Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-12-04
ASK AMERICAN
DEFENSE SOCIETY
WEDNESDAY,, THURSDAY, FRI
DAY REGISTRATION DAYS
IN BONNERS FERRY
OUTLINE ORGANIZATION PLAN
Will Register Women of the Outside
Districts.

5; E. Henry of this city, today
made public request received from
Richard Nj. Hurd, Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the American
Defense Society, urging citizens here
to organize a local vigilance corps,
for the purpose of aiding the govern
ment in putting an end to German
propaganda and enemy activity which
has been responsible for fires, am
munition plant explosions, sabotage,
food scares and other attempts to
damage the morale of the American
people.
Recent events in this country
make it plain that the German
method of propaganda which has
been so effective in Russia and Italy
is now being attempted in this coun-
try with an alarming degree of sue
cess" according to the appeal to
Americans now being issued by the
American Defense Society. German
propaganda has long been supplied
to our troops in the national encamp-
ments. The ship-building program
| ly inspired strikes. Germans are
directing the boarding of food sup
plies to an extent that panics have
already been prevalent in the leading
cities. Newspapers are giving daily
reports of fires in ammunition plants
and grain depots and the country
is now on the verge of an even great
er calamity in the shape of railroad
strike Of unprecedented extent which
threatens to cripple our national in
dustry"
The far-reaching need of the local
Vigilance Corps can readily be seen
when 1t is known that in this country
alone there are today several million
alien enemies representing Germany,
Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey and other
countries sympathetic or allied with
the Plussian autocracy. Almost with
out exception these enemies are free
to go about as they see fit, and
while the government has done much
toward Tightening the censorship of
mails and cables, nevertheless there
are numberless channels by which
these enemies are in touch with the
directing genius of German propa-
ganda in Berlin.
. Ii Americans mean to stand by the
men at the front, whose lives are
already being sacrificed, and to stand
by their government, the opportu-
nifty is offered in the additional SER
vice they can give to this work of
the American Defense Society.
The plan of organization under
taken by the society and recommend
ed to loyal Americans provide for the
enrolment of a small American Vigil
lance Corps in every city and town
which shall classify all residents I'M
der the following terms:
. 1. Loyal.
> 2. Disloyal.
! 3. Doubtful.
. 4. Unknown.
( Following the general classifica-
4 ton of citizens the committee is
! urged to make further designation
of the following list:
r l. Alien enemy.
2. Pro-German.
: 3. Anti-Government.
[ In the letter of instructions to
branch organizations the executive
/ committee of the American Defense
Society gives the following directions
- AT. the earliest possible moment
= when you have made your classifi-
cation of alien enemies, ro-Germans,
= and those opposed to the government
r in this war, send this list to the
K police department, the local repre-
S sentative of the department of Justice
and to whatever representatives of
r the army or navy intelligence bureaus
p there are In your community. Do not
S let this matter rest, however, with
S this first classification of the enc
e mics. Too much stress cannot be
r put on the Importance of having your
t own Vigilance Corps take steps tc
e watch alien enemies, pro-Germans
+ and those opposed to the government
II Only. by such cooperation will YOU
: be able to give effective aid to the
It government. Take every means you
5. can to let the people of your city
J. know the names of our enemies"
IS Unofficial announcement has al
It ready been made at Washington thai
n the government is about to register
V the alien enemies in America. You
d committee already having acted alonl
e such lines, will naturally be in ;
It position greatly to aid the govern
> ment census when such a censu:
II is taken. No doubt many attempt:
o VIII be made to evade the officia
? government census and information
e. on the enemies in your community
" will therefore be of greatest value.
You are enjoined to watch tn,
speech, associations and activities O.
every man whom you may suspect O.
disloyalty and to send in the imme
date report For further informa
m ton and instructions regarding tn,
I work of the Vigilance Corps of tn
IS American Defense Society address
Ell National Headquarters, A East 23r,
ID Street, New York City"
t. L. G. Bruce left yesterday for Buf
n falo, N. Y, in response to a telegram
- f,11 lf