The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-05
WORK OF SLEUTHS|
Attorney General Tells of La
bOrs of Dept of Justice
In Handling Offenses Against
Country in War Times.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The story of
how enemy agents have been caught.
disloyalty suppressed. draft slackers
apprehended, dangerous Germans In
termed. explosions and other sabotage
prevented, and enemy secrets fer
reted out for use against their armies
abroad. was given to the public today
in Attorney General T. w. Gregory's
annual report. Thru a great corps of
department of Justice civil officers.
this big job of policing has been &C
complished. said the attorney general.
with a minimum disturbance to the
normal life OF communities. and with
constant effort to avoid encroaching
on freedom of speech, action and po-
litical criticism. ~
~ Referring to enforcement of the
espionage act, Mr.. Gregory said:
This department thruout the war
has proceeded upon the general prin-
ciple that the constitutional right of
free speech, free assembly, and petit
ton exist In war time as in peace time,
and that the right of discussion of
governmental policy and the right of
political agitation are the most funda-
mental rights in a democracy"
Handled Propaganda.
At the same time, the attorney gem
eral explained. the department had
tried to deal severely with propaganda
having for a deliberate purpose the
disintegration of the country's war
strength.
"One of the distinct achievements
Of the American people," he said, has
been the maintenance OF order, the
comparative failure of enemy activities
and, speaking broadly. the general
self-control and self-restraint exhibit
ed thruout the country in critical
situations"
rx1.n o+torr.xx -~....., Is,z.,a..s 4L.%
only 5000 enemy aliens have been ar
rested on presidential warrants and
examined with a 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
informed were German men, and there
were comparatively few German wom-
en- or Austro-Hungarians. About $780,
900 Germans have been registered in
the nationwide census-260,0 900 men
and 100000 women.
Up to last July 1, department OF JUS
tice investigators had rounded up
3,439 young men who sought to
| escape the draft, and had caused their
| induction into the service. More than
| 100000 cases of men who for some
reason or other had failed to file Ques-
| tionnaires or to appear for physical
examination were Investigated.
| AoOhAu6 1oIWdIQ 10 peace cOuQ1-
| lions, the attorney general makes a
| number of recommendations for re-
form of judicial processes. Altho he
referred to the difficulty Of pushing
antitrust prosecutions during the wal
| since the government itself has been
in the business Of suppressing COM
| petition, he made no suggestions fol
new antitrust legislation which con-
sreSs Is expected to undertake soon.
War activities claimed the principal
portions Of the report, and after re-
ferring to the growth of the depart.
ment's secret service to six tines it,
| size in 1916, and the efficient organ.
ization of the American Protective
league of 100000 citizen volunteers
Mr. Gregory said:
| st is safe to say that never in it.
history has this country been 81
thoroly policed as at the present time.
Protected the Troops.
Hints of an American espionag,
system were given in the statemen
that the secret service have givel
protection not only to the civilian pop
some of their activities have also re
suited in direct damage to the enem,
forces abroad"
ut has been the view of this depart
ment," the attorney general said, "tha
every act of arbitrary and unnecessar
interference with the life, habits an,
occupation of the citizen, would LESSEE
efficiency, disturb order, and weake,
public confidence IN the American
standards of justice"
That Ground Glass.
The department has been hampere
in suppressing propaganda, said tn
attorney general, by "self-appointe
committees or associations of citizen
| who, ignorant of or dissatisf wit
| h. nf ha Fo1. To- i,,.-
diction, have sought to supplement
them by extra legal measures OF In
limitation and punishment" Anothe
hampering influence was the dissent
nation of hundreds of unfounded re
:. ports relating to use of poison gas b
enemy agents, ground glass in fooi
and damage to Red Cross supplies.
+ ri OF the I. W. w.
Referring to difficulties with mem
bers of the 1. w. W., 'pseudo-social
lists" and similar bodies, the attorne
general said:
TT has been the policy of this de
partment that no person should b
prosecuted or informed solely by rea
son of mis- mem berShip in any sue
organization, that guilt is always pei
sonal, and that under no circun
stances should any organization c
body of men be prosecuted as such.
Less than one per cent of the enem
diieHS df1eSteu Oh Suspicion ana idte
paroled, have again fallen under sus
picion.
Discussing the enforcement of ant
trust laws. Attorney General .Gregor
said:
when natural laws of trade brea
down, as they have done during til
war in many branches of trade dire,
government action with respect I
prices and methods of Distribute
may become essential in order to pre-
vent private control of markets, fe
when natural laws of trade can II
longer be depended upon to regula,
m1rkets. the only choice is betwee
artificial control imposed by priva,
interests and artificial control impose
by public agencies. In these circun
stances, therefore, such direct COVER,
mental action, so far from ruuniD