Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-20
UNCLE SAM JAlLS LEADERS BE-
FORE STRIKE ORDER is
PUT INTO FORCE.
WILSON DEALS BLOW AT
PLOT TO RUIN CROP
Soldiers Arrest Twenty Seven Msn Re-
sponsihle For Orders 20 QUIT Farm
Work in Northwest Today-Men
Held as Military Prisoners-First
Move in War Upon |. w. w.

Spokane, Wash. Aug. 20.--The Unit
ed States snveInmen struck SMASH
ing blow at The Industrial Workers OF
the World Sunday.
Within a few hours of the thine SET
for the threatened l. W. W. strike
among agricultural and construction
workers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho
and Montana, twenty seven leaders or
the "terrorists" were placed in jail
here as military prisoners.
President Wilson, it was announced
several days ago,-Was prepared TO use
his summary war powers to suppress
the reign Of terror threatened by the
l. w, w. The arrests, it was SAID
were the first move in the govern
ments plan TO stop the attempt TO tie
up or destroy crops and various indus
tries necessary for the prosecution OF
the war.
lmperIs U. S. Food Supply.
The proposed strike, if carried OUT,
would imperil a vast part of the ma
TONS food supplies, tie up mines pro-
ducing needed metals for war material,
and perhaps cripple the great airplane
campaign, with which the United
States is expected TO WTest supremacy
of the air from Germany, and ultimate
X win the war; Lumber workers in
four states already are on strike.
,ya.,a.. Rowan, DISTRICT secretary, was
the most prominent OF the l. W. w.
leaders arrested here today. he was
taken with twenty-five other leaders
in the l. W. W. headquarters here.
Rowan had already signed the orders
calling on the farm workers to strike
tomorrow and let the fruit rot on the
ground
Arrested by Soldiers.
A company of Idaho national guards
men made the arrests.
The only effect OF my arrest will De
10 intensity the strike" Rowan SAID
while he was awaiting his turn 10 De
searched and booked. I think the
strike will spread further now, and
probably affect industries in which no
strike has been called. Even tho all
the officers or employees Of the or
ganization are put IN jail and all halls
closed, arrangements have been mace
TO handle the movement"
Only a vote Of the members Of the
organization can halt the strike, ROW
and declared, as there Is no one with
authority TO take such action the
strike order becomes effective tomor-
row unless l. W. W. members, alleged
by leaders Of the organization 10 be
Illegally held in jail, are released oy
that time.
Take All Men in Hall.
Rowan and William Moran, secretary
of the local / W. W. organization. were
arrested by Maj. Clement Wilkins, IN
command of a battalion Of guardsmen
on patrol duty here. Meanwhile forty
guardsmen, under the command OF
Capt. F. A. Jeter rounded up twenty
two other men who were in the I. ".
w. hall and took them, with Moran,
10 the county jail.
A squad Of guardsmen was left at
the executive headquarters and an
other was stationed al the !. ". W.
hail, and the latter arrested three other
men who wen: TO the hall later and
took them to the jail. Orders were
then issued thai no one should be per-
mitted 20 enter the hall. but That no
more arrests Of persons seeking 10 en-
Ter should be made.
Between Fixed 8ayonets.
Meme Of the men arrested offered any
resistance. The prisoners We're l1neo
up, IN double column, between files OF
me guardsmen with fixed bayonets,
and marched half mile to the jail.
Here they were searched and their
names were taken and they were
placed IN els on an upper floor Of the
building.
You men are military prisoners and
are not detained under civil law"
Mai. wilkins told the men after they
had oeer lined up in the jail.
An investigation Of your cases will
be begun tomorrow, and il it is found
mat any of you are wrongfully held
you will be released.