The sun., 1917-09-06
RAID ALI. W. W.
QUARTERS IN US
TO CRUSH PLOTS
National Secretary Hay
wood Taken in Custody
and Released.
GREGORY ISSUES ORDER
Federal Agents Also Descend
on Socialist Party's Head
quarters in Chicago.

wAsHrNGroN, Sept. 5.--The Govern
ment to-day took drastic action to end
the antl-war propaganda and activities
conducted in the name Of the Industrial
workers of the World, the Socialist party
and other organizations throughout the
United states.
On orders from Attorney-Genera
Gregory United States Marshals In many
towns and cities descended at p. NJ.
Central time, upon local headquarters
Of the Industrial Workers Of the World.
seised books, checks, correspondence and
other documents. and in some instances
arrested ofYicials found upon the prem
jsca william D. Haywood. the organi-
sat,on's national secretary. was taken
INTO custody and after being questioned
was released.
Federal agents took possession Of the
national headquarters Of the Socialist
party in Chicago. and a warrant author
zing the seizure Of it's documents was
served upon its counsel.
The seizure Of documents was carried
,ut In accordance with d plan perfected
nere by william c. Fits, Assistant At
torney General. A statement issued by
the Department OF Justice announced
hat the seizure Of papers was made In
connection with a Federal Grand Jury
luvestigation Of the !. w. W., now pro-
cseding in Chicago.
On Eve Of Report to Wilson.
The Departments action was taken
on the eve OF report to President Will
son BY Chief Justice Covington OF the
supreme Court Of the District Of Colum-
ba, who was designated recently by the
ton In the West.
Judge Covington has completed his in
,cstigation. which lasted several weeks
and took him to the Pacific coast. He
probably will report personally to Presf-
cent Wilson tomorrow.
Whether the concerted action of
narshals throughout the country was IN
any way related to Justice Covington' 3
investigation was not disclosed. 1t Is
known. however. that Justice Covington
made a special study of the activities Of
the I. w. W. It was soon after he
,eached the Northwest that twenty
even leaders Of the organisation were
lr-ested by Idaho National Guardsmen
Ltie uHy UelOTe Nnc tlUlo SCI lOI - BCH-
eral strike in Washington. Oregon. Mon
ana and Ieaho.
The charges against leaders Of the Or
lanization under arrest or whose arrest
IS contemplated were not made public
. Acre. II was said at the Department OF
Justice that these would have to be de.
lcrmined by the Grand Jury investigat.
,s the organization.
Grand Jury Operations.
officials also declined to disclose
neither indictments had been found by
,Tsnd juries in Chicago or elsewhere
asanst l. W. W. leaders, 1t was inti
mated however. that the investigation
lad only begun. Indications are tha
Federal grand juries in other cities will
De called upon also to investigate tn,
lctlvities of the organization.
For many weeks past the activities o.
he l. w. w. leaders have been undel
dose scrutiny Of the Departments bu
eau Of investigation. Scores Of fielt
workers, chiefly in the West and middl,
West, have devoted their undivided At
Iention to alleged attempts on the par
II leaders to embarrass the Governmen
n the conduct Of the war by strikes an,
Jther disturbances called in the name O
iabor.
These activities have never been re
1arded here as a labor movement. The,
ave been held to be political. and IL
sone instances conducted with a viev
yoely to hinder and hamper the Gov
'rnment in exercising the full strengtl
% carrying on the war.
Austrians Are Attacked.
Charges OF many complexions hav
cen received by the Department in con
ection with the organisations activi
ies. 1t was charged recently, that 1
he ranks Of the !. w. w. were man
Austrians who have been active in stir
ing up strife intended to hamper Amer
can industries. doing work handled b
iermans before the United States de
Jared state OF war existing with Gel
many.
Continued investigation has failed,
S understood, to connect these activitie
with German money. The Departmer
mas determined the principal reservoir
OF German funds in this country and.
IS reported. has not connected them wit
ecent disorders In the West and South
vest
Local United States Attorneys ha,
'eported many Instances OF a suspicion
nature in connection with alleged Ia b<
'NHoiVs' uoWcNcT, anu tHcbe nave Uee
me subject of departmental investig,
lion.
As result Of the countrywide seizul
ihe !. w. VS. papers the Depar
ment OF Justice tonight fnds itself
possession Of documents by the tho,
sand. many Of which viii be submittt
10 Grand Juries as the basis of an Il
vestisauon TO determine whether lea,
ers can be prosecuted.
Prosecutions may be begun under Sc
eral laws. chiefly the espionage act. co
ering the utterance of reasonable al
seditious statements, and the food co
trol law. Prosecution under the latt
law could be conducted In instanc
where it was shown that attempts We
being made. by conspiracy or otherwii
10 impede the Interstate movements
foodstuffs and other commodities co
trolled by the Government and need
Tor the successful prosecution Of I
war
GREEnDV YC rnAVTAy<VEl