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
In this work on the neutrality cases Mr. Clabaugh and his volunteer
aids often were in Washington together. The Department of Justice, so
far from finding this unasked civilian aid officious, gladly hailed it
as a practical aid of immeasurable value. It became apparent that the
League was bound to be national in every way at no late day.
All this meant money. But America, unasked, opened her secret purse
strings. Banks, prominent firms, loyal individuals gave thousands
and hundreds of thousands of dollars for a work which they knew must
be done if America was to be safe for decent men. And so the silent
army of which you never knew, grew and marched out daily. Your house,
your neighbor’s, was known and watched, guarded as loyal, circled as
disloyal. The nature of your business and your neighbor’s was known—and
tabulated. You do not know to-day how thoroughly America knows you. If
you are hyphenated now, if you are disloyal to this flag, so much the
worse for you.
It early became plain to manufacturers and owners of large industrial
plants of all sorts that they were in immediate danger of dynamite
outrages. Many plants agreed to present to the League monthly a
considerable checque to aid the work of safeguarding. Many wealthy
individuals gave additional amounts. A very considerable sum was raised
from the sale of badges to the operatives, it being explained to all
that they were sold at a profit for the benefit of the League. At all
times large amounts came in, raised by State or local chiefs, each of
whom knew his own community well. On one day in October, 1917, a call
went out to 6700 members of the League to meet on a certain evening at
Medinah Temple in Chicago, admission to be by credentials only. That
meeting was addressed by Chiefs and others. In a short time $82,000
was raised. Later on, certain bankers of national reputation—F. A.
Vanderlip of New York, George M. Reynolds of Chicago, Festus Wade of
St. Louis, Stoddard Jess of Los Angeles, and others—sent out an appeal
to the bankers of America in the interests of the League. This perhaps
would of itself have raised a half million more, but it came among
Liberty Loan activities, and before it was fully under way, the news
of the Armistice broke, which automatically ended many things. But the
American Protective League had money. It can have all the money it may
need in any future day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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