Evening star., 1941-10-12

talk to them about bombs sabotage, spy
methods and anti-Americap activities, and
how to combat them. The meeting lasted all
day. BY the time it ended the local officers
were vividly aware of hidden dangers they
had not suspected, and each had pledged him
self to operate under the FBI's guidance.
This meeting was one of hundreds being held
throughout the United States. Already they
are producing results.
Thanks to the help of these second line
G-Men." the FBI is able to move full speed
ahead on its most vital job - safeguarding
the defense industries that are working day
and night to rearm America Already more
than 1900 of our most important defense
plants have been surveyed by the FBI. And
with each survey came new evidence of the
need for such protective measures.
Uneovering Donser Spots
In ONE plant G-Man got a shock when he
learned the system for keeping track of secret
blueprints Every workman who used one
had to sign for it, and these records we're filed
in safe. who has charge of the blueprints?"
the agent asked. The superintendent didn't
know the mans name. Neither did a couple
of foremen near by. The personnel manager
furnished the name, all right but that's all
he knew about the man. He had been hired
a few days earlier and casually assigned to
the most confidential job in the factory.
In an arms factory, an alert American
noticed bottle apparently containing medi-
cine in workman's lunch box. 1t appeared
harmless enough. but it was one of those ir-
regular things. 1t aroused his suspicion, 50
he notified the FBI. A Special Agent appeared
shortly and managed to obtain the bottle. 1t
contained a strong corrosive which might
have ruined machine.
To further strengthen his close-knit or
ganization QG-Men, local detectives and po-
licemen, sheriffs and their deputies, motor
cops, town marshals and alert everyday citi-
zens) Mr.. Hoover has stationed his key men
in the localities they know best. That is why,
in May, 1910, B. Edwin Sackett took charge
of the New York bureau.
If Sackett had motto, it would be BE
sure!" He has been pretty sure of himself for
ulOSS vi OJ yCd1S A1C 10 Oulll uhC a lOOl-
ball player, compact and solid. and he was
that way as kid in rural Mercer County,
New Jersey, where he was born on May Is,
1902.
1t was four miles from the Sackett farm to
the country school. and young Ed hoofed it
twice day - until he reached 13 and his
family moved to New York City. His father
was in poor health, and the boy had to work
to keep himself in school. He clerked in a
grocery store, then built up a newspaper
route.
Later, he enrolled for pre-medical course
at New York University. But an allergy kept
him from becoming a doctor. They didn't
know about allergies in those days. so they
merely said the smell of the disinfectant in
the laboratory made him deathly ill., He had
to give up medicine. But he didn't give up
school. He turned to the study of the law
and entered Columbia law school, working
days as clerk in legal firm at $40 week.
Peaceful Apprenticeship
HE firm specialized in civil cases. In the
five years he was there, young Sackett. des-
tined to play an important part in crime con-
troll in the United States, never saw a crimi-
nal. In the next Is years, following his admit
tance to the bar in 1926 he WAS destined m