On April 16, 1917, all males older than 14 who were still “natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects”
of the German Empire became alien enemies. With the Espionage Act on June 15, 1917, "interfering
with the draft and attempting insubordination within the military" became punishable crimes, and this
was widely interpreted. On November 16, 1917, eight more regulations were added to the original
twelve, including punishment for speaking, writing or publishing anything that was critical of the
government, with a maximum penalty a $10,000 fine and/or 20 years imprisonment. On May 16,
1918, the Act was broadened again to include German women aged 14 and older as enemies.
of the German Empire became alien enemies. With the Espionage Act on June 15, 1917, "interfering
with the draft and attempting insubordination within the military" became punishable crimes, and this
was widely interpreted. On November 16, 1917, eight more regulations were added to the original
twelve, including punishment for speaking, writing or publishing anything that was critical of the
government, with a maximum penalty a $10,000 fine and/or 20 years imprisonment. On May 16,
1918, the Act was broadened again to include German women aged 14 and older as enemies.
There were very few advocates for peace after that point. Socialists and "German sympathizers"
were considered a threat, as were pacifists. The draft law exempted from combat service, but not
military service, those conscripts who came from traditional peace churches, but only 4,000 of
65,000 drafted men who had at first claimed to be conscientious objectors remained as such, and
most of the rest did other war work for the army, many under severe duress. 450 men who would
not cooperate in any way with the conscription system went to federal prisons.
were considered a threat, as were pacifists. The draft law exempted from combat service, but not
military service, those conscripts who came from traditional peace churches, but only 4,000 of
65,000 drafted men who had at first claimed to be conscientious objectors remained as such, and
most of the rest did other war work for the army, many under severe duress. 450 men who would
not cooperate in any way with the conscription system went to federal prisons.
Assistant Attorney General Charles Warren drafted the Espionage Act, the Trading with the Enemy
Act and the Sedition Act, passed by Congress in 1918. It levied severe punishment for "all forms of
expression in any way critical of "the government, its symbols, or its mobilization of resources for
the war." Under that dictatorial act, even mere skeptics were imprisoned for voicing any criticism of
the war. To make matters even more appalling, the Justice Department subcontracted enforcement
of that act to the numerous citizen "loyalty leagues" created to act as vigilantes on behalf of Wilson
and his war policies. It was eventually perceived as violating civil liberties, and Warren's dictatorial
powers ended, but not until grave damage was done. Even then, the power to arrest simply shifted
to local political appointees and US Marshals, setting the stage for an even bigger civil rights disaster.
The second set of regulations for alien enemies was proclaimed by President Wilson and included a
series of exclusion zones which often stood between a man and his job or school or home.
Act and the Sedition Act, passed by Congress in 1918. It levied severe punishment for "all forms of
expression in any way critical of "the government, its symbols, or its mobilization of resources for
the war." Under that dictatorial act, even mere skeptics were imprisoned for voicing any criticism of
the war. To make matters even more appalling, the Justice Department subcontracted enforcement
of that act to the numerous citizen "loyalty leagues" created to act as vigilantes on behalf of Wilson
and his war policies. It was eventually perceived as violating civil liberties, and Warren's dictatorial
powers ended, but not until grave damage was done. Even then, the power to arrest simply shifted
to local political appointees and US Marshals, setting the stage for an even bigger civil rights disaster.
The second set of regulations for alien enemies was proclaimed by President Wilson and included a
series of exclusion zones which often stood between a man and his job or school or home.
