New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-24
Arrival of Troops Prevent
ed Citizens From Taking
Law Into Own Hands
Sabotage Is Weapon
Washington Governor Blamed
for His Veto of Stern
Measures
ts,sT CorTespondentl

YAKIMA, Wash, Aug. i7.-If. as
many think, the power OF the l. w. ".
is mostly in its mysterious and menac-
ing threats, that organization must be
delighted with the state Of mind It's
actual strike and the fear Of what may
ensue have produced among the farm
crs Of Washington.
This fear is greater in the irrigation
districts than elsewhere, because they
are rendered so vulnerable through
their dependence on water. Reservoirs
may be broken by dynamite, resulting
in foods and cutting off the water sup
ply of the fields. Fumes may be blown
up or broken down by burning their
supports. BY the time one fume had
been brought down by fire end some
buildings burned the farmers would be
desperate.
1t needed only these acts Of destruc-
ton, following a long period Of per-
sistent minor sabotage, to get them
ready for ruthless measures.
Citizens Planned to Act
II WAS only when he found that the
farmers had created a compact organi-
zation of armed men throughout the
Yakima Valley and had already worked
out the details of big drive in which
horsewhipping and forcible election
from the valley we're the main points
that Governor Lister made up his mind
that it was time to put troops in the
valley. He acted just In time to pre-
vent such high-hsnded proceedings as
those taken against the |. w w. at
Bisbes.
The coming of the soldiers resulted
in the elimination Of the l. w. W. as a
factor in this valley, but if those who
still remain should attempt any vio-
lerce after the threatened general
strike begins the "embattled farmers"
will be heard from. In the meantime
guards and lookouts are maintained
and vigilance is the watchword. The
farmers Of Whitman County, which is
one of the leading wheat counties OF
the nation, and where, in this dry
climate, there is special danger from
fire, are similarly organized, but as
there are no soldiers there they are
even reader than their brethren Of the
Yakima.
Soldiers Scoff at I. w. w.
The soldiers think the I. W. W. Is
great bluff organization, and that it
will crumple up in strong hands. They
say that from their experience in deal
ing with the hundreds of men they
have taken into custody, it is evident
that not more than % per cent are
real revolutionaries.
Most OF the men arrested have no
idea of what they have done in en-
rolling as members of the |. w. W.
As class they are extremely igno-
rant Most Of them are foreigners
who weakly yield TO insistence and
threats. Most of the leaders are for
eigners of a little higher degree of
education.
The only Germans who have been
interned in Eastern Washington were
found among the |. w. WIS rounded
up by the soldiers in the Yakima val
ley and the mountain passes. On &C
count Of their opposition to the war
and their general disloyalty. the !. ".
W. affords a fine fundamentally for
use by German spies, and their gen
eral programme is so distinctly bene-
fetal to enemies of the United States
that one Of the easiest ways for the
secret German organization to &C.
complish its ends is through the
]. W. W.
Don't Support One Idea
When the soldiers closed the I. ".
W. headquarters at Yakima. the officer
in charge told the assembled members
that he understood that they consid-
cred any man who enlisted in the army
a scab. He asked all those who were
of that opinion TO line up on one side
of the room. and all who disagreed TO
take the other side. The crowd d.
vided about equally.
After the basis Of division had been
explained again and a few had
changed places. he ordered the ar
rest of all those who had classed
soldiers as scabs.
Among those who were arrested was
the local secretary, Mayhem. He was
subsequently drafted and was released
the day before habeas corpus pro
ceedings were instituted on his be-
half. He made no claim to exemption.