The Portland daily press., 1886-06-17
UNFORTUNATE CHICAGO.
The Secret Band Which Has Terrified
Its Laborers and Officers.

In the trial of the Chicago Anarchists.
| which is at hand now, the prosecuting officers
| are promising some startling developments.
| 1t is said that the grand jury which indicted
| Spies and his associates, drew up two reports
One is said to have been very sensational, and
was not given to the public. A summary of
the statements in the other was given out
The conclusions of the grand jury, which are
given here in full, show that remarkable
state of affairs had existed in Chicago before
the riots
So far as we are informed this is the first ap-
pearance of dynamite as factor In the GRIM
inal annals of the State, and this Is also the
first organized conspiracy for the destruction
of human life and the overthrow of law in any
part of this country that has employed this
new and dangerous agency. lt IS not sur
prising that the fatal and appalling success
which has attended this, its first Introduction
should have inspired terror in this community
1t is a satisfaction for us to be able 70 state
as the result of careful examination OF q
number of witnesses that IN our opinion,
while the danger has been imminent ana Sc
rious it has been in the popular mind largely
magnifed and the number OF these enemies
of the law and order greatly oVerestlmateu.
The evidence produced before us was con-
elusive as to the fact that the Anarchist con-
spiracy had no real connection with the strike
or labor troubles but that 1t simply made use
of the excitement incident to those troubles
as its opportunity. By those in the best posi-
tion to know, we have been assured that the
total number of Anarchists or NlhlllSts IN
this country from whom danger need be ap-
pretended is less than 100, and probably does
not exceed from 40 to so men. Assoclatlng
with them and partly subject to their mallgn
influence there are perhaps few hundred
more who would be dangerous in exact pro-
portion to the extent that they are made TO
believe in the power of their leaders and IN
the weakness of the law. Then again, there
are perhaps from 1000 to 5000 men yarlously
classed as Socialists, Communists, &c, who
are addicted to wild and visionary theories
in regard to matters of government, but who
are not necessarily dangerous or lnlmlcal 10
the peace and welfare of society so long as
the law is enforced in such manner as to en-
title it to their wholesome respect.
We find that the attack on the police on the
evening of May 4 was the result OF a dellb-
crate conspiracy, the full details OF which are
now in possession of the officers of the law
and will be brought out when these cases
shall be reached in court
We find that this force of diSorganlZerS mad
very perfect organization of its own, and
that it was chiefly under the control OF the
coterie of men who were connected with the
publication of their English and German
newspaper organs, the Alarm and the Aroe-
tier Zeitu1lg.
The evidence has shown conclusively to us
that these men were manipulating TINS agita-
power and influence which it gave them and
for the money they could make. out of it;
that the majority of their followers were
simply their dupes and they have collected
in this way very large sums OF money from
those followers and from the worklngmen
of this city. That their plan was to involve
so far as they could, not only the Soelallst
and Communist organizations with wnonl
they claim some kindred, but also the labor
societies and trades unions to the end that In
the midst of the excitement they were
creating they could not only rely upon them
as source of revenue, bnt also nave
them to fall back upon in the event OF their
finally being made amenablc to the law. 30
well has this conspiracy been managed tlat
the whole community has been for time
terrorized by this small fraction of its mem
bers.
test with fear and trembling lest their appear
ance before this Grand Jury should draw
down upon them or their families the secret
Vengeance of this unknown enemy. Branches
of industry in this city have remained para
lyzed after all cause of disagreement between
the employer and the employed had been ad-
justed by the same fear inspired among the
workingmen, coupled with the feeling that
the law administered was impotent to afford
protection to man ready and willing to
work in support of his family. SO exagger-
ated has been the popular notion as to the
magnitude of this force that politicians have
cringed before it and political parties have
catered to it's vote. Professions have been
tolerated upon our public streets carrying
banners and inscriptions which were shame
and disgrace to the city and an affrOnt to
every law-abiding citizen. Public harangues
have been permitted that were an open
menace to law and order and which in a local
the bloody outrage known as the Haymafket
massacre.