Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-09-12
GOVERNMENT TIGHTENs RElNs.
VIII Endeavor to Put Sudden Stop bo
DlslOyal Activities.

4
| tivities conducted In the namo OF I,
Industrial Workers of the World, n
Socialist party and other organiYa
tions throughout the United Stale
On orders from Attorney Gouera
Gregory, United States marsha(s j
many towns and cities descend
upon local headquarters OF the Tltlu,
trial Workers Of the World, SET
| books, checks, correspondence 81.
other documents and in some tf
stances arrested officials found upD
the premises.
In Chicago Federal agents to-
possession Of the national headuu
ters Of the Socialist party and a ~.
rant authorizing the seizure OF
documents was served upon rs co.. -
sel
Grand Jury Investigating.
The seizure of documents was
ried out in accordance with pD,
perfected here by VIM. G. Fits,
| sistant Attorney General. The e.
partmep. of Justice announced {
the seizure Of papers was made
| connection with n Federal grand J .
| investigation Of the Industrial VIZ
ers Of the World now proceeding 1t
Chicago.
The departments action VAS tay
on the eve of report to Preaidna
Wilson by Chief Justice Covinet
Of the Supreme Court of the Dist
OF Columbia, who was designated
Gently by the President to invcstig
the labor situation in the West.
Whether the concerted action
marshals throughout the country -.
in any way related to Judge Coyia;,
tons inspection was not disclosed. .
| is known. however, that Judge e ;
ington made special study oe d.
activities of the Industrial WORK
of the World. 1t was shortly af ,
he reached the Northwest chat
leaders of the organization Were n
rested by Idaho National Guardsr
the day before the time set for =.
eral strike In Washington, Greg.
Montana and Idaho.
Charges Not Made Public.
The charges against leaders OF e.
organization under arrest, or VIII
arrest is contemplated, were no
made public here. 1t was said az lGt
Department of Justice that th .
| would ha. % ne determined ~ -
grand iD'y Investigating the oret,i
| .1.aoNon .ssy, 3tsyis.
0iNcials also declined to lats 4
Mo.ctreatg had been round y Etan,
juries In Chicago or elsewher
against Industrial Workers Of tn
World leaders. 1t was intimated
however, that the investigation ha,
only begun. Indications are tha
Federal grand juries in other citie
will be called upon.
For many weeks past scores O
field workers Of the departments bu
reau Of investigation have devoted
their undivided attention to allege,
attempts on the part Of l. w. w. lead
ers to embarrass the government II
the conduct of the war by strikes an,
other disturbances called in the nam
of labor.
nf M outo -
been received by the department II
| connection with the organization
activities. Recently it was charged
that included In the ranks OF the In
dustrial Workers Of the World wer,
many Austrians who have been act
i've in stirring up strife intended t,
hamper American industries, doin,
work handled by Germans before tn,
United States declared a state OF wa
existing with Germany.
Couldn't Trace Money.
Continued Investigation has failed
1t is understood, to connect these &C
tivities' with German money. Man.
instances of suspicious nature II
connection with alleged labor trou
bles, however, have been inyesti
gated.
AS result of the countrywide sci
zure Of the organizations papers tn,
Department Of Justice tonight find
itself in possession of documents b,
the thousands. many of which will b,
submitted to grand juries as the basi
Of an investiga ton sto determin,
whether leaders can be prosecuted.
Prosecutions may be begun unde
several laws. chiefly the espionag,
act, covering the u:terance Of trea
sonable and seditious statemants