Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-09-06

many towns and cities descended at
y M, central time. upon local head
quarters of the Industrial Workers of
the World, seized books, checks, cor
respondence and other documents,
and in some instances, arrested offic-
lals Of the organizations.
st-cirl;s.s Also Rs.dct.
In Chicago federal agents tookypos-
session of the national Headquarters
of the socialist party ana a warrant
authorizing the seizure of it's docu-
ments was served upon its council.
The seizure of documents was car
ried out in accordance with a plan
perfected here by William C. Fits.
assistant attorney general. working
under the direction of the attorney
general. A statement issued by the
department of justice announced
that the seizure of papers was made
in connection with q federal grand
jury investigation of the Industrial
Workers of the World, now proceed
Ing at Chicago.
The departments action was taken
on the eve of report to President
Wilson by Chief Justice Covington of
the supreme court of the District of
Columbia. who was designated recent
ly by the president to investigate the
labor situation in the west Judge
Coyington has completed his investt
cation which lasted several weeks and
took him to the Pacific coast, and
probably will report personally to
President Wilson tomorrow
Significance Not Known.
Whether the concerted action OF
marshals throughout the country was
in any way related to Judge Coving-
tons investigation was not disclosed.
It was known. however. that Judge
Covington made a special study of
the activities of the Industrial Work
crs of the World II was shortly after
he reached the northwest that twen-
ty-seven leaders of the organizations
were arrested by Idaho national
guardsmen. the day before the tins
set for a general strike in Washing
ton, oregon, Montana and Idaho. The
charges against leaders of the organ
ization under arrest or whose arrest
is contemplated were not made public
here.
1t was said at the department OF
justice that these would have to be
determined by the grand jury investi-
eating the organization.
Grand Jury Probes Expected.
Officials also declined to state If in
dictments had been found by grand
juries in Chicago or elsewhere against
Industrial Workers of the World lead
ers. 1t was intimated, however, that
the investigation had only begun. In
dications are that federal grand juries
in other cities will be caTied upon also
to investigate the activities of the or
ganization.
For many weeks past the activities
of Industrial Workers of the World
leaders have been under close scrutiny
of the departments bureau of inves-
| tigation. Scores of field workers
chiefly in the west and middle west
have devoted their undivided atten-
ton to alleged attempts on the part
of the leaders to embarrass the gov
ernment in the conduct of the war by
strikes and other disturbances called
in the name of labor,
,.. Not Labor Movement.
These activities have never been re-
garded here as a labor movement.
They have been held to be political
and, in some instances. conducted
with view solely to hinder and
hamper the government in exercising
the full strength in carrying on the
war.
Charges of many compilations have
been received by the department in
connection with the organizations ac-
| uvities. Recently il was charged that
included in the ranks of the Indus
trial Workers of the World were many
Austrians who have been active in
stirring up strife intended to hamper
American industries, doing work
handled by Germans before the
United States declared a state of war
existing with Germany
German Money Treated.
Continued investigation has failed.
| it is understood, to connect these ac-
tivities with German money. The de-
partment has determined the prin-