Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-16
NATIONS EYE
ON ENEMIES,
GREGORY SAYS
Reports of Activities Exag-
gerated, Attorney General
Writes to Congressman

Washington, April 16.-Reports of
enemy activities in the United States
are grossly exaggerated, says Attor-
ney General Gregory, in n letter 10
Representative Currie, os Michigan,
made public last night by Mr.. Greg
ory.
Replying TO a letter from Mr.. Cur
rie, saying that a strong feeling eN-
lists through the country that the
government is dealing too leniently
with spies and dangerous enemies,
the Attorney General explained at
length the extensive work of the de-
partment of justice in policing the
country under war conditions. lie
emphasized the difficulties under
which the department is laboring. in
cluding the lack of necessary laws
under which to punish Offenders.
The public assumes" Mr. Greg
ory wrote, that there is great deal
of enemy activity going on in TINS
country, and it is but natural that
vague rumors are magnified into dell
mite and sensational stories. The talk
of damage done by enemy aliens IN
causing incendiary fires is an illus
tration of this. Repeatedly, both IN
reputable newspapers and in pupil
cations got out by citizen societies.
exaggerated statements are made as
to the amount of damage.
statistics show that. considering
the vastly increased value of mer-
chandise and plants. the actual Ire
loss to property of all descriptions In
1917 was not appreciably larger than
that of the year of 1918; Likewise
the report recently made by the ma
tional board of fire underwriters
shows, in substance, that during the
last year no one fire has been clearly
proved to be the work of alien
enemies, and at a recent conference
in the treasury department OF all OF
the men in all departments charged
with protection of plants and sup
plies, it was stated without dissent
that no instance was known OF a nre
caused within the last year by alien
enemies.
1T 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 propagandist at work
in this country has been discovered.
l do. however, assert that every pos
sible effort is being made to Ferret
out and punish activities of this char
acter.
The departments bureau of in
vestigation, for a long time, has been
operated on a war basis. In addition,
the department has accepted the
services and to a great extent super
vises the activities of more than
200. 900 citizens of proved loyalty,
Systematically organized throughout
the country as an auxiliary to the
work of the department. 1t is n tair
statement to say that the country mas
never been so thoroughly policed In
its history by the federal authorities
as il is to-day.
In connection with enemy alien
activities. you will recall that under
the most conservative estimate there
are in this country to-day more than
45O,0 Germans, 100000 Austrians
and 400. 900 Hungarian enemy aliens,
q. e.), unnaturalized males upward
of l 4 years of age, and, estimating
three to a family, there would be
within the United States about A.
600 900 persons who are either male
enemy aliens or members of their
families. If you will bear in mind
that we have quite as much, IL not
more, trouble with native and natur-
allied Americans as we have with
enemy aliens, you will get some idea
of the magnitude of the work which
daily confronts this department.
Most of the disorder throughout
the country Is caused pE the ldSh VI
laws relating TO disloyal utterances.
My department has succeeded in Sc
curing the conviction of more than
$50 offenders in different parts of the
country and in obtaining the imposi-
ton of sentences in some cases of
fifteen and twenty years imprison-
ment.
Another serious defect in the legal
situation is the fact that there is no
law providing for the control of de-
partures from or entries into the
United States by persons other than
those who are alien enemies