New-York tribune., 1918-04-18
r.,v;ctions Almost lmpos-
.;ble in Civil Trials, Says
W.P. Bloodgood
h,.tice Department
In Favor of Change
s,botage in War Plants
Termed Worse Than Es-
pionage at Front

wAsHINGTON, April 17.-Germany's
...ter spies can be combated only by
s.y;ne military drumhead courts mar
.:l handle all spy activities in this
..untry. ". P. Bloodgood, acting chair
w., If the Milwaukee County Defence
r.,m;ttee. told the Senate Military
.s,;rs Committee to-day. He appeared
!, hearing on the bill introduced yes
..,a.v by Senator Chamberlain provld-
:. for military jurisdiction for such
cases.
Assistant Attorney General Charles
warren, of the Department of Justice,
.ho until recently was in entire charge
:, III. Bureau of Investigation, or
...ret service of the department, has
nrsnared a brief in favor of transfer
,ne the powers OF prosecution of spy
.etiyities from the Department of JUS
IL. to military courts martial.
Mr.. Bloodgood quoted at length from
:, interview he had with Mr.. Warren,
md also quoted United States District
rraoe John C. Rose. of Baltimore, as
h.l;evine that only tn, military could
handle the situation.
Places Worse Than Wisconsin
Nj. Bloodgood. in reply to questions
from Senators, said he thought there
we're many spots in the country worse
.han Wisconsin. from the proGerman
standpoint. In Wisconsin, he said, it
yould be almost impossible to obtain q
iury to convict man of propaganda
Intended to slow down the. war prepa-
istions. ~
III the German master spies can
isye few havens like Wisconsin from
shich to operate, the remainder Of
their task is fairly simple" he said.
aI believe that both New York and
Chicago are worse than Milwaukee.
Personally, l think the man who,
over in France, signals from behind
cur lines the location of regiment or
brigade, SO that the German artillery
can wipe out that regiment or brigade
BY accurate fire, is less dangerous than
the man who goes into a shipyard, or
an airplane factory, with the intention
Of slowing down the work and prevent
ing this country from exerting its full
force in the war" N
Mr.. Bloodgood charged that q a part
Of German propaganda in the Seattle
district union cards have been pur-
chased for unskilled workmen,- who
save been placed in shipyards where
they are paid the same wages as the
shlied workmen. This, he said, slows
down production.
Back to Primitive Man"
IT something is not done, what dc
you think is going to happen?" asked
Senator Chamberlain, referring to the
spread Of German propaganda.
i think We are liable to go back tc
tie primitive man, Senator" Mr.. Blood
good replied, adding that when the cas-
uaity lists begin to increase something
most unfortunate" may happen.
Mr. Bloodgood Q characterized Mr.
Berger as "typically pro-German." The
". W. situation, he declared, ''is the
simplest of this whole question" ane
upon it undue blame has been placed.
representatives of the Department
ef Justice, Mr.. Bloodgood declared
nave told him that German propaganda
cannot be dealt with by the department
81 IN the civil courts. AS an example
ae charged that Victor Berger, since
&c was indicted for disloyal utterance:
10 chicago and released on bail, has
multiplied his utterances in bitterness
!. view Of the fact that 25 per cen
u "isconsin's people indorsed the
nelger platform in the recent election
A. bioodgood said he did not believe
! I possible to get jury in Wisconsin
mat would convict Berger.
ai, bioodgood said German propa
saada had extended even into arm,
esntonments.