The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1922-08-05
Entry of Women into Profession
of Making Spurious Money
Adds New Problem.
SECRET SERVICE is WORRIED
Increase In Counterfeitina Began
Shortly After the Armstice and
Has Been Growing NoticeabIy
Since-More Opportunity.

Washington, ID. C.-CDunterfeiting
of money has increased to hitherto TN
pIecedented proportions in the United
States and is causing much concern
to the secret service of the treasury,
the federal agency charged with sup
preston of this species of crime OF
particular interest is the fact that for
the first time in history, women have
entered the counterfeiting profession,
presenting new problems for the gov
eminent experts.
The increase in counterfeiting began
shortly after the armistice and has
been growing noticeab,y since. 1t is
regarded as 8 part Of the phenomena
of crime which every great war brings
In its wake.
War Draft Trimmed Ranks.
A curious effect of the war while IL
was being waged was that it resulted
In almost complete suspension Of
money counterfeiting in the United
States. There were two good reasons
for this. First, native-born Ameri-
cans are seldom found in the profess
sion. 1t Is = department of crime in
which foreigners. and especially south
ern Europeans, engage. Under the re-
scryiSt system of military service
which obtains in nearly all European
countries, these foreigners, living and
counterfeting in the United States,
were called to their home colorS and
thereby forced TO abandon their pro
fcsSiOn here. In the second place, the
war upset the channels of distribution
OF counterfeit money, and turned the
thoughts OF all men, including counter
feiterS. to other things.
But after the war the profession
came back stronger than ever with
many recruits Four million Ameri-
cans were under arms. They were
taken to the war from their accus-
toned vacations and pursuits and put
into life which. despite its manifold
hardShips and dangers, was life
hacking in responsibility. No one in
the army had 10 worry about earning
money for his next meal. Ii came
from the government as much mat
ter Of course as the sunrise.
Also. the very idea of an army is
the destruction of property and life,
To be sure. ii Is the enemys prop
erty which Is TO be destroyed, but
among many youthful and irresponsi-
Bile persons the fundamental idea Of
contempt for property rights persists
and makes few bounds for itself II
was natural that among soldiers who
for a year or TWO had followed this ir.
responsible existence there would be
some who lacked the force Of char
acter 10 return To the drudgery OF
hard work They wanted easy money,
SO counterfeitinc as we'll MS other de-
partuentS Of crime received fresh re-
cruits.
More Money 70 Counterfeit
Another strong reason for an in
crease in counterfy .'ng resulting from
the war was that there was an in
crease In the number Of kinds Of
money aud securities 10 counterfeit.
When there are only few kinds Of
money ia general use, the people be
>omc ST. familiar with their appear
once that they quite readily detcc: any
fault in design or general appearance.
But wien there are many new and
unfamiliar kinds. the people are nj
loss 10 know whether they have gen
uiue money
Twelve federal reserve banks were
estuhushal M the oHe the war began.
and all issued currency of two kinds;
. q 3D.