that every man in the crowd brought out his card. This story is given to illustrate one fact—no matter how tough and disorderly the crowd, eighty-five percent at least still had manhood enough left to be loyal.
In another saloon a big fellow was leaning on the bar. He was notified that operatives outside were looking at the cards, and he said: "I have my little old card right here," slapping his breast, "but the man who sees it will first have to walk over my dead body." Operative B, who had entered the saloon a few minutes before, was leaning on the bar facing the fellow and when he finished his tirade, he said quietly and very low: "Let me see your card, please; I am from the American Protective League"—and he showed his star. Instantly the fellow replied: "Oh, certainly, here it is"—accompanied by a roar of laughter from everybody in the saloon.
A man was reported by neighbors as having taken down a flag that was put on his house. It was said that he read the reports of German victories in the early part of the war on the front porch to the neighbors and gloated over them. He also said he knew how far to go, what to say and when to quit. A. P. L. operatives had a quiet interview with this party. He was well educated, held a good position, and was desirous of arguing the question. At that moment he was reinforced by his wife, who immediately ordered the operatives out of the house, with the statement that no one could accuse her husband of being disloyal. She was very determined and unusually long of wind. His change was immediate. He took his wife to a back room. Evidently he runs the house, for she did not reappear. He assured us he had made a mistake, and, in fact, termed himself a plain dd fool. He promised to be loyal and said that he invited checking up.
It was the experience of the Eastern District of Kansas City that about twenty percent were American-born citizens of German descent, or naturalized Germans who looked upon the war as simply a question of taking sides, instead of a question of loyalty. A. P. L. pointed out to these the need of being loyal, what they owed this country, why they should be subservient to the law—and what was going to happen to them if they were not. This twenty percent either was
