New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-16
Uncovering a Great Conspiracy.

All signs point now to the rapid IN
covering of the biggest alien conspiracy
ever Matched on American soil. This con-
spiracy has had for its object the disor-
ganization of American industries and the
destruction of American property as we'll
aS of foreign property under American
protection. 1t was an attempt by alien
spies and secret agents to carry the war
into America, to break our laws for the
purpose of aiding one group of European
belligerents.
1t has been evident for some time past
that the many outrages committed here
attempts to plant bombs on ships about
TO leave our harbors, to start fires in
munitions and powder factories, to in
cite strikes in establishments producing
war material for the Allies-have not
been the work Of individuals acting with
out concert. 1t is plain, on the contrary,
that they have represented the operations
o. group of alien plotters, financed from
abroad and executing the secret orders of
foreign governments.
With our easy-going tolerance we al
lowed these conspiratrs entirely too free
a hand. Mr.. Samuel Gompers announced
several times that he had evidence to
show that strikes were being fomented
here by agents of the Teutonic alliance.
But little or no attention was paid to his
warnings. Then came the accidental seiz-
ure among James J. Archibald's papers of
a secret letter from Ambassador Dumba
to the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office.
That letter disclosed purpose to use the
Austro-Hungarian subjects employed at
South Bethlehem and in munitions plants
in the Middle West to tie up those plants.
1t spoke of withdrawing all Austro-Hun-
garians from these establishments through
an offer to them of other employment.
But the threat of more violent methods
was implied-of sabotage or incendiarism.
If the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador was
planning to incite disturbances in Ameri-
can industries, it was obvious that other
alien agents less highly placed would not
shrink from employing more desperate
methods To obtain a result which the Ger
man military attache in Washington had
declared to be OF considerable military i'm
portance.
Now we are getting closer to the details
of the conspiracy. The revelations of DR..
Goricar, a former Austro-Hungarian con-
sui, fit in with all the surface indications
which have pointed to outrageous viola
tons of American law by Teutonic agents
trying to stop the manufacture of NUM-
tons here and their transportation to
Europe. 1t is not necessary to assume
that any particular individual, represent
ing the German or the Austro- Hungarian
government, is the head and centre of the
conspiracy. But there is some head and
centre, and it will be surprising if the
United States Secret Service does not soon
trace the conspiracy up to its real inner
source.
The passivity of our government unduly
embodened the plotters. They have acted
as if they believed that they would never
be interfered with; that the government
would turn its back on their activities
rather than be drawn into another annoy
ing foreign complication. That was vain
belief. Ambassador Dumba had to go as
soon as he was exposed in his role as
strike organizer. Sterner punishment will
be melted out to the other conspirators VINO
are not protected by diplomatic usage
Consuls and non-official agents are subject
TO our criminal laws and can be punished
for attempts 10 destroy life and property
just as any other resident aliens can be
punished.
We hope that guilt will quickly be es-
tablished and punishment follow in enough
cases to end forever the dastardly con-
spiracy which has dehed our laws in the
hope Of gaining some military advantage
for the Teutonic allies.