Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-24

Ultimately. he goes home or to Ogle-
thorpe.
Two branches of the government at
the beginning can be concerned in his
case-the War Department, through
the activities of it's bureau of intelli-
gence. composed of military officers.
turned detectives. and the Department
of Justice. The prosecution is carried
on by the latter, although, it must be
remem bered, there is no open hearin 6
and no regular examination of witness
eS for the prisoner.
Investigators. under the direction of
A. Bruce Bielaski. their chief. make
an inquiry into all facts that occas-
mitted to John Lord O'Brian. special
attorney for war work in the Depart
ment of Justice. Mr.. OBrian has two
rubber stamps on his desk. When they
named in the document goes to prison
and. probably, to Fort Oglethorpe.
Mr.. OBrian is subordinate to Mr.
Gregory. the Attorney General, and Mr..
Gregory. in turn. to President Wilson,
but neither the Attorney General nor
the President much concerns himself
in the star-chamber method of dealing
with the enemies of this country
Helping Mr.. OBrian are ten other
lawyers. most of whom, as with him
self. were graduated at Harvard Uni
versity- Locking up spies and danger
Gus aliens is only one department of
their labors. They have to do with the
draft and other important war matters.
In politics. Mr.. OBrian is a republican
and as such served in the New York
assembly. He was the United States
attorney at Buffalo for five years. and
In 1915 was delegate at large to the
convention a T.
tuition.
Specifically. Mr.. o'Brian is an adj
yocate- Trusts are the cases that he
likes best and the national government
under the Taft and Wilson administra-
tons has often employed him in that
: connection. His first case of Importance,
after being admitted to the bar, twenty
years ago, was that of an Episcopal
who was charged with heresy. Mr..
OBrian acted as prosecutor
Last autumn Mr. O'Brian was asked
10 JOIN the legal staff of Attorney Cen
eIal Gregory. His partners also are in
the war, one of his Office boys is at the
front and his sister is serving in
France. All of the sedition trials in
the country are under his oversight. He
also passes upon the speechmakers, who
on boxes or on platforms, in vanity or
frenzy, utter sentiments that are in
furious to the flag
Some of these orators are ridiculous
MI u brlan lets them spout without
restraint When, however, a speaker
actually becomes a menace. measures
are taken that result in his being lost
to view by his audiences There is. no
sensation, nor Is there any martyrdom
on an occasion of this kind. The de-
clatmer simply ceases to haraneue and,
possibly. were the fact known. could be
round at certain spot in Georgia,
where armed soldiers march to and fro
before the Enclosure where he is con-
fined.
The first purpose of the government is
to prevent treason and sedition, to nip
the flower of treachery and rebellion
in the bud. In this the government
has been successful; otherwise there
would be executions which no secrecy
for long could cover up. a waiter for
example, leaves Washington on a
bicycle Without his having known 1t,
he has been watched. The government
has his record and the place of his
birth. Also report of the words that
he has spoken under his breath. So
when he rides away on a bicycle the
government follows, being curious as to
the business he has in hand. Next week
he rides again, and again is tracked. He
has been seen talking to soldiers and
shopping around their camps A search
of his clothing may bring forth a map
Were he permitted to 60 on and COM
plete his job. there would be a crime
for which he could be shot But he is
stopped half way between life and
death and confined. He gains. and like