MONTANA
Billings, Montana, organized its A. P. L. division only three months before the signing of the Armistice. The Chief says: “It was a privilege to serve. We are grateful for the opportunity that came to us. Our field was small, and our time of service was short, but if we contributed in some small way to the success of the League’s work, we feel amply repaid.”
Red Lodge, Montana, is a coal mining town with a considerable foreign element, so it early organized a “Liberty Committee” of two hundred citizens. This committee worked in with the A. P. L. The fact that a division of the latter body was organized was not definitely known, but the belief got out that the Government had a secret agency working at Red Lodge and that it was in working order; “which it was,” says the Chief.
NEW MEXICO
An instance of shrewd detective work comes from Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose Chief reports:
We received a copy of a letter mailed from this point several months previous, illegibly signed, but clearly addressed to a man named H—— in Holland. The letter, intercepted by censors, contained disloyal statements about Liberty Bonds, and referred to “our bank.” We assumed from this that the writer of this letter was a banker. The use of blank paper instead of a business letterhead suggested that he was a transient. Albuquerque being quite a health resort, we surmised that the banker was probably a well-to-do health seeker. Accordingly, we combed the higher class resorts frequented by visitors of this type. Going through the list of patrons at one of these places, we found the name of A. H——, resident of an Arkansas town. By referring to the bank directory, we discovered that this man was a director and officer in the bank at that town. We sent this information to the National Directors in Washington. It was sufficient. The investigation of the whole case consumed thirty minutes. We admit it was a little different from the usual routine that we usually had to follow.
UTAH
Green River, Utah, had a couple of cases which made some trouble. One was that of William F. A——, and Callie A——, his wife. Evidence was secured showing that this man was not a citizen, although he had voted as such. It was alleged that he was handling high explosives in violation of the law and that he expressed disloyal sentiments. Military Intelligence in Salt Lake confiscated the arms and ammunition, and had A—— registered as a German alien enemy. His wife was very bitter in her denunciation of the United States and the Red Cross. The son of the two was charged with being a draft evader. Another man, James H——, was alleged never to have registered for the draft, although within the age limit. He was arrested, admitted his guilt, and was turned over to the County Board.
Hiawatha, Utah, seems to have been for the most part quiet during the war. This division says: “Due to the loyal spirit of our people, our report is short. We are in a thinly settled locality. We got only one fine imposed, a violator of the food regulations, who pleaded guilty.”
Richfield, Utah, is a farming community off the railroad, having no large labor organizations to make trouble. The Chief says: “A few pro-Germans were quietly warned, and that was all that was necessary. All our members were organized and watchful, and there was not much to do. Any service we could render we gladly gave.”