Chapter IX: The Story of Dayton

Aircraft-Center Well Cared For—Midnight and All’s Well—Some
Stories of the A. P. L. and the Melting Pot—Possible and
Impossible Citizens.

The thriving city of Dayton, Ohio, is one of the best known towns of the size in the Union. In some way the idea has gone abroad that Dayton is up-to-date, modern and advanced alike in industrial, civic and social ways. There surely is no reason to alter that belief from the story of the A. P. L. turned in from Dayton. An additional interest attaches to the report from this industrial capital because of the fact that it has always been a sort of a capital of industrial enterprise, and has been known as one of the points of manufacture of Government aeroplane material.

The large foreign element gave rise to 661 disloyalty cases and made necessary 269 instances of persuasiveness in Liberty Bond matters. For the War Department there were handled 1,681 slacker cases and 1,078 other cases under the Selective Service Act, with 387 cases of deserters and 241 character and loyalty examinations. The total number of investigations was 6,118. Many of the local “case stories” show that Ohio still has her claim to be called a center of pro-German sentiment, but the A. P. L. did fine work in the reclamation of such citizen material as was worth reclaiming—some of it was not worth while. The American Protective League has been the best and almost the first real Immigration Board this country ever knew, and the one great need of America to-day is a wise and wholly fearless combing out of the aliens.

Mr. George S. Blanchard was first Chief of the Dayton Division. In the early days of April, 1917, he was talking with a friend from St. Louis and during the conversation asked him what he was doing toward the progress of the big war. His friend replied that he had gone into the American Protective League, which had just been organized in St. Louis. The remark set him to thinking that probably an organization of this kind could be effected in Dayton. The League at that time was in a very primitive state. That is to say, the desire to assist the Department of Justice was there, but neither the League nor the Department of Justice had yet been able to work out the best method by which inexperienced citizens could assist in Federal investigations. Mr. Blanchard visited the divisions of the League at Columbus, Ohio, Chicago, San Francisco, New York City and other places, and called a number of times for conferences at National Headquarters. The mode of conducting operations as determined by experience and observation of the work carried out by other divisions and as directed by National Headquarters was as follows: Alien Enemy; Pro-German; Draft Board Matters; Vice and Liquor; Military Coöperation; Food and Fuel; Suburban; War Risk Allotments; Headquarters; Flying Squadron; Character Investigations.

The general direction of the work was made by the Chief. The work was then carried out by ten different divisions, each governed by a Captain with as many Lieutenants and operatives as his work demanded. Later came the general division of all workers into two classes—Investigation and Information. The captains, lieutenants and active members were taken from the investigators. In October, 1918, Mr. Blanchard resigned as Chief of the Dayton Division to enlist in the Motor Transport Corps of the United States Army, being succeeded by Mr. Frank Schwilk, who carried on the work very successfully.

During a war drive, an operative, No. 161, called on a Mr. B——, who had refused absolutely to give a cent, although financially able to contribute. Operative reports: I questioned him as to why he would not give, and he replied:

“Why should I give? I don’t live here anyhow. My body belongs to God and He told me not to give.”

“That’s all right,” replied the operative, “but you have citizenship here, have you not?”

“No. I vote in Heaven. You can take me and place me in jail, but Christ will take care of me.”

“If the Germans came down the street and were about to strike down your children and take away your wife, what would you do,—sit down and allow it?”

“I could not raise a hand against them because God tells me not to strike my enemies, so the Germans could do as they saw fit.”

“Religious crank—what’s the use?” asks the operative.

An old man and his wife, both German, were reported to the A. P. L. one day last summer as being pro-German and Lieutenant No. 177 was assigned to the case. He called on the old couple and found them very German indeed—so much so, in fact, that their niece was produced to act as interpreter. The old man, when he realized the object of the visit, became greatly agitated, and trembling like an aspen leaf, he hurriedly produced his naturalization papers and protested that three times had he foresworn the Kaiser. At last, as final proof of loyalty to his adopted land, the old man displayed some sheets of manuscript—gospel songs, which he himself had written in his mother tongue! At this point his wife, who had been as distressed as her husband over the interview, could restrain herself no longer.

“Ach no!” she spluttered. “No! Ve are not Chermans. Ve are not Chermans! Ve are Christians! Ve are Christians!”

Operative No. 113 reports the details of a case which has in it endless possibilities of mischief:

There was held in Dayton, Ohio, during the summer of 1918, the
national meeting of Automotive Engineers, and at the A. P. L.
luncheon that day it was reported that a German from a nearby
city, who was an associate member of the Automotive Engineers,
was registered in Dayton and would attend the meetings of the
convention. From the history we had of this gentleman from the
files of the A. P. L., he was undoubtedly a dangerous citizen
and one who should not have the opportunity of inspecting and
carefully examining the Liberty Motors and many other new ideas
which were being shown at the convention. I offered to investigate
the situation, took the information which was in our hands, got
in touch with the head of the Aircraft Production Board here
and was immediately sent to the convention, where I conferred
with the Secretary, explaining to him in detail the facts. We
found that our man was not registered at the convention, and we
made arrangements with the registrar that as soon as he made his
appearance, some one should shadow him and see that he did not
have access to any information or special displays, and that
he should be kept under surveillance during his entire time
in our city. I knew where he was stopping and kept him under
surveillance. We frustrated any plan he might have had to gain
confidential information. All this was done without his having any
idea that anyone knew his history or his reason for coming to the
convention.

