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
Some of us regretted that we could not do more for the Government,
for the work of the A. P. L. appealed very strongly to us. When we
saw the local Government situation, a number of us at once offered
to help. The outstanding feature of all this work was the absolute
cowardliness of the pro-German individual. In all our cases I
cannot recall one where anything like courage was displayed on the
part of the subject. The moment they realized they were confronted
by anything like authority their fear and their efforts at
self-protection were, to say the least, extreme. Individuals were
brought to the attention of the various departments who did not
understand and cannot to this day realize how the intimation was
received. They did realize, however, that there was authority back
of us. In many cases, the Military Intelligence Department called
us to their assistance where information could not be secured in
any other way. We also were able to help the Food Administration.
There is distinct food for thought in the closing remarks of the all
too modest Los Angeles chief, made before the dissolution date of the
A. P. L. was announced:
In conclusion, I will say that a great deal of good could be done
by some form of permanent organization of the A. P. L, or at least
the retention of a nucleus for a continuation of this work if
it becomes necessary. From time to time certain conditions are
certain to occur in this country, brought about either by war
measures or discontent among a certain class, which will require
drastic handling. The American Protective League can secure more
valuable information and better assist in bringing the attention
of the authorities to such facts than any other similar body of
citizens in the country.
These are words of gold and show the heart of Los Angeles to be
certainly in the right place. It is a new and troubled America that we
have all got to face now, with or without an A. P. L.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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