Cases are

pending, as this is being written, against other leaders of the I. W.

W. in Sacramento, Kansas City, Omaha and elsewhere.

In connection with the preparation of the evidence at Chicago, I take

this occasion to commend most highly the efficient, untiring assistance

of Special Agent George N. Murdock, of the Indianapolis office, who was

assigned to Chicago and relieved me of the investigating detail work

in December, 1917, and he continued to assist those in charge of the

case throughout the trial. Mr. Murdock is still Special Agent of the

Department of Justice, in active charge of the investigating work at

Sacramento, Kansas City, Omaha and elsewhere.

The Bureau of Investigation and the American Protective League are

very greatly indebted to the late Herman F. Schuettler, then General

Superintendent of Police of Chicago, for his competency and very great

assistance personally, also his entire Police Department, in helping

make the American Protective League a success in Chicago. The same is

true of John H. Alcock, former Acting General Superintendent of Police,

Morgan Collins, First Deputy Superintendent of Police, and other

officials of the Police Department.

I shall therefore not burden this memorandum except to call attention

to the famous Rockford draft cases, which resulted in the conviction of

about one hundred persons. (Rockford is the entry-point for Camp Grant

Cantonment.)

After war had been declared and during the discussion in Congress of

the Draft Act, the I. W. W. members and their sympathizers carried

on an active campaign against the Act, and when the Act was passed,

simply advised their members not to register. They were particularly

active in the Chicago Division, as well as around Rockford. To insure

carrying out their plans at Rockford, an all-day meeting and picnic

was announced for June 5 at Blackhawk Park for the purpose of keeping

their members and sympathizers together until after the close of the

registration booths in order to prevent their registration.

On June 6, 1917, Wait Talcott, Chief of the American Protective League

at Rockford, presented the facts to me and he was directed to request

the local authorities in Rockford to take steps to apprehend all those

who had not registered. Late in the afternoon three were apprehended

and locked up in the county jail. This act enraged the leaders of the

I. W. W. Meetings were held, demanding the release of the persons

in custody. Upon adjournment of the meetings the members marched in

a body through the principal streets of Rockford to the jail, about

a mile and a quarter away, and a demand was made to release the

prisoners. Upon the Sheriff’s refusal to do so, the mob incited a riot,

as a result of which, arrests were made of the leaders and persons

known to be in sympathy with the I. W. W. and placed in jail. About

one hundred and thirty-five arrests were made. At the time standing

room only was available in the jail. Sheriff Guy Ginders of Rockford

arranged with the Sheriffs of Boone and Stevenson Counties to accept

some of the prisoners. With this end in view special interurban cars

were chartered. Thirty-five were taken to Boone County, forty-five to

Stevenson County, and about thirty remained in the Rockford city jail.

Before the transfers were made all the glass in the windows of the jail

was broken and most of the plumbing wrecked. The leader, James Cully,

was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury, tried in the federal court,

found guilty, and sentenced to Leavenworth Penitentiary. A majority

of the balance were indicted by the federal grand jury for failure to

register, and about 107 were sentenced to a maximum of one year in the

Bridewell at Chicago.

_This case, together with the I. W. W. case at Chicago, makes a total

of 212 defendants convicted in two cases—a record, I believe, in the

Federal Courts of this country. The American Protective League aided

the Department in both of these important cases._

As I understand it, “The Web” will be a history of the League as an

organization rather than a work referring to any individuals connected

with it, but, nevertheless, I desire to say that in addition to Mr. A.

M. Briggs, both Captain Charles Daniel Frey and Mr. Victor Elting, who

later became National Directors at Washington, but who were Chief and

Assistant Chief respectively of the Chicago Division in its early days,

deserve the highest possible praise for the work done by them and the

sacrifices they made in putting the League on its feet. Mr. Robert A.

Gunn, formerly Assistant Chief, later Chief of the Chicago Division,

is also entitled to highest possible praise for his untiring devotion

to the service. Mr. John H. Winterbotham, Chairman of the Board of

Governors at Chicago, who was one of the first members of the League,

and who aided it in its financial development and other work, besides

traveling through a number of cities in the middle west, appointing

local chiefs of the League, etc., has done as much as any other man

to perpetuate and make the League a success. The League will never be

able to repay Mr. John F. Gilchrist, its Chief for many months during a

very trying period, for his able leadership and devotion to the work.

He was ever available, at all hours of the day and night, and with his

assistants is entitled to the credit for making the Chicago Division

what it is.

_Without exaggeration, I think the Chicago Division of the American

Protective League did seventy-five percent of the Government

investigating work throughout the war. It seems to me that this one

sentence covers the situation._

When Captain Charles Daniel Frey was Chief of the Chicago Division,

there was never a more active, energetic worker, and while I am not

personally familiar with his work at Washington, I feel sure it was in

keeping with what I know he did at Chicago.

