letter. This organization should be handled as confidentially as
practicable, and care taken that nothing is done by it to unnecessarily
alarm aliens in this country or cause them any apprehension
as to the fair manner in which they will be treated, and no
arrests should be caused, except after consultation with the federal
authorities, in order that there may be no confusion.
"I will take no further action in this matter until I hear from Mr. Briggs or yourself."
On March 20, I telegraphed Mr. Briggs as follows:
"A. M. Briggs,
Hotel Claridge, New York City.
"Just received following telegram from Chief Bielaski: 'Replying
your letter 14th, Briggs should be encouraged in organization
volunteer association. Be glad talk with him about matter. Letter
follows.' Personally, foregoing makes me very happy, as it does you,
I am sure. Please wire what day you will confer with Chief.
Clabaugh."
On March 20, I received the following telegram, dated New
York, from Mr. Briggs:
"Hinton G. Clabaugh,
Bureau of Investigation, Chicago.
"Great news. Will see Chief Washington Thursday morning nine thirty. Please arrange appointment. Briggs."
I then wired the Chief of the Bureau, and on March 22, Mr.
Briggs wired me from Washington as follows:
"Hinton G. Clabaugh,
Bureau of Investigation, Chicago.
"Very satisfactory interview. Chief has approved. Organization, our original plan, to be formed immediately. See you Saturday. Briggs."
Thus it was that Chicago was the first city in the United States
to have such an organization. It was the idea of Mr. A. M.
Briggs, and of no one else. Although in public speeches, letters
and upon other occasions he has been generous enough to credit
the idea to me, I want it positively understood that the whole
scheme was his thought, and it is due to his untiring energy and
sacrifice that the organization was started and put on its feet
during the early period of its history, when many people were
inclined to look upon it and ridicule it as "a bunch of volunteer
detectives, etc." Mr. Briggs personally defrayed all expenses in
the early history of the organization. National headquarters were
here in the Peoples Gas Building and the Chicago Division was
