| Slackers | 6,856 |
| Alleged false questionnaires. | 255 |
| Interned alien enemies | 17 |
| Pro-Germanism | 245 |
| Socialistic propaganda | 98 |
| Sedition | 124 |
| Food regulations | 94 |
| Liberty Bonds and Stamps | 86 |
| Soldiers absent without leave | 51 |
| Alien enemy investigations | 159 |
| Character investigations: War Department, Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., etc. | 34 |
| Miscellaneous | 4,847 |
| Total cases handled first year | 11,866 |
| Delinquents and deserters sent to Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, by this office | 870 |
In the comprehensive report submitted by the Akron division, Chief Harpham says:
We started out in a small way to assist the Akron office of the Bureau of Investigation, but expanded rapidly and soon had thoroughly equipped offices, complete card filing systems, and a sufficient force to keep our records and carry on our work in an efficient way. We now have a membership of two hundred and eighty-three, enrolled from the ranks of representative citizens who have given untiring efforts to the work. I know of no single case that has not been handled to the entire satisfaction of the Department of Justice, and without any display of officiousness. It is very gratifying to those who have performed service to receive these expressions of appreciation. I shall never be able to convey to our members the keen appreciation of their loyal support which has made our success possible. It has been a pleasure for me to serve as Chief and to know that we have been a part of the powerful organization which has contributed so much toward the winning of the war.
Of these men who did the work—and it is work to handle nearly 12,000 cases—all were unpaid volunteers. Other members of the business community contributed money, although classified as inactive members. Such laborers in the ranks must be content to go unsung and unhonored, although they truly helped to win the war.
Columbus, Ohio, is another solid, steady-going town which may be depended upon to do the sensible thing and the loyal thing—albeit at times in rather violent fashion. A Lutheran minister of Columbus was reported for pro-German talk and was found to be of German parentage, although himself American born. He acknowledged he had never allowed an American flag in his church, and had never uttered a prayer for this country or its army. An operative told him to be careful about his praying for “our country,” lest he should be understood as meaning Germany and not the United States. The community forced him to leave his charge—none too soon, for the sentiment toward him was rapidly becoming dangerous.
A Columbus restaurant employed a German-looking cook who seemed to have considerable money, and who acted rather suspiciously. A. P. L. traced his history, covering two or three positions which he had held, and at length called him in to headquarters for a general going over of the third-degree sort. He was found to have acted as cook in the army cantonments at Chillicothe, and was discovered to be a German alien without permit or any papers allowing him in this country. Among his papers there was found a photograph of himself in the uniform of a lieutenant in the German army, also his order for mobilization in the German army in 1913. He is now interned.
That the Columbus division of A. P. L. was at all times busily engaged in winning the war on this side is amply proved by its report:
| Slackers | 135 |
| Delinquents and deserters | 366 |
| Alleged false questionnaires | 83 |
| Bootlegging | 107 |
| Pro-German | 375 |
| Socialistic propaganda | 83 |
| Vice complaints | 235 |
| Soldiers absent without leave | 8 |
| Alien enemies | 48 |
| Character investigations | 192 |
Toledo, Ohio, had 162 cases of disloyalty and sedition to investigate, and 600 cases of word-of-mouth propaganda. Many of the reports turned in by zealous operatives are worth reprinting.
A slacker was brought into Toledo headquarters minus his card, but he protested that he had registered. He declared himself to be drunk, said that the registrar was drunk, that it was funny they couldn’t find his card, but if they would go to Detroit and find his friend Heine So-and-so—street address unknown—Heine would tell them he had registered. Not considered conclusive.