The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-27
MEN IN HIGH PLACES.

them at the homes of persons they wish to de- /
stroy has been shock to the country. Within
the last four years there have been more crimes I
which, for want of more specific term, may be |
termed dynamite outrages, than in the previous /
400 years in America.
In the period preceding entrance into the |
war they were confined chiefly to blowing up |
munition plants, destroying ships by explosions
and wrecking piers, wharves and terminals. |
These were ascribed to agents Of the German
government. Since the armstice there has been
a centering of these attacks on prominent per-
sons active in some phase of government.
Considering the large number of crimes of
this character there have been few arrests. The
authorities charged with the protection of citi-
zens have been unable apparently to combat the
criminals.
How long is this to last?
Richard Spillane, noted economist, who is
making investigations for the Newspaper Enter
prise Association, says, in this connection:
There is basis for suspicion that some per-
sons in Washington have chilled the energies of
Investigators and that the influence of German
propaganda reached into unsupported circles in
wartimes Possibly the same unsupported circles
in Washington exert the same suppressive pow
er today on the secret service men.
How potent these persons may be judged
from the following:
Report was made to Washington that a man
of some notoriety an agitator had threatened
the life of the present and that he in
Washington and had been placed in a govern
ment position of responsibility. The names of
dozen persons who had heard his violent ut
terances against the president were furnished.
Among them were the commander of G. A. r.
post, chaplain in the army, well known lawyer
and other persons of prominence
From the Washington official to whom the
report made the reply came that the in
formant was in error. The man was not in Wash
ington and not in the government service.
"'The complainant thereupon stated that the
man at prominent hotel in Pennsylvania
venue, and his appointment to an important
government position had been confirmed by va
-ious of his relatives and associates.
The Washington official insisted the COM
claimant wholly mistaken as an investiga-
ion had been made which had shown the man
vas not at the hotel or in the government ser
yice.
'The complainant thereupon notified the
Washington official that unless the official
would assure him there was reason for hiding
he facts about the person in question the whole
lffair would be made public through the news
papers, for the agitator at the hotel, was in
he government service and still was uttering
hreats against the president. If the president
hould be assassinated by this agitatoE, the COM
claimant pointed out, the Washington official
would be party to the crime.
'Thereupon the Washington official tele-
graphed that mistake had been made by his
Stenographer, letter which was on the way
would explain. The letter showed the official
vas much agitated and promised action
THAT was the last the complainant heard from
he official but few days later he learned from
other sources the agitator had been dropped
rom $4,000 year job which gave him &C
,ess to every shipyard in America.
Every statement made by the complainant
vas correct
every statement made by the Washington
official was not.
''This story is told to make evident the need
IF secret service that will be independent of
restraint. Heretofore the government police
body has had to confine its work principally to
moonshiners, customs evaders, counterfeiters
and the like.
1T is new kind of crime it must fight now
one of character old in Europe but little known
here. If it is not checked in its early stages it
may do incalculable harm. All its supporters
are not among the half-crazed semi-immigrant
revolutionaries who have brought all the wrongs
of Europe to America and want to get revenge
here"