In addition to working for all Government bureaus, and helping in

thousands of investigations, the League conducted a famous so-called

“Slacker Drive” in Chicago during the period July 11 to 15, inclusive,

1918, and apprehended, or caused to go to the local boards to

straighten out their records, 40,167 delinquents. The total number of

deserters and delinquents apprehended during the period of the war, or

taken to the local boards and inducted into the service, or permitted

to file their questionnaire, or register, totaled approximately 67,000.

Not one word of criticism was heard of the Chicago raid. During the

four days, approximately 200,000 persons between the ages of 21 and 31

were questioned. Hotels, cafés, saloons, baseball parks, moving-picture

theatres, railroad depots, and other places where people are wont to

congregate, were visited systematically and simultaneously throughout

the district. A few who were unnecessarily detained, or believed

they should not have been detained, instead of filing a protest,

congratulated the Department and stated that their slight inconvenience

was nothing to compare with the duty they owed to the community in

aiding the authorities in apprehending those who had not complied with

the law. The press, throughout the period of the war, aided the League

and the Bureau of Investigation in every possible way.

In addition to the automobile service rendered free of charge to

the Government by the American Protective League, there grew out of

this idea an organization known as the Emergency Drivers of Chicago,

composed exclusively of women who devoted their entire time and

machines, without cost to the Government, to driving the agents around

this vicinity. They maintained, from the beginning of the war down to

the present time, an office in the Rookery Building, and furnished this

Bureau with an average of fifteen to twenty automobiles per day. Mrs.

Frederick D. Countiss, whose husband, Mr. Frederick D. Countiss, was

also active in the American Protective League work, was responsible

for this organization, and subsequently Miss Florence Spofford was

Chairman of the Chicago Division. The organization was afterward taken

over by the American Red Cross, and is now known as the American Red

Cross Automobile Drivers, although, because of the manner in which

it originated, it has always maintained an independent branch in the

Rookery Building, over which Miss Spofford presided and which continued

to furnish assistance to this Bureau. Personally, I doubt whether there

is a single member of the American Protective League or emergency

driver who appreciates just how much this volunteer assistance has

meant to the Government during the war.

(Signed) HINTON G. CLABAUGH

_Chicago, December 15, 1918._

APPENDIX B

CONFIDENTIAL CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN PROTECTIVE LEAGUE AS FIRST

OUTLINED TO MEMBERS

Executive control of the organization is centered in a Board of

National Directors operating from National Headquarters at Washington,

D. C., in coöperation with the Department of Justice, and through it

with other departments and agencies of the Government; this Board

being established to coördinate the activities of the local branches

throughout the country.

Divisional headquarters are established in the various States to

coördinate the work of local branches operating throughout the

divisional territory; to keep in touch with the work of each; to

promote their efficiency and to render them practical assistance; and

to establish and maintain ready communication with Agents in Charge of

the Bureau of Investigation of the United States Department of Justice;

and to develop methods of operation.

The work of the American Protective League in the field is performed

through the local branches. The Chief of the Local Branch is appointed,

and is subject to removal, by the Board of National Directors. He is

the directing head of the organization and responsible therefor. He

will appoint an Assistant Chief; and, in his discretion, an Advisory

Committee.

Members of the organization must be American citizens of legal age,

of good character and absolute loyalty, who undertake to serve from

patriotic motives and without compensation. The reward of a member is

the opportunity to serve the Government in a responsible way in matters

of grave importance. The selection of members is a most important

duty devolving upon the Chief, both because the future efficiency of

the Local Branch is dependent upon its personnel, and because of the

potential danger involved in mistakes in enrollment. The interest of

the Government and the ability of the candidate to render efficient

service are the first considerations and are paramount to any

considerations of business, family or friendship.

Every member of the organization must subscribe and swear to the

formal oath before enrollment. This rule will be rigidly enforced

and no member will be recognized as such until this action has been

taken. The candidate will be sworn in before an officer qualified to

administer oaths.

Strict observance by members of the rules and regulations of the

organization is required. The Government must not be embarrassed

by unauthorized action of members in the attempted performance of

their duties. Experience has demonstrated the value of a Trial Board

consisting of disinterested and responsible members of sound and

unprejudiced judgment.

The Bureau of Finance procures the funds necessary for the work of

the organization from voluntary contribution of citizens, and has

charge of all expenditures. It is important that an accurate system

of requisition and voucher be installed and that all contributions

be strictly accounted for. Periodic audits should be made at regular

intervals. No volunteer member of the League should be allowed to

profit through his service.

Local Branches should not derive their revenue from any single person

or interest, but should secure them from various sources so that no

individual or business interest shall at any time be in a position to

dictate as to the personnel, policy or activity of the Local Branch.

