The Hitler Plan of Prevention

V. Ernest Field, Director of Fve Prevention Service Associated Lumber Mutuals

"It's like a page out of the Dark Ages, Joe. Certainly this; that \Mas one mighty efiective way of preverlting a it doesn't sound like the twentieth century." revolution. I'd hate personally to take the responsibility of "No, it doesn't, Bob. I'll confess that, as I noticed the deciding as to a man's guilt or innocence when it's a quesheadlines this morning, I couldn't think of anything but the tion of taking that man's life but, assuming that there French Revolution. As a matter of fact, I didn't have time wasn't any question about the guilt, I don't know but that to reach much but the headlines. I had to stop at Tom some such drastic measures would clear the air in this Bradley's office on the way down and that made it neces- country too. It would do a world of good if we could strike sary to leave most of the news for later reading. That's why a little terror into the hearts of our criminal politicians, our I was so late in getting here. I suppose you've read all gangsters, our bank robbers, our kidnappers, and our about it while you were waiting for me." killers."

"I think I've read everything that the paper gives. A lot of it of course is very indefinite but it sounds like a case of wholesale murder to wipe out in this way all the opposition that threatens the present rule in Germany. Don't know how many were killed-maybe a hundred-maybe two hundred. Only the names of a few outstanding leaders are given.

"Sounds bad, doesn't it? Tell me briefly what it's all about and I'll read the detail stories later."

"Well, according to statements from the government at Berlin, there was friction between Hitler and some of the officers of the Storm Troops. Certain resignations were demanded and refused. An open revolution was threatened. Hitler moved swiftly and ruthlessly for a drastic housecleaning in the Storm Troop ranks. The leaders of the revolution, some of them very recently close friends and trusted officers, were surprised, dragged from their beds, and given the choice of committing suicide or being shot. Most of them were lined up facing a stone wall and were shot in the back. One General and his wife were reported as killed while 'resisting arrest.' The revolution was crushed. The ranks of the Storm Troops were purged of insubordination. No one had a chance for a trial or a defense. They were simply yanked out, stood up and shot down. Maybe it was justifiable; maybe it was necessary from their point of view, but my sense of justice revolts against this sort of thing. They might have been put in prison; they could have been given a trial; and, if their guilt had been proven, they perhaps should have been shot as traitors or revolutionists. While they may have been guilty and they may have deserved the fate dealt out to them, they were at least entitled to a trial. That's not my idea of twentieth century civilization. On the other hand, maybe we are not in a position to judge. I see that General Von Hindenburg sent a message to Hitler, saying that he had saved the German people. I have.always had a lot of respect for that old boy and if he feels that way about it, maybe the situation demanded something like that which would striki terror into the hearts of the people."

"Doesn't seem possible that that sort of thing could happen in the twentieth century, does it, Bob? It's more like the days of St. Bartholomew's Massacre or the Reign of Terror. However, as you say, we perhaps really should not sit in judgment. We don't know the facts. But I will say

"That's certainly a thought, Joe, and I believe you are right about it.If our officials would strike against our known public enemies as swiftly and as ruthlessly as Hitler struck those that he declared guilty, it would have a very beneficial effect on politics, government, business and crime."

You who know the lumbermen of the state and my relation to them have probably already guessed that the Bob who was waiting for me in my office was Bob Ellis of the firm of King and Ellis of Springfield. While both King and Ellis. are young men and haven't been in business more than eight or ten years, they are pretty shrewd business men and they have been steadily building up even through the years of depression. As business comes back, they are bound to forge rapidly to the front. Bob has general supervision of the accounts, insurance, etc., and naturally I come into closer contact with him than I do with King. I didn't find it difficult to convince a fellow like Bob of the advantages of what I have called "sympathetic insurancs"-i11surance developed by lumbermen for the benefit and protection of their own industry. Bob was naturally also very responsive to the ideas of dividends to reduce their insurance cost. It naturally followed that I have handled all his insurance through the Associated Lumber Mutuals. We are very good friends and he drops in for a little visit at my office whenever he comes up to the city.

"You know, Bob," I continued, "that gives me an idearather fanciful, f'll admit, but I think you'll agree with me that it's a good one. I am not directly interested in preventing revolutions but I am interested in preventing fires. Hitler regarded those fellows in the Storm Troops as hazards to the safety of the government. Without any ado, he wiped them out-as I said a moment ago, a mighty effec, tive way to prevent a revolution."

Bob smiled as he interrupted-

"I begin to see what you are driving at, Joe, but go ahead."

"Our well-known and justly infamous fire hazards are enemies of the state and enemies of the people. They are a continual threat against the business, against the property, and against the lives of the community. They are not just suspects. They are guilty of a thousand crimes. You know them all, of course.. The innocent looking cigarette-Public Enemy No. 1, so far as fire destruction is concerned-the

John Dillinger of fire hazards. IIe's a good fellow in many respects. I've knorvn him a long time. I'r'e loved him and gotten a lot of satisfaction out of my association with him, but unless he is kept under absolute control and watched every minute, he will break loose to plunder and kill. The whole smoking gang are bad eggs but the cigarette is the worst of the bunch. The little match is another bad actor. He'll flare up whenever friction develops and there is no telling how much damage he will do. Let a burning match get away without being completely put out and he's likely to cause trouble anywhere. The spark is another dangerous fellow, especially if he gets a chance to get together with his trusty little he,lpers, dry grass, rubbish, shavings, or oily sawdust. Defective wiring is another fellow with a bad record-doesn't deserve the slightest mer.cy. Spontaneous combustion is as treacherous a guy as ever grew. Then there's the rest of the evil ,crew, defective flues, over-heated pipes, broken fences, trespassers, gasoline leaks, hot ashes, oil and paint improperly stored, bad stoves, lanterns, etc. And carelessness-good old fat, lazy carelessness-I rnust not forget him. Without his help the most of these other fellows wouldn't get very far. There they are, Bob-look 'qg1 eysl-fhe most villainous crew you can imagine. They delight in destruction and they revel in murder. Wouldn't it be great stuff if they only had living bodies, if we couid seize 'em, stand 'em up against a wall, and shoot 'em down ? That would be fire prevention with a vengeance."

"But, Joe, you know it can't be done that way."

"Yes, f know. All we can do is to keep fighting, keep warning the public against the dangers, and try to keep them so fire-conscious that they will always be on the lookout for these hazards. If everyone will be constantly on guard, we'll purge our ranks of caretessness and very few fires will get much of a start. But gee, Bob, it's too bad we can't shoot 'em and wipe 'em out that way."

SUDDEN & CHRISTINS(}N Lumber and Shipping

Btdg. Aberdeen, Vaeh. Floquiamr Warh. Aberdeen, Vash. Raymond, Veoh.