Wilson took almost totalitarian measures to enforce his will and that of his cohorts on the American
public. The people he appointed to set his policies in motion and carry them out were given nearly a
free hand in their various, and often nefarious, activities. Thousands were arrested in the spring of
1918 for minor infractions such as walking into an exclusion zone, living in an exclusion zone and
belonging to an alleged subversive group. Religious/Conscientious Objectors, socialists and others
were all subject to arrest. The Armistice of November 11, 1918 did not slow arrests which continued
until February, 1919. The Justice Department wanted the nation cleansed of the 5,000 or so German
"subversives" as soon as possible. Eventually, a third of the internees were released, and another
third took the option given them: repatriation to a Europe many of them barely knew. The rest were
not set free until the camps closed in 1920. Thousands of lives were shattered.
public. The people he appointed to set his policies in motion and carry them out were given nearly a
free hand in their various, and often nefarious, activities. Thousands were arrested in the spring of
1918 for minor infractions such as walking into an exclusion zone, living in an exclusion zone and
belonging to an alleged subversive group. Religious/Conscientious Objectors, socialists and others
were all subject to arrest. The Armistice of November 11, 1918 did not slow arrests which continued
until February, 1919. The Justice Department wanted the nation cleansed of the 5,000 or so German
"subversives" as soon as possible. Eventually, a third of the internees were released, and another
third took the option given them: repatriation to a Europe many of them barely knew. The rest were
not set free until the camps closed in 1920. Thousands of lives were shattered.
On June 16, 1918, socialist Eugene Debs made an anti-war speech in Canton, Ohio and was arrested
and convicted under the Sedition Act of 1918. He was sentenced to serve ten years in prison and lost
his citizenship. Debs appealed his conviction to the US Supreme Court. In its ruling on Debs v. the
US, the Court examined statements Debs had made regarding the war, and found he still had the
intention and effect of obstructing the draft and recruitment for the war. Again, Justice Holmes stated
in his opinion that little attention was needed since Debs' case was essentially the same as that of
Schenck's. Debs went to prison.
and convicted under the Sedition Act of 1918. He was sentenced to serve ten years in prison and lost
his citizenship. Debs appealed his conviction to the US Supreme Court. In its ruling on Debs v. the
US, the Court examined statements Debs had made regarding the war, and found he still had the
intention and effect of obstructing the draft and recruitment for the war. Again, Justice Holmes stated
in his opinion that little attention was needed since Debs' case was essentially the same as that of
Schenck's. Debs went to prison.
Kate Richards O'Hare, 1877-1948, was a mother of four and a prominent Socialist. As the editor of a
magazine she raged against the war, continuing to lecture even though she was being watched by the
government,. She was especially concerned with the war's effect upon women. She was arrested on
July 29, 1917 for "obstructing the enlistment/recruitment service of the US" because of her lectures.
Expecting the normal six-month sentence or a fine, Judge Martin J. Wade instead bitterly lectured her
for two hours on patriotism and a "woman's place"and sentenced her to an unprecedented five years
in prison. She was torn from her family and sent to an archaic old prison, Missouri State Penitentiary,
and while in prison, she continued to write. Her experience there caused her to spend a good part of
her life after release working on prison reform. She received a presidential pardoned in 1920.
magazine she raged against the war, continuing to lecture even though she was being watched by the
government,. She was especially concerned with the war's effect upon women. She was arrested on
July 29, 1917 for "obstructing the enlistment/recruitment service of the US" because of her lectures.
Expecting the normal six-month sentence or a fine, Judge Martin J. Wade instead bitterly lectured her
for two hours on patriotism and a "woman's place"and sentenced her to an unprecedented five years
in prison. She was torn from her family and sent to an archaic old prison, Missouri State Penitentiary,
and while in prison, she continued to write. Her experience there caused her to spend a good part of
her life after release working on prison reform. She received a presidential pardoned in 1920.
Under the 1917 law, government attorneys filed almost 2,000 prosecutions. While only a handful of
these cases reached the Supreme Court, it was only after the Armistice that the Justices heard a case
challenging the law under the First Amendment guarantee of free speech.
these cases reached the Supreme Court, it was only after the Armistice that the Justices heard a case
challenging the law under the First Amendment guarantee of free speech.
Creel and company were frightened that such women: “might constitute a subversive element in the
nation, detrimental to wartime unity and the smooth functioning of selective service.” Consequently,
the CPI put serious effort into discrediting the views of women activists. Pacifists were at first
depicted as well meaning but misguided, and were shown as being gullible to German propaganda.
