USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine county in the world war > Part 8
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Third Ward-Mrs. H. F. Foster, Mrs. H .E. Breckenridge, Mrs. L. F. Pierce.
Fourth Ward-Mrs. Jos. Prostrednik, Mrs. Albert Stoffel, Mrs. Fellows, Mrs. H. J. Cad- well.
Fifth Ward-Mrs. John H. Lutz, Mrs. Jens Jensen, Mrs. Christ Larsen, Mrs. Wm. Dittman.
Sixth Ward-Miss Millie Le Prevost, Mrs. Arthur Wilkins, Miss Margaret Seater, Mrs. Whalen.
Seventh Ward-Mrs. Frank Wtipil, Mrs. Gus Derrick, Mrs. John Konnak, Mrs. Nicholas Murray.
Eighth Ward-Mrs. M. S. Edmonds, Mrs. Harold Smith, Mrs. Clarence Ticknor, Mrs. Sherman Blandin, Mrs. A. J. Patton.
Ninth Ward-Mrs. M. J. Goepfert, Mrs. Wm. F. Kaiser, Mrs. F. L. Mitchell.
Tenth Ward-Miss Elizabeth F. Gittings, Mrs. F. A. Botsford, Miss Nan Gorton.
Eleventh Ward-Mrs. Arthur Ehrlich, Mrs. Thomas Hay, Mrs. Frank Kammerer.
Twelfth Ward-Mrs. A. J. Eisenhut, Mrs. John Overson.
Thirteenth Ward-Mrs. Eben Burroughs, Mrs. Harriet Harvey, Mrs. S. W. Chamberlin, Mrs. George Due.
Fourteenth Ward-Mrs. Thomas Powers, Mrs. John Pugh, Jr., Mrs. Fachko.
Fifteenth Ward-Mrs. J. Hanson, Mrs. J. O. Tobias.
County Territory-Mrs. Wm. Osborne, Mrs. C. B. Washburn, Mrs. Thomas Harcus, Mrs. S. B. Walker, Mrs. R. W. MeCracken, Mrs. Wesley Shepard, Mrs. Bullis, Mrs. Hawkins, Miss Flora Apple, Mrs. Dessie Wishau, Mrs. A. Lawer, Mrs. Clint Ellis, Mrs. C. G. Fancher, Mrs. Frank Fost, Iva Ives, Mrs. Mogenson, Mrs. George Smith, Miss Edith Carmen, Dr. Schreiber.
Child Welfare - Mrs. Willard T. Walker, Chairman; Mrs. Louise Smader, Mrs. P. H. Batton, Miss Mooney and Mrs. John Powers, Mrs. Mrvicka, Mrs. John H. Lutz Miss Millie LeProvost, Mrs. Frank Wtipil, Mrs. George Peterson, Mrs. Goepfert, Miss Borne, Mrs. Arthur Ehrlich, Mrs. M. Nelson, Mrs. Harriet Harvey, Mrs. W. P. Marr, Mrs. Diem.
Speakers Bureau-Mrs. E. E. Herrick, Chair- man; Miss Medora Roskilly, Miss Rose Webbers, Miss Louise Springhorn, Miss Rosa Pope, Mrs. Clarence Adams, Mrs. E. A. Cornwell, Mrs. George Van Wie, Mrs. I. B. Grant, Mrs. F. L. Stafford, Mrs. J. W. Owen, Mrs. J. W. Carter, Mrs. W. F. McCaughey, Miss Perkins, Mrs. W. H. Reed, Miss Ethel Estberg.
Publicity Committee-Mrs. David Griswold, Chairman; Mrs. M. M. Barnard, Mrs. Wm. Harvey, Jr., Mrs. W. F. MacGregor, Mrs. Harry Wilson, Mrs. W. F. McCaughey, Miss Hannun, Miss Wratten, Miss Lucy McCaughey, Mrs. Helen Haight.
Knitting Chairmen-Mrs. Louise Smader, Mrs. George Miller, Mrs. E. A. Taylor, Mrs. Charles Miller, Mrs. George Gates, Mrs. Gay- lord Shephard, Mrs. Clara Ticknor, Mrs. Louise Nelson, Mrs. Charles Nelson, Mrs. Mills, Mrs. B. Talbot Rogers, Mrs. LaPogevin.
