The Washington times., 1918-08-25
Episode No. 10.
The Menace of the I. w. w.

Episode No. 10.
The Menace of the I. w. w.
Since the attempt on the part o.
Imperial Germany to foment a strike
of the longshoremen on the Atlantic
and Pacific seacoasts as a means oi
preventing shipments OF supplies and
munitions to the allies, the Secret
Service had been continually on the
alert against other attempts to cause
trouble in various branches OF organ
ized labor. In this work the unions
of America had given more than a
hearty cooperation
Germany had made numerous at
tempts to create havoc in the Amer
lean manufacturing plants by using
various methods to entice working
men away from their daily tasks. In
many instances the old method of agi-
tation against conditions was tried.
Report anything which may cause
two or more workingmen to leave the
place where they are employed now"
was the request made by the Secret
Service.
Complaints against conditions
were usually proved groundless by
the Secret Service. The Hun in
spired stories Of dangers existing
through the handling OF various sub
stances were denied by authoritative
sources
Germany Apparently Ceases TO DC
moraIiEe American Labor.
Harrison Grant, president of the
Criminology Club, and Dixie Mason
the pretty little Secret Service opera
tive had often discussed reports OF
these activities OF German agents.
Won Bernstorn and his aides had
SoIIoved the traditional course in
each effort, using members OF the
K1iser'S spy army in America to %
the actual work Of enticement or IN
tin1idation- Then this department OF
activity against America by the
Huns suddenly stopped. Agents of
the Kaiser no longer sought MEM
berships in union, control OF LABOR
papers Was relinquished by DR.. Helm
rich Albert. the paymaster OF the
spv army, and IL seemed that GER
nany had admitted defeated through
the loyalty of the American work
ingman
But neither Grant nor Dixie was de-
ceived. Through the wireless In the
Criminology Club and through phono-
graphic attachments at other stations
helmstrasse and the imperial German
embassy in Washington were picked
out Of the air and later the secrets OF
the coded messages were deciphercn
Through these Grant and Dixie both
knew that Germany's demands for sue
cessfuI decentralization Of American
labor had become more and more in
sistent as efforts Of the spy army met
with failure after failure.
So no vigilance was relaxed. The
labor committees were warned against
falling into a false feeling Of security
because Of the apparent inactivity OF
imperial Germany. Many months Of
watchfuI waiting followed. and then
came the first rumblinEs Of a storm
which threatened the whole existence
Of labor, a storm which actually accom-
nIished the destruction OF millions Of
dollars worth OF wheat and other cereal
supplies.
II was the outbreak OF the Industrial
workers OF the World. an organization
which Is more readily recognized by its
inftials-L w. W.-formed originally |
by a cracked-brained. illogical theorist
TO aEitzte the doctrine that a worker is
entitled to the gross proceeds OF his
Ia Dor, and II attraced to its membership
radicals from all over the world. II
always proceeded on the lines OF an
a archisn-destruction TO anything which
tnpeded its progress. The cry OF higher
and better wages attracted a great
many vorIxinEmen when 1t was first in
troduced into this country. but they soon
dropped away.
Germany's New Plan for Labor Dis
organization.
Then the /. W. ". suddenly ar
ouired apparently unlimited money
from some source. Agitators from
focked TO its standards,
which was the surest sign that the
treasury was well filled. In every
way they played the part which I'm
perial Germany had attempted, but
had failed because OF the inability
Of the members of the spy army TO
inspire the confidence of the Amer.-
can workers
The I. W. W. was different in
method from the individual Hun ,
spjes. 1t held open its ranks to ,
workers. 1t exhibited a we'll filled .
reasury and offered good pay. Many
Of the lazier and reckless members S
~ the unions were induced to en- ,
roll. but in the main the American ]
recognized ii for its !
the I. W. W. was prepared for this
4 attitude on the part of the workers I
md took measures TO cocrce them.
Harrison Grant and Dixie Mason Z
we're in the vanguard OF the forces 6
which were detailed to resist the I
-eyItaIized I. W. W. Both had a WE'LL
sefinited theory as to where the un- J
expected wealth had come from,
= t,rnv- that in r1eetinR the R2ifa-l ,