Imperial Valley press., 1908-06-13
LoAFlNG DELEGATES OF [. w. w.. INsTleATE SMALL RACE RIOT
 IN FL CENTRo.
THREE RIOTERS PUNISHED
Scheme to Hold Up Growers in Middle of Melon Season Smashed at Braw- ley by Prompt Action of Officers Agitators go Into Hiding

Trouble-makers of the I. w. w.. breed have invaded Imperial Valley and are attempting to get control of the labor situation, but if the citizens of this county are the sort of men they are believed to be, the disturbers will succeed only in getting themselves in to trouble and jail-and they will be lucky if nothing worse than jail sen- tences befalls them. Organization and peaceable efforts to correct any wrongs which may exist will be ap- proved, but plug-ugiy tactics and vici- ous stirring up of strife and disorder are not to be tolerated
 Last Monday morning, the loafing delegates of the I. w. w. started trou- ble in El Centro by instigating attacks upon Japanese melon pickers. They urged number of young men to join them in scheme to hold up growers for eXtrayagant wages, advising them to accept employment at the rates of fered and to strike suddenly when the growers should be at their mercy. As a preliminary they advised that the Japanese be run out of the district A few minimizing boys fell into the snare and began operations by rush iI,o in ,'c, carrying load of Japanese. They also caused a team driven by a Jap to run away, and it was a lucky chance that the driver, when thrown, escaped being crushed by the wagon wheels.
 c. A. Carr, a melon grower, had of fered employment to white men who had promised to be on hand ready for work but had not appeared, and he came into town to engage pickers. Carr secured a crew of Japanese and started for his ranch, and as he was crossing the railroad his wagon was attacked by a gang of loafers, among them the fellows whom he had en- gagged and who failed to show up. The gang threw rocks at the wagon and bruised some of the Japs, but nobody was severely bruised. Carr returned and swore out complaints, and seven men were arrested, but the leaders of the crowd and the I. w. agitators got away.
 Of the seven arrested only three were identified positively as assailants of the Japs. One, bootblack who had no interest in the question of pickers' wages and only got into the affair be- cause of lack of sense, was fined $5 by Justice Tout. Two others were fined $15 each, and one paid his fine and the other went to jail for fifteen days.
 The Japanese Consul General at San Francisco telegraphed to Sheriff Meadows to ask what steps were be- ing taken to protect the Japanese la- borers from attacks in Imperial Val ley. He was assured that they would be amply protected, that none had been hurt and that rioters had been punished.
 l. w. w. emmisaries appear to have visited all of the towns of the Imperial Valley and to have been spreading the plan to bring about a general strike in the midst of the season, when wage of $4 per day and board will be with a possibility of still further increase after the ranchers are It their mercy.
 Nipped at Brawley.
 Last Sunday night an I. w. w. agita- .or mounted a box on Main street, in 5rawley, and began to harrangue a crowd of about 100 men and boys. He said it was the purpose of the I. w, w. % get the men organized, start them o work, and then, right in the midst )f the season, go on strike and de- hand $4 per day and board. He play .d up the point that the ranchers