The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-18
ONE HUNDRED I. w. w.
CONVICTED AT CHICAGO
CONTINUED from page u

ditions. This aim is sought by in
dustrial instead of political meth
DDS"
Many Witnesses
From all corners of America the
government summoned witnesses to
substantiate charges that the |. W..
w. created a reign Of terror in ev-
cry section where the organization
boasted strength, that the members
were under pledge to wreck indus
tries through the practice of sabot-
age, that the established laws We're
over-ridden and that after America
began war on Germany a general
conspiracy to upset the countrys
war plans was entered into.
"The |. w. w. was in fact gov
ernment within government and
was ruled over by its swivel-chair
king, William ID. Haywood, general
cretary-treasurer," said Frank *.
Nebeker, chief prosecutor, in ad-
dressing the jury.
The |. w. w. red flag of indus
trial freedom is only mask for the
red flag of lawlessness. Their own
members have testified that the or
ganization's policy is to continue
waging war on industries until the
employers throw up their arms in
despair. Then will the |. w. W.
rise up, according TO their plans as
outlined by witnesses, take posses
sion OF the earth and its machinery
and thereafter rule the world"
With witnesses and correspond
ents Mr.. Nebeker sought to show
that during the early months of the
war Haywood and other leaders di-
rected campaign against the Sc
lective service act and other war
measures from the Chicago general
headquarters.
Special attention was given the
subject of sabotage, or direct action,
and for nearly month Claude R-
Porter. special prosecutor, and Mr..
Nebekcr read into the records |. w.
w. printed matter and correspond
ence for the guidance of all workers,
from the humblest servant to the
plant superintendent. Included in
this great mass of evidence were in
structons for bringing about rail-
road congestion by the missending
of freight, the wrecking of saw mills
by driving spikes in timbers, the de-
struction of fruit orchards by plac-
ing copper tacks in the trees and the
spoilage of grain by stacking shocks
upside down. Gardens in some dis
tricts were planted SO that the fol-
iage formed the design 81. w. W.
Alleged Strong Arm Methods.
Many of the l46 witnesses called
by the government, some of them
former |. w. w. members, told of
or strongarm methods
Of the organization, which included
the intimidation of authorities in
small communities. Sheriffs and
police chiefs were locked in their
own jails in some instances for op-
posing "wobbly" armies or failing
to make proper provisions for their
care, it was testified.
"Hi-Jack" tactics also were used
o increase membership. according to
testimony. "Sissors-Bills," or nom
were thrown from trains,
ocked in sheds and in one California
fruit district were stripped of their
tied over barrels, placed
n small stream of cold water and
beaten with barrel slaves until they
to become members, it
vas testified.
To this and other testimony the
lefense replied that the organization
Vas not responsible for the acts Of
Individual members, that violence
vas never advocated by Haywood,
Vincent ST. John, his predecessor in
office, and the members of the exc
,utive board.
IF you were buying some silk
rom a drygoods clerk who hap
'ened to be an |. w. W." said Mr..
Vandeveer in speaking to the jury
IN sabotage, would that clerk be
loing you and the public in general
wrong to inform you that his en-
'loyer had mixed ground metal into
he silk to give it more weight? To
% inform you is practicing sabotage
gainst the employer. Yet it is aid
ng humanity"
Some OF the score or more defense
witnesses testified that while the |, n
n. w. was strongly opposed to the
lratt act they did not enter into 4
to oppose it, and that
trikes about the country were in
ended only to improve working con-
itions and had no bearing on the
var.
Judge Lands permitted defend
nts to deliver from the witness
tand speeches they made from soap
'oxes and other improvised plat
orms during the early weeks of the
'ar. ]. 7. ("Third- Rail Red') Do
an, one of the leaders on the West
rn coast, made an impassioned ad-
ress which continued four hours.
The prosecution concluded its
ase on June Fl.
II Was the Truth