Evening star., 1917-10-02
HAVE THE EVIDENCE
OFNUMEROUSPLOTS
Officials Learn of Wide Con-
spiracy to Thwart Govern
ment's War Plans.
CoAsT-To-CoAsT PROBE ON

The government went after big game
when it made its nationwide raid, Sep
tember g. on Industrial Workers of the
World, resulting in a great number of
indictments returned by the federal
court at Chicago Now the little Offend
ers, followers and hangers-on are go
ing to be gathered in.
So far arrests have been made and
indictments have been returned only
against those regarded as chief figures
in the alleged conspiracy to thwart the
government in its war plans. Docu-
ments seized in the raid are still to De
studied. their disclosures catalosued
and arranged for use in further pro-
ceedings. This work is now going on
in approximately fifty towns and cities
from coast to coast.
Only the Beginning
In obtaining indictments against 166
alleged ringleaders of the conspiracy,
the Department of Justice has simply
skinned the cream of the investiga-
tion. Documents In its possession are
understood to show extensive and far
reaching minor plans, conhned TO par
ticular localities and designed to al
those named in the indictments and
many others are believed by the au-
thorities to have sought to hamper the
government by methods some of which
have not yet been disclosed to the pup
lie.
Contrary to general belief, no direct
connection has been shown thus Tar
between the alleged leaders Of the con-
spiracy and the huge German corrup-
tion fund believed to have been oper-
ating in this country since Americas
entry into the war. Many indications
point strongly to the connection which
officials hope to establish, but none, 1t
is reported, is absolutely conflrmatory.
Full Scope Not Yet Revealed.
This development has led officials to
believe that the full scope of the con-
spiracy's operation has not yet been re-
vealed So far as yet determined. there
was no master spy. no single controll-
ing head which directed the activities
of the anti-war workers. A group of
fairly generous proportions, the evil
dence indicates. has been in charge of
the entire program of propaganda and
seditious literature to the burning of
crops aud the arming of farmers and
others to resist the draft law.
The likelihood of another general in
jury into the scope of the entire con-
spiracy is remote, in the opinion of Of
icials. but indications are that num-
Der of grand juries. sitting at New
York. Chicago, st. Louis. Detroit,
Cleveland and other cities in the east
and middle west will consider local
phases of the program. Documents
seized at the various points will be
utilized in these Investigations. If IL
should be decided to hold them.
Plans for Trials Undetermined.
Preparations for the trial of the 1Ss
persons indicted at Chicago-the
largest number indicted at one time on
one charge by a single grand jury
within the recollection of officials here
are yet to be made. The immense
amount of work involved in the prepa-
ration of evidence will require con-
siderable time. and it is regarded as
unlikely that the trial will be held at
an early date.
Various phases of the investigation
were discussed yesterday at a confer
ence between Attorney General Greg
ory. Assistant Attorney General Pitts,
who directed the work of federal Of
fcers making the raid and the prepara-
ton Of evidence for the grand Jury.
and A. Bruce Bielaski, chief of tho de-
partments bureau of investigation