The sun., 1918-09-06
WILSON ORDERS
ANINQUIRY INTO
STACKER RAIDS
Demands Gregory Explain
at Once What One Sena-
at0r Calls Terrorism.
DENUNCIATION GENERAL
=
Senate Resolution Seeks to
Place Responsibility for Use
Of Soldiers and Sailors.
Special DesposcA TO TuE suy.

WASHINGTON, Sept 5.-President Will
son set on foot to-day a personal in
ouiry into the circumstances surround
ing the Stacker raids In New York city
snd the wholesale arrests made in con-
nection with the dragnet tactics Of the
Department of Justice and Government
agents.
Stirred by complaints from many
sources, some OF them from Senators,
the President late to-day sent a letter
TO Attorney-General Gregory in which
he asked the latter to submit to him
at once all the facts in connection with
the raids and the reasons impelling the
instigation of such procedure as the
wholesale arrest and detention OF citi
zens.
In q statement issued tonight by the
Department of Justice 1t was announced
that John Lord OBryan would go to
New York tomorrow to institute an In
vestigation as to whether or not agents
Of the Government had exceeded their
authority in making the raids. Attention
was called to the fact that the Depart
ment Of Justice, cooperating with the Pro-
vost Marshal General, had run down
1,S00 slackers since the raids in and
Cbout New York were begun and brought
many more individuals in touch with
their draft boards, to the number Of
$4,000.
1t was admitted that full responsible
lty for the raids was assumed BY A.
Bruce BielasRl. Chief of the Department
Of Investigation. 1t was asserted also
sthat the Proves. Marshal Generals Of
fee was working with the department in
these raids.
Denunciatlon Is General.
Not since the war began has any act
OF the authorities in connection there
with provoked such a violent reaction
rs was seen here to-day in many
auarters Not alone In the Senate where
the storm broke Immediately upon the
assembling OF the Senators, but in Of
fetal quarters generally the action Of
the authorities in New York was criti-
eised even to the point Of denunciation
That a blunder had been made. which
was to say the least unfortunate at
this time, seemed to be the general
conviction. The question at once heard
everywhere was, Who was reeponsible?"
Apparently the President had no
previous knowledge that any such tao
tics had been planned by any OF his
executive officers. His action in request
ing the Attorney-General to submit to
him the facts at once is taken to mean
that there will be no more raids of this
Wholesale description for the time being
or at least until the Attorney General
shall have convinced the President that
such tactics were justified. 1t is the
General impression here that IL the facts
are as reported in the newspapers the
President will not give his approval to
any resumption of the raids.
In the senate the raids led TO an
outburst such as has seldom been wit
messed. in the course Of which the ac-
zion of the authorities was likened by
senator Hiram Johnson to the whole
sale arrests OF suspects In the French
Reign of Terror"
Democratic Senator's Joined with the
Republicans in expressing violent dis
annroyaL The upshot of the debate was
resolution offered by Senator Smoot
directing the Military Affairs Committee
70 begin an immediate investigation with
a view to determining the responsibility
for the raids.
Crowder Denies Responsibility.
On obiection OF Senator Kirby (Ark.
the resolution went over until to-mor'
row. The Smoot resolution reads:
Whereas the daily papers have re-
ported the seizure of or arrest and
temporary Incarceration OF many thou
sand citizens. particularly in the state
of New York and, whereas, such re-
ports Indicate that in the so-called
roundup" sailors and soldiers In the
uniform OF the United States partici-
pated therefore be 1t
Resolved, That the Committee on
Military Affairs be directed immedi-
ately to investigate and report upon
such alleged occurrences and as to
who was or is responsible, If any one,
for the presence of such sailors and
sofdiers- or either in such so-called
roundup" or arrest. and who, II any
one. issued orders, II any, resulting in
the presence Of such soldiers and
..silors and their participation In the
said occurrences IL they were so pres
ent and did so participate.
The Senate nared up when Chairman
Chamberlain read into the record an edi
,torial from a New York morning news
naner criticising the 'omnium gath
srum" of alleged or suspected slackers.
Ell that paper were not the friend an,
Costinusd oa FIN Pa0s