One of the most interesting cases investigated was that of two families, Mr. A. and Mr. B., who lived on the same street. Mr. A. died, leaving one son of draft age, the main support of his mother. He filed no exemption claim, was inducted into the United States Army, and is now serving in France. In the family of Mr. B., father and mother were both living, both born in Germany. They had a son of draft age, who was inducted into the United States Army and sent to Camp Sherman, where he stayed for three months and was then discharged because of flat feet. He came home and went to work at his trade as a plumber. Mr. B., Sr., owned the house wherein the widow of A. lived, and immediately upon the return of B., Jr., proceeded to raise the widow’s rent and put her out of the house. The Red Cross had been paying the widow’s rent, but finally legal notice was served allowing her ten days in which to vacate the house.

An A. P. L. operative took the matter up with a local attorney and arranged for the protection of the widow in case force should be used to eject her; he then called on Mr. B., Sr., again and began praising him regarding his success in life, his unusual ability, and so on. He finally asked him this question:

“Mr. B., if you were in America and your mother in Germany, and some one were annoying and abusing her and trying to force her out in the street, what would you do?”

“I would fight,” he said.

Then the operative reversed the question and cited the other young man who was fighting for his country, and some one trying to put his mother out into the street. Mr. B. silently looked down at his feet and then said:

“You have proven to me my great mistake. I have done wrong and am going to make everything right.” He dismissed his case in court, apologized to the widow, and from all recent observation, is trying to be a truly American citizen.

Another operative reports:

During the spring of 1918 there were rumors in the city of Dayton
that Mr. B——, a hardware merchant, American born but of German
parentage, was very pro-German in his talk and attitude, and as
I had known the man for some years, I made it a point to get his
viewpoint as to the war and his opinion regarding the United
States entering the war. Mr. B—— was very guarded in everything
he said, but would always intimate just enough to arouse the
anger of a good American citizen, and while he would not make any
statements that could be considered as absolutely unpatriotic or
dangerous, yet it was evident that at heart he was pro-German
and was quietly spreading propaganda in favor of Germany. I
talked to him until I found that I was getting a little too warm
around the collar and would have to move on. One morning I was
quite interested when B—— advised me that he was going to enter
a certain Officers’ Training Camp and would leave on a certain
fixed date, two weeks later. I pumped him as well as I could to
get all the facts, which within an hour’s time I communicated to
headquarters. The information was communicated to headquarters
of the Officers’ Training Camp and B—— was advised by the proper
officer that he need not report. What reason they gave him I did
not know!

I called on B—— about a week later and expressed to him my
surprise that he was still here and asked why he had not gone to
camp. He replied that he was too busy to get away and would wait
until a later period. This excuse, of course, was all right with
me, but he did not know that some one had been on his trail and
kept him from becoming well acquainted with the inside workings
of training camp activities, and removed the possibility of his
slipping across his German propaganda.

Dayton sends in another story, worth pondering and remembering by every American. This book is written for Americans. The story will show what other races we sometimes harbor. The man’s name is given.

Captains No. 145 and No. 245 were given an assignment entitled “Frank Weiss, alien enemy; Refusal to Register.” The story, as told by them, is as follows:

Having been informed that Weiss was a dangerous character, we
proceeded to his place of employment and asked for an interview,
which was granted by the superintendent of the concern. We found
Weiss busily engaged at his work, told him our business and were
informed that we could “go to” so far as he was concerned, that he
had not registered and did not intend to do so, although he had
been given seven days in which to make up his mind or go to jail.
We did not argue the question with him but immediately took him
before the Special Agent in charge of the Department of Justice,
Harold L. Scott. Mr. Scott asked him what his objection was to
registering with his Local Board, as the law required, to which
Weiss answered:

“I have registered with the police and that is sufficient. I’m
not a citizen of this country. I’m a subject of the Kaiser, and
there’s one thing sure—after this war is over, I’m sure going to
leave this country. I’ve thought it all over and that’s what I’m
going to do.”

U. S. Marshal Devanney happened to be present and explained to
Weiss that the best thing for him to do was to register, telling
him that he did not blame him for maintaining his allegiance to
his own country; that he admired a man always for doing what he
thought was right, but that he must conform to the laws of this
country governing alien enemies.

All through the interview, Weiss’s attitude was one of defiance,
but he thought the matter over for a few minutes and then stated
that he was willing to register with the Local Board. He was
escorted to the Board by No. 145 and the Chairman asked:

“Mr. Weiss, where do you work and what salary do you earn?”

“I work at B—— Machine Company and get eighty-five cents an hour;
with overtime I make $100.00 per week.”

