Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-06
NATION RAID
MADE ON |. W. WIS
Headquarters in Many Cities
Searched for Incriminat-
ing Papers.
NAB NATIONAL SECRETARY
Evidence Will Be Turned Over
to Grand Juries Called for
Investigations.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 5.-The gov
ernment today took drastic measures
to end the anti-war propaganda and
activities conducted in the maine OF
the Industrial Workers of the World.
the Socialist party and other organic
ations thruout the United States.
on orders from Attorney General
Gregory. United States marshals IN
many towns and cities descended at
p. m. central time upon local head
quarters of the Industrial Workers OF
the World, seized books checks. cor
lrespondence and other documents and
In some instances arrested officials
found upon the premises. The arrest
at Chicago OF William B. Haywood,
the o. o'sanization's national secretary.
was a conspicuous example.
National Headquarters Seized.
In Chicago federal agents took
possession OF the national headquar-
ters OF the Socialist party and a war
rant authorizing the seizure of its
documents was served upon its coun.
gel.
The seizure OF documents was in tU-
cordance with a plan perfected here
by William G. Fits. assistant attor-
ney-general A statement issued by
the department announced that the
seizure of papers was made in connec-
tion with a federal grand jury in
vestigation of the Industrial Worker,
OF the World now proceeding in Chi
cago. The departments action wdp
taken on the eve of n report to Presl-
dent Wilson by Chief Justice Coving-
ton OF the supreme court OF the Dis
trict OF Colum bia, designated recently
| by the president to investigate the
labor situation in the west. Judge
CoNington has completed his nvesli-
CATION and probably will report per-
sonally TO President Wilson tomorrow.
Coyington Well Posted.
Whether the concerted action or
marshals thruout the country was re-
lated TO Judge Coyington's investiga-
ton was not disclosed II Is known,
however. that Judge Covington made
a special study of the activities OF the
Industrial Workers OF the World. It
was shortly after he reached the
northwest that 81 leaders of the or
ganization were arrested by Idaho
national guardsmen the day before
the time set for general strike in
Washington, Oregon, Montana and
Idaho
For many weeks past the activities
OF the Industrial Workers of the
world leaders have beer under close
scrutiny. Scores OF field workers,
chiefly in the west and middle west,
have devoted their undivided attea-
ton 10 alleged attempts on the part
OF leaGers to embarrass the govern
ment in the conduct of the war by
strikes and other disturbances called
in the name of labor
Labor Not Concerned.
These activities never havo been
regarded here as n labor movement.
, they nave been held to be Political ami
H. some Instances conducted VITA u
view solely to hinder the government
IL carrying on the war.
| Recently il vas charged that In.
Guided in the ranks of the Industrial
v orSers oil the World were many
Austrans, who have been active in
stirring up strife intended 10 hamper
, American industries, doing work
| United States entered the war.
: Investigation has failed, IL is un-
derstood. to connect these activities
with German money.
? Local United States attorneys have
7 reported many instances OF sus-
, picious nature in connection with al
Z legged labor troubles, however. and
these have been Investigated.
Documents seized today will be
submitted to the grand juries. Prose-
tcotiops may be begun under several
laws, chiefly the espionage act, COW
erlng the utterance of reasonable
ard seditious statements ard the food
control law. Prosecution under tho
latter law could be conducted in in
stances where 1t was shown that at
tempts were being made to impede
the interstate movement OF .oodstuflj
. aid other commodities controlled ~
. tie government and needed FOR the
successful prosecution OF the war.