The Washington herald., 1909-05-14
SOCIALISTS URGE
FEDERAL PROBE
Order of Independent Amer
leans Ask Knox to Act.
ROW IS OVER ALLEGATIONS
"The Coming PERIL" Book Re
Gently Written by MRris Blair
Coon. Caase of Protest-Ask Secre-
fary of State TO Investigate Charge
of Treason Against Socialism.

The officers Of the State Council o.
Pennsylvania. order Of Independent
Americans. are going 10 make row over
allegations that Socialists in the United
States are engaged in a reasonable IN
derstanding which aims in certain cir
eumstances at the overthrow OF the gov
ernment-
They have sent a letter TO Secretary Of
state Knox calling his attention 70 state
ments IN a book entitled The Coming
Peril which indicates that the country
IS IN great danger from socialism. The
letter sent 70 Mr.. Knox IS signed by
Edward Wilson. Amos a SchaeIer. Vic
tor 3. Boyer. William A. Pike. and
Charles A. HendricksOn. members Of the
board Of officers Of the organization
named Among other things. they say:
Believing that such allegations war
rant government Interference for their
suppression II the interest OF good gov
eminent ard the betterment Of its peO-
pie. We request you in your Official ca
pacity 70 demand such sn investigation.
and, II found true. that the proper steps
be taken 10 eliminate such banefuI in
-i--EAlNE anu OH AA4t-E Nc4 AllcA c41l
adjUdged guilty whether il be OF trea-
son. insurrec1ion- or unlawful interfer-
enee with the affairs Of good govern
ment.T
Want Charges Aired.
The principal thing which the state
council has asked Secretary Knox 10 in
vestigate is whether it is true. as set
forth in The Coming PeriI>' that at the
International Socialist Congress in Stutt-
gsrt, Germany. il August. 1851. at which
the socialists Of the United States we're
represented. q resolution was adopted 70
the effect Jhst should the United States
become involved in a war with any for
eign nation. the socialists OF the United
States shall and are pledged, through
their delegate to engage IN anything
which may tern nate this war, even 10
causing a general strike and insurrectioa
against the government"
The author Of The Coming Peril IS
Maris Blair COan. OF = North Robinson
street. Philadelphia. He came 20 Wash
ingtoa. so ne said last night. for the pur-
pose Of backing up the assertions made
In his book that the Socialists were a
menace 10 this government Mr- COan
admitted he knew the letter TO Secretary
Knox had been mailed in Philadelphia
yesterday. but did not know whether It
had been delivered. He said he was
chiefly interested in the matter because
those who had asked Sfr Knox 70 make
an investigation OF the allegations in
The Coming Peril had requested that
If the assertions in his book were found
to be untrue the book should be sup
pressed. and its author ''be treated with
the same infection Of penalty for the
offense committed as such properly de-
serves
Mr. Coan said that be came to Wash
ingtOn 20 back up what he had written,
and was confident he could prove the
truth Of his allegations.
Mr.. Coan Is q young man. who came to
New York from New Orleans, where he
had been a newspaper reporter. and OBJ
tainey employment on the Evening Gail,
a Socialist paper. in New York. He has
been in Philadelphia a short tine only
He said that although ne had worked on
a Socialist paper. he was not a Socialist
and has no sympathy with Socialists.
Summarizes 1r-e Charges.
The letter sent 10 Secretary Knox, which
Is entitled a Petition for an investigation
by the government OF the United States, 80
summarizes the charges against Socialists
contained in The Coming Peril. among
them that Socialists are trying to produce
race hatred. corrupt school teachers 70
disseminate falsehOOd among their pupils.
belittle the militia. and cause mutiny in
the army and navy.
Morris Hilquith. OF New York, who IS
a member Of the national committee OF
the Socialist party of the United States.
was mentioned IN Mr. Coan'x book. and
the reference TO him is quoted in the
letter addressed to Secretary Knox