Great care should be exercised that no alien enemy, or person in

sympathy with the cause of the enemy, be allowed to contribute money

and thereby discredit the organization. Experience has shown that

through appreciation of the protection afforded the community by a

competent local organization, adequate funds may readily be secured

from responsible citizens. Each Local Branch is self-supporting,

and will be requested to make its proportionate contribution toward

defraying the expenses of the National and Divisional Headquarters.

The efficient operation of these Headquarters, and their usefulness to

the Local Branches, require adequate quarters, equipment and clerical

assistance; and involve large expense for printing and distribution of

bulletins of instruction and other literature.

The Bureau of Law maintains an adequate corps of competent lawyers. It

advises operatives upon all matters relating to their work, including

questions of right and authority, the competency of evidence, etc. It

assigns individual attorneys to direct particular investigations, and

gives advice as to the construction of laws. It revises the reports

of operatives, and briefs the same for submission to the Bureau of

Investigation of the Department of Justice. In large and thickly

populated communities a zone or district system of organization has

proven most effective, members being assigned according to their

residence. Under this plan the territory is divided into inspection

districts, each under the command of an inspector. Each inspection

district is in turn subdivided into convenient territorial units, each

under the direction of a captain. Under each captain is a company

consisting of the requisite number of platoons, each under the command

of a lieutenant. No platoon should exceed ten men in size. Each

inspector is definitely responsible to the Chief for the territory in

his district, and each captain is responsible to his inspector for the

territory assigned to him. Cases for investigation within a district

are assigned to the inspector for that district and by him through a

captain to the men best fitted for the work. An auxiliary squad for

emergency work may operate directly from headquarters.

Experience has shown that a company under a captain should not exceed

fifty men. The organization of a company is indicated in the general

chart.

The Investigation Bureau should establish and maintain a close

association with the Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Investigation of

the United States in order to render the greatest possible assistance

to the Department of Justice. In the larger cities and wherever

possible it is highly desirable that a Special Agent of the Department

of Justice be assigned to the Local Branch to direct the work of

investigation.

It is the duty of each division chief to extend the organization

throughout the city within the lines of his department in such manner

as to attain so far as practicable the following ends: (1) the

enlistment of responsible persons of sufficient number in each bank,

business house and industrial plant of importance, whose sworn duty

it will be to promptly report through the proper channel all cases

of disloyalty, industrial disturbance, or other matter likely to

injure or embarrass the Government of the United States; and (2) the

establishment of an organization, through such means, which will at all

times be ready and able to assist the operation of the Investigation

Bureau of the Local Branch and of the Department of Justice when their

investigations shall require an entrance into and the securing of

information from such banking, business or industrial establishments.

In this Bureau large numbers of citizens will be enrolled, forming _a

WEB of communication_ throughout the community, by means of which quick

and responsible report will be made of any and all matters affecting

the welfare of the country during the present crisis. The duty of

members to report will extend to all industrial, social or political

plans or conspiracies, and to all other activities or utterances,

designed to embarrass the Government in the prosecution of the war.

In extending the organization each Division Supervisor, after his

enrollment, will prepare a comprehensive plan covering the ground

of his division. He will then proceed to enlist as Deputies under

him, a responsible man in each plant or business house within his

jurisdiction, such deputies to be executive officers of their

respective business concerns if practicable. The deputies after

enrollment will select as aids a reliable man in each department of the

business, preferably a superintendent, foreman or other man filling a

responsible position in his department. The deputies will then confer

with the aids and explain to them the nature of the organization and

the scope of their duties. The aids will suggest to the deputies the

names of several trusted employes in each department who are American

citizens of legal age and who, on account of their long service and

general character, can be relied upon for loyal service to the country

and the employer. The men so suggested as Reporters will not be

approached in the matter by the deputies or aids. After the selection

of the aids and reporters, the deputy will report his complete plan of

organization to the Chief of the Local Branch, and upon approval of the

organization the aids and reporters will be directed by the Chief to

attend at convenient times for the purpose of being sworn in.

The Real Estate Division reports all information secured by its

members, and furnishes investigators with facts connected with the

construction of buildings and occupations of and removals from office

buildings, houses and apartments.

The Financial Division includes banks, stock and bond houses and safety

deposit vaults, reports all information coming to its members, and

furnishes to investigators facts with regard to foreign transactions,

use of alien enemy funds and transactions with Germans. The department

will furnish valuable information in connection with the use of safety

deposit vaults by alien enemies.

The Insurance Division provides useful information through insurance

inspectors of the character and use of buildings and plants, and

reports upon casualties; it also provides life insurance data upon

individuals and details of marine insurance.

The Professional Division includes engineers, accountants, physicians

and other professions, and in addition to reporting information coming

to the knowledge of its members, is called upon for professional

assistance and advice in connection with work of the investigators.

