The selection of Chiefs was inaugurated by the following communication:
Acting under instructions from Bureau of Investigation, Department
of Justice, we are required to organize a separate branch of
the American Protective League in each town. Our method is to
secure the name of a live, aggressive patriot who is willing to
undertake the responsibility of organizing and acting as Chief of
our branch in his town, and then send him the enclosed letter
which explains the organization work and ask him to undertake
the work. I will be very glad indeed to have you act as the
organizer and Chief of the Branch of the American Protective
League if you can and will do so. Otherwise, I will be very glad
to have you turn the enclosed letter over to the man in your town
whom you select as the best fitted for this responsibility and have
him write me at the above address so that I can authorize him
immediately to go forward with the organization work.
We are sending you under separate cover enrollment blanks for the enrollment of your organization. You will please personally fill out one of these blanks and swear to it before a Notary signing the oath in the presence of the Notary, then forward the card to this office. After you have taken the oath yourself you will then proceed to administer it to your men.
Enclosed herewith you will find your commission card as Chief of your Division, which you will please sign at the same time you take your oath, and retain. When you fill out your commission card, please use the date on which you were appointed Chief.
As each member takes the oath, you will issue him a commission card, filling in his rank either as Captain, Lieutenant or Operative, and have him sign his card in your presence.
As each man is sworn in, you will please place his number on the commission card. Please use great care that no commission card leaves your possession until it is given to a member of your organization after having been signed by him in your presence at the time he takes the oath.
The matter of credentials was at first covered by a letter
of instruction from the Superintendent to all Chiefs:
The badges to be worn by the members of the American Protective
League will be ready for shipment within a few days. Your
members are not required to wear a badge if they do not care
to do so. In delivering the badges to your men, please caution
them to wear the badge concealed at all times and not to display
it unless it is necessary to do so while making their investigations.
It is advisable that you consult with the Chief of your local Police
