Evening star., 1917-09-06
Yesterdays Many Raids Only
First Step in Nationwide !,
Campaign.
LEADERS OF THE |. w. w. ?
TO BE BROUGHT UP SHORT
Uncle Sam to Remove Gloves in
Handling Those Who Preach Sc.
dition and Opposition to War. /

Simultaneous raids yesterday after.
noon on headquarters Of various organi.
cations in numerous cities where anti.
war activities have terminated, marked
only the first step of vigorous nation
wide campaign by the Department Of
Justice to put down sedition, treason. or
pro -0ermanism in whatever Ruise thew
appear
The extent of this campaign has mot
been realized by the public, and its de-
tails are not to be disclosed, but officials
of the Department of Justice today stat
ed that it includes a surveillance of all
organizations suspected Of eloaking anti
war propaganda. scrutiny of newspapers
and magazines, especially of those in
foreign tongues, and stenographic re-
ports of pacifist meetings.
Evidence Is Voluminous. =
Voluminous evidence of this charao.
ter already has been presented to ON.
cials of the department and much Of
1t has been carefully Investigated to see
whether its sources could be traced
back to activities of enemy agents.
Chief Justice J. Harry Covington OF
the District Supreme Court, assigned
by the President to make a personal
investigation of labor conditions in the
west, had an appointment at the White
House for 3:15 o'clock today
Justice Covington. it was learned has
taken no part in the activities of the De-
partment of Justice. He has not been
Generals office. Following his report to
the President he is expected to confer
with the Secretary of Labor though he
mad made no appointment. it was stated
this afternoon at Secretary Wilson's of.
fee. :,
Rod in Pickle for I. W. W.
policy in regard to the
tactics OF the Industrial Workers of
the World. and of agents working un.
der the guise of that organization. 1t
is understood that the leniency so far
shown activities of that body. -of cer-
tain branches of the socialists and of
a few pacifist societies has been be.
cause of the desire to draw a dfstinc.
ton between the segments of these or.
gani1ation which represent labor or
other bona fide American sentiment
and the segments which are formed al
cloak for foreign plotting.
Frank acknowledgement is made by
officials of the Department of Justice
of the valuable services of various
patriotic organizations and defense
bodies. some of them newly created
since the war. which have been per-
forming a volunteer service of their
own in calling attention of department
agents to places of meeting and UNDER
ground efforts to discourage war prep
arationS.
The /. w w is. perhaps. the larrest
single organization which will engage
the departments attention in the cam.
paign. From now on, other organiza-
tions and individuals whose utterances
and activities have given ground for
suspicion of disloyalty will be under
stricter surveillance than ever. and
more drastic measures will be pursued
in dealing with them.
After Soap-Box Orators.
Included in the classes of persons
with whom the department may deaf
are The so-called soap-box orators OF
New York and other large cities, writ
ers and publishers. in a few instances,
with the German language
press in this country. so-called con-
scientious directors and large number
of individuals not classified, whose
activities have led them to be regards
ed as the active friends of Germany in
this country.
For months the department has been
a tremendous amount of evil
dence which can be utilized in prose-
cutions. in connection with yesterdays
seizure of l. W. w. papers and other
prosecutions contemplated in the near
future.
To curb the activity of citizens and
others suspected of disloyal and sedi-
tious utterances and activities the de-
partment has increased its force of
deld workers and the forces at dis
posal of federal marshals and attorneys
in the chief cities.
Reports of Raid Arrive.