Girls Motor Corps-Helen Van Arsdale Bebb, Major, Dorcas Miller, Captain; Helen Knight Townsend, First Lieutenant; Lucy McCaughey, Second Lieutenant; Pearl Trumbull, Hildegard Bauman, Helen Merriman, June Dietrich, Agnes Clancy, Alice Clancy, Josephine Carroll, Henri- etta Fuller, Bernice Greene, Margaret Breed, Florence Miller, Margaret Flett, Majorie Pauli, Marjorie Morey, Mrs. Opitz, Luella Ray, Zelda Stoffel, Alice Wackerhagen, Anna Van Arsdale, and Mrs. Arthur Ehrlich, Mrs. Walton Miller, Mrs. Willard T. Walker, Reserve List.
Bicycle Corps - Mrs. Helen Van Arsdale Bebb, chairman; Catherine Rugh, Beth Davies, Florence Mainland, Mildred Lewis, Betty Rus- sell, Jean MacGregor, Anona Driver, Sophia Wiegand, Letitia Rabe, Edna Gunther, Iona Johnson, Jeanette Tooman, Ruth Kisterous, Pearl Wickern, Delta Sorenson, Lorrian Olle, Anna Margaret Clifford, Polly Lewis, Julie
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
QUOTA FOR COLUMBUS BARRACKS JULY 16, 1918 FROM BOARD NO. 1
There were listed for entrainment the following :- Mike Ohanian. Louis E. Johnson. Tom Scarpelli. Chris Sorenson, Earle Anderson, William A. Scholzen, William E. Kamm, Spencer A. Mogenson, Carl A. Kuhnwald, Petro Lisa, Arthur G. Herman, John Jos. Frick, Joseph Vaine, Elmer Winsall, Louis J. Bohn. Theodore H. Firks, Walter Jensen, George Admadt, Sigurd E. Paulson, Joseph Garbo, Charles R. Howell, Henry Tessmer, Edward Santry. Alphonso Barca, Joseph Barina, Herman F. Gall, Fred Dacquisto, William Jensen, Peter Jensen, Frank Berg, Thomas J. Clark, Alfred Danzer, Frank Puglia, William C. J. Knolle, Chas. Bauer, Louis Cipelek, Kirkor Madaghian, William Drusen, Myron Lawson, Robert L. Ileeter, John Zilin, Otto G. Baker.
QUOTA FOR CAMP TAYLOR AUGUST 2, 1918 FROM BOARD NO. 2
There were listed for entrainment the following :- Steve John Steibel, Charles. J. Skewes, George J. Ratchford, Thomas Hal Greer, Louis Johnson, Fred Wilson, Frank S. Boxley. Harry Harold Lehnert, Joseph Wscienjewski, Ralph H. Kellogg, Dominic Zizniewecki, Ernie Berquist, Mike Klapinski, Byrnard Burroughs, Thomas Line Richards, Fred Henry Neitzel, Carl Albert Boernke, John E. Jensen, Frank Rzaczycki, Thorwald Sorenson, Paul L. Gabbey, John Plscuski, Peter Mathew Stracke, Roy Stewart,
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
White, Fluvia Nixon, Grace Cahoon, Helen Marr, Margaret Browne, Claire Murphy, Louise Cahoon, Katherine Dietrich, Collene Smith, Jean Murphy, Marjorie Alschuler, Katherine Ramsey; Reserve List, Florence Held, Lorraine Hunt, Rebecca Ellis, Jean Barnes, Isabella Hamilton, Josephine Dietrich, Katherine Marr, Beth Bloom.
