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
Mr. George S. Blanchard was first Chief of the Dayton Division. In the
early days of April, 1917, he was talking with a friend from St. Louis
and during the conversation asked him what he was doing toward the
progress of the big war. His friend replied that he had gone into the
American Protective League, which had just been organized in St. Louis.
The remark set him to thinking that probably an organization of this
kind could be effected in Dayton. The League at that time was in a very
primitive state. That is to say, the desire to assist the Department of
Justice was there, but neither the League nor the Department of Justice
had yet been able to work out the best method by which inexperienced
citizens could assist in Federal investigations. Mr. Blanchard visited
the divisions of the League at Columbus, Ohio, Chicago, San Francisco,
New York City and other places, and called a number of times for
conferences at National Headquarters. The mode of conducting operations
as determined by experience and observation of the work carried out
by other divisions and as directed by National Headquarters was as
follows: Alien Enemy; Pro-German; Draft Board Matters; Vice and Liquor;
Military Coöperation; Food and Fuel; Suburban; War Risk Allotments;
Headquarters; Flying Squadron; Character Investigations.
The general direction of the work was made by the Chief. The work was
then carried out by ten different divisions, each governed by a Captain
with as many Lieutenants and operatives as his work demanded. Later
came the general division of all workers into two classes—Investigation
and Information. The captains, lieutenants and active members were
taken from the investigators. In October, 1918, Mr. Blanchard resigned
as Chief of the Dayton Division to enlist in the Motor Transport Corps
of the United States Army, being succeeded by Mr. Frank Schwilk, who
carried on the work very successfully.
During a war drive, an operative, No. 161, called on a Mr. B——, who
had refused absolutely to give a cent, although financially able to
contribute. Operative reports: I questioned him as to why he would not
give, and he replied:
“Why should I give? I don’t live here anyhow. My body belongs to God
and He told me not to give.”
“That’s all right,” replied the operative, “but you have citizenship
here, have you not?”
“No. I vote in Heaven. You can take me and place me in jail, but Christ
will take care of me.”
“If the Germans came down the street and were about to strike down
your children and take away your wife, what would you do,—sit down and
allow it?”
“I could not raise a hand against them because God tells me not to
strike my enemies, so the Germans could do as they saw fit.”
“Religious crank—what’s the use?” asks the operative.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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