Evening star., 1917-09-07
HUNT PROPAGANDA
IN ALIEN TONGUES
U. S. Officials Raid Four Chi
cago Publishing Houses for
Seditious Matter.
NATION-W PLOT IS SEEN

Reports from Chicago today of the
raiding of four publishing houses, where
literature alleged to be opposed to ma
tional policy was found, followed the
intimation Of officials of the Department
of Justice yesterday that foreign Ian
guage publications are being closely
scrutinized for evidence Of propaganda
intended to promote domestic dissension.
Reports and disclosures made to ON
cials here in connection with the seix-
ure of documents Wednesday indicate.
it was said today. that there has exist
ed for some time nationwide con-
spiracy to hamper the government in
almost every conceivable way in carry
ing on the war. .,
Opposition to the draft law. burning
of crops. some of the so-called labor
disturbances and attempts to curtail
indicate. were all part Of the same al.
legged conspiracy. whose prime motive
was thought to be the Gripping OF the
governments activities tn every way
possible short of interference with mill.
tary and naval operations.
Weeks to Examine Documents.
So voluminous were the documents
and papers seized Wednesday in the
simultaneous raids extending nearly
from coast to coast that examination
Of most of them has barely begun. and
in many cases 1t is expected to take
week or two for United States district
attorneys to prepare cases for presenta-
ton to federal grand juries. despite the
fact that every effort is being made to
hasten the prosecutions.
Officials at the Department of Justice
were reticent today. stating that moth
ing was to be given out there pending
the local Investigations of arrests. Mem
keeping Assistant Attorney General
Fits, in charge of the campaign
against anti-war propaganda, closely
informed regarding the progress Of
their inquiries.
To aid District Attorney Clyne In Chi.
cago in his prosecutions there. where
heavy seizures were made, Frank X.
Nebecker of Salt Lake City and Frank
C. DALEY of Indianapolis have been as
signed as special assistants. Both men
have won wide regulations in previous
work Of this character for the gov.
ernment.
Stenographic Reports Of Speeches.
1t is admitted at the department that
agents are at work examining publica-
pally those in foreign languages, and In
going over copies of stenographic reports
of speeches made at paciflst mass fnssf-
ings 1t was not indicated whether any
further arrests are expected to follow this
line Of investigation.
The investigation begun by the fed.
eral grand jury at Chicago in connec.
tion with Wednesdays raid on 1. w. W.
into all phases of the alleged conspir.
acy. OmciaN today said that 4 prob
ably would BE the most comprehensive
investigation undertaken on behalf OF
the government since this country's en-.
try into the war.
Tens Of Thousands Of Letters.
Tens Of thousands of letters. checks
and other documents in the possession
of federal authorities will be placed be-
fore the grand jury at Chicago or other
grand juries which later may investi-
gate ramifications of the alleged con.
spiracy.
1t was intimated today that the. gov.
ernment's theory is that the alleged
conspiracy was entered into in Chi
cago. although its operations extended
to virtually every section of the United
States.
Burning of wheat fields and attempts
to burn spruce forests in the Pacific
northwest, it was thought. were but
another phase Of the alleged general
conspiracy directed by the controlling
heads. Dozens of sporadic attempts to
cripple war industries by strikes and
acts of violence are regarded as a third
phase of the general alleged conspif.
acy. Publication of articles designed
to create anti-war sentiment or anti
ally sentiment were a fourth phase IL
is thought. of the same general move.
ment.
Indications point. 1t was said, to 4
group of men. considerable in number.
who, constituting what might be
termed the executive force of the al
legged conspiracy. directed all its activ-
tiles through a large number of lieu
tenants.
Where the money came from to
finance the manifold activities of the
under investigat ton is a sub
tect into which the grand jury will
delve deeply. Many evidences, 1t Is said,
point to a German fund. from which
money was lavishly supplied for work
of the alleged conspirators. Hereto
fore the connection between German
funds and activities of persons appar-
ently hostile to the government had not
been established.
NAB SOUTHERN I. W. W. CHIEF.