The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-07
INDICTMENTS ON CHARGES OF TREASON
EXPECTED AGAINST CHICAGO AGTTATORS
Judge Covington, Who Investigated Labor Troubles
in West Believed to Show Great Bulk of Working
People Firmly Loyal to Government--Solders Re-
strained With Difficulty From Attacking Agitators

Chicago. September s.~-Raids by
federal authorities tonight ON three
publishing officers and a book store
added to the mass of alleged evidences
of treason already I'm the hands OF the
government. The newspaper and
publishing Offices raided were:
Arbeiter Zeitung, n German news
paper plant where the American So
cialist, the national organ of that par
ty, is published; Social Dcmokrafen. n
Hurch Is editor. Radnicka-Straxa.
which Is headquarters of the Creation
branch of the South Slavic Federation
of United States publications; the
Radical Book shop; street distributors
of radical literature.
Washington, September 6-Formai
declaration of war against Austria and
the other Teuton allies is regarded as
probable as the result of yesterdays
raids against the /. w. W. and other
sedition-breeding headquarters.
The department of Justice il was
learned tonight. has been Informed
through Italian sources that Teuton
money has been paid into some OF
the organizations rounded up This
money was handled by agents of the
German allies against whom the
United States has not yet declared
war. but who are permitted free run
of this country.
Department of justice officials char
acterized the raids successful in
every particular.
I'VE got every scrap OF evidences
Apf "a S1 At -. sat- 70
the officials of the department
This is taken to mean that the de-
partment has clinched the stories
which have been told by the represent
tac!ves of the allies. Their Informal
ton follows closely along that which
has been gathered by several senators
and representatives In. congress. whe
said German money was behind the /.
w. w. propaganda.
Declaration of war with Austria. Is
a move that the United States has hes.
ftated to make The nation has. how.
ever, fairly dared Austria. After prus-
quely chasing the Austrian anabassa.
dor from this country. the United
States proceeded to lend money &c
Italy and furnish supplies to her In
an open manner. This support has
been even more free IN the last few
weeks. officials OF the state Depart
ment do not endeavor to conceal their
desire that Austria might be provoked
into a declaration of war. Austria
however, has refused consistently 70
move. She has. IL is believed under
German Influence, counted too valu-
able the services of the agents which
she and Bulgaria and Turkey have
been able to maintain in this country.
With the revelations that are ex.
pected 20 follow the Indictment of the
T. w. W and other leaders at CHI
cage and the display OF the evidence
OF financial support gathered yestar-
day II Is expected that the United
States will take the initiative and de-
clare war against all of the countries
allied with Germany.
That the government has ceased to
deal mildly with the anti-war propa-
gandists was revealed at the White
House itself today. There Professor
II. w. l. Dana. OF New York. repre-
senting the peoples peace council was
promptly refused permission to see
the president. Professor Dana had
been a supporter OF thu president In
the last campaign and the percmptory
refusal to see him today indicated ths
position the administration now has
taken.
II was stated at the department Of
Justice that all of the evidence gath
cred yesterday will be submitted to
1t is openly limited that In one or
two cases there Is material ample for
indictment on the capital offense OF
treason. This Is taken to refer 10
those leaders who received and knew
they we're receiving the money OF the
enemies of the United states to stir
up trouble here. 1t Is believed ex-
amp1es VIII be made OF them.
The presidents own personal inter.
est in the situation has been aroused
by reports from the war department.
and from the special investigator whom
he sent West to look over the labor
troubles there, Judge Harry Covtng.
ton. of the District OF Columbia su.
preme court.
The war department has been IN.
formed by commanders of q number
ct posts near troublesome centers that
the most rigidly enforced discipline
has restrained the troops from at
lacking the anti-war agitAtors In =
spirit that meant only, lynching.
Neither Judge Covtngton nor the
president would discuss the report sub
mitted to the White House this AFTER
noon. 1t Is believed. however, that
Judge Covingtons views coincide with
others that have been submitted 70
the president. picturtnE the bulk ~
labor as loyal and devoted and the
troubles all due to certain fewt
agitators with q sinister purpose.
Though important evidences wnn
discovered In New York Scranton
Ftytshurx ana ether eastern cities. tho
prosecution OF the aGitatera WITH ~
concentrated at Chicago.