The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-19
TIE I.W. W. VERDICT.


So prolonged has been the trial OF the
100 !. w. W. leaders at Chicago, and so in
voIved and tiresome has been the testimony
that the average citizen has not attempted
to follow the cases closely, and since the
opening days of the trial the press assocla-
tions have discontinued sending detailed
reports Of the trial.
The verdict of guilty on all four counts
against the prisoners, returned Saturday
therefore leaves rather hazy impression
of lust what has been established by the
case.
The trial began on April 1 before Judge
Kenesaw Lands, one Of the most pietur'
esque figures, and one of the most able Jur'
lists in America. More than month was
occupied in drawing jury.
The complete inside history Of the or
ganization has been presented in the evil
dence, and the government has sought to
show-and the verdict shows it succeeded
and that the, entire purpose Of the organ
ization was to destroy what are popularity
known as "American institutions
There were, originally five counts against
the prisoners, but the fifth Of these was
dismissed on motion of the prosecutor
The other four accused them Of forclble
hindrance Of the execution Of a long list OF
federal laws; hir1dering the furnishing OF
certain war materials and transportation !;
attempting to induce 10000 draft eligibles
to resist conscription and 5000 drafted men
to desert and obstruction Of recruiting and
enlistment Conspiracy to commit these
offenses was alleged in each case.
Attempts have been made of late by the
so-calIed intellectual" of America, to
create sympathy for the I. w. w. on the
ground that the members are the neglect
ed childhood of industrial America
On the other hand the strength of the
organization has been most grossly exag-
gerated, and it has been viewed with too
great alarm by certain nervous possessors
of more money than is good for them.
The |. w. W. are simply and purely the
American Bolsheviki. Their Preamble
setting forth the principles Of the Organiza-
tion, is said to have been adopted without
change by the Russian Soviet leaders. 1t
sets forth the one great principle Of class
war. 1t declares for an UncOmpromising
struggle between the working and the en-
pIoying classes, (which must go on until
the workers of the world organize as a
class, take possession of the earth and the
machinery of production, and abolish the
wage system y.
That is but another way Of putting the
Bolshevik dream Of universal proletariat
rule, with all national boundaries abol-
ished.
The movement inAAmerica has achieved
but insignificant OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
noisy it's leaders may be-beeause America
offers no such breeding ground as did Rus
sia. It is significant that the movement
is strongest in those industries where the
employers have resisted trade unions. The
organization can thrive only where indus
trial oppression exists. The way to kill it,
is to remove the industrial oppression.
But the cure of industrial oppression
does not lie IN the overthrow of democracy
and the substitution of reign Of terror by
the classes Of society that arc lowest in the
scale mentally and the most poorly equip
ped to rule Russia has experienced that.
That is a reaction from democracy. The
cure Iies'in more democracy and America
has made giant strides toward that goal in
the last Is months. The verdict at Chi
cago is evidence that the government Of the
United States,and the courts of justice will
not tolerate blow struck at all we have
won since the American Revolution by a
handful Of noisy agitators who are impa-
tient to seize power they are totally I'M
fitted to WELD.
+. The yerdictis not persecution Of down
trodden class It is notice to an impatient
and helligerent handful of citizens that
they must live according to present laws of
society while sane and studied efforts are
being made to remove what causes of COM
plant they may have. It is notice that our
industrial system will be reformed by evo-
LUTON, not by revolution.