The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective LeagueHough, Emerson
History
The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective League
Hough, Emerson
American Protective League; Propaganda, German; World War, 1914-1918 -- Secret service -- United States
When we went to war, the militant Chicago Germans did not change—they
simply submerged, German fashion; that was all. Then Chicago dropped
her paravanes—spread down her WEB—to guard against under-surface
attacks.
Once firmly established, the Chicago Division grew by leaps and bounds.
On March 22, 1917, the first definite steps were taken toward the
formation of a compact organization. Captains were appointed by Mr.
Briggs, and these in turn organized their own working squads. Mr.
Clabaugh was now beginning to get some of the assistance he so sorely
needed.
Then, on April 6, came war. Followed the days of swift expansion and
organization which have been covered in the preceding pages. Every day
saw new men enrolled, big men, men eager to contribute time, money,
experience, brains, energy and faithfulness. This is the story of the
whole League, and this is Chicago’s story, too.
On April 10, Mr. Charles Daniel Frey was appointed a captain in the
Chicago Division, and shortly afterward, Mr. Victor Elting came into
the organization as an appointee of Mr. Frey. Two months had now
passed since the first Chicago operative had gone forth on an official
mission. Chicago Division was demonstrably a success. Yet something
more was needed. Work was piling up faster than personnel. It was
now patent that Chicago must have a larger, stronger organization—an
organization under direct executive control which would do its work
with efficiency and business-like despatch. System was needed; speed
was needed—and men. On May 22, as a first step in the reorganization,
Mr. Briggs appointed Mr. Frey as Chief of the Chicago Division and Mr.
Elting as Assistant Chief.
Mr. Frey and Mr. Elting thereupon developed a comprehensive plan of
organization for the Chicago Division—a plan which was adopted in its
main outlines by almost all of the large cities. Chicago was divided
into zones, and an Inspector was appointed to direct and supervise the
work in each zone. Bureaus were established covering the whole range
of League operations. Bankers, railroad men, merchants, professional
men—leading men from every sphere of activity were placed in charge of
bureau work for which they were especially fitted.
The League was now a going concern in Chicago. That it should become
national in every sense of the word was inevitable. In October,
1917, Mr. Frey and Mr. Elting joined Mr. Briggs in Washington and,
in conference with the Attorney General of the United States, it was
decided to establish National Headquarters in the Capital. The three
men who were responsible for this great step became the national
directors of the League. Pending the appointment of a Chief and
Assistant Chief for the Chicago Division, Mr. R. A. Gunn, who had made
a most efficient record as an Inspector, was appointed Acting Chief.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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