There was a spate of movies portraying "unnatural" mothers smothering their sons with affection,
thereby ruining them for life. Good mothers went home from the movies and begged their sons to
enlist and do their duty. Later, the pacifists were slandered, libeled, often arrested and even victims
of violent (unsolved) physical crimes.
nation, detrimental to wartime unity and the smooth functioning of selective service.” Consequently,
the CPI put serious effort into discrediting the views of women activists. Pacifists were at first
depicted as well meaning but misguided, and were shown as being gullible to German propaganda.
There was a spate of movies portraying "unnatural" mothers smothering their sons with affection,
thereby ruining them for life. Good mothers went home from the movies and begged their sons to
enlist and do their duty. Later, the pacifists were slandered, libeled, often arrested and even victims
of violent (unsolved) physical crimes.
Strike they did, and the New World Pariah had been invented. Even Germans hated Germans.
The APL had 250,000 to 300,000 members in 600 cities at its
height of power and conducted more than 40,000 citizen arrests
as well as uncounted lynchings, beatings and assaults. Officially
condoned by the Attorney General, the APL loaned its support to
the Bureau of Investigation, the precursor to the FBI. The APL's
network of operatives ("the web") expanded and swept across the
United States, focusing first on aliens and dissenters, then
eventually on ordinary citizens, collecting domestic intelligence for
the War Department. Left: 1918 headlines Davenport, Iowa
announcing a "round-up" of suspected German sympathizers and
a CPI ad intended to create suspicion of Germans (click)
height of power and conducted more than 40,000 citizen arrests
as well as uncounted lynchings, beatings and assaults. Officially
condoned by the Attorney General, the APL loaned its support to
the Bureau of Investigation, the precursor to the FBI. The APL's
network of operatives ("the web") expanded and swept across the
United States, focusing first on aliens and dissenters, then
eventually on ordinary citizens, collecting domestic intelligence for
the War Department. Left: 1918 headlines Davenport, Iowa
announcing a "round-up" of suspected German sympathizers and
a CPI ad intended to create suspicion of Germans (click)
| Vigilante Justice: Government Goons |
The CPI was concerned about the level of support for the war among women. They needed women
to "contribute to the war effort by practicing food conservation and planting gardens" and they
needed women to unquestioningly send their sons off to die. O'Hare and others such as Carrie
Chapman Catt and Jane Addams who had helped found the Women’s Peace Party in January of
1915 (which grew to over 40,000 members in a year) were obstacles to the government's agenda.
to "contribute to the war effort by practicing food conservation and planting gardens" and they
needed women to unquestioningly send their sons off to die. O'Hare and others such as Carrie
Chapman Catt and Jane Addams who had helped found the Women’s Peace Party in January of
1915 (which grew to over 40,000 members in a year) were obstacles to the government's agenda.
In 1918, The journalist H.L. Mencken, who himself fell under government suspicion for his German
ancestry and sincere love of German culture, commented on the absurdity of trading fundamental
liberties for security. He vehemently and publicly disagreed with Holmes.
ancestry and sincere love of German culture, commented on the absurdity of trading fundamental
liberties for security. He vehemently and publicly disagreed with Holmes.
When Congress declared war against Germany, there were
over 2.8 million people of enemy (German) birth in the
USA and the Justice Department had began surveillance
of them in 1915. With the declaration of war, presidential
proclamations were targeted at "alien enemies" or Germans
who had not completed the process of naturalization. The
Administration chose to selectively intern German aliens.
Within a few weeks of the declaration, the first wave of
arrests was completed. 125 Germans had been interned by
May, 1916, and 900 by October, 1917. Three camps were
initially established for civilian internees and prisoners of
war: Fort McPherson and Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia, Fort
Douglas, Utah and Hot Springs, North Carolina, but soon
others sprang up elsewhere. Fort Oglethorpe barracks, left.
Torn from their families, homes and jobs, many internees
soon became despondent, ill and even suicidal. Others lost
everything they owned and had nothing left to go home to
when the war was over.
over 2.8 million people of enemy (German) birth in the
USA and the Justice Department had began surveillance
of them in 1915. With the declaration of war, presidential
proclamations were targeted at "alien enemies" or Germans
who had not completed the process of naturalization. The
Administration chose to selectively intern German aliens.