The Hotels Division includes hotels, restaurants and theatres. The

division is organized so that responsible persons will be enlisted in

all departments of all of the hotels and restaurants. They will be able

to make prompt and reliable reports on the doings of all transients and

others connected with the hotels and restaurants.

The Transportation Division covers all railroads, shipping, taxicabs

and teaming. This division will report information and assist in

investigations throughout these interests.

The Public Utilities Division includes all lines and methods of

communication, including telephone, telegraph, wireless, electric

light, gas, elevated and traction lines and other local transportation.

The General Merchandise Division includes mail order houses, department

stores, retail and wholesale houses.

The Division of Industries is subdivided as follows: munitions, war

equipment, metal trades, lumber trades, electrical, packing houses,

grain, foodstuffs, chemicals and paints, and miscellaneous. The

Miscellaneous Subdivision will include, under separate deputies,

automobiles, building material, cigars and tobacco, coal, contractors,

leather, motion picture producers, paper trades, photographers, and

printers and engravers.

Any one of these subdivisions may be of sufficient importance in a

given community to constitute a separate Division. On the other hand,

many of the above divisions when locally unimportant may be included in

“Miscellaneous.”

The work of each Local Branch is under the responsible direction and

control of the Local Chief. He is responsible for the efficiency of the

work. It is essential that an Assistant Chief be appointed to counsel

with the Chief and to act with authority in his absence.

In cities of larger size an office in good location, convenient to

the Department of Justice, is desirable. An efficient organization

will readily command adequate financial support, and the work will be

carried on with less publicity and greater efficiency in an independent

office, suitably equipped. Adequate clerical and stenographic help

should be provided so that investigations and reports may be promptly

made.

In connection with the central office the services of volunteer

interpreters should be available at all times for translating papers

and interviewing witnesses.

Full coöperation with Government and police officials should be

promptly secured so that they may be quickly available in all cases of

emergency.

The work of the various Branches and Divisions should be coordinated

through the central office so that information or assistance of any

kind may be promptly secured at any time by any member from any other

department through the established channel.

Each Local Branch will operate in close coöperation with and under

the general direction of the Government Agent in charge of the nearest

office of the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice,

and all reports of investigations, unless otherwise directed, will be

made to him. The Local Branch will coöperate at all times, through

the Department of Justice, with other Governmental Departments and

agencies, but will undertake no work from them by direct assignment

except with the knowledge of the Bureau of Investigation of the

United States Department of Justice, or by instruction from National

Headquarters. It is the desire of the organization to render useful

service to all Departments of the Government.

_Members will always be mindful of the fact that they are acting in the

interests of the Department of Justice of the United States and conduct

themselves with dignity, tact and discretion. They must refrain from

words and conduct in any way calculated to bring the Government or the

organization into disrespect._

_The work of the members must be carried on wholly without publicity or

personal advertisement._

Members will not discuss cases assigned to them with other members or

officers of the organization, but will make their reports to their

immediate superiors. Members will not take outside individuals into

their confidence.

Members must not permit the source of information of any complaint, or

the name of the complainant, to be disclosed under any circumstances.

They will state in all cases where opportunity offers that neither the

American Protective League nor the Department of Justice will disclose

directly or indirectly to any person the name or the complainant or

any person giving information with regard to the suspect. This cannot

be too strongly impressed upon all persons with whom the organization

comes in contact.

No member shall inform the suspect or his family of the fact of the

investigation, or interview them regarding the subject of inquiry,

without direct authority from his Captain or Chief.

Members will not disclose to suspects, or to persons not connected

with the organization, the names of other members or officers of the

League. It is important that the work of the League be impersonal.

The enforcement of this rule is likewise necessary to safeguard the

officers and members of the League in their work.

Abuse of their credentials by members by public exhibition or otherwise

will be ground for immediate discharge from membership. The use of

such credentials under an assumption of authority for the purpose of

escaping penalties for automobile speeding, or otherwise, or to secure

special privileges in theatres, street cars and other public places

is likewise ground for dismissal. No member will be permitted by such

means to embarrass the organization in its work and in its relation

with public officials.

Members are not privileged through membership in the organization to

carry firearms or other weapons forbidden by law. The carrying of such

weapons at any time is wholly upon the responsibility of the individual.

No member will be exempt from military service under the requirements

of the Selective Service Regulations, or otherwise, by reason of his

membership in the organization.

Members will carefully avoid any representation, direct or indirect,

that they are Government officers; and will particularly avoid any

statement or implication that they are members of the “Secret Service

Department of the United States.” The American Protective League is

organized with the approval and is operating under the direction of the

United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation. It is not

connected with the Secret Service Division of the Treasury Department.

When making investigations after receipt of instructions members of the

American Protective League are authorized to state that they are making

the investigation “for the Department of Justice.”

