The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1918-01-04


Must Register all Classes.
Mr. Richard M Hurd chairman of the board of ;
trustees OF the American Defense Society," has issued
circular to all cities and towns requesting these organ
cations to make list of names of all citizens within
their jurisdiction classifying them, showing their ma
honalltes, citizenship etc., which is published below:
Recent events in this country make it plain that
the German method of propaganda which has been
effective in Russia and Italy is being attempted in
this country with alarming degree of success" ac
cordng to the appeal to Americans now being issued
by the American Defense Society. "German propa-
ganda has long been supplied to our troops in the ma
tonal encampments. The building program is
being nterferred with by German-inspired Strikes !
Germans are directing the boarding of food supplies to
an extent of that pancs have already been prevalent
the leading cities Newspapers giving daily re-
ports OF fires in ammunition plants and grain depots
and the country is the verge of even greater
calamity in the shape of railroad strike of unprece
dent extent which threatens to cripple our national in
dllstry"
The far-reachng need of the local Vigilance Corps
can readily be seen when it is known that in this
try alone there today several million alien enemies
representing Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey and
other countries sympathetic allied with the Prussan
]
free to go about they see fit and while the Gov
ernment has done much toward tightening the censor
ship of mails and Cables nevertheless there are num-
berless channels by which these enemies are in touch
with the directing genius OF German propaganda in
Berlin
If Americans mean to stand by the men at the
'front.' whose lives already Being sacrificed and to
stand by their Government the opportunity is offered
in the additional service they give to this work of
/ the American Defense Society,"
The plan of organization undertaken by the Soc-
ETY. and recommended to loyal Americans provides for
the enrolment of small American Vigilance Corps in
every city and town which shall classify all residents
under the following terms:
= Piseya! EGyf!;
5 4oF6tf~1 6oF6awo.
Following the general classification of citizens the
Committee is urged to make further designation of the
following list:
!: S3saGs2maSS: f!s9 Gsas%S
3. Anti Government
In the letter of instructions to branch organizations
the Executive Committee Of the American Defense
Society give the following direction:
"At the earliest possible moment when YOU have !
made your classification of alien enemies, pro-Germans
and those opposed to the Government in this war send
this list to the Police Department the local representa-
tive of the Department of Justice and to whatever re-
presentatves Of the army navy intelligence bureaus
there are in your community. Do not let this matter !
rest however, with this first classification of the enem
les Too much stress cannot be put on the importance
Of having your Vigilance Corps take steps to ]
watch alien enemies, pro- Germans and those opposed
to the government Only by such cooperation will you
be able to give effective aid to the government Take
every you to let the people Of your city know
the names Of our enemies
Unofficial announcement has already been made ]
at Washington that the Government is about to register
the alien enemies in America Your Committee already