The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-17
Full Scope of its Possibili-
ties Being Realized In
Affected Territory
INVOLVES FOURTH
OF WHOLE COUNTRY
Department of Justice Of
ficials Will Proceed at
First Overt Act
fRy Associated Presa.l

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17.-Grave mem
ace to industries whose continuation
at high speed is deemed vital to the
prosecution of the war. Is seen by
officials here in the growing activi-
ties Of Industrial Workers Of the
World leaders on the Pacific coast
and in the far northwest.
The movement apparently is near
ing its maximum and the full scope
of its possibilities is not minimized
here. A pretentious program calling
for strikes. lockouts and general dis
turbances over seven states or about
one-fourth of the area of the country
has been brought to the attention Of
the department of justice by scores
of expert field investigators now in
the affected territory.
Plan Swift Action.
Swift and drastic action to check
the movement insofar as it would
cripple Industries or curtaiI produc-
tion. Of commodities necessary for
war, is planned by department Of
justice officials. In many instances,
however, the department labors un-
der the handicap of being unable to
proceed until an overt act has been
performed.
Prosecution of strike leaders,
where justified in the opinion Of the
on charges Of conspiracy
or under the espionage act is con-
templated in specific cases, but no
general prosecution Of /. w. w. lead
ers is expected.
May Be Political Movement.
The entire movement, eliminating
in the declaration at Spokane, OF
James Rowan, district secretary Of
the organization that a general
strike would be called Aug. 90, in
Washington, Oregon. Idaho. Montana
and Utah unless certain demands
were complied with, is regarded by
many officials as being political and
rot a labor movement. Instructions
have been sent field workers to de-
termine, as far as can be done,
whether the, threatened strike is part
of a program deliberately designed
to hamper the covers nnt in the
prosecution OF the war.
District attorneys in the four states
affected as well as California, Ari-
zona and New Mexico have been in
structed to devote unceasing atten-
tion to the situation and institute
prosecutions promptly where justi-
fed.
Ofhcials here were much interest
ed today in Rowan's demand for a
ten hour day in the harvest fields.
Any organized movement, ii was
said, tending to prevent or delay the
Of the countrys crops in
any section would come clearly
within the class Of subjects with
which the president was authorized
by congress in the war resolution to
deal virtually summariIy.
Another industry which already
has been affected to some extent by
activities traceabIe to /. w. w, SYM
pathizers is spruce logging in Wash
ington. At one stage of the latter
the governments great
program Of air craft construction ap-
peared to be menaced but the situa-
ton in this industry has been re-
stored more nearly to normal within
the last few days.
Copper Mining Objected.
A third industry which might be
seriously affected by general l. w.
w. strikes, 1t is said, is copper min
ing in Montana. The government is
following this situation closely.
The presidents personal investi-
gator, Chief Justic Covington of the
supreme court OF the District of
Columbia, may visit the northwest
Ind the Pacific coast to study the
situation there. The exact where
lbouts of Justice Covington was un-
xnown yesterday. it was said by de-
oartment Of justice officials and no
authoritative statement of his plans |
vas forthcoming.