Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-12-27
TO STAMP OUT
D|SLOYA[TY
NATIONAL DEFENSE SOCI-
ETY. CALLS FOR LOCAL
VIIIGANCE CORPS
IMMEDIATE ACTION WANTED.
Would Aid the Government In
Putting an End to German
Propaganda and Enc
my Activity

Mayor Wright, of this city, today
made public a request received from
Richard NJ. Hurd, Chairman Of the
BOARD of Trustees Of the American
Defense Society, urging citizens here
to organize local viligance 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, ami
,nunition explosions, sabotage, food
cares and other attempts to damage
the morale of the American people.
"Recent events in this country
,,ake It plain that the German meth
cd of propaganda which has been so
Effective in Russia and Italy is now
being attempted in this country with
IN alarming degree Of success" ac-
,ording to the appeal to Americans
now being issued by the American de-
,ense Society. German propaganda
has long been supplied to our troops
in he national encampments. The
ship-building program is being inter-
fcred with by German-inspired
5trikes. Germans are directing the
boarding of food supplies to an ex-
tent that panics have already been
prevalent in the leading cities. News
papers are giving daily reports Of
fires in ammunition plants and grain
depots and the country is now on
The verge of I'm even greater calam-e
ity in the shape Of railroad strike
Of unprecedented extent which threat
ms to cripple our national industry"
The far-reaching need Of the local
Vigilance Corps can readily be seen
when it 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 Prussian autocracy. Almost with
out exception these enemies are free
to 90 about as they see fit, and while
he Government has done much to-
ard .htening the censorship Of
nail. aad cables, nevertheless there
.", II. mberless channels by which
hcaa enemies are in touch with the
'irecting of German propaganda in
'criin.
If Americans mean to stand by the
men a tkr front, whose lives are al
'eady bc.:g sacrificed, and to stand
by their Government, the opportunity
is offered in the additional service
hey can give to this work Of the Am
erican Defense Society.
The plan of organization undertake
en- by the Society and recommended
to loyal Americans provides for the
enrolment of q small American Wig
ilance Corps in every city and town
which shall classify all residents un-
der the following terms:
l. Loyal.
2. Disloyal.
8. Doubtful.
4. Unknown.
Following the general classifca-
ion of citizens the Committee is urged
to make further designation of the
following list:
/. Alien enemy.
2. Pro-German.
8. Achievement.
In the letter Of instructions to
branch organizations the Executive
Committee of the American Defense
Society gives the following Gree-
tions:
"At the earliest possible moment,
when you have made your class;hca-
ton Of alien enemies, prO-Germans,
and those opposed to the Government
in this war, send their list to the Po-
lice Department, the local rspresen-
tativs of the Department Of Justice
and to whatever Representatives Of
the army or navy intslligsncs bu-
reauB there are in your community.
Do not let this matter rest, however,
with this first classification Of the
enemies. Too much stress cannot be
put on the importance Of having your
own Viliganee Corps take steps 70
watch alien enemies, prO-GsEmans
and those opposed 70 TIE oOvsrnmsnt'
Only By such eo-opsnhooWih you
Be able 70 give effective ed 70 q,