“Making such a salary as that, Mr. Weiss, don’t you think you owe
this country something? You could not possibly earn that much
money in one week in Germany, could you?”

“No,” replied Weiss, “but I’m a skilled mechanic and that’s what
they pay in this country, and I’m entitled to it.”

“Yes,” replied the Chairman, “but in view of the fact that this
country affords you such good wages and allows you to send your
children to the public schools, don’t you think it your duty to
at least comply with all the laws governing alien enemies such as
you?”

To this Weiss made no reply, but by constant questioning the
questionnaire was finally filled out and Weiss was asked to
“swear” to it, to which he replied:

“I will take no oath. I do not believe in a God, and refuse to
recognize him in any way whatsoever.”

His convictions in this matter were respected. He was allowed
to affirm, and was then taken to the Miami County jail. After
his incarceration it developed that two of Weiss’s children
were living with a Mrs. Smith in Dayton, Ohio—two bright little
girls—and that there would have to be some provision made for
them, as Mrs. Smith was simply boarding the children and was
unable to keep them unless their board was paid. Mrs. Smith wrote
a letter to Weiss setting forth the facts, to which he replied
that she should “take the children to the office of the United
States Marshal and leave them there.”

Mrs. Smith brought the children to the office of the United States
Marshal, who made arrangements with the Juvenile Court to place
the children in the Orphans’ Home, where they were to be cared for
until Weiss was released. Weiss was arrested on October 24, 1918,
and on account of good behavior, was granted a parole on November
14 and was released from the Miami County jail on December 5,
1918. Immediately upon being granted his freedom, after having
complied with all the rules and regulations governing his parole,
he went to the Juvenile Court and obtained release papers for his
two children, who were confined in the Orphans’ Home, the Judge
of the Juvenile Court having been notified that Weiss’s behavior
since his incarceration had been first-class and it was thought
that he really had a change of heart. But it was the same old
story of “Kamerad! Kamerad!” As soon as Weiss had obtained the
release papers for his two children he presented himself at the
institution where they were being cared for and demanded them
immediately.

“They are in school now,” replied Mrs. Hartrum, Matron of the
Home, “but will be dismissed in about twenty minutes. Won’t you be
seated and wait for them?”

“No,” he replied, “I’m tired of this damned dirty red tape. I want
them right now.”

Pauline, the office girl, hearing Weiss’s remark and fearing
trouble for the teacher, ran to the school and related what she
had heard, so that in case Weiss came to the school to demand
the children, the teacher would be prepared for him. Pauline was
right, as Weiss refused to wait for the coming of his children
and left Mrs. Hartrum, going to the school and demanding that
the children be turned over to him immediately. He was told that
school was just being dismissed and that he should wait at the
door for the children and could get them as they came out. When he
at last obtained possession of the children he took them toward
the Home and was met at the gate by Pauline, who told him that
Mrs. Hartrum had requested that he bring the children in that she
might change their clothes, as they were wearing the uniform of
the Home. Weiss struck at Pauline, saying: “I’ll knock you down
and slap your face if you don’t keep still.”

Pauline rushed into the house to tell Mrs. Hartrum and Weiss
followed closely behind her.

“I want my children and I want them now,” said Weiss.

“You can have them as soon as I take them to their room and change
their clothes,” replied Mrs. Hartrum.

“You will not take them from this room. I’m G— d——d tired of this
red tape business, I’m not going to wait, and don’t you dare to
take these children from this office.”

Mrs. Hartrum replied that she would take them to their room and
change their clothes and then bring them back. Whereupon Weiss
pushed Mrs. Hartrum backwards and she fell into a chair, her head
striking a table nearby, and he then struck her as she lay on the
floor, took his children and hurried down the street to a Fifth
Street car.

Mrs. Hartrum screamed. Her cries were heard by an attendant in
the yard, who came to her assistance, but Weiss had fled. The
attendant got into an automobile and followed the street car, and
when Weiss alighted uptown with his children, he was arrested by
the traffic policeman, the story of Weiss having been previously
related to him by the attendant.

Weiss was taken to police headquarters, the proper authorities
were notified, and after a thorough investigation his parole
was annulled and he was again committed to the Federal jail.
Investigation showed that Weiss was really an anarchist at heart,
and on the same day the assault was committed upon Mrs. Hartrum,
the following advertisement appeared in the Dayton Journal:

WANTED—Dayton men and women out of work to send names and
addresses to FRANK WEISS, Post Office, Box 387, to form a
union to get Justice to make the American workman’s home a
decent place to live in.

A few days later the good word came to us that Weiss had been
interned at Fort Oglethorpe until after the war, and will be
deported at that time.

If a few hundred thousand more went with Herr Weiss, this country would be yet better off. His attitude is not unusual—America is simply a place for making easy money, but Germany is the real place for a man! How should we feel about letting in a few hundred thousands of the recently demobilized German army? It is reported in the European despatches that many of them are planning to come to America as soon as possible. The ablest publicists of the day agree that American immigration must be sharply restricted. Some extremists believe that practically all immigration should be stopped for a term of ten years.