The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-07-12
Soldiers of Third Oregon are De-
tailed for Service at
North Yakima
AGITATORS ARE ARRESTED
/. WV. Hall is Closed and Easton
Trouble Makers are Placed in
Ellensburg Stockade

Governor Listers request that fed
eral troops be sent into this state to
assist the state authorities in handling
the /. w. w. situation was answered
Monday morning when Company B
of the Third Oregon regiment arrived
in North Yakima and stationed details
from that city to Gle Elum.
In North Yakima the troops camped
across the street from the /. w. W..
hall and that same evening under the
orders Of Lieut.. Orville A. Stevens,
they took possession of the hall and
placed under arrest "a I. w. w. leaders
and agitators. The men placed under
arrest offered no resistance and the
move against the hall was made quiet
ly and orderly.
About $3.50 in the evening Lieut..
Stevens and the North Yakima chief
and assistant chief of police crossed
the street to the hall. Lieut.. Stevens
questioned the man in charge regard
ing the doctrines and practices of the
organization and asked for samples of
literature.
/. w. w. members, who before had
remained discreetly in the ofing, fol-
lowed the officers into the hall to listen
to the talk and see what was done. In
a short time the hall was well filled
and the men who have been active
spirits in the I. w. w. agitation here
were soon drawn into a discussion with
Lieut.. Stevens, who kept up the talk
for the purpose Of drawing out these
men.
At the proper time Stevens gave the
signal to his men in the camp across
the street. The soldiers came on the
run, guards were stationed at the door
of the hall and the street in front of
the place and for some distance on
each side was cleared. Spectators out
side the hall were dispersed and the
guards patrolled the street. They al
lowed automobiles to pass but not pc
destrians. Drivers Of vehicles were
told to keep going"
Of the men inside, considerable
number were separated out as not be-
ing wanted and were escorted out of
the hall and thru the patrol line with |
military precision.
The remaining men numbering "a !
were marched to the city Jail where
they were searched and booked. Three
men who asserted that they were not
members Of the I. w. w. were released
after being questioned. The prisoners
made no resistance or demonstration
OF any kind. Most of them appeared
to take the matter quite seriously, tho
there was no evidence of fear or ex-
element. AS each was searched and
booked, he was locked up.
Soldiers were left in charge of the
l. w. w. hall. The officials took for
safe keeping a considerable sum of
money belonging to the organization
and a quantity of literature and other
material, some of which will probably
De used as evidence.
The second move toward clearing the
Yakima Valley of ]. w. w. agitators
was taken yesterday morning when
soldiers under command of Capt.
Shorkley, Company F, Second Wash
lngton, arrested between SO and 60
l. W. WIS near Easton. They were
charged with intimidating labor and
interfering with crops and logging
and We're brought to Ellensburg and
placed in a stockade. Formal COM
plants against these as well as those
arrested in North Yakima will be filed
under the new federal espionage act.