The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-12-17
Attorney General Gregory
Gives Detailed Account Of
How Spy Systems Were
Ferretted Out.


caught, disloyalty suppressed, draft
slackers apprehended, dangerous Ger
mans interned, explosions and other
sabotage prevented. and enemy sc.
crets ferretted out for use against
their armies abroad, was given to
the public recently in Attorney Cen
eral T. w. Gregorys annual report.
Through great corps of Department
of Justice civil officers, secret agents,
and citizen volunteers, this big job OF
policing has been accomplished, said
the Attorney General, with mini
mum disturbance to the normal life OF
communities, and with constant effort
to avoid encroaching on freedom of
speech, action and political criticism.
Referring to enforcement of the es-
pionage act Mr.. Gregory said:
"This department throughout the
war has proceeded upon the general
principle that the constitutional right
of free speech, free assembly, and
time, and that the right of discussion
of governmental policy and the right
of political agitation are the most fun
damental rights in democracy"
! At the same time, the Attorney Gen
eral explained. the Department had
tried to deal severely with propaganda
/ L.. lnI 20 h,l
| disintegration of the country's war
strength.
zone of the distinct achievements of
| the American people" he said, 'has
been the maintenance of order, the
comparative failure of enemy activi.
ties and, speaking broadly, the gener-
al self.control and self-restraint exhib-
tied throughout the country in critical
situations"
] The Attorney General disclosed that
only 5000 enemy aliens have been ar
rested on presidential warrants and
examined with n view to internment
and that "a considerable number" OF
these have been placed in internment
camps administered by the army. The
balance were parOlled. Most enemies
interned were German men, and there
were comparatively few German wO-
men or AustrO Hungarians. About
$4,000 Germans have been registered
in the nationwide census - 2G0, 900
men 100000 women.
Up to last July /, Department of
Justice investigator had rounded up
23,439 young men who sought to es'
cape the draft and had caused their In
duction into the service More than
100000 cases Of men who for some rea
son or other had failed to file question
naircs or to appar for physical exam
ination were investigated.
Looking forward to peace condi
tions, the Attorney General makes q
number of recommendation for re
form of judicial processes. Although
he referred to the difficulty of pushing
antitrust prosecutions during the wal
since the government itself has beer
in the business of suppressing cOmpe
titiOn. he made no suggestions for new
antitrust legislation which Congress
Ii expected to undertake soon.
War activities claimed the princi
referring to the growth OF the Depart
ments secret service to six times ID
size in 1916, and the efficient organ
ization of the American Protectiv
League of 25O,OOO citizen volunteers
Mr.. Gregory said;
. ut is safe to say that never in II
history has this country been so thor
: oughly policed as at the present time
when 1t becomes possible, through
the lapse of time, to disclose fully tn
activities of these various secret SCI
vice. their work will stand out as on
of the substantial achievements of tn
war
Hints of an American espionage syl
TEN were given In the statement tina
u the secret services have given prt
Z lection not only to the civilian popl
: lation but TO the armed forces, an
u some of their activities have also +,
! suited in direct damage to the en-,
my forces abroad
y Great stress was laid on the sui
: iciency OF normal civil processes IAN
the needlessness OF attempting to II
woke the use of military tribunals
this country"
|. 1T has beep the view of this d.
+. partment." the Attrney General sal,
~ that every act OF arbitrary and III
necessary interference with the lif
4. habits, and occupation of the citizel
r.. would lessen efficiency. disturb o
n der. and weaken public confidence