The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-18
TROUBLES IN THE WEST.
l.. w. w. MOVEMENT REGARDED
AS MENACING.
Leaders Say Plantation Workers I'm
This Section are Being Brought Into
Their Ranks.

San Francisco, July 12.-Deporta-
tion undertaken today at Bisbee. Ariz.,
of more than 1000 Industrial Work
ers Of the World. centered the eyes of
the nation on an agitation which has
risen in the West to considerable pro-
portions AFTER manifesting itself
sporadtcally from coast to coast for
years. From the Canadian border to
Mexico civic. State and military au-
thorities were alert tonight to sup
press all disorder.
Disturbances fomented admittedly
by the I. w. w. organization and
ramifying into various branches of
industry carry with them In virtually
every instance demand for higher
wages. Officials in some States pro-
nounced the movement one to reduce
production Of supplies necessary to
the conduct Of the war but while Ger
man influence and financial support
were charged by some Of them no
direct snbstantjation Of this accuse
tion could be had. Organizers of the
I. w. W.. especially In Arizona. were
reported to be well financed from
sources unknown even to those well
verssd In the workings Of the body.
Military censorship. which repress-
ed accounts Of immediate occurrences
in Arizona. still permitted fairly
extensive view of the general situa-
tion. Strikes were on tonight in the
copper mines Of Arizona and Mon
tana. They were threatened in the
mines Of Colorado. Nevada and Utah.
There were lumber strikes in Idaho
and Warrington with agitation in the
lumber districts Of Oregon. Threats
had been made to destroy the wheat
fields Of the Northwest and the State
council Of defense of Washington
appointed q committee especially to
deal with the Industrial Workers lest
harm to the crops be done. Existing
disturbances reach to Mexico.
Bodily resistance to constituted or
|uncohstituted authority has not man.
ifested itself to any great extent in
the recent Western operations OF the
organisation. Sixty Industrial Work
ers Of the World members were de-
ported from Jerome. Ariz.. and rede-
ported from Needles. CAL. without
physical violence. Threats attributed,
to them are generally against prop
sssy; they aay they base their A
- 1dd aGtipn1 upon the theories
u George sorsl, q frenchman. and got
from him the plan of property de-
struction a. q lever to gain their
ends. which they define as industrial
democracy" This property destruc-
ton az advocated and practiced in
the West Of late has taken many
forms. Lumber mills have had their
costly saws splintered by spikes driv-
en- into logs. In the orchard districts
fruit trees have died after copper nails
had been hammered into them,
The organizers proclaim the move
ment to be world wide. The red flag
10 the proposed universal banner and
each member Of the organization car
ried red card. Memebership is sought
In all branches Of industry. Organ
'zers say $4,000 farm laborers belong
and that the plantation labor of the
south Ia being organized. It Is the
theory of the industrial workers. that
each branch of the industry should
help the other in gaining it's ends and
Roger Culven. an I. w. W. speaker.
recently said at Miami. Ohio, III nee.
essary to enforce the miners de-
mands there will be no wheat crop
In the North American continent"
Threats of wholesale destruction OF
wheat have not materialized.