Members of the American Protective League have no general powers of

arrest. They are investigators only, and have no greater power than

private citizens in the matter of arrests. As a general rule a citizen

can make an arrest without warrant where a felony has been committed in

his presence, but there is no authority for a citizen to make an arrest

without a warrant to prevent the commission of a misdemeanor, or for a

misdemeanor committed in his presence which does not amount to a breach

of the peace. At common law, and except where changed by statute, it

is the duty of every citizen to assist in preserving the public peace

and safety. Any citizen may arrest without a warrant one who commits

a breach of the peace in his presence, or where there is reasonable

ground for apprehension that the arrested person is about to commit a

breach of the peace. It is essential to justify such an arrest that

the offense committed shall amount to a breach of the peace, that such

offense shall have been actually committed or attempted in the presence

of the person making the arrest, and that the arrest be made at the

time when the offense was committed. No private person has the right

to make an arrest for a misdemeanor without a warrant after the event

or upon mere information or suspicion. The term “breach of the peace”

is a generic one, and includes riots, unlawful assemblies, riotous and

wanton discharge of firearms in the public streets, affrays, assaults,

the use of profane, indecent and abusive language on the street, and

in the presence of others, and other acts destroying public order and

tranquility. The right of citizens in this regard, however, depends

somewhat upon the Statutes of the several States and members should be

advised by their Local Chiefs of their authority in the premises. They

should act only where the regular police officers are not reasonably

available and where inaction may be productive of serious results.

Under the laws of the United States (Act of August 29, 1916; C. 418,

Sec. 3) it is lawful for any civil officer having authority under

the laws of the United States or of any State, Territory, District,

or possession of the United States to arrest offenders, summarily to

arrest a deserter from the military service of the United States. Under

the opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (C. 17327-1) a

citizen acting under an order or direction of a military officer may

apprehend a deserter, but a citizen, and this term includes a member of

the American Protective League, has no authority as such to arrest a

deserter from the army in the absence of a special request or direction

of a military officer.

It is seldom that the necessity for arrest arises. In such a case the

member will notify his Chief who will secure prompt action by the

proper authorities.

Cases will be assigned for investigation by the Chief to inspectors

and by them transmitted through the captains to the lieutenants, who

will assign them to the members best qualified for the particular

work. All reports must be submitted in writing through the lieutenants

and captains to the inspectors, and by the inspectors to the central

office. All reports of a confidential nature should be brought to the

office by the inspectors in person or by private messenger. In the

smaller cities where inspection districts are not created, the above

rules will be accordingly modified.

All investigations and reports are the business of the League and

must become matters of permanent record. They may not be suppressed

or destroyed, but must be disposed of in regular course through the

established channels of the Bureau of Investigation of the United

States Department of Justice.

Great opportunity for service is afforded the American Protective

League in reporting promptly and accurately all evidence of enemy

propaganda throughout the country. The League is in a peculiarly

advantageous position to secure this information and present it to the

authorities at Washington.

APPENDIX C

THE ORIGINAL CALL

The following was the first national summons sent out by Mr. A. M.

Briggs in the early days of the American Protective League:

I have been authorized by the United States Department of Justice,

Bureau of Investigation, to organize confidentially in your town,

a division of the American Protective League. You have been

recommended to me as a man possessing the necessary qualifications

to successfully organize and command the organization, and I will

be glad to have you accept the responsibility of building the

organization in your town and acting as its Chief.

The object of the American Protective League, which is entirely

a patriotic one, no member of which receives any compensation

whatever for his services, is to work under the direction of the

United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation, in

assisting the Department in securing information of the activities

of agents of foreign governments, or persons unfriendly to this

government for the protection of public property, etc., and any

other work that may be assigned to us by the Department at any

time.

Each local organization or Division of the American Protective

League will work under the direction of the Government Agent in

charge of the nearest office of the Department of Justice—and as

Chief of your local Division you will report daily or as often as

necessary, personally or by telephone, telegraph or mail, to your

nearest Special Agent of the Department of Justice.

Your organization should be made up only of American citizens of

high moral character and good standing in your community who are

willing to serve the organization from a purely patriotic motive

and without compensation. Your organization will be in your charge

as Chief and you will properly enroll and swear in each member of

your organization on enrollment blanks which you will keep on file

in your office. As soon as your organization is complete you will

please forward me a duplicate list of your entire organization,

with your name as Chief, with your Captains and Lieutenants and

the men enrolled under each Captain.

It is essential that the greatest possible secrecy be maintained,

both in forming the organization and in conducting it, and that

all arrangements must be kept as confidential as is practicable,

and, further, that great care must be taken by your entire

organization at all times that nothing is done by it or by any

member of it to unnecessarily alarm aliens in this country or

cause them any apprehension as to the fair manner in which they

will be treated, and that no arrests should be caused excepting

after consultation with the local Government Agent or his

assistants.

You will personally administer the oath to each member you

enroll and accept and at the same time assign to that member a

number,—enter his number on his enrollment blank, his commission

card and on the list you will later forward to this office. Start

with Number One, which is your number as Chief.