Within a few weeks of the declaration, the first wave of
arrests was completed. 125 Germans had been interned by
May, 1916, and 900 by October, 1917. Three camps were
initially established for civilian internees and prisoners of
war: Fort McPherson and Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia, Fort
Douglas, Utah and Hot Springs, North Carolina, but soon
others sprang up elsewhere. Fort Oglethorpe barracks, left.
Torn from their families, homes and jobs, many internees
soon became despondent, ill and even suicidal. Others lost
everything they owned and had nothing left to go home to
when the war was over.
Charles T. Schenck and other members of the Socialist Party in Philadelphia were convicted of
conspiring to mail circulars to drafted men, leaflets saying that the Thirteenth Amendment, in
forbidding slavery, forbade the draft. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote that "in many places and in
ordinary time, the Socialists would be within their constitutional rights. But the Bill of Rights does
not protect words creating a clear and present danger of evils that Congress has a right to prevent."
Schenck was sentenced to six months in jail.
conspiring to mail circulars to drafted men, leaflets saying that the Thirteenth Amendment, in
forbidding slavery, forbade the draft. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote that "in many places and in
ordinary time, the Socialists would be within their constitutional rights. But the Bill of Rights does
not protect words creating a clear and present danger of evils that Congress has a right to prevent."
Schenck was sentenced to six months in jail.
One CPI pamphlet stated: "The German-American National Alliance had long endeavored to weld
persons of German descent in the United States into a compact body, to be used when desirable, in
the interests of Germany. The hand of the German Government was extended to America to
influence members of Congress through German-American voters and their sympathizers."
persons of German descent in the United States into a compact body, to be used when desirable, in
the interests of Germany. The hand of the German Government was extended to America to
influence members of Congress through German-American voters and their sympathizers."
"Military masters of Germany are sowing unsuspecting communities with vicious conspirators and
spies who seek to undermine the Government with false professions of loyalty!" Wilson
spies who seek to undermine the Government with false professions of loyalty!" Wilson
H.L. Mencken and Kate O'Hare were among those who questioned the government's actions
Of German Americans opposed to the war, Woodrow Wilson said: "There is disloyalty active in the
United States and it must be crushed," as he spoke to hundreds of thousands at a "preparedness"
rally in Washington, DC on Flag Day. Wilson predicted that the American nation "will teach these
gentlemen once and for all that loyalty to this flag is the first test of tolerance in the US"
United States and it must be crushed," as he spoke to hundreds of thousands at a "preparedness"
rally in Washington, DC on Flag Day. Wilson predicted that the American nation "will teach these
gentlemen once and for all that loyalty to this flag is the first test of tolerance in the US"
In 1917, Theodore Roosevelt, once a friend of the Kaiser, said: ""The Hun within our gates is the
worst of the foes of our own household, whether he is the paid or the unpaid agent of Germany.
Whether he is pro-German or poses as a pacifist, or a peace-at-any-price-man, matters little....The
German-language papers carry on a consistent campaign in favor of Germany against England. They
should be put out of existence for the period of this war....Every disloyal native-born American
should be disfranchised and interned. It is time to strike our enemies at home heavily and quickly."
worst of the foes of our own household, whether he is the paid or the unpaid agent of Germany.
Whether he is pro-German or poses as a pacifist, or a peace-at-any-price-man, matters little....The
German-language papers carry on a consistent campaign in favor of Germany against England. They
should be put out of existence for the period of this war....Every disloyal native-born American
should be disfranchised and interned. It is time to strike our enemies at home heavily and quickly."
With increased participation in the war, hysteria grew and ambitious marshals filled jails in the spring
of 1918 without warrants. Creel crafted his agenda with vigilantes put in place to do the dirty work.
German settled areas were under suspicion because some people were getting uncensored news from
relatives and friends in Germany. Harmless German social clubs became "covers for spies" and
groups like The German-American National Alliance, formed to discourage war against Germany,
were soon under attack as being "pro-German" traitors.
of 1918 without warrants. Creel crafted his agenda with vigilantes put in place to do the dirty work.