Juvenile Protective Division - Miss Rosa Pope, Henrietta Wiechers, Sena Jensen, Ada Briggs, Margaret Eaton, Mrs. Archer, Gertrude
Fratt, Louise Jensen, Maud Wolcott, Madeline Sieger, Mrs. M. Griffith, Mrs. Goepfert, Miss Ruth Beckus, Miss Minnie Veth, Mrs. Miller, Miss Gertrude Hanson, Helen Blythe, Nettie Meljinek, Mrs. Margaret Anderson, Miss Lillian N. Sharp, Mesdames J. F. Clancy, Gruhn, Gaffey, George Gorton, Henry Hall, Miss Mat- tie Hermes, Jennie Hanson, Nellie Jones, Dr. Susan Jones, Miss Bertha Morgan, Anna Neit- zel, Mrs. Phippen, Mrs. H. C. Severance, Mrs. H. M. Wallis.
"nie in"
CHAPTER XII
AMERICAN PROTECTIVE LEAGUE
D ETECTIVE stories have a fascination for most red-blooded people. Some day the full story of the secret service work of the American government in war time may be published. That it will be intensely inter- esting is beyond any question.
Just as the voluntary organization of ex- emption boards throughout the country made the successful operation of the selective service law possible within a short time, so a volun- tary society of American business and profes- sional men, serving without pay and receiving not even public credit for their work, perform- ed the work of seeking for enemy agents; aid- ing draft boards; discounting enemy propa- ganda; enforcing the laws against sabotage and espionage; investigating the character of applicants for military and civil offices, and performing numerous other functions generally placed in the hands of the investigation division of the United States Department of Justice.
The name of this organization of civilian agents was the American Protective League. It had 300,000 active members in the country. It had half a hundred local agents in Racine county. It was the "eyes and ears of the gov- ernment." A. Bruce Bielaski, chief of the bureau of investigation, Department of Jus- tice, declares that the United States was the best policed country engaged in the war, and that in spite of the fact that the outbreak of the war found the government with only a few score operatives in the secret service branch.
The national organizers and directors of this league were A. M. Briggs, Charles D. Frey and Victor Elting. They got into communication with a few men of prominence and of un- questioned loyalty in each state. These men were asked to head a state division of the lea- gue. The state was then divided into local districts and a man chosen in each to act as local chief. He was told of the purposes of the organization and asked to name an assistant chief, and half a dozen captains who would be in charge of the operatives. Each captain then
recommended names of from ten to twenty operatives and a lieutenant or two. If they were approved by the chief, they were given necessary instructions and credentials after taking the oath of service.
This work of organization proceeded very rapidly. Soon every important county in the country had representatives at work. The op- peratives and local officers reported to the local chief. In many instances the operatives knew no members of the league other than those in his own squad.
The local chief reported directly to the gov- ernment department of justice office in his district, or to the national headquarters of the league at Washington, according to the na- ture of the matter in hand. Mail and tele- grams were franked. The league's telephone messages to headquarters took priority over all private calls.
It is a matter of regret that the membership of the Racine organization cannot be made public even yet. The chief is a prominent business man whose connection with the league was quite generally known or suspected. Some of the operatives were known as a result of their activities in specific cases. But many of the most effective workers were men in shops, or even members of alien societies and clubs whose efficiency was due to the fact that their connection with the league was never suspect- ed. Some allowed themselves to become ob- jects of suspicion. It is contrary to the policy of the government to permit publication of names of persons engaged in such work.
The work of the American Protective league was second in importance only to the military branches of the service themselves.
A brief recital of conditions at America's entry into the war will explain the necessity for a large secret service force of some kind in this country.
For three years the German and Austrian governments had been attempting to prevent the Allies from purchasing supplies in noutral
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
nations. The legality of such sales could not be questioned under international law, but the Central Powers were proceeding on the prin- ciple that necessity knows no law. When the submarine blockade, so-called, did not prevent these shipments from reaching England and France, it was decided to have secret agents destroy machinery, burn factories and ships, create discord among workmen, "corner" raw material and interfere with transportation service. This disregard for the rights of a friendly people was one of the causes of our entry into the war.
