In the comprehensive report submitted by the Akron division, Chief Harpham says:
We started out in a small way to assist the Akron office of
the Bureau of Investigation, but expanded rapidly and soon
had thoroughly equipped offices, complete card filing systems,
and a sufficient force to keep our records and carry on our
work in an efficient way. We now have a membership of
two hundred and eighty-three, enrolled from the ranks of representative
citizens who have given untiring efforts to the
work. I know of no single case that has not been handled to
the entire satisfaction of the Department of Justice, and without
any display of officiousness. It is very gratifying to those
who have performed service to receive these expressions of
appreciation. I shall never be able to convey to our members
the keen appreciation of their loyal support which has made
our success possible. It has been a pleasure for me to serve
as Chief and to know that we have been a part of the powerful
organization which has contributed so much toward the
winning of the war.
Of these men who did the work—and it is work to handle
nearly 12,000 cases—all were unpaid volunteers. Other
members of the business community contributed money, although
classified as inactive members. Such laborers in the
ranks must be content to go unsung and unhonored, although
they truly helped to win the war.
Columbus, Ohio, is another solid, steady-going town which may be depended upon to do the sensible thing and the loyal thing—albeit at times in rather violent fashion. A Lutheran minister of Columbus was reported for pro-German talk and was found to be of German parentage, although himself American born. He acknowledged he had never allowed an American flag in his church, and had never uttered a prayer for this country or its army. An operative told him to be careful about his praying for "our country," lest he should be understood as meaning Germany and not the United States. The community forced him to leave his charge—none too soon, for the sentiment toward him was rapidly becoming dangerous.
A Columbus restaurant employed a German-looking cook who seemed to have considerable money, and who acted
