The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-21
Industrial WORKERS
CAUSE SEATTLE RIOT
Naval Secretary Daniels Makes Public
Report on Sailors Troubles with
l. W. w. and Socialists.
SUGAR. COATED PUNISHMENT

Secretary OF the Navy Daniels yester-
day made public the findings Of the
Naval Board Of Investigation appointed
to investigate the riots at Seattle on
July IS which resulted in the burning
Of property belonging to Socialists and
Industrial Workers of the World. The
board had been instructed to report on
the alleged participation Of certain en-
listed men OF the Pacific fleet who were
on shore leave at Seattle at the time.
The riots attracted a good deal Of at
tention because the Secretary OF the
Navy was in Seattle when they were
perpetrated and because 1t was charged
that he had inspired them through a
speech in which Socialism was men
toned.
The Board OF Investigation reported
that the responsibility for the destruc-
ton of property OF the Industrial Work.
ers of the World and OF Socialists or
ganizations rested with the police in
Seattle because they took no effective
steps to prevent it The board declares
that the police OF Seattle were in SYM
pathy with the rioters. The outbreak,
in the opinion of the board. was at
tributable in large measures to the gen.
eral sentiment of the better class Of
people of the city against the /. W. w.
Secretary Daniels. as result of the
report. has decided to mete out a sugar
coated" punishment to the convicted en-
listmen He has ordered that the men
who engaged in the affair be punished as
Rear Admiral Reynolds. commander-in-
chief Of the Pacific fleet, might con-
slider adequate.
Their report, in part. was as follows:
That for some time past the attacks
upon the flag. the general government.
and particularly upon the army and navy
have been customary and general in the
seaport cities of this coast by people cali
ing themselves members OF the I. W. W.
Society, and to a more or less extent by
persons calling themselves Socialists.
These attacks have been notorious among
speakers who were allowed by the civil
authorities to gather crowds and to make
public speeches on the streets, thereby
melting and engendering i'll feeling and
hatred among certain classes OF people
against the members of the army and
navy. and II was due to these public
speakers that the attack upon the three
made on the night Of the 18th instant.
THE board believes that this attack
upon these mer was an incident to the
burning and destruction of the /. w. ".
and Socialist property the following
night. The board believes that the direct
responsibility for the destruction of the
!. w. W. and Socialist belongings upon
the evening of the 18th instant. was due
in part only TO certain enlisted men OF
the navy and Marine Corps. but to a
inuch larger extent to the civilians who
seemed to lead and direct the crowd.
which contained a small proportion of
enlisted men, to the various places which
were visited by the crowd. The board
also believes the direct responsibility for
the action Of the crowd. which contained
a small portion of enlisted men. was due
to the fact that the police force of Seattle
took no effective steps to prevent the
destruction of property, which they were
present at ard witnessed, and also to
their sympathy with the movement and
purpose of the crowd. .
1t is because of the high standing and
valor OF the enlisted men that l regret
they permitted any provocation to cause
a number of them to forget. as they did
on July IS, that they were specially
charged with upholding the law. Men
who wear the uniform are the protec-
ton of the republic. They are sworn
to uphold the law and to use force only
when ordered to do so by those In au-
thority. They must stand for the majesty
Of the law that forbids any. resort to
lawlessness even under the most trying
circumstances. The conduct of those
sailors who took part in the destruc-
ton of property in Seattle is against the
law Of their country, as well as against
naval regulations. Their conduct cannot
be condoned or go without punishment
TT is ordered that the men engaged in
this affair be punished for their conduct
as the admiral may adjudse is adequate
for he