In our own population were many families of German birth or descent who sympathized with the Fatherland to some degree early in the war, and most of them had been taught from childhood to hate Great Britain and France. When the Central Powers appeared to be gaining a military victory, they were pleased and said so. While not entirely proper in a neutral country like ours, there was no way of preventing this. The right of free speech is guaranteed to all in times of peace. Funds were raised for German Red Cross work and for German charities in America, just as they were for French and Belgian charities. This sort of thing tended to solidify the Ger- man-American element and encouraged many of them to express openly their hopes for a German victory in the war. When America was forced into the war, this situation im- mediately assumed a grave character. Those who had been shouting for Germany did not feel like changing their tune at once. Besides those who were actually enemies at heart, and perhaps under pay of the German govern- ment, there were many who were on record as being anxious to see the Kaiser victorious.
It was essential that reports be made upon every one of these men and women; that the traitors and spies be jailed or interned; that other pro-Germans be warned and made to keep quiet; that the many rumors about Ger- man-Americans be investigated and the truth sifted from the falsehoods. It was, obviously, too big a job for the small secret service force. It was also realized that there would be soon a tremendous work in sight in connection with the enforcement of the selective service law and registration of aliens.
When the American Protective league offered its service to the Department of Justice, the offer was accepted. As a result, they later put on the job a quarter of a million high-class, intelligent men eminently suited for the work, and yet they were the sort who in ordinary circumstances could never have been hired by
the government. Their accomplishments more than justified the confidence placed in them.
Operatives scattered in every shop and office, in hotels and banks, working on railroads and boats, and members of lodges and societies, quickly made reports on all seditious utter- ances. They investigated complaints against alleged German sympathizers. They passed upon the loyalty of all candidates for commis- sions and government positions. They traced to their source the numerous stories circulated with intent to injure the morale of army and citizens. They prepared evidence regarding suspects. They inquired into the business of men travelling from place to place for mysteri- ous purposes. They unearthed the names of all who had contributed to German war work, and of German reservists in America.
When their facts were assembled and writ- ten-and only provable facts were accepted- they transmitted them through their local chiefs to the governmental agencies. The chief often added his recommendation as to desirable action. The government then con- cluded the case-procured an indictment, re- leased a suspect, published facts to counteract some enemy lie, interned an enemy alien, or continued the investigation through other chan- nels, as the case might be. The league mem- bers did not make arrests; they gathered evi- dence.
Aside from the actual work done the league had a tremendous effect upon enemy activities in this country because it soon became appar- ent that the government had "eyes and ears" everywhere; that it was dangerous to indulge in seditious remarks anywhere. No one knew who the federal agents were, but it was evident that they were numerous and in every conceiv- able place.
The reports sent out from the Racine branch to the department of justice were numbered in the hundreds. A few examples of the duties of operatives may be cited:
A circular from headquarters asked all local operatives to be on the lookout for a foreigner wanted elsewhere. He was suspected of seek- ing information in factories making products for the government. It was found that this man had been in Racine, stopping at a local hotel. The suspect had paid a bill with a check. Inquiry at a bank here showed he had deposited $5000 in a lump at that bank. The league arranged to watch that account. A few days later a check for the total balance was drawn on the local bank in favor of a bank in an Ohio manufacturing town. The local league chief notified the department of justice. It
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
OR'S
FICE
CITY
20
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QUOTA FOR CAMP GRANT ON MAY 27, 1918 FROM BOARD NO. 1
There were listed for entrainment the following :- Gustave Kuhnwald, Mihran Dedian, Anthony Viccie, Guida Falasuski, Edward A. Christensen, llerman O. Schacht, Vincenzo Di Ganrdis, Ralph R. Oxholm, Edward P. Goetz, Charles Gramlich, Einer C. Hauson, Peter Umbros, E. C. Christensen, Simon Kenosian, Fred Schmidt, Natale Giardiano, August Wolff, Albert Kahlo, George J. Dubuque, George B. Riersen, William F. Rick, Henry J. Benz, Louis F. Mehlhouse, Takes Barsamian, Harry B. Peterson, George Meliotis, John Harian, Nicola Riviello, Louis Otika, Mihran Bashirian, Richard O. Manser, Nels C. Nelson, Ilarry Jensen, Phillip Peterson, William E. Lange, Carl A. Fischer, Otto F. Luedtke, Christ N. Poulson, Kalustad Dadian, Joseph M. Yunkes, Daniel F. Austin, Charles Zobac, Frank Giller, Arthur C. Rohrberg, Mike Kechichian, Achille Migliante, Herman Christen- sen, Charles F. Gersonde, Harry Dergarian, John Peter Nelson, Herman Taroshofsky, Carl Christensen, Krikor Krikorian, Peter Hanson, Irven Baumann, Fred Janecek, Mogens Larson, Charles Sindelar, Fred Reichert, Robert Glenn Wilson, William J. Weber, Albert Helland, Marius J. Thomsen, Charles Kannenherg, Herman Bunke, K. Oswald Rasmussen, Biagio Marnelli, Ray L. Haag, Ed. Kruppstadt. Peter Yenidunian, Clarence Wiedebach, W. H. Schmidt, H. A. P. Desens, John Tauskiela, E. H. Sanders, Geo. Miller, Wm. Wilson.
