The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-08
DAHLGREN SAYS
PLACE BECOMES
PUBLIC MENACE
AS CRIME GROWS
Recent Shootings and Ser
les of Holdups Bring
Drastic Action
MADE ATTEMPT TO
OPEN AGAIN TODAY
Friday Night Proceedings
Expected To Eliminate
Element From City

Investigations made by the Fargo
police, and which disclosed through
the killing of an /. w. w. gunman
by two special agents of the North
ern Pacific and the numerous hold
ups near Fargo and in the state
that the crimes committed were by
!. w. Wa working in and out of
Fargo, resulted in Chief of Police
Louis Dahlgren ordering the head
quarters of the Industrial Workers
of the World on Front street closed
Friday night.
With Sergeant Morton Sydness.
Chief of Police Dahlgren went to the
Office Of the organization on lower
Front street about $3.50 o'clock FRI
day night. The secretary was ad-
vised the place was becoming @
rendezvous for crime and gunmen"
and would not be tolerated. A few
minutes later the place was in dark
ness and some 100 members left the
building and congregated about the
streets.
Defy Police Orders.
Defying the orders from the police.
department, the place was opened
chief and the sergeant again visited
the place, leaving word It must be
closed tonight, The police permitted
tile place to remain open today that
the members of the organization who
have luggage and other matters
might remove II. as well as have the
books boxed and be gotten ready for
shipment to some other city.
The Industrial Workers of the
World opened their headquarters at
Front street about June Is of this
year. Members have congregated in
large numbers, have refused offers
from farmers that were reasonable
and have distributed their material
broadcast The recent hold-ups in
the state and robberies, followed by
arrests, showed the prisoners taken
to be "red-card" men.
Chief Takes initiative.
ST consulted the police commits
sioner before taking the matter into
my own hands when learned that
the greater per cent of the crimes
in and out of Fargo this fall were
committed by these red card men,.
said Chief of Police Dahlgren this
morning. II deemed it necessary
and advisable that the place should
be closed. Not only was the head
DCIOAllAA6 ~ IGAuCLNOuS lux
gunmen, but il would have taken on
greater proportions If the police had
permitted the place to rum. Evil
dence found this week tends to
show that .tAe crime wave which is
fastening itself on the state is large
ly due to this organization.
Green commends Work.
Assistant States Attorney William
G. Green was seen at his Office this
morning and when informed that the
Industrial Workers headquarters
had been closed on Front street. last
night by action of the chief of police,
commended the initiative taken by
Chief Dahlgren.
I'VE are certain to have more
crime If the place is permitted to
rum, commented the officer.
Former Sheriff Sees Danger.
j. c. Ross. former sheriff of Cass
county, declared that 1--WE have been
residents Of Cass county for more
than 80 years, have built up d gov
ernment which today is threatened
on every hand by Industrial Work
ers. If we don't do our duty now
we will be at their mercy. 1t is bad
enough in some states, and we have
instances right now In North Da-
kota to what proportion it will
grow.