Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-13
|. v. v. AGITATION
MENACE TO WEST
From Canadian Border to Mex
leo Authorities Are on Alert
to Suppress Disorder.
GERMAN INFLUENCE ALLEGED
Leaders Plan Property Destruc-
ton as Lever to Gain en-
dustrial Democracy"
GERMAN INFLUENCE ALLEGED
1Ry Associated Press /

SAN FRANCISCO. July 12.-Deporta-
ton undertaken to-day at Bisbee,
Ariz.. Of more than 1000 Industrial
Workers of the World centered atten-
ton upon an agitation which has risen
in the West to considerable proper
tons. after manifesting itself sporadic
ally from coast to coast for years
From the Canadian border to Mexico
civic, State and military authorities
were alert tonight to suppress dis
order.
Disturbances fomented admittedly by
the organization. and spreading into
various branches Of Industry, carry
with them in virtually every instance
demand for higher wages. Omcials
in some States pronounced the move
ment one to reduce production of sup
plies necessary to- the conduct Of the
war. but. while German influence and
financial support were charged by some
of them, no direct substantiation Of
this accusation could be had. Or
ganizers of the 1. w. W., especially in
Arizona. were reported to be well
financed from sources unknown even
to those we'll versed in the workings
Of the body.
SIftlNES ON IN hISES OF
ARIZONA AND MONTANA
Military censorship which repressed
accounts of immediate occurrences In
Arizona still permitted fairly exten-
sive view OF the general situation.
Strikes were on tonight in the copper
mines Of Arizona and Montana. They
were threatened in the mines of Colo
rado. Nevada and Utah There were
lumber strikes in Idaho and Washing
ton. with agitation in the lumber dis
tricts of Oregon. Threats had been
made to destroy the wheat fields of
the Northwest, and the State Council
OF Defense of Washington appointed a
committee especially to deal with the
Industrial Workers of the World. lest
harm come to the crops. Existing dis
turbances reached into Mexico.
Bodily resistance to constituted and
unconstItuted authority has not mani
tested itself to any great extent In the
recent Western operations of the orEani-
zation. Sixty L w. W. members were
deported from Jerome. Ariz.. and re-
! deported from Needles. Cal. without
Physical violence. Threats attributed
to them are generally against prop
erty. They say they base their de-
mands and actions upon the theories
OF George Sorel, a Frenchman, and got
from him the plan Of property destruc-
tion as a lever to gain their end. which
they define as industrial democracy
This property destruction as advocated
and practiced in the West Of late has
taken many forms. Lumber mills have
had their costly saws splintered by
spikes driven into logs. In the or
chard districts. fruit trees have died
after copper nails had been hammered
into them.
PROCLAIM MOVEMENT
TO BE WORLDWIDE:
The organizers proclaim the move
ment to be Worldwide. The red flag
is the proposed universal banner, and
each member Of the organization car
ries red card. Membership Is sought
In all branches of industry Organizers
say $4,000 farm laborers belong. and
that the plantation labor of the South
Is being organized. 1t Is the theory of
the I. W. w. that each branch of in
dustry should help the other In gaining
Its ends. and Rodger Culver, an l. w.
w. speaker. recently said at Miami.
Ariz., IF necessary to enforce the
miners demands. there will be no
wheat crop in the North American n
Continent"
Threats Of Wholesale destruction of
wheat have not materialized.