It is advisable that you consult with the Chief of your local

Police or ask your Government Agent to do so, so that the Chief

of Police may instruct his officers fully in reference to our

organization so that the commission card will be recognized

by the Police in cases where such recognition is desired. You

will, undoubtedly, find that your local Chief of Police will be

very glad to work with your men wherever his assistance may be

necessary in forwarding the interest of the Government.

It is the desire of the Government that every possible source of

information that may be of value to the Department of Justice

be thoroughly and efficiently covered by your organization in

your town and you will please use great care in the selection of

the Captains, Lieutenants and members of each Company so that

each Company can be depended upon to efficiently handle the work

assigned to it.

In forming your organization, bear in mind the great variety

of investigation that you are likely to be called upon by the

Government to make, and make your organization large enough to

thoroughly cover every business, manufacturing and other interests

in your town that in your opinion should be covered—so that you

will be immediately informed of any activity that may prove

directly or indirectly unfriendly to the best interests of the

Government.

You will handle the organization work along the most effective

lines possible. If convenient to do so please confer with

your Government Agent on the entire organization work. It is

unnecessary to call your attention to the fact that the greatest

possible speed consistent with thorough and efficient organization

is greatly desired by the Government.

Yours very truly,

(Signed) A. M. BRIGGS,

General Superintendent.

The selection of Chiefs was inaugurated by the following communication:

Acting under instructions from Bureau of Investigation, Department

of Justice, we are required to organize a separate branch of the

American Protective League in each town. Our method is to secure

the name of a live, aggressive patriot who is willing to undertake

the responsibility of organizing and acting as Chief of our branch

in his town, and then send him the enclosed letter which explains

the organization work and ask him to undertake the work. I will be

very glad indeed to have you act as the organizer and Chief of the

Branch of the American Protective League if you can and will do

so. Otherwise, I will be very glad to have you turn the enclosed

letter over to the man in your town whom you select as the best

fitted for this responsibility and have him write me at the above

address so that I can authorize him immediately to go forward with

the organization work.

We are sending you under separate cover enrollment blanks for the

enrollment of your organization. You will please personally fill

out one of these blanks and swear to it before a Notary signing

the oath in the presence of the Notary, then forward the card to

this office. After you have taken the oath yourself you will then

proceed to administer it to your men.

Enclosed herewith you will find your commission card as Chief of

your Division, which you will please sign at the same time you

take your oath, and retain. When you fill out your commission

card, please use the date on which you were appointed Chief.

As each member takes the oath, you will issue him a commission

card, filling in his rank either as Captain, Lieutenant or

Operative, and have him sign his card in your presence.

As each man is sworn in, you will please place his number on the

commission card. Please use great care that no commission card

leaves your possession until it is given to a member of your

organization after having been signed by him in your presence at

the time he takes the oath.

The matter of credentials was at first covered by a letter of

instruction from the Superintendent to all Chiefs:

The badges to be worn by the members of the American Protective

League will be ready for shipment within a few days. Your members

are not required to wear a badge if they do not care to do so. In

delivering the badges to your men, please caution them to wear

the badge concealed at all times and not to display it unless it

is necessary to do so while making their investigations. It is

advisable that you consult with the Chief of your local Police

or ask the local Government Agent to do so, so that the Chief

of Police may instruct his officers fully in reference to our

organization so that the badge will be recognized by the police in

cases where such recognition is desired. You will, undoubtedly,

find that the local Chief of Police will be very glad to work with

your men wherever their assistance may be necessary in forwarding

the interests of the Government.

It is directed that each member of your organization be sworn

in by you, taking the oath printed on the back of the enclosed

enrollment blank. Paste the oath at the top of a sheet of paper,

and as your men take the oath have them sign on the paper below,

together with the number that you will assign to each man. This

list you will retain in your possession, but as soon as you

have sworn in your entire membership, please send this office a

complete list of your members with their new numbers.

APPENDIX D

DIGEST OF THE AMENDED ESPIONAGE ACT AS PRINTED IN “THE SPY GLASS,”

JUNE, 1918

Signed by President Wilson on May 16, the amended espionage laws opens

a new chapter in the work of the American Protective League. For the

first time we have an inclusive law under which to operate—a law

broad enough in its scope and classifications to cover and define as

serious crimes a multitude of offenses which were classed as minor by

our peace-time code but actually offered serious hindrances to this

country’s military operations and preparations.

For the first time, too, heavy penalties have been provided for acts

and speeches which before could hardly be punished at all under the

law. Maximum sentences of twenty years imprisonment and $10,000 fine

are not to be taken lightly either by disloyal and pacifist citizens or

by unfriendly or enemy aliens who have made it their business, since

war was declared, to invent and circulate discreditable stories about

almost every phase of America’s war activities.

