Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-02-28
Propaganda Rumors
In Jackson County
(Medford American.)


GUS fenoepost in the Applegate cour
try some days ago, but it is the onl
instance of that kind reported in thi
county, so far as this paper knows
However, they frequently hav
been found in sections of the stat
where Indolent Weary Wobblers ar
more numerous The last instance
reported comes in the Oregon Jour
nal as follows:
La Grande, Ore-Seth Lee ant
Alex Stevenson, alias Alex Ryan, are
being held in the city Jail here az
l. w. W. organizers awaiting instruc
tions from the federal authorities
The arrest of the two men came af.
ter one of them was seen to drop an
incendiart sticker bearing the date
May 1, 1918. In their room at the
Elite hotel, where they were arrest
ed, was found great quantities of l.
W. w. literature boldly advocating
arson, sabotage and even murder. It
is believed the industrialists are
flocking to eastern Oregon now in
preparation for the spreading of their
propaganda throughout the lumber
camps Lee and Stevenson had evil
IDENTIFY been working in Idaho before
coming to La Grande."
1t is believed that the only oppor-
tunity I. W. W. would have to make
labor trouble in this section of the
state would be where sawmills are
located; but they are a vicious lot
and are generally equipped for any
kind of murderous deviltry against
the government and those who are
active in its support in this war
emergency Most Of them are alien
enemies operating in the name of
l. w. W.
German agents, some of whom
were known as l. w. W., have been
under surveillance in this valley, and
particularly in the vicinity of the
Gold Hill lime quarry, for some time.
Recently 200 pounds of dynamite
were stolen from the state quarry at
that place. Action was at once TAX
en- to locate and identify the offend
er, with some success, although the
case is still under investigation.
Results Of investigations made in
and about Medford recently suggest
the necessity of the exercise of vigi-
lance on all sides This valley is Pc
culiarly situated midway between
two important points on the Pacific
coast. Dearth of opportunity for en-
emy devilment here has tended to
make Medford sort of rendezvous
for those temporarily out of COM
mission"
About six weeks ago two or three
characters under surveillance here
hurriedly departed, since which time
clandestine meetings at night have
apparently been less frequent; but
enough is known concerning the char
acter of "the remnant" here to war
rant the counsel that vigilance is alb
solutely essential.
1t is known that enemy aliens, en-
couraged and abetted by enemy citi-
zens, have a quasi organization here.
They know that 1t is known; so this
paper is violating no confidence to
tell the local public that such is the
case. The public, in fact, ought to
have more information than has been
given 1t on this subject in this COM
The fact that the MAY 1, 1915"
sticker has been found in this county
indicates that the enemy has ennis
saries here to whom incendiary liter
ature has been sent.
Since 1t is known that many cases
have been reported to the proper au-
thorities from this community and
that no action has so far been taken,
except In preliminary way, the peo-
Pile are preparing for an emergency.
In Portland they have the vigi-
antes, the $50 men" and other or
CARNATIONS by loyal citizens for the ;
protection Of life and property.
There is scarcely community of any
anywhere in the United
States that is not protected by one ]
Kind Of war organization or another, ;
except that Of Medford. We haven't
sven home guard to aid the sheriff
n case of sudden trouble. ;
However, committee composed Of
100 good men and true is perfecting
letails Of organization in this county {
and they belong In all sections Of
t. Already careful analysis has been t
made of local foodstuffs Of certain t
Iinds-especially those varieties pre-
Jared by local people known to be
residents. Other pre- g
autions are being taken. 7
Members of this committee pro- I
'ose to enforce decent respect for /
he American flag and every other /
american institution that enemy a
liens would desecrata and violate