New-York tribune., 1919-11-15
Former Soldiers Mobilize
When 1000 to 1000
Are Reported on Way
From Montana to Coast
Nearly 200 Reds
Are Under Arrest
One Taken ON Evidence
That German Soviet Is
About To Be Organized

SPOKANE, Wash, Nov. IA
Members Of the American Legion
here were being sworn in as special
policemen this evening to meet what
was declared to DC IN invasion OF
one thousand to two thousand mem
bers Of the I. w. W. due to arrive
tonight from Montana and other
parts Of the Northwest.
Arrangements were in progress
with officers at Fort George Wright
here for arms and ammunition for
the American Legion deputy sheriffs
who were to be held in readiness for
immediate action.
With the approya! OF State Adjutant
General Moses orders FOR the mobiliza-
tion Of the two companies OF the Ma
tional Guardsmen were issued tonight
by Major Thomas G. Aston.
All I. w. ". suspects are 10 be ar
rested. according to an agreement
reached at 2 conference here ate TO-
day between Comm issicner Ti'sley, o.
the Department of Public Safety; CHIEF
OF Police YER, Sheriff Reid aud other
of1lcers and representatives Of the
American Legion
I. W, w. Leaving Lumber Camps
OHcers OF the American Legion told
the officials they had received what
tney considered authentic reports that
l. !" ". are en- route here. All in
coming trains. they said, are loaded
with members Of the Organization, and
reports nave been received from ium-
Der camps that !. ". " are leaving
their jobs to go to Spokane
Despite efforts to discount reports
of the invasion, officers of the legion
maintained stoutly their information
was from reliable sources.
The city jail IS flied. 1t was said. but
Sheriff Reid s. id ne cou care for ITO
additional prisoners in the county jail.
All arrested men would he heid, it was
declared.
Nine Spokane members OF ths
American Legion were threatened With
the fate of former soldiers killed at
Centralia Tuesday, n Il letter received
ct tha local headquarters OF the Legion
to-day through the H,ali
The letter, purporting 20 be signed
by an I. W. W. Official, was type
written, the letter head torn off. 1t
was mailed here yesterday.
The letter said, in part: +
For the last Two or three months
the Spokane chapter OF the /. w. W.
has been wataching the activities OF
several leaders OF the American Le-
gion. You have taken an open stand
against the |. ". ". Allow me to
state at this time that the American
Legion in Spokane IS doomed ard will
be curbed by the working classes.
!, &ol
write you at this time. notifying you
that unless the following men dihcon-
tinue to create hatred against the |.
". W. of Spokane they will follow in
the footsteps Of the marked ones at
Centcalia."
The Nine Are Named
Then followed the names of the
marked men: Frank Mckevitt, Lester
Mallette, Frank O'Leary, Hcnry Wise,
Ralph Gordon. Russell Alexander. H. F..
I. Homan, James Abb and Harold Pitts.
Seven of the nine are overseas vet
Grams.
1t included a new booklet by James
Rowan, former national secretary of
the l. ". " Timber Workers Union,
who is at liberty on bond following
cases.
What the police believe was the
beginning of : German 4oviet was dis
covered, they declare, in the arrest OF
{. X. Ora I. Quasi is held for fur
ther investigation.
Orders forbiddins workers meet
>es.' called Tor Saturday and Sunday
evenings at Turner Hall were sent di-
rectors of the German Turnyerein to-
day by Commissioner J. A. Tilsley, OF
the Department OF Public Safety, who
warned them that criminal actions
would be brought unless meetings Of
J. ". Y. and kindred organizations
we're barred from the hall.
Fiftytwo alleged |. w W. arrested
II raids yesterday were convicted in
police court this afternoon on city
charges of criminal syndicalism Each
was sentenced to thirty days in jail
and fined 500 They appeared without
attorneys and conducted d silent de-
fense."
The DO ice seized nearly a ton of rad
iical literature during the day.
Nearly 200 men, suspected of being
members of the /. ". W, we're held in
jails in various cities and towns in the
\ o,t to-day