The work of the American Protective League in the field is performed through the local branches. The Chief of the Local Branch is appointed, and is subject to removal, by the Board of National Directors. He is the directing head of the organization and responsible therefor. He will appoint an Assistant Chief; and, in his discretion, an Advisory Committee.
Members of the organization must be American citizens of legal age, of good character and absolute loyalty, who undertake to serve from patriotic motives and without compensation. The reward of a member is the opportunity to serve the Government in a responsible way in matters of grave importance. The selection of members is a most important duty devolving upon the Chief, both because the future efficiency of the Local Branch is dependent upon its personnel, and because of the potential danger involved in mistakes in enrollment. The interest of the Government and the ability of the candidate to render efficient service are the first considerations and are paramount to any considerations of business, family or friendship.
Every member of the organization must subscribe and swear to the formal oath before enrollment. This rule will be rigidly enforced and no member will be recognized as such until this action has been taken. The candidate will be sworn in before an officer qualified to administer oaths.
Strict observance by members of the rules and regulations of the organization is required. The Government must not be embarrassed by unauthorized action of members in the attempted performance of their duties. Experience has demonstrated the value of a Trial Board consisting of disinterested and responsible members of sound and unprejudiced judgment.
The Bureau of Finance procures the funds necessary for the work of the organization from voluntary contribution of citizens, and has charge of all expenditures. It is important that an accurate system of requisition and voucher be installed and that all contributions be strictly accounted for. Periodic audits should be made at regular intervals. No volunteer member of the League should be allowed to profit through his service.
Local Branches should not derive their revenue from any single person or interest, but should secure them from various sources so that no individual or business interest shall at any time be in a position to dictate as to the personnel, policy or activity of the Local Branch. Great care should be exercised that no alien enemy, or person in sympathy with the cause of the enemy, be allowed to contribute money and thereby discredit the organization. Experience has shown that through appreciation of the protection afforded the community by a competent local organization, adequate funds may readily be secured from responsible citizens. Each Local Branch is self-supporting, and will be requested to make its proportionate contribution toward defraying the expenses of the National and Divisional Headquarters. The efficient operation of these Headquarters, and their usefulness to the Local Branches, require adequate quarters, equipment and clerical assistance; and involve large expense for printing and distribution of bulletins of instruction and other literature.
The Bureau of Law maintains an adequate corps of competent lawyers. It advises operatives upon all matters relating to their work, including questions of right and authority, the competency of evidence, etc. It assigns individual attorneys to direct particular investigations, and gives advice as to the construction of laws. It revises the reports of operatives, and briefs the same for submission to the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice. In large and thickly populated communities a zone or district system of organization has proven most effective, members being assigned according to their residence. Under this plan the territory is divided into inspection districts, each under the command of an inspector. Each inspection district is in turn subdivided into convenient territorial units, each under the direction of a captain. Under each captain is a company consisting of the requisite number of platoons, each under the command of a lieutenant. No platoon should exceed ten men in size. Each inspector is definitely responsible to the Chief for the territory in his district, and each captain is responsible to his inspector for the territory assigned to him. Cases for investigation within a district are assigned to the inspector for that district and by him through a captain to the men best fitted for the work. An auxiliary squad for emergency work may operate directly from headquarters.
Experience has shown that a company under a captain should not exceed fifty men. The organization of a company is indicated in the general chart.
The Investigation Bureau should establish and maintain a close association with the Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Investigation of the United States in order to render the greatest possible assistance to the Department of Justice. In the larger cities and wherever possible it is highly desirable that a Special Agent of the Department of Justice be assigned to the Local Branch to direct the work of investigation.
It is the duty of each division chief to extend the organization throughout the city within the lines of his department in such manner as to attain so far as practicable the following ends: (1) the enlistment of responsible persons of sufficient number in each bank, business house and industrial plant of importance, whose sworn duty it will be to promptly report through the proper channel all cases of disloyalty, industrial disturbance, or other matter likely to injure or embarrass the Government of the United States; and (2) the establishment of an organization, through such means, which will at all times be ready and able to assist the operation of the Investigation Bureau of the Local Branch and of the Department of Justice when their investigations shall require an entrance into and the securing of information from such banking, business or industrial establishments.