New-York tribune., 1918-04-16
Not One Fire in Last Year
Traced to Enemy Alien,
He Asserts
100000 Citizens
Aid Department
Law. Needed to Suppress
Industrial Treason and
Disloyal Talk

WASHINGTON. April l5.-Reports
at enemy activities in the United
States are grossly exaggerated, says
Attorney General Gregory in letter
n REPRESENTATIVE Currie. Of Michigan,
made public tonight by Mr.. Gregory.
Replying TO letter from Mr.. Cur
rie saying that strsng feeling ex-
lists through the country that the gov
eminent is dealing too leniently with
spies and dangerous enemies, the At
torney General explained at length the
extensive work of the Department of
Justice in policing the country under
var conditions. He emphasized the
difficulties under which the depart
ment is laboring, including the lack
Of necessary laws under which to pun
ish offenders.
1.-THE public assumes" Mr.. Gregory
wrote, that there is great deal of
enemy activity going .on in this coun-
try. and il is but natural that vague
rumors are nlagnifed into definite and
sensational stories. The talk of dam
aee done by enemy aliens in causing
incendiary fires is an illustration Of
this.
Fire Loss Not Increased
statistics show that considering the
vastly increased value of merchandise
and plants. the actual fire loss to prop
erty Of all descriptions in 1917 was
l.
the year of 1918. Likewise, the re-
Board Of Fire Underwriters shows in
substance that during the last year not
enc fire has been clearly proven to be
the work of alien enemies. and at a
recent conference in the Treasury De-
partment OF all of the men in all de-
partments charged with protection of
plants and supplies, it was stated
without dissent that no instance was
known OF fire caused within the last
year by alien enemies"
The Attorney General suggested
that "the very necessity for keeping
secret many of the activities OF the
department undoubtedly contributes to
the impression of which you have COM
planned and added:
at would be absurd to say that
every hostile act has been success
fully run down and the offender
brought to punishment, or that every
enemy agent or propag gandist at work
in this country has been discovered.
do. however, assert that every pos
sible effort is being made to ferret
cut and punish activities of this char
aeter, and that this work. in other
departments as we'll as my own. is
being done from day to day with con-
stansly increasing efficiency.
Country Never as Well Policed
"Long before we entered the war
this department recognized the neces-
sty OF an efficient system for the
prevention as we'll as the detection
Of enemy activities, and began at that
time TO strengthen ard build up its
bureau Of investigation. which now, for
long time, has been operated on a
department has accepted the services
and, TO q great extent. supervlses the
activities Of more than 100000 cltl-
zens OF proven loyalty, systematically
organized throughout the country as
an auxiliary TO the work Of the de-
par.ment It is a fair statement TO
say thar the country has never been
50 thoroughly policed in its history. by
the Federal authorities as Il IS to-day.
an connection with enemy alien ac-
tivities you Will recall that under the
most conservative estimate there are IN
this country today more than 100000
Germans, 5000 Austrians and 100000
Hungarian enemy aliens. e., unnatu-
rallied males upward of fourteen years
Of age.
Estimating three TO a family, there
would be within the United States
about 10000 900 persons who are either
male enemy aliens or members Of thclr
families. If you will bear in mind that
We have quite as much, If not more
trouble with native and naturalized
a!iens you Will get some idea OF me
magnitude Of the work which daily
con.ronts this department.
More Laws Are Needed
Most Of the disorder throughout the
country is caused By the lack Of law:
relating to disloyal utterances. Con
grsss did not pass the original esplon
age act IN the form IN which my 1e
partment prepared it, and Section 8 o.
the Law as passed by Congress has beer
Tue only weapon with which the govern
Men. could attack this dangerous eyii.
Although the only clause OF Sector
. which has been os value IS the one
aimed 70 prevent obstruction Of enlist
"sh1 and recruiting, my depaf lth"n
has succeeded under that one clause
in securing the conviction OF more
saan ESQ offenders in different par''
o. the country and in obtaining tn'
mposition Of sentences, IN some cases
" niteen and twenty years' imprlson
Mea.. It is earnestly hoped that Con
sress will act favorably upon ieglsia
Won now before il which will give tn
kcvernnent adequate weapons WIZ
snich 70 prevent the spread Of aagran
dlsloyaIty.
Another serious defect in the lega
+, ,.saSton II Inc fact that there IS NJ
w crovid.nz for the control OF de
vsf.nres from or entries into the Unit
~ 81 states oy persons other than thos
an are alien enemies.
.. ! aeed not say that, 80 long. as TN
1saerai Government is imootent L
.1ppress industrial treason and disloy
- :, asssrances, just 80 long there WI
pps CANCER Of disorder and there VII
- rtsady increase in the feelin
'nx the irresponsible Of disrespec
Nf isga!ly constituted authority"
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