Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-06
DEPT. OF JUSTICE
WILL S|FT |. ". ".
Government Takes Active Steps
to Stop Anti-War Societies
Propaganda.
HEADQUARTERS RAIDED.
Records. Documents and Literature
Seized by Marshals and Held
for Examination.

Washington, Sept. 5.-The government
to-day took drastic action to end the anti
war propaganda and activities conducted
in the name of the Industrial Workers Of
the world, the socialist party and other
organizations throughout the United
States
On orders from Attorney General Greg
'ory. United States marshals in many towns
and cities descended at 200 p. m. central
time, upon local headquarters of the In
dustrial Workers of the World. seized
books, checks, correspondence and other
documents. and in some instances, ar
rested officials found upon the premises.
The arrest at Chicago of William d. Hay
wood. the organizations national secre-
tary, was conspicuous example.
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS RAIDED.
In Chicago, federal agents took pos
session of the national headquarters of
the Socialist party, and warrant au-
thorizing the seizure of it's documents
was served upon It's counsel.
The seizure Of documents was carried
out in accordance with a plan perfected
here by William c. Fits, assistant at
torney-general working under the di-
rection of the attorney general A
statement issued by the department of
justice announced that the seizure of
papers was made in connection with n
federal grand jury investigation of the
Industrial Workers of the World now
proceeding at Chicago.
The departments action was taken on
the eve of a report to President Wilson
by Chief Justice Covington of the Su-
preme Court of the District of Column
bia, who was designated recently by the
President to investigate the labor sit
uation in the West.
JUDGE COVINGTON'S WORK.
Judge Covington has completed his in
vestigation, which lasted several weeks.
and took him to the Pacific coast. and
probably will report personally to Presi
dent Wilson tomorrow.
| Whether the concerted action of mar
shals throughout the country was in any
| way related to Judge Covington's inves-
| tgaton was not disclosed. 1t is known,
however, that Judge Covington made a
special study of the activities of the In
dustral Workers of the World. 1t was
shortly after he reached the Northwest
that q leaders of the organization were
arrested by Idaho National Guardsmen
the day before the time set for general
strike in Washington. Oregon, Montana
and Idaho.
Simultaneous raids on headquarters Of
the Industrial Workers Of the World
conducted in all principal cities of the
Pacific coast and interior States by United
States marshals and deputies to-day on
order of the department of justice net
ted great mass of literature, records
and documents. In no case was there
any resistance.
PAPERS HELD AS EVIDENCE.
Federal officials here declared that this
literature was sought by the government
as evidence tending to connect l. w. w.
| leaders with the German war office
| All of the matter confscated was
taken for examination by United States
district attorneys who will report to the
department at Washington. The search
warrants in each case charged publica-
ton Of reasonable literature.
In the raid at Spokane, WASH, federal
agents seized two strong boxes, one
bearing the name of James Rowan. dis
trict secretary of the l. w. W., who is
held there as a military prisoner, and the
other that of Don Sheridan. said to be
secretary of timber workers section
of the I. w. w. Rowan was the man
who issued orders for general strike
Of Industrial Workers in the Northwest
to be effective August 20. After his
arrest the proposed strike collapsed.
RAIDS IN MANY CITIES.
The raids in the West extended
from Arizona north to Washington
and cast to Colorado. Among the prin.
cipal cities in which they were cor.
Quoted are Miami Ariz. Seattle
Wash; San Francisco. Los Angeles
Missoula.. Mont; Portland, Ore; Sal
Lake City. Fresno. Great Falls, Mont
Everett, Wash, and Butte, Mont.
!, The organizations agitation il
California, Arizona. Washington. Ore
gon and Montana had included de
mands for higher wages and other in
; dustrial changes Many acts of VIC
lence attending strikes and numerous
incendiary fires had been laid at thei
!, doors by Yariaua Stata afficialc