Chapter XLII: Appendix: D

DIGEST OF THE AMENDED ESPIONAGE ACT AS PRINTED IN “THE SPY GLASS,” JUNE, 1918

Signed by President Wilson on May 16, the amended espionage laws opens a new chapter in the work of the American Protective League. For the first time we have an inclusive law under which to operate—a law broad enough in its scope and classifications to cover and define as serious crimes a multitude of offenses which were classed as minor by our peace-time code but actually offered serious hindrances to this country’s military operations and preparations.

For the first time, too, heavy penalties have been provided for acts and speeches which before could hardly be punished at all under the law. Maximum sentences of twenty years imprisonment and $10,000 fine are not to be taken lightly either by disloyal and pacifist citizens or by unfriendly or enemy aliens who have made it their business, since war was declared, to invent and circulate discreditable stories about almost every phase of America’s war activities.

Disloyalty Now a Crime

No distinction is made between the disloyal talk or act of a
citizen and the hostile speech or deed of an alien, enemy or
otherwise. The act or speech is the offense and whoever commits it
must pay the penalty—though the law allows a good deal of latitude
to the court in determining the latter.

All this means a tremendous simplification of every member’s
labors. So far-reaching and important are the provisions of the
amended law—so clearly does it indicate the chief kinds of spying
and of propaganda which the League must combat, that the whole
catalogue of crimes may well be set down here for study and ready
reference in months to come. Omitting the preliminary enacting
clauses and breaking up the main section into handy paragraphs,
the amended law now reads as follows:

OFFENSES:

_I—False and Interfering Reports_