The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-22
TRIAL Of 1855 |.W ".
MEMBERS COM|NG
'C[OSE IN CHICAGO
by The Associated Press).

| SyndlcaliSt movement In America, the
| government contended. rested on the
outcome of the trial of 1o1 leaders of
+. the Industrial Workers of the World
| for conspiracy to disrupt the nations
war program, which began in federal
court here on April / before Judge
| Keheshaw Mountain Lands.
The indictment against les men and
| one woman, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
returned by the September. 1917,
grand jury, charged the practice of
sabotage, including the slowing down
of production and the wanton spoil
age of material, propaganda for
strikes to delay the output of war
munitions and cover intrigue against
military service.
Forty of the indicted leaders, sens
ing the governments intentions after
| the sensational nationwide raid and
confiscation of records on September
| 5, preceding the indictment, fled from
| the country or went into hiding and
escaped capture. Miss Flynn and two
other defendants were granted separ-
ate trials and the charges against
number of others were dismissed for
| lack of evidence.
The five counts in the indictment
specifically charged violation of the
espionage act, the section of the crimi-
nal code prohibiting interference with
the civil rights of citizens, the selec-
tive service act, the conspiracy
statute and the postal laws. The
| maximum penalty for conviction on
all five counts is 81 years in prison
and $4,000 fine.
From the first day, when the group
of defendants, some wearing long
dc he. inc 10 of he aY
sporting fancy waistcoats, filed into
curt under heavy guard. until fina!
| umming up to the jury, the defense
| laid special stress on the contention
that the l. w. w. had no interest
whatever in the war.
Our social system is on trial." as
serted George F. Vanderveer, chief
counsel for the defense. THE /. w.
w. is concerned wholly in one aim
the betterment Of social conditions
This aim is sought by industrial in
stead of political methods"
| From all corners of America the
government summoned witnesses to
substantiate charges that the /. w. w.
| created a reign of terror in every Sec
ton where the organization boosted
strength, that the members were I'M
| der pledge to wreck industries through
| the practice of sabotage, that the es-
| tablished laws were over-riden and
/ that after America began war on Ger
| many a general conspiracy to upset
| the country's war plans was entered
into.
1.-The I. w. w. was in fact a gov
eminent within a government and rul-
| ed over by its swivel-chair king, VIM.
D. Haywood, general secretary-trea-
surer," said Frank K. Nebeger, chief
prosecutor, in addressing the jury.
The L W. w. red flag of Industrial
freedom is only a mask for the red
flag of lawlessness. Their own mem
bers have testified that the organiza-
tons policy is to continue waging war
on industries until the employers
throw up their arms In despair. Then
will the I. w. w. rise up. according
to their plans as outlined by witnesses.
take possession of the earth and it's
machinery and thereafter rule the en-
tire world
With witnesses and correspondents
Mr.. Nebeker sought to show that dur
| ing the early months of the war Hay
wood and other leaders directed a
campaign against the selective service
act and other war measures from the
| Chicago general headquarters.
Special attention was given the sub
| ject Of sabotage, or direct action, and
| for nearly month Claude r. Porter,
| special prosecutor. ana Mr.. Nebeker
| read into the records /. w. W. printed
| matter and correspondence for the
guidance Of all workers from the
| humblest Servant to the plant superin-
tendent. Included IN this great mass
of evidence were instructions for
| bringing about railroad congestion by
| the mis-sending Of freight, the wreck
ing Of saw mills by driving spikes In
timbers, the distinctions of fruit or
chards by placing copper tacks in the
trees and the spoilage of grain by
stacking shocks upside down Gar
dens in some districts were planted
so that the foliage formed the design
"I. w. w"
Many of the 14s witnesses called by
| the government, some of them former
| /. w. w. members. told of "Hi-Jack. !"
or strong arm methods of the organ
ization. which included the intimida-
| ton of authorities in small communf-
| ties. Sheriffs and police chiefs were
/ locked in their own jails in some in
stances for opposing 'wobbly" armies
or failing TO make proper provision
for their care. 1t was testified
"Hi-JaclI' tactics also were used I,
increase membership. according to tes-
timony "Scissors-Biils." or nom
! members, were thrown from trains.
locked in sheds and in one California
fruit district We're stripped of their
clothing. tied over barrels. placed in
a small stream OF cold water and beat
en- with barrel slaves until they con-
scented to become members. ii WIS
testified.
Tn nd rfh hal ff1a- ~.
Tense replied that the Organization
was not responsible for the acts of
individual members, that violence was
never advocated by Haywood Vincent
st. John. his predecessor in office
and other unenhers Of the exac,,ti.-a