Disloyalty Now a Crime

No distinction is made between the disloyal talk or act of a

citizen and the hostile speech or deed of an alien, enemy or

otherwise. The act or speech is the offense and whoever commits it

must pay the penalty—though the law allows a good deal of latitude

to the court in determining the latter.

All this means a tremendous simplification of every member’s

labors. So far-reaching and important are the provisions of the

amended law—so clearly does it indicate the chief kinds of spying

and of propaganda which the League must combat, that the whole

catalogue of crimes may well be set down here for study and ready

reference in months to come. Omitting the preliminary enacting

clauses and breaking up the main section into handy paragraphs,

the amended law now reads as follows:

OFFENSES:

_I—False and Interfering Reports_

SECTION 3. Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall

willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with

intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military

or naval forces of the United States, or to promote the success of

its enemies,—

_II—Obstructing Bond Sales, etc._

—whoever shall willfully make or convey false reports or false

statements, or say or do anything except by way of bona fide and

not disloyal advice to an investor or investors, with intent

to obstruct the sale by the United States of bonds or other

securities of the United States or the making of loans by or to

the United States,—

_III—Inciting or Causing Mutiny_

—whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully

cause or attempt to cause or incite or attempt to incite,

insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the

military or naval forces of the United States,—

_IV—Obstructing Enlistments_

—whoever shall willfully obstruct or attempt to obstruct the

recruiting or enlistment service of the United States,—

_V—Attacks on Government, Flag, etc._

—whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully utter,

print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or

abusive language about the form of government of the United

States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the military

or naval forces of the United States, or the flag of the United

States, or the uniform of the Army or Navy of the United States,

or any language intended to bring the form of government of the

United States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the

military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag of the

United States, or the uniform of the Army or Navy of the United

States into contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute,—

_VI—Encouraging Resistance_

—whoever shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any

language intended to incite, provoke, or encourage resistance to

the United States, or to promote the cause of its enemies, or

shall willfully display the flag of any enemy,—

_VII—Curtailing Production_

—whoever shall willfully by utterance, writing, printing,

publication, or language spoken, urge, incite, or advocate any

curtailment of production in this country of anything or things,

product or products, necessary or essential to the prosecution of

the war in which the United States may be engaged, with intent by

such curtailment to cripple or hinder the United States in the

prosecution of the war,—

_VIII—Defending or Teaching Disloyalty_

—whoever shall willfully advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the

doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated,—

_IX—Supporting the Enemy_

—=and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of

any country with which the United States is at war, or by word or

act oppose the cause of the United States therein=,—

THE PENALTY:

—=shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or

imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both.=

An additional section of the amended law provides for the instant

dismissal of any official or employee of the United States who

commits a disloyal act or utters disloyal or unpatriotic language.

This is as follows:

Any employee or official of the United States Government who

commits any disloyal act or utters any unpatriotic or disloyal

language, or who, in an abusive and violent manner criticizes the

Army or Navy or the flag of the United States shall be at once

dismissed from the service. Any such employee shall be dismissed

by the head of the department in which the employee may be

engaged, and any such official shall be dismissed by the authority

having power to appoint a successor to the dismissed official.

No Mail For Propagandists

Plotting or propaganda by mail is made punishable by immediate

withdrawal of postal privileges from any individual or firm,

against whom satisfactory evidence is brought that he is violating

any provision of this new law. Conviction is not necessary:

evidence satisfactory to the Postmaster General is enough to close

the mails to the offender. Here is the amended section:

SEC. 4. When the United States is at war, the Postmaster General

may, upon evidence satisfactory to him that any person or concern

is using the mails in violation of any of the provisions of this

Act, instruct the postmaster at any post office at which mail is

received addressed to such person or concern to return to the

postmaster at the office at which they were originally mailed all

letters or other matter so addressed, with the words “Mail to

this address undeliverable under Espionage Act” plainly written

or stamped upon the outside thereof and all such letters or other

matter so returned to such postmasters shall be by them returned

to the senders thereof under such regulations as the Postmaster

General may prescribe.

An All-Embracing Clause

Read over the ninth clause of section 3 again: “whoever shall by

word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which

the United States is at war, or by word or act oppose the cause

of the United States therein—.” That clause alone serves to make

enemy propaganda or native-born sedition a hazardous undertaking

in any community where League members are awake and on the job.

Gone is the necessity of arguing and pleading with the pro-German,

the pacifist and the native-born disloyalist to speak with

straight tongues. Loyal citizens retain the right to free speech

and to honest and reasonable criticism of the Government’s actions

and policies. But indiscriminate abuse and lying reports of what

is happening here at home or overseas are going to stop. The

amended law is a powerful weapon put into our hands for that very

purpose.

Notice also that the word “willfully” is omitted in Clause Nine.

