The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-08-19
one! HUNDRED
!. v. LEADERS
FACE PRISON;
FOUND GUILTY
Defendant Include big Bill
Haywood; Maxim,lns PEN
atty ~ Years. $
ARGUMENTS FOR NEW
TRIAL MADE THIS WEEK
Federal Court jury Finds Yer
dict in Short Order; One
Hour Decides Fate.

Chicago, August 8. - One hundred
leaders of the Industrial Workers of
the World were found guilty as
charged in the indictment" by a jury
after one hours deliberation at their
trial for cons spiracy to disrupt the ma
tion,s war program late Saturday.
:Argumen for new trial will be
heard this week. .ssss ..:. sSs! :.: :t
The defendants, including William
10. s("Big Bill Haywood, general
secretary treasurer Of the ]. w. W.,
the highest position in the organiza-
tion, face maximum penalty Of
I stWenty-seven years in prison and a
$4,000 fine each. " "a s:.r =
Federal Judge K: M. Lands, in his
charge to the jury, withdrew the fifth
and last count Of the Indictment
which charged conspiracy to violate
the postal laws and particularly that
section excluding from the mails en-
terprises in the nature Of schemes to
defraud. 5=5.. 81 =.5.... ,.,
g The remaining four counts Of the
Z Indictment specifically charge viola
ton Of the Espionage, act, the section
sof. the criminal code prohibiting in
gterference with the civil rights of cit
Eizens; the selectiye service Land the
conspiracy statute. .s !. = p. .s:l-sss :-.ss
z57s5s Close is Sudden. ',ss5ss i Is
The close Of the ease, which has
been before the court for 1873 days,
was sudden. Two minor with nesses
testified at the. morning session and
following them, Frank K. Nebeker,
chief counsel for the government, be-
gan his closing argument for which
he was allowed two hours, but con-
sumed scarcely half of that time.
Then George Fl. Vanderveer, head Of
the defense legal staff, to the sur
prise of all in the court room, de-
clared that he would submit the case
to the jury without making a closing
statement j 49, 5s...z 5.5 - ?
In his closing argument, Attorney
Nebeker said: X. ~.
: ''.'.You have been engaged in one Of
the most epoch-making trials in the
history of the country. +, : !. =
.'The wisdom of the laws of this
country is not an issue. We obey the
decisions of the highest court and
that is the only way that a republic
can live. Anything that strikes at
that is a dangerous thing. ze:|
NV. w. Against Government.
"The wisdom Of the decisYAAns Of the
courts of this country is not: an is
sue. The industrial system is not on
trial. This case is not against any
interests Of honest workingmen, nor
against any patriotic labor organiza-
ton. And no effort is being made by
the government to justify mob vlo-
lence, the Bisbee deportation, or
: other lawless acts. ~~.,,
cat it's very start the I. W.. w.
struck at the foundations of our gov
ernment. Is it not peculiar that in
every state of the union these fell
slows gets into trouble? In a little
town an. ordinance is passed. They
come and violate it and say they are
going to violate it. ..s.
.'The documents by the defendants
themselves are enough to convict
them. When you consider the defini-
tions made by the witnesses on the
stand and compare them with what
they have written and the books they
authorized the case of the govern
ment is complete" $50.
Verdict In Hour. ~
After the instructions OF Judge
Landis, the jury retired at 4:1O p. M.
and just one hour later announced
that its verdict was ready. The court
was hastily assembled and the verdict
was read at 5:25 p. M, There was nc
. demonstration and the defendants
were returned to their cells after
Judge Lands had. announced that ne
would hear arguments for new trial
next week, the exact date to be set
later. So. o.
The I. w. w. trial began April L
and was one of the longest criminal
cases on record in this country. The
record contains 10000 typewriter
pages or 100000 words.
SENATE VIII AGAIN