The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-11-21
HOW RED HAS BEEN ST.
GAR COATED
DISGRACE To The NATION
Letter From Claude NJ. Swanson,
Former Service Man and
Federal Agent

and FEDERAL agent or the depart
ment of Justice. His statements are
not surprising yet they furnish food
for thought and reflection. He wrote
The st. Paul Dispatch as follows:
Just word from one VINO perhaps
appreciates more than anyone else the
resolution passed by the national con J.
vention of the American Aeg-on, de-
handing the conscientious DIRECTORS
and undesirable aliens be deported or
otherwise made to suffer penalty.
"Ufevious to my entering the serv-
ice | was employed in the United
States department of justice, bureau
OF Investigation, and know something
ofNthe conscientious director and the
undesirable alien,-I was an under
cover man and came in close contact
with both types of these undesirables.
have also come in contact with the
l. w. w. the red flag socialist. the al
len enemy and other persons whose
sole object was to undermine and, ha
rass our government while we were
at war. /,.. ...'..... Nj Sd
mot in. a spirit of egotism, but
rather to lay the bare facts before the
people-tRe, ex-seryice men in particr
ular, will relate my own experience.
Sold Paper At Sacrifice. ,s
IN 1G16-17 | was the publisher OF
a small country weekly, enjoying a
good income. When, we severed dip
lomatic relations with Germany /
made Arrangement for the sale of my
paper. could not readily End buy
err, so traded it at sacrifice. That
was all well and good. Butt tried
to enlist in my home company, with
mon ! knew. and was turned down
on account of poor eyesight. Next |
tried the navy recruiting station at
st. Paul, then the marines, then back
to the navy station and finally asked
my local draft board to induct me in
to the service. The doctor told me
would have to go IN class 1, limited
service, and there was no chance to
go then. -. .....s
"In the meantime / secured a po-
sition with the department of justice.
During the time I was connected with
the bureau / secured the arrest and
conviction of thirty six slackers and
deserters and Investigated the cases of
and secured the internment of five
enemy aiens This lin addition to
numerous other Investigations such
as violations OF the Reed Amend
ment. etc. OF the group of slaekers
and deserters most of them were Civ
en- sentences from twenty to twenty
five years at Fort Leavenworth.
Among these 'mCN' were Otto
Wangerin, Edward r dy, Robert Co.
hen, Nicolas, Unger. r,obert Troessler,
Maurice ~Kamme not ", Joseph Arver
and Allen Strong Bfoms.I s. n. 10
"Bronrs was the red socialist lead
err a close associate of Alexis Geor-
gian, recently deported to Russia, and
a stfong conscientious o5jector He
was given twenty years at Fort Leav-
enworth, and began his sentence
shortly before i entered the service.
He was married and had two chill
dren. -
During December, 191S-shortly
after the armistice was signed, he was
released from Fort Leavenworth, Civ
en- an honofsble discharge, travel pay,
$50 month for time served, SIS a
month allotnRnt money for his wife,
and SIS month for the two children.
A total of $50 a month. -. ~
To-day he is operating red head
quarters at Minneapolis, according to
Mr.. Campbell chief agent of the de-
partment of Justice. st. Paul.
"Broms and others, out and out
enemies of our country, preachers of
sedition and sewers of rotten discord,
released soon after hostilities ceased
and given the same pay as a loyal
American soldier fighting for his coun-
try at the front!
How long will American men stand
for this wishy- washy way of treating
our enemies from within?' .r
!, Was Given Reception.
"One OF the German aliens whose
case | handled from the time he was
arrested till he was interned lives in
little town not far from Fairmont.
He was released and came home three
months before was discharged from
The army When he returned the
Germans from the surrounding coun-
try met at his brothers home and
held a grand celebration
Why should he be allowed TO force
his unwelcome presence on those who
lost sons or brothers in the great war?
Why not send him back to the faith
erland, whose cause he worked so
Loyalty for?
Perhaps the people do not need
this information. But the substance
of this letter contains a volume of
truth, backedIup by facts that can be
proved. II seems as though Uncle
Sam has placed premium on disloy-
atty Why is the undesirable alien,
the conscientious objector and the
enemy alien entitled to this clemen-
cy? Why not treat them as they de-
serve to be treated?
I'VE who served are not so partic-
ular about justice for ourselves. Serv-
ing ones country is duty and a re-
ward in itself. NBut we do want to see
that justice is melted out to all slack
ers, deserters, conscientious directors,
aliens and anarchistn
BOOZE INJUNCTION STAYED