New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-08
German Money
BackedI. I.W.W.
Plot in u. S.
Many Indictments Expected
in Gigantic Conspiracy
Against Government

WASHINGTON, Sept Numerous
indictments for conspiracy to thwart
the governments war plans and tie ITS
hands in many ways appear to be IN
prospect as result of Wednesday 3
nationwide raid Of Industrial Worke-s s
Of the World Offices by Department oil
Justice agents.
Evidence is said to be fast accumu-
lsting to support the belief that a
gigantic conspiracy has existed Tor
some time TO cripple The government IN
carrying on the war; that its ramihca-
tions have extended into virtually every
state, and that numerous anti-war ac-
tivities which appeared TO emanste
from many sources in reality had their
fountainhead in single group Of con-
spirators.
Anti-draft demonstrations, gripping
of war industries by so-called labor
disturbances and by violence, burning
of crops and continuous preachment
of anti-Ally sentiment, with other ac-
tivities tending to embarrass the gov
ernment and retard the exercise OF ITS
full strength in prosecuting the war;
appear from recent disclosures to have
been included within tha scope OF the
alleged conspiracy.
Widest Inquiry Since War Began
Into the formation and the workings
of this alleged conspiracy the Depart
ment of Justice has begun an inquiry
more comprehensive, it is said, than
any launched since this country's entry
into the war.
How closely the anti-war activities
and propaganda have been interrelated
is to be determined largely ty the Fed
eral grand jury now sitting at chicago
investigating documents seized by gov
crnment agents in their raids Of /. W.
". and Socialist offices in that city
and throughout the country. lndlca-
tions are that the alleged conspiracy
had it's origin in Chicago and for some
time was actively directed from tnat
city.
, There are also indications that Ger
man money financed in part TINS
propaganda that German funds were
spent freely in many ways to further
/ the ends Of the conspirators, and tha'
! of the many persons believed to De
/ actively identified in carrying on the
J work few knew of this source OF I'M
ancial support.
F. The grand jury inquiry, from pres.
ont indications, will not be confined
to Chicago. United States attorneys
who have not accumulated documen-
tary evidence which apparently sup
ports the theory of a great conspiracy
are said TO be few. It is probable that
much Of this evidence will be pre-
sented to other grand juries, once the
extensive plans and workings OF the
chief alleged conspirators are deter
mined in Chicago.
Mass of Papers To BE Examined.
So vast is the accumulation of let
ters, checks and papers of all descrip-
tions seized by the government agents
that the great bulk still lies unsifted,
and the exact determination OF their
contents and significance probably will
not be reached for several days.
William c. Fits, Assistant Attorney
General. who conceived and directed
execution of the idea of a nation
wide seizure of |. w. W. papers at a
prearranged hour, devoted virtually
his entire time to-day 70 considera-
tion of reports from all sections OF
the country as TO the results obtained.
"The results are very satisfying,
was all that Mr.. Fits would say.
The governments hands have been
greatly strengthened by the seizure OF
papers in contemplated proceedings
against persons identified with the
I. ". W. and others whose activities
have been for some time under sur
veillance Of the departments bureau
of Investigation. Many Of these docu-
ments are said 10 relate 10 labor dis
turbances in the West and the Pa
cific Northwest which recently re-
suited in determination By the gov
ernment to use all forces at its COM
mand, if necessary, even 20 the eX-
tent OF dispatching troops to the scene
of trouble TO prevent the tie-up of
war industries or their serious curtail-
ment.