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
notified the Ohio league agents. They located the man and put him under surveillance. Evi- dence was found that he was using the money for bribing employes of factories engaged in war work. The secret service was given the evidence. They siezed the man. His fate is not known here. The ultimate outcome of but few cases was known to the league members, as the government did not often report results to the organization.
Late in July 1918, the league branches were told to take steps to round up all slackers and draft evaders; to carry out the "work or fight" rule. The Racine branch chose thirty citizens to act as squad captains, and one hundred state guardsmen and fifty Spanish War veterans to assist. They were summoned quietly to the court house, and the squads formed. The three companies of men supposed they were to take part in a parade to greet a visiting notable.
On the night of August 3, all these men were ordered to report at the Lakeside auditorium. Thirty automobiles were waiting near the junc- tion, supposedly to meet a delegation of Great Lakes Jackies and hand. The raiding squads were told that they were to pick up slackers. Each squad had certain blocks in which to oper- ate. All instructions were given quietly. The autos then came to the auditorium, picked up the raiders and carried them to their scenes of operation. Within fifteen minutes the round- up had commenced. Every man of draft age who did not have a registration card with him was taken to the auditorium. There he was examined, and if he could not produce proof of his identity and of being properly register- ed, he was required to produce the necessary witnesses or was turned over to the police.
Many humorous and semi-tragic incidents occurred. For several days the newspapers had carried notices that all men within the draft age should carry their cards with them at all times, so no excuses were accepted. Men coming from theaters were taken away from the sides of girls they had escorted. One man stepped from an automobile containing his wife and baby, to do some shopping. He was nabbed and unable to return to his waiting and much worried spouse for nearly two hours. A blonde young man wept copious- ly as he told the investigators that he was "in bad" with his wife and had only been allowed to go down town that evening on his promise to be back at 10 o'clock. He feared he never would be allowed to go out of the house alone again. He didn't get home until midnight, but a league representative went with him to ex- plain to the wife that her recreant husband had
not been carousing but was "engaged in gov- ernment business and unavoidably detained."
Out of 1500 men rounded up that night, seventeen were put in the custody of the police as slackers, suspects or unregistered citizens.
Congress provided the Department of Jus- tice with efficient instruments when it passed the espionage act and the anti-sabotage act. These made it a crime to assist an enemy, talk against the government, discourage enlist- ments, interfere or attempt to prevent bond sales, attempt to prevent manufacture of goods needed by the government in the war, interrupt transportation service, or otherwise hamper the carrying on of the war. With these defi- nite laws on the books, the operations of enemy sympathizers slowed down to a marked de- gree, and it was possible to promptly arrest and punish violators. Reports were made on the character and activities of almost every- one in Racine suspected of enemy sympathies. These reports were favorable to the suspect in many cases, but frequently they resulted in having the man called "on the carpet," at Mil- waukee or Chicago and warned by a United States district attorney as to what was ex- pected of him. In a few instances Germans or Austrians were taken from the city in custody of secret service agents and never returned again.
