Hopkinsville, Tennessee, had a great deal of trouble over illegal transportation of whiskey, a great deal of which went to workers in government powder plants in an adjoining city. “We arrested so many that no record was kept,” says the Chief. Things became quieter later on.
Huntingdon, Tennessee, is another disgustingly quiet and satisfied community. “People nearly all natives,” says the report, “and mighty few expressions of disloyalty. We have watched for violations, but nothing has developed worthy of report.”
TEXAS
San Antonio, Texas, is in a strongly pro-German neighborhood and has a large citizenry of German descent. It is refreshing nevertheless to see that in this good old Texas town, once distinctly Spanish, the language of the United States prevails to-day and only one flag floats over the Alamo. There were thirty-four investigations for sedition, and twenty-four cases of propaganda. The usual number of overseas examinations were held. On the whole, San Antonio seems to have been quiet and peaceful and distinctly loyal in every way, in spite of her location so close to New Braunfels.
The San Antonio Chief concludes his too brief report with a little story:
The telephone at my elbow rang insistently. The man at the other end of the wire was incoherent, and I could not understand what he wanted.
“Hold on a minute!” I finally interrupted. “Who is this speaking?”
He would not tell me; he merely said that he was a friend of mine. I did not like to give information over the ’phone when I was not sure as to whom I was talking. I again insisted that he give me his name; once more he refused to do so, reiterating that he was a good friend of mine. I could not recognize the voice. But what he said was startling.
Recently I had been appointed Chief of the American Protective League for this District, and how my informant had learned, or guessed, that I was engaged in it, I could not tell. I did not like to undertake a wild goose chase; at the same time, if I should refuse to follow up the clue he gave me, the lives of many might be endangered.
Anything could happen in San Antonio. It is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and ever since the day the Spaniard founded it, has been a hotbed of intrigue. Just at this time there were fully twenty thousand troops stationed in the various Camps about the City, and in order to impress the Mexicans with the idea that we were not altogether helpless, it had been suggested that a patriotic military parade be given. This was to take place the following day, and I had spent many hours helping to arrange the details. And now, my mysterious “friend” had told me over the ’phone that he knew certain parties were plotting to throw a bomb into the parade; that if I would go to the certain house named by him, I would find a meeting of the plotters in progress!