The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-29
TEUTONIC INFLUENCES ARE DIS
COVERED IN TEXAS CASES OF
ORGANIZED RESISTANCE.
SECRET SERVICE BUSY
Attorney General Gregory at Washing
ton Sounds Warning to Intriguers
That the Federal Government VIII BE
Relentless in All Instances.

Washington, May 29.-German infiu-
ences to increase resistance to army
registration and the selective draft, un.
covered in Texas by federal grand
jury investigation, already have result
ed in eleven indictments. Other arrests
on the same charge made in various To-
calities by agents of the department OF
justice apparently o =. 'ot so closely
linked with German W, 'e but are
being investigated. Oh
In the Texas case, acc, of.
ficial announcement sby the OcL >
of justice. an organization was
some time ago for the purpose .. Z
operative buying. Its members we,
required to take a secret oath, and soon
after the enactment of the army draft
law, the official announcement says, IA
strong German influence succeeded in
inducing the organization to turn its
efforts to combating conscription, hence
high power rifles were obtained to in.
timidate persons subject to registration
and the officials who would be proposed
to form the registration"
Spreads TO West
In some western cities, there is evi.
dence of an effort afoot to defeat regis
tration, but the department of Justice. u
was officially announced is fully pre-
pared to deal with the offenders under
existing law and the new espionage bill
now nearing completion in congress
which imposes heavy penalties for sucn
offenses.
Scattered over the country are spo-
radio efforts to interfere with registra-
ton, but officials here do not believe
they are connected. The Texas case.
in which the German influence is clear.
ly established, and the arrest of two
mountaineers in southwestern Virginia
are the most conspicuous instances.
Virginia Mountaineers Disloyal.
The two Virginians VIM. Mccoy AMI
j. w. Phipps, both well known charac-
ters in the feud region, are in Jail at
Roanoke, and government agents say
they have complete evidence to show
these men plotted organized resistance
to the draft as well as a wholesale at
tack upon the landed people OF the vi
cinity whose property they intended to
divide between themselves.
As the day Of registration draws near.
the department Of justice and other
agencies OF the government are care
fully watching for evidence Of resist
ance TO the law and are prepared to
deal with all cases promptly.
These arrests" said Attorney Gen
eral Gregory. in an official statement,
referring to the proceedings already un.
der way. SHOULD be accepted by the
country generally as a warning against
interfering with the enforcement Of the
provisions Of the new army law. They
merely demonstrate what the depart
ment Of justice proposes TO do in every
case where attempts are made to hinder
or discourage registration"
Heavy Penalties Provided.
A section Of the espionage bill dea,.
ing with interference with army regis
tration provides penalties OF 20 years
Imprisonment and $4,000 fine. This sec.
tion of the bill says:
Whoever, when the United States Is
at war, shall wilfully make or convey
false reports or false statements with
intent TO interfere with the operation
or success Of the military or naval for
ces of the United States, or to promote
the success Of its enemies: and whoever,
when the United States is at war. shall
wilfully obstruct the recruiting or en-.
listment service of the Omitted States,
to the injury Of the service or Of the
United States, shall be punished by a
fine Of not more than $4,000. or I'M.
prisonment for not more than twenty
years. or both"
1T is believed by the entire member.
ship, with whom we have consulted,
that the cause OF all the trouble Is tho
activity OF the National Manufacturers
association, or some kindred organiza.
ton. which organized to destroy union
labor organizations several years ago"