Brookville Democrat, April 12, 1918 (verbatim content)
It is generally believed that there are in Franklin County men and women whose words and acts verge on disloyalty, if indeed, they do not cross the line
As a government body we hereby warn all such persons that they are under observation and subject to investigation.
You are either for your country or against it; there is no middle ground.
Many things which might be tolerated in times of peace cannot -- will not -- be permitted now when the interests of our country are at stake.
If you refuse to do your reasonable share of war work -- giving or service -- regardless of the sacrifices of your countrymen; if you "eat what you please", regardless of food regulations, you are disloyal and a menace to your country's cause.
We are under obligation to report all such cases to the State Council of Defense for investigation. This will be disagreeable but war imposes many disagreeable duties and we shall not hesitate when we get the facts.
-- Council of Defense
NOTES: Sedition acts in this country in 1918 forbade the teaching of "European" languages in U.S. schools. This was mainly aimed at German-heritage people.
All of this stuff was unconstitutional and fueled by fear that became the post-war emergence of various anti-semitic and racist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan. Main targets were Catholics, or specifically Orthodox sects of the Christian faith.
No idea if anyone was ever prosecuted for "eating what they pleased" but many of these "Germans" were shunned or ridiculed for having an accent.
We never learned from hate, only became better at enforcing it.
It was never clear how many actual "enemy agents" were in this country and what they intended to achieve in a war that had no political agenda -- just one that strove to annihilate the enemy in a trench campaign that lasted 3 years. Espionage acts passed in 1917 essentially were sufficient, but the hate was never satisfied. Punishing people was the next illogical step.
THE SEDITION ACT
It imposes a prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of $10,000 (a huge sum!) or both on any person who writes, prints or utters anything tending to obstruct a Liberty loan campaign, recruiting for the Army or Navy, or saying or doing anything vilifying the government or officials or tending to incite resistance to them, or who by word or deed favors the cause of Germany or her allies.
It takes away mail privileges from persons convicted of violating it. if a man violates the act no mail addressed to him and none sent out by him will be delivered (men = women as well).
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