Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-20
'MR. WATSON SAYS
| j. S. EMPLOYS REDS
Senator Claims Workers of
Trade Commission Include
Certain Radicals.
ASKS FOR INVESTIGATION

HOMO run INvCS IOH ] ION
Sensational charges that socialists,
reds and other radicals are "intrench-
ed in the government departments.
and particularly that the investigat-
mission contain men hostile to the
government and American institutions,
were made in the Senate today by
Senator Watson, republican, Indiana.
who introduced resolution for an
investigation by the interstate COM
merce committee.
Disclaiming any defense of the great
meat packers. Senator Watson declared
that the open records of some of the
commissions employees on that inves-
tigation showed them to be, respective
ly, outSpoken anarchists, participants
in red paradeS. pro-GermanS, admirers
of Lenin and Trotsky and avowed eX-
ponentS of soviet government.
Claims Woman Was Anarchist.
''My information" said Senator Wat
son, rs that a Mrs. Baldwin. an ac-
countant at headquarters of the trade
commission in Chicago, was an anar-
chist of the most pronounced type.
When the bomb was exploded at the
conclusion of the l. W. w. trials be-
fore Judge Lands. she exclaimed, in
the presence of her co-employes: 1t
serves them right A number of lives
were lost in that outrage.
When an anarchist parade was held
in Chicago after the signing of the
armistice. Chase. Kravitz, Sorber and
Kemper marched wearing red neck
ties and waving red flags until they
were taken in custody by the authori-
ties. Tucker. telephoning from the
offices of the trade commission, de-
manded of the Department of Justice
the return Of the captured red flags.
This shows the company in which
some employees of the commission were
found in Chicago"
ENTITLED to Fair Treatment"
What 1 say is in nowise a defense
of the packers" said Senator Watson.
IF they are guilty they should receive
the punishment they deserve But no
matter what business is subject to
investigation by the Federal Trade
Commission, it is entitled to fair and
decent treatment Men sent out by
the commission should be investiga-
3.
The Chicago office OF the Federal
Trade Commission. during the period
OF this investigation. was a center of
sedftion and anarchy-a nesting place
for socialists. who, while investigat-
ing business with a view to eradi-
eating its evil features. constantly
plotted for the destruction Of the
tigate and for the confscation and
collective ownership of all the means
for the creation and distribution OF
wealth.
Senator Makes Charges.
Raphael Mallen. statistician. Sen
ator Watson charged. was a former
preacher, ousted from his church for
socialistic tendencies. and also had
1917 as a conscientious objector."
He frequently waved a red flag
at the meetings of his co-employes
Of the Federal Trade Commission"
declared the senator, "and always
carried the red emblem in his pock-
bad been raided. He stored his social
istic writings in Chase's Office, and
boosted that the packages holding
them contained government dyna-
mite"
R. N. Buck, credited in the commits
sfon's report with valuable assist
ance," Senator Watson charged, was
the author of attacks on the rights of
property and American institutions.
and Basil Manly. who assisted in the
investigations, the senator described
as one who was a member of the
Fabian Club and conferee with other
socialists at Chase's office.
Johann G. Ohsol, credited in the
commissions report with important
aid" Senator Watson charged. was a
member of the Russian duma, exiled
to Siberia. from which he escaped,
and a pronounced socialist OF the most
virulent type. who never failed to ex-
press the greatest admiration for
Lenin and Trotsky."
Organizer of Propaganda.
Martin L. Sorber. another employee.
the senator charged, was "a friend
and admirer of Berger and Tucker
and an organizer of radical propa-
ganda. Sorber. Senator Watson also
charged, while on the pay roll of
Tucker. also was employed by the
Daniel A. Kemper. another en-
ploye. Mr.. Watson declared. was open
and avowed in his seditious utter
ances and always active in scattering.
socialistic propaganda"
Earl S. Haines, another employe
Iol iuipoI dlu SeNd-
tor Watson said, Openly asserted
that the soviet government of Rus
STA was the greatest government in
the world and that he would never
be satisfied until we had one like it
in America"
Gives Chase's Record.
OF Stuart Chase, who had general
charge of the investigation of the
industry, Senator Wat
son charged, that besides being a well
known exponent of socialistic doc
trineS. Chase was president and or
ganizer of the Fabian Club of Chi
cago, "a society founded for the ex-
press purpose of furthering the doc
trines of socialism"
Grouped about him in his Offices a.
Federal Trade Commission headquar-
ters." declared the senator. were Vic
tor Berger, Irwin st. John Tucker and
many other extreme socialists. His of
fee became the rendezvous of men
devoted to the destruction of prop
and consummation of the ideals of
socialism"
Chase. Senator Watson further
charged, helped organize a Chicago
meeting, at which Berger and other
radicals made inf1ammatory speech
es," and also organized a meeting at
which Lincoln Steffens spoke.
Calls Steffens an Anarchist.
"That anarchist" said Senator Wat
son. referring to Steffens. had just
returned from Russia, and his ad-