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
The character of this work differs in no way from that of the
Department of Military Intelligence having to do with Negative
Intelligence. In the one hundred local divisions referred to,
the number of cases investigated and reported upon were 62,888,
and upon the percentage basis, the number handled throughout the
country would be 440,216.
The League has likewise exerted itself in enlisting the aid of the
public in reporting enemy activities, disloyalties and evasions of
the war statutes. In various cities, bulletins have been posted
in prominent places, including street cars, office buildings and
places of public gathering, requesting citizens to report to
the American Protective League all such cases coming to their
knowledge. Much important information resulted from this practice.
Because of the fact that the members of the League continue to
follow their daily vocations and maintain their normal connections
with the community, they are afforded unusual opportunities for
the investigation of radical organizations of all kinds. The
League has been able to introduce members into all of the more
important organizations, and to report upon their policies and
activities as well as upon the activities of individual members.
The number of investigations of this character carried on in
the one hundred divisions referred to were 3,645; or 25,515 for
the entire country. As most of these were extended, and in many
cases involved a complete report upon the local organization as
a whole, the figures represent a very considerable amount of
work. Under this heading are included investigations of the I. W.
W., the W. I. I. U., pacifist organizations of many kinds, the
Peoples Council, the League of Humanity, the Non-Partisan League,
the Russellites and certain Socialistic movements. Sabotage
investigations and conscientious objectors are also included.
In connection with the development of the overseas service
of the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, Jewish
Welfare, Salvation Army and other civilian organizations of like
character, the necessity arose for the careful investigation of
the character, history and connections of civilian applicants to
such service. Fortunately, the Military Intelligence finally took
over the entire work of passing upon the character and loyalty
of applicants, and relieved the League of the responsibility of
directly advising the organizations concerned of the outcome of
the investigations. The Military Intelligence then called upon the
League as its agent to make the larger part of the investigations.
By this method the name of the investigator and of the individual
responsible for the decision remains undisclosed, and the judgment
is in that sense impersonal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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