The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-16
German Propaganda Response
BILE for Widespread Disor-
&ders, Says Senator Sherman
EAST ST. LOUIS RIOTS
BLAMED ON AGITATORS
Immediate Action, Backed by
Governments Full Author
ity, Expected to Make Vi, e
ilantes Unnecessary

Washington. July Is. German
propaganda in the United States, as
represented by the /. ". W, will be
throttied Immediately through a plan
to be put into effect tomorrow.
Attorney General Gregory VIII be
requested by congress to al once as
semble United States grand juries in
every locality where the activities of
the |, ". ". have been apparent, place
indict and try all offenders on the
spot. without loss of minute.
The plan contempiates assembling
grad juries at East St. Louis. III;
Douglas, Ariz, Columbus, y, NJ; Bis
bee Arizona, aud at points in Oregon
and Washington. where there have been
indications of unwonted activity on the
part OF the organization agents. These
turies will sit simultaneously and 1t is
believed that in this way death blow
will be struck at the organization
without any lost time.
The department OF justice IS under
stood to have sufficient evidence at
present TO proceed against some Of
the leaders under the espionage act,
but has held back until more definite
evidence can be obtained connecting
the financial affairs of the organiza
tion with German agents.
Senator Lawrence Y. Sherman. OF
Illinois. will make the first move to-
wards having the Investigations
started Sherman said today he had
joined with other members of the
senate in requesting the attorney
general TO take steps Immediately for
assembling the grand juries.
Documentary evidence in the pos
session OF the Illinois senator viii be
placed at the disposal Of the govern
ment Immediately. which 1t Is declared
will show indisputably that the I. ".
w. agitators we're responsible for the
rioting and bloodshed In East ST.
Louis Part OF this evidence also
will lead the investigators to other
sections Of the country. Other sena-
tors claim 10 have evidence not only
showing responsibility on the part of
the |. W. W. for riots and murders,
but showing connection between the
ag,tators and z powerful group OF
German propagandists. Some OF this
evidence already has been placed at
the disposal Of the department of jus
tice
The plan for assembling United
States grand juries in every district
where the l. W W agitators have
means for striking the death blow al
the organization" said Senator Sher-
man today United States grand ju-
ries With all the power Of the govern
ment behind them. can make short
work OF the men who have been guilty
OF this gigantic conspiracy against our
industrial structure. For instance in
East St Louis would have Judge
kennesaw Mountain lands. take i'm
mediate charge, convene a jury which
would represent an entire judicial dts
trict and without the usual delays put
the men responsible for the bioodshed
and disorder there behind the bars.
While ! have no positive proof
that the / W W is q weapon OF the
kaiser, | have my own convictions in
the matter. do know positively that
very recently there has been big
food OF money into the Golfers of the
organization, That money must have