New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-03
u. S. Cleaning Up
Sedition in Iowa
Four New Arrests, One a
Clergyman, Whose Friends
Start a Riot

Chicago, Aug. 2.-Four persons were
arrested at Lowden, Iowa. an"
seven prominent men were indicted at
Davenport, Iowa, to-day as the result
of the governments activities to stamp
out pro- German agitation and espion-
age.
D. H. Wallace, head of the League
of Humanity, of Chicago, was indicted
py the Federal Grand Jury at Daveh-
mort. charged with violation Of the
espionage law and conspiracy.
Six prominent Davenport men, Dr.
Henry Matthey, DR.. Walter Matthey'
Fred Vollmer, an attorney and brother
of ex-Congressman Henry Vollmer'
f. C. Wills, arother attorney; I. A.
Wiese, and A. II. Miller were also IN
dicted. charged with conspiracy ana
aiding and abetting Wallace.
Wallace gave a lecture here on July
Is, when he bitterly attacked the con-
scription law. He was arrested and is
held under $4,000 bonds. All the
other men were released on fonds OF
$4,000.
Many prominent citizens of German
American extraction were summoned
before the jury by the government IN
an effort to prove that Wallace was
brought here for the purpose OF an
tagonizing the government in its war
policies. These included Mayor Ber-
valid. The latter vas advised TO pre-
vent the meeting from being held, but
declined to interfere.
Wallace is the author of book IN
which the claims to have been Shang-
haied into the English army and 20
have fought eleven months on the con-
tinent finally effecting his escape. He
also claims TO have been a captain IN
the Texas Rangers. Government ofii-
Gals declare he Rad served but one
month in the English army when he
deserted, and that ne never had any
connections whatever with the Texas
Rangers. Wounds which he claimed 20
have received while in the English army
were on his person at the time of en-
listment, it is said by Federal authorl-
ties.
At Lowden, Iowa, four persons, three
Of them past sixty years, were arrested
by Federal officers to-day and charged
with treason and resisting the govern
ment. Half a dozen others were ques-
toned, and it was announced more ar
rests were expected. This action fol-
lowed an outbreak that approached a
riot between citizens and pro-Germans
last night.
The prisoners are: Albert Schaefer,
sixty-five, retired farmer; William
Richman, sixty-six, furniture dealer;
Ernest Meier, sixty-fve, retired farmer,
and Carl Gerhl, thirty-six, farmer All
are reputed to be wealthy.
Richman has a son who enlisted IN
the army, and he is reported to have
said that he would rather see the boy
dead than bearing arms against Ger
many.
The trouble began early in July, and
IL WAS said to have been accentuated by
the dragging of German flag behind
an automobile in the Fourth OF July
parade. Feeling between the loyal and
pro- German elements has increased
since then, famed by public and prl-
vate utterances.
Tuesday night the Rev. John Reich
crt, pastor of the German Evangelical
Church here, was arrested on charge
Of treason. He was questioned in the
office of Daniel D. McGillivray, an at
torney, and then taken to Cedar Rapids.
News of the ministers arrest spread,
and crowd gathered before McGil-
livray's office, threatening to lynch him:
A few blows were struck, but cool
heads finally prevailed.
Msyor Louis Hoeltje protested his
LOYALTY to the United States, but ad-
mitted that he had taken no steps tow
ii ~ errest Of trouble makers.