of thought and action. American politics in our region was relatively free from the corruption encouraged by a large percentage of ignorant or apathetic voters. In fact, the population of this region is enlightened, temperate, and prosperous—a condition most favorable if not essential to the proper and full development of a real Americanism.
What did the war bring out? Previous to the advent of America into the war there was, on the whole, a true neutrality. There were sympathizers and partisans of both sides and there was an even greater class of interested spectators who marveled at the stupendous feats of the armies of both sides. The American declaration of war was gladly acclaimed by the pro-Allies, cheerfully accepted as a call to duty by the great mass of interested spectators. It immediately engaged the support of the majority of those previously pro-German, leaving a very small minority of pro-Germans to carry on the propaganda against the American and Allied cause.
It was to deal with this small minority that we organized in May, 1917, and began to select and swear in A. P. L. operatives.
Among matters which called for constant vigilance, the Non-Partisan League came in for a share of our attention. At the time of the entry of the United States into the war, Iowa was being covered with literature for and against this movement, the leading force against the Non-Partisan League being the Greater Iowa Association. The State Council for National Defense considered that it was not for the good of Iowa for this fight to continue, and passed resolutions asking both factions to discontinue their efforts until after the war. The Greater Iowa Association readily acceded to the request, but the Non-Partisan League persisted in its propaganda, and the Council for Defense deemed it wise to take a hand in fairness to the Greater Iowa Association.
But the foregoing mild report does not tell the full story
in all of its acrimonious vehemence. A local agricultural
journal came out in red head-lines across its cover page,
"Iowa's Reign of Terror!" The editor, in that and subsequent
issues, printed perhaps 50,000 words of condemnation
of those not included among his own constituents, side-*tracking
alfalfa and Holsteins wholly for the time. He
says:
To-day in Iowa there is a veritable reign of terror, which
has been encouraged among ignorant and irresponsible people,