German settled areas were under suspicion because some people were getting uncensored news from
relatives and friends in Germany. Harmless German social clubs became "covers for spies" and
groups like The German-American National Alliance, formed to discourage war against Germany,
were soon under attack as being "pro-German" traitors.
"America has been the great background of the European War. Though far removed from the
trenches with the play of artillery and the heroic charges, this country has been the scene of an
equally dramatic, though silent struggle-a battle not visible to the eye. It has been a conflict of wits,
of statesman pitted against statesman, of secret agent striving to outdo his opponent of a belligerent
nation; for in America, agents of Germany have been striving for a two-fold aim. They have sought
to enmesh the United States in an international conspiracy and to use this country as the means of a
rear attack on the Entente Allies." The German Spy in America, 1917 by John Price
trenches with the play of artillery and the heroic charges, this country has been the scene of an
equally dramatic, though silent struggle-a battle not visible to the eye. It has been a conflict of wits,
of statesman pitted against statesman, of secret agent striving to outdo his opponent of a belligerent
nation; for in America, agents of Germany have been striving for a two-fold aim. They have sought
to enmesh the United States in an international conspiracy and to use this country as the means of a
rear attack on the Entente Allies." The German Spy in America, 1917 by John Price
Since it had no actual legal authority, its members acted as vigilantes running down "Hun
sympathizers" and "slackers" (draft dodgers), in the process violating the civil liberties of thousands
of American citizens, including those associated with labor, and pacifist movements. These auxiliary
police would detain suspects that were simply believed to be "too German" and in the spring of 1918,
mass arrests commenced and Washington was flooded with requests for warrants.
sympathizers" and "slackers" (draft dodgers), in the process violating the civil liberties of thousands
of American citizens, including those associated with labor, and pacifist movements. These auxiliary
police would detain suspects that were simply believed to be "too German" and in the spring of 1918,
mass arrests commenced and Washington was flooded with requests for warrants.
| "Millions of men and women of German birth and native sympathy live amongst us...Should there be any disloyalty it will be dealt with a firm hand of repression." Wilson |
| Hysteria Part 7. Suspending the Constitution. |
When Wilson begged the Senate to give him power to restrain the press in 1917, Senator Robert
LaFolette of Wisconsin had quipped: "The purpose of this ridiculous campaign is to throw the
country into a state of sheer terror, to change public opinion, to stifle criticism, and suppress
discussion. People are being unlawfully arrested, thrown into jail, held incommunicado for days, only
to be eventually discharged without ever having been taken into court, because they have committed
no crime. But more than this, if every preparation for war can be made the excuse for destroying free
speech and a free press and the right of the people to assemble together for peaceful discussion, then
we may well despair of ever again finding ourselves for a long period in a state of peace. The
destruction of rights now occurring will be pointed to then as precedents for a still further invasion of
the rights of the citizen." Little did he know how very destructive it would become.
LaFolette of Wisconsin had quipped: "The purpose of this ridiculous campaign is to throw the
country into a state of sheer terror, to change public opinion, to stifle criticism, and suppress
discussion. People are being unlawfully arrested, thrown into jail, held incommunicado for days, only
to be eventually discharged without ever having been taken into court, because they have committed
no crime. But more than this, if every preparation for war can be made the excuse for destroying free
speech and a free press and the right of the people to assemble together for peaceful discussion, then
we may well despair of ever again finding ourselves for a long period in a state of peace. The
destruction of rights now occurring will be pointed to then as precedents for a still further invasion of
the rights of the citizen." Little did he know how very destructive it would become.
Creel's idea of government using private groups for domestic surveillance and encouraging individuals
to spy on their neighbors came to fruition with the American Protective League, a private
organization formed by wealthy Chicago businessmen who worked in support of the anti-German
movement and against anti-war citizens and organizations.
to spy on their neighbors came to fruition with the American Protective League, a private
organization formed by wealthy Chicago businessmen who worked in support of the anti-German
movement and against anti-war citizens and organizations.
