The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-02-15
GEO. 4, W00Ds0N
IN LNNELIGHT
BUXTON ATTORNEY SOLICITED
TO BLOW UP r. /. ARSENAL.
THE FACTS ARE MADE PUBLIC
Was Offered $1,000 Per Week for
Term Of One Year to Work Among
Employees and Make Sure of
Destruction of ArsentI.


the leading Negro attorney of Iowa,
were sought more than year ago in
a plot to blow up the government ar
senal at Rock Island, Ill.,. according
to an affidavit made by Woodson and
in the possession of Postmaster Henry
is. Rosecrans and has been for some
time past but which has been withheld
until the present time for good and
Sufficient reasons.
/ Mr.. Rosecrans has received the fol.
lowing from Mr.. Woodson now spend.
7 ing the winter in Los Angeles:
Los Angeles Cal, Feb. 5, 1917.
My Dear Sir:
One of my private reasons for with
( holding this affidavit matter from
publication so long, was that il
might prejudice. or add to the pre-
judice of foreign born residents in
this country, citizen or alien and
knowing what my own people are SUI.
fering from race prejudice, | was un-
willing to do or be party to any acU
that might bring that injustice to 9TH
ers which | so deeply deplore for my
own people. The German people.
especially have always been myI
friends and count them with the very
best class of American citizens. But
now the break has come and | sec no
reason why the facts may not be made |
known for the information of all true |
American patriots, with the hope that
in this hour of stress, no race pre-
judice will be counted or considered. /
Copy Of my letter to President Wilson
is also enclosed.
b. Very truly yours.
Geore H. Woodson.
Woodson. then at Buxton. now in
Los Angeles, was offered 81 900 a
month for a years work among the
Negro employees Of the arsenal, With
expenses paid and bonus of ten
times his salary should he be success
full
He Notified Judge Wade.
The day following a VISIT to his
office from stranger of military ap-
rearance who made the proposition,
Woodson went to Des Moines, notified
Federal Judge Wade of what had hap
pened and his statement was forward
ed to the war department.
Apparently the time for the de-
struction of the plant would have been
about now. provision having been
made for years preparation. Wood
son has kept the matter secret eX-.
cept to war department officials, but
now permits it's publication, possibly
in view of the German trouble
Woodsons statement reCited he
was in his Office on the night of Nov :
%. 1915. when a man of military
bearing who said he was Donald
Graham entered. e
offered Big Bonus. l,
"HC finally said" the affidavit reads. :
that he had business propositions to |
submit to me, and first Of all he 1
wished to know if l would consider c
Employment OF a secret service or mil :
tary nature that would guarantee me-
at least $1,000 month for years s
line, with all my expenses and spend I
ng money furnished, with the posi- 7
Dility of that amount being increased 6
1t least ten times for valuable, i'm 7
Jortant service if ] were able to per- /
form such service" I
Woodson replied that he would. .
and the man said he could guaran- a
zee employment, made satisfactory f
assurance the money would be paid .
md said that $1,000 would be paid :
n advance. II
More Jobs If Successful. is
He then suggested to me- says r
he statement, that perhaps the t
irst thing ! would be asked to do IN
would be to go to Rock Island ,and
become acquainted with the colored :
employees OF the United States arsenal :
md either be so located myself o: /,
axe the responsibility of SO locating !
some colored employe there who could
make sure the successful plan. of
planting an explosive in such way
IS to practically destroy the arsenal, !
He further stated that like employ
nent would be given in connection
with other plants If could. prove my.
self useful and able to carry out such
plans"
Then he asked what had TO say
about the acceptance of employment
under the terms and conditions
named and promptly told him =
would not consider such PROPOSE
lion. and that for no amount Of money
could | undertake any such ser.
vice. =. -
Says He Was RidicuIcd.
woodson said the man became
angry and began ridiculing him. say
ing, lit was very remarkable that q
man OF my color and race would be
SO foolish as to stand in the way OF
his own progress for country that I,
had treated him and HIS people as
the United States had" /,
Woodson said the man asked himl
to regard the matter az confidential
but he declined saving he would rel
lf:rI u al once 70 the authorities
sfie then Sfartad n, leave my nff.ea