Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-07
|. ". v. RAIDS MAY
CAUSE j. s. OCLASH
WITH GERMAN ALLY
CLAIM is MADE AT WASHINGTON
THAT AUSTRIA FoSTERED AND
FINANCED PROPAGANDA UN-
COVERED BY SLEUTHS.

Washington, Sept Formal dec
laration of war against Austria and
other Teuton allies is regarded as
probable as the result of yesterday s
raids on l. w. " headquarters.
The Department of Justice it was
learned last night. has been informed
thru Italian sources. Teut0n money
was paid into some of the oreaniza-
tions raided The money was han
died by agents of the German allies
against whom the United States has
not declared war.
Department officials characterized
the raids as completely successful
I'VE got every scrap Of evidence
we expected TO get" said one
This is taken 10 mean the depart
ment has clinched the stories told by
the allied diplomats whose inforna-
ton Is similar 10 that gathered by
several congressman and senators.
While officials declined to discuss
the evidence in detail 1t was stated
the dragnet found indications OF a
nationwide plan of sabotage and in
cendiarism. contemplating destruc-
ton of vast natural resources and
crops and tying up great industrial
establishments vitality necessary TO
tho nopJurt of tbp war
Try to Provoke Austria.
The United States has hesitated to
declare war on Austria, but has fair
" dared her. After sending the
Austrian ambassador.desig home,
the United States openly loaned
money and supplies to Italy. State
Department officials do not conceal
their desire to provoke Austria into
declaration of war
Austria, hweyer, has refused con
> sistently to move. She has, it Is be-
lieyed under German influence,
counted too valuable the services of .
the agents she and Bulgaria and Tur-
key could maintain here.
With the revelations expected to
follow the indictment of the l. w. w.
and other leaders in Chicago and dis
play of the evidence of financial sup.
port gathered yesterday, il is expect
ed the United States will take the in
itiatve and declare war against III
the countries allied with Germany.
Wilson spurns Prof. Dana.
That the government has ceased
to deal mildly with the anti-war prop /.
agandists was revealed at the White (
House today when Professor H. w
l.. Dana, of New York, representing
the Peoples Peace Council, was re-
fused permission to see the President
Professor Dana supported the Presi. /
dent in the last campaign
1t was stated at the Department of
Justice all the evidence gathered yes
terday will be submitted to the fed /
eral grand jury in Chicago
It is openly limited in one or two
cases there is ample evidence for in
dctment on The capital offense of .
treason.
The departments plan, ii was
stated, call for campaign of exter.
minaton against every propaganda I
agency which has been classified as
proGerman
The Presidents personal interest .
in the situation has been aroused BY /
reports from the War Department |
and the special investigator he sent
West, Judge Harry Covington, Of The
District Of Columbia Supreme Court |
officials refused to discuss Mayor
Thompson. It Is admitted his actiy. /
ties have been scruiinized however. /
and that he will have TO explain a |
number of things to the federal prose
cutors.