A fruitful source of information relative to men's views on the war was the reports from civilian committees selling government securi- ties-Liberty Bonds and Savings Stamps. Fre- quently men would supplement their refusal to buy bonds with some remark to the effect that they didn't "propose to give money to help England oppress poor Germany," or that "America has no business in this war." Oc- casionally boys who were planning to enlist would repeat the story of how some one ad- vised them not to enter the army or navy "be- cause Germany was sure to win, and American transports were certain to be sunk." All these things were followed up to see whether the man making the comment was inspired by real feelings of treachery to America, or whether he merely had expressed himself more em- phatically than was intended, due to some temporary excitement.
Enemy propaganda was the most difficult thing with which to deal. No satisfactory method could be found to reach it without cur- tailing freedom of press and speech. Warn- ings from the department of justice generally had a salutary effect upon persons circulating harmful stories.
The Protective league did its share in con-
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WAR
WORLD THE
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QUOTA FOR CAMP CUSTER SEPTEMBER 22, 1917 FROM BOARD NO. I
There were listed for entrainment the following :- Williom Arndt, George W. Baumann, Philip Banoosis, Frank Benicak, Paul Boares, J. M. Bowman, Joseph Buenger, Edwin J. Buetow, Antonio Caruso, Edward F. Duray, Oscar II. Fischer, Otto Halberstadt, Francesco lolongo, John Kutischko, John Manalli, Sarkis Markarian, Nerses Matosian, Lars K. Meyer, George Miller, Lauritz Molbeck, Carl O. Newman, Harry F. Newell, John J. Nelson, Leslie D. Nelson, Jack Noruss, John Victor Nyberg, Alexander Nygren, Manoog Ohanian, Leslie G. Peterson, A. G. Putterville, Martin Price, Henry Santuro, Louis Sabo, John E. Schaefer, Louis Silver, Jr., T. Levi Sorenson, Peter Szimanski, Steve Thravalos, Walter L. Tolfson, Mike Zicorelli, Louis J. Ziegler, Ernest Hanson, Peter Mortenson.
RACINE COUNTY IN
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QUOTA FOR CAMP GREENLEAF SEPTEMBER 3, 1918 FROM BOARD NO. 2
There were listed for entrainment the following :- Carl P. Ilansen, Inzvard Nordentoft, Harold Arthur Gressing, Raymond Ed. Heilemann, Fred DeBroder, John Philip Broecker, Edward Thomas Clarey, Konstant Kotowski, Joseph Kral, Alexander Stelman, Andrew Anderson, Clarence Thronsen, Holger Berthelsen.
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
trolling the menace of I. W .W. agitators and a few other anarchistic and revolutionary workers during the course of the war. Such menaces could be reached only through some such organization, which would be able to place agents on the inside of secret societies and gain the confidence of the promoters. Af- ter this was done, the task of scattering the members and breaking up their organizations was not impossible.
The American Protective league remained in effect after the armistice. It was disbanded officially on February 1, 1919, when it received the thanks of the department of justice and the military intelligence department of the army. Most of the members will never receive any public acknowledgment of their valuable work. At the most they will only have as souvenirs the little badges which were used in emergencies to identify the wearers to mem- bers of police departments or government secret service bureaus. These agencies placed full confidence in the league and acted hand in hand with it.
The national directors, in closing the affairs of the league stated in part:
"The mainspring of action of the American Protective league has been voluntary subordi- nation to authority, and strength rather than weakness has developed. The unquestioning performance of arduous tasks; the cheerful ac- ceptance of rulings on debatable questions of policy and the complete self-effacement of most of the members contribute an inspiring chapter to the league's work in the war. We admire beyond words the spirit that endured in silence when everywhere about was the ex- citement of work in the open, crowned with public praise. Other citizen leaders and work- ers were known in their communities and re- warded with open gratitude of their neighbors. Others marched with waving flags or spoke from the public platform. Not so with mem- bers of the league. So far as their daily work in the public view was concerned, their lives gave no answer to the question, 'What are they doing to win the war?' But their spirit en- dured and they should have the thanks of a grateful country."
The very fact that unseen forces were busy in Racine to root np enemy works and silence enemy advocates was sufficient to start the "rumor factories" working overtime. Almost the first week of the war, stories spread like wild fire affecting the awful fate of certain prominent citizens of German extraction. So rapidly did these tales spread that there was no chance to stop them. In April, 1917, a man
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