- tenants were held to hear suggestions from representatives
of the Government. They were thus kept familiar with the latest happenings and knew what precautions to take to make their work effective.
The story of the Pittsburgh Division, as it is related in these pages by its Chief, is the story of a program of action, thoughtfully conceived, carefully and efficiently executed, and successful beyond all expectations. Mr. Weibley says in his report:
A splendid esprit de corps was maintained, as the organization
in Pittsburgh was limited to the least possible number in
membership, and all members were kept busy. Great care was
used in the selection of the men enrolled, and each applicant
was subjected to a rigid investigation. If he did not meet the
requirements, his application was rejected or placed on file to
provide material for future replacements when urgency demanded
it. As a result, the highest interest in the work was
maintained throughout the war period.
The Pittsburgh district being the most important manufacturing, munition, fuel and chemical center in the country, was largely dependent for its labor upon foreigners, many of whom came from countries at war with us. It therefore was imperative that many of our operatives should be of diverse nationalities and able to speak many tongues. As an illustration, it was estimated that at the beginning of the war fully fifty per cent of the Austrians in the United States were at work in vital coal mines, coke works, steel mills and other industrial plants within a radius of 50 miles of Pittsburgh. This naturally made the alien menace a grave one, but so intensive was the organization of the League that not an important industrial operation in the great district was without one or more of the League agents as active employes. In fact, intimate connection was maintained with every alien gathering or meeting place, and nothing of moment was planned that the League officials were not soon familiar with. In fact, in one of the largest industrial concerns, the principal official was chief of a league unit, and many of his trusted employes were his active associates.
Pittsburgh industrial concerns, vitally interested in meeting the Government's demands for constantly increasing output of war material, quickly solved the question of finances, and the League had ample funds to meet every requirement. This made possible a highly efficient office organization and a suite of offices on the fourth floor of the St. Nicholas Building,
