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
One of the colony of wealthy men who had built palatial homes in and
around Santa Barbara was a certain millionaire who had what might be
called advanced ideas or free thinking tendencies. Early in the year
1917, Mr. H—— associated himself actively with the pacifist movement.
He had, as a co-agitator, a reverend doctor who was pastor in a church
at Santa Barbara. They both printed pamphlets in opposition to the war,
and finally came out with a book which was a very violent denunciation
of war in general. The two gentlemen divided the authorship of this
book, H—— doing the first part and G—— the second. Reverend G—— had
the advantage of also being able to deliver sermons from the pulpit.
He denounced the United States Government and referred to the American
flag as a “worthless rag.” After we had declared war with Germany these
men kept on with their activities, hence A. P. L. took their cases
under advisement with instructions from the Los Angeles Department of
Justice. There were hundreds of operative reports turned in on these
two men.
After a time another book, published by H——, came out—a very violent
arraignment of the Government for its stand in the war, and very hot
anti-draft literature. These publications attracted to H—— and G—— a
large number of the weak-minded people who affiliated themselves with
the “Fellowship of Reconciliation”—a society which ought to go strong
in Berlin, now that the war is over.
Reverend G—— was expelled as the pastor of his church, following a
very seditious letter which he wrote, saying that he had relegated
the American flag to the flames, expressing sympathy with I. W. W.,
and opposition to the draft. It has always been understood that the
climate of California attracted a great many people, and the state has
always seemed to be prolific of great differences of opinion among
those people, but when it comes to a minister of the gospel uttering
such things as these, it is going a little strong even for the most
free-thinking country in the world.
The H—— case kept on attaining proportions, and heavy shipments of
literature were made into Santa Barbara and distributed out of that
city to various points. All of these shipments were followed and full
reports were made. In the latter part of 1917, another reverend doctor,
F. H——, and one C. H. B——, became active associates with the foregoing.
Pacifist meetings in Los Angeles were raided, and all these parties
managed to get themselves arrested on a charge of disturbing the peace.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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