Evening star., 1918-08-18
Review of |. W. w. Case,
Charges Brought and
ORGANIZATION Methods

The fate OF the syndicaltst move
ment in America, the government con-
tended. rested on the outcome OF the
trial of 101 leaders Of the Industrial
Workers of the World for conspiracy
to disrupt the nations war program.
which began April before Judge
Keneshaw Mountain Landis in Chi
cago. -.4-,
The Indictment against 1s5 men and
one woman. Elizabeth Guriey Flynn.
returned oy the September, 1917.
grand jury. charged the practice of
sabotage. including the slowing down
of production and the wantens spoiI-
age OF material. propagaxdA q tor
strikes to delay the OUTPUT OF war
munitions and covert intrigue against
Forty of the indicted leaders, sefis-
ing the governments Intentions after
the sensational nationwide raid and
confiscation of records on September
5. preceding the Indictment. ned from
escaped capture Miss Flynn and two
other defendants were granted sepa-
rate trials, and the charges against a
number Of others were dismissed for
lack Of evidence. 80 !
The i've counts in the Indictment
espionage act. the section of the
criminal code prohibiting interfer-
ence with the civil rights Of citizens,
the selective service act, the con-
spiracy statute and the postal laws.
The maximum penalty for conviction
in prison and $4,000 fine.
From the nrst day. when the group
OF defendants, some wearing long
boards. the flowing tie Of the poet or
sporting fancy waistcoats. hled into
court under heavy guard, until nnal
laid special stress on the contention
that he L w. W. had no interest
whatever in the war.
Our social system Is on trial. ss-
serted George F. Vanderveer. chief
counsel for the defense. 'sThe L W. W.
betterment. of social conditions. This
aim is sought by Industrial inetead
Of political methods"
Worked in All Parts Of America.
From an corners Of Amer4ca the
government summoned witnesses tn
substantiats charges that the I: W.
W. created reign OF terror IN every
section where the Organization boast
ed strength, that the members we're
under pledge to wreck industries
through the practice Of sabotage, that
the established laws were overridden
and that after America began war on
Germany a general conspiracy to up-
set the country's war plans was en-
tered into.
THE !. W. W. was in fact, a gov
ernment within a government. and
was ruled over by its swfyel-chair
king, William D. Haywood. general
secretary-treasurer." said Frank K.
Nebeker, chief prosecutor. in address
ing the jury. =.
'The L W. W. rcd nag Of Industrial
freedom Is only mask for the red
nag Of lawlessness. Their own mern-
bers have testified that the orEani-
zation's policy is to continue warfnx
war on Industries until the employ
ers throw up their arms in despair.
Then will the L W. W. rise nm a.
cording to their plans as outlined by
witnesses. take possession of the
earth and its machinery and there.
after rule the world"
With witnesses and correspondents
Mr.. Nebeker sought to show fhat dur
ing the early months Of the war Hsy,
wood and other leaders directed a
campaign against the selective sery-
Ice act and other war measures from
the Chicago general headquarters.
Specific Aims Of sabotaee,
SpeclaI attentton was given thA sub.
1ect Of sabotage. or direct action. and
for nearly a month Claude r, Porter.
special prosecutor, and Mr.. Nebeker
read into the records I. W. W. print
ed matter and correspondence for fba
suidance OF all workers. from the
humblest servant to the plant super
intendent. Included in this rreat
mass Of evidence were Instruction.
for bringing about railroad Gomez
tion by the missendfng of frefEht the
wrecking Of sawmills by 'driyinr
spikes in timbers, the Destruction AZ
fruit orchards by placing copper faeka
in the trees and the spoilage Of rain
by stacking shocks upside down.
Gardens in some districts were plant
ed so that the foliage formed the de-
sign T w. W."
Many of the 14s witnesses caIled ~
the government. some Of them fornaer
I. w. W. members, told of ssHf.JacE >
or strong-arm methods Of the Or.
ganization. which included the fnfi-
midation of authorities in small COM
munities. Sheriffs and police CHIEFS
were locked In their own fails I'm
some instances for opposing swobbys'
armies or falling to make proper pro
vision for their care, It was testified.
Non-Members Get Rough Treatment
-Hi-Jack- tactics also ware used 10
(Couttuuod on Tonfh PaEol