To convict a man of disloyalty or sedition, you will not have to

prove his disloyal or hostile intention. Like murder or burglary,

espionage and sedition are become positive crimes. No one who

commits them can plead innocent intent.

APPENDIX E

REMOVAL OF ALIEN ENEMIES

R. S. SEC. 4067 (as amended). Whenever there is a declared war between

the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion

or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened

against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or

government, and the President makes public proclamation of the event,

_all natives_, citizens, denizens, or _subjects_ of the hostile nation

or government, _being of the age of fourteen years and upward_, who

shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized, shall

be _liable to be apprehended_, restrained, secured and removed, as

alien enemies. The President is authorized, in any such event, by his

proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the conduct to be

observed, on the part of the United States toward the aliens who become

so liable; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall

be subject, and in what cases, and upon what security their residences

shall be permitted, and to _provide for the removal_ of those who, not

being permitted to reside within the United States, refuse or neglect

to depart therefrom; and to _establish any other regulations_, which

are found necessary in the premises and for the public safety. (Act of

July 6, 1798, Chap. 66, Sec. 1, Stat. 577. As amended by Act of April

16, 1918: Public No. 131—65th Congress: H. R. 9504.)

APPENDIX F

PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION REGARDING REGULATION OF ALIEN ENEMIES

Pursuant to the authority vested in me, I hereby declare and establish

the following regulations, which I find necessary in the premises and

for the public safety:

(1) An alien enemy shall _not have in his possession_ at any time or

place any fire-arm, _weapon_ or implement of war, or component part

thereof, _ammunition_, maxim, or other silencer, bomb, or explosive or

material used in the manufacture of explosives;

(2) An alien enemy shall not have in his possession at any time or

place, or use or operate any aircraft or _wireless apparatus_, or any

form of signalling device, or any form of _cipher code_, or any paper,

document or book written or printed in cipher or in which there may be

invisible writing.

(3) All property found in the possession of an alien enemy in violation

of the foregoing regulations shall be subject to _seizure_ by the

United States;

(4) An alien enemy shall _not approach or be found within one-half of

a mile of any Federal or State fort_, camp, arsenal, aircraft station,

Government or naval vessel, navy yard, _factory_, or workshop for the

manufacture of munitions of war or of any products for the use of the

army or navy;

(5) An alien enemy shall _not write, print, or publish any attack or

threats against the Government_ or Congress of the United States,

or either branch thereof, or against the measures or policy of the

United States, or _against the person or property_ of any person in

the military, naval, or civil service of the United States, or of

the States or Territories, or of the District of Columbia, or of the

municipal governments therein;

(6) An alien enemy shall _not commit or abet any hostile act_ against

the United States, _or give information_, aid, or comfort to its

enemies;

(7) An alien enemy shall _not reside in_ or continue to reside in,

to remain in, or enter any locality which the President may from time

to time designate by Executive Order as a _prohibited area_ in which

residence by an alien enemy shall be found by him to constitute a

danger to the public peace and safety of the United States _except

by permit_ from the President and except under such limitations or

restrictions as the President may prescribe;

(8) An alien enemy whom the President shall have _reasonable cause_

to believe to be aiding or about to aid the enemy, or to be at large

to the danger of the public peace or safety of the United States, or

to have violated or to be about to violate any of these regulations,

_shall remove to any location designated_ by the President by Executive

Order, _and shall not remove therefrom_ without a permit, or shall

depart from the United States if so required by the President;

(9) No alien enemy shall _depart from the United States_ until he shall

have received such permit as the President shall prescribe, or except

under order of a court, judge, or justice, under Sections 4069 and 4070

of the Revised Statutes;

(10) No alien enemy shall _land in or enter the United States_, except

under such restrictions and at such places as the President may

prescribe;

(11) If necessary to prevent violations of these regulations, all alien

enemies will _be obliged to register_;

(12) An alien enemy whom there may be _reasonable cause_ to believe

to be aiding or about to aid the enemy, or who may be at large to

the _danger of the public peace or safety_, or who _violates_, or

attempts to violate, or of whom there is reasonable ground to believe

that he is _about to violate, any regulation_ duly promulgated by the

President, or any criminal law of the United States, or of the States

or Territories thereof, will be subject to summary arrest by the United

States Marshal, or his deputy, or such other officer as the President

shall designate, and to _confinement_ in such penitentiary, prison,

jail, military camp, or other place of detention as may be directed by

the President. This proclamation and the regulations herein contained

shall extend and apply to all land and water, continental or insular,

in any way within the jurisdiction of the United States.

NOTE—Made applicable to _females_, who are natives, citizens,

denizens or subjects of Germany, by President’s Proclamation

of April 19, 1917, except that Regulation 4 was not to become

effective until such time as might be fixed and declared by the

Attorney General.

Transcriber’s Note:

Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have

been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal

signs=.