The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-08-27
MUST ANSWER FOR PART TAKEN
In SEATTLE RIOT
THE POLICE ARE BLAMED
Secretary Of Navy, While Ordering
Punishment Of Men Of Fleet Who
Participated in Destruction OF
Property, Severely Scores Citizens
Who Abused Sailors and Flag.

Secretary Daniels has directed the
punishment Of the sailors Of the Pa
cifc reserve feet, who participated In
the destruction Of the Industrial
Workers Of the World and Socialists
property in Seattle July 1918, II
they can be identified, though he Sc:
yerely condemned the civilians who
abused the sailors and the American
dag.
The Secretary;s action was based
on a report by board of investigac
ton headed by Commander Thomas
Washington. The board found that
for some time before the rioting at
Seattle there had been attacks on the
flag, the government and particular
ly upon the army and navy in the
Pacific seaport cities calling them
selves members Of the Industrial
Workers OF the World and to some
extent by so-called Socialists. The
civil authorities, the report said, al.
lowed spectators to harangue crowds
and engender Ill feeling resulting In
the attack upon the soldiers and two
sailors July II. This led to the
burning and destruction Of property
on the following night. - :. :
The board placed direct blame for.
the action of the crowd, led by civil
ians and including only a small pro-
portion of enlisted men, on the fail
ure OF the police force to prevent the.
destruction Of property because OF
their sympathy with the purposes OF
the crowd. Furthermore, the board
expressed the opinion that the rioting
was attributable to general sentiment
against the Industrial Workers Of the
World and the criticism Of the press
and that the presence Of the enlisted
men was made to serve the purpose
of accomplishing an end which the
better element Of people desired and
the press encouraged.
In passing on this report, trans
mitted by Rear Admiral Reynolds,
Secretary Daniels declared that while
the conduct of those who denounced
and assaulted soldiers was most rep
rehensible and deserving condemns
ton "their violent language, unpro-
voked assault on soldiers and law
lessness doesn't justify retaliation in
kind.
The Secretary recalled his state
ment, in a speech in Seattle that
abedience to authorities in respect to
the flag must precede any reforms.
He expressed regret that the sailors
had permitted themselves to forget
their duty to uphold the law which
they had sworn to uphold and added
that their conduct in Seattle was
against the naval regulations and
couldn't be condoned or allowed to
go without punishment.
Admiral Reynolds was directed to
have the Secretary's letter read on
the ships Of the fleet and to have the
men engaged in the affair punished
in such a manner as the admiral
might Judge adequate for the offence.
So far as known none of the sailors
participating in the affair have. been
identified.
Rear Admiral Edward F. Reynolds
in transmitting Secretary Daniels
letter, appends direction to COM
manders Of all ships Of the Pacific
reserve feet, to read the Secretary's
statement at muster, but adds that as
it has been impossible to obtain
proof Of the participation Of any spe-
cited in the determination it will be
impracticable to attempt any punish
ment.