Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-10-21
INVESTIGATION
|SPR0P0SEDOF
INVESTIGATORS
Watson Cites Long List
of Radicals and Social
lists Intrenched.
CHARGES REPORTS ARE
SHADED TO PROPAGANDA

Washington, Oct. 20.-Sensa.
tional charges that socialists
Reds and other radicals are "in-
trenched" in the government
departments and particularly
that the investigating forces Of
the federal trade commission
contain men hostile to the gov
ernment and American institu-
tions, were made in the senate
today by Senator Watson, re-
publican, Ind, who introduced
a resolution for an investigation
by the interstate commerce COM
mittee.
Murdock Urges Action.
The senate referred the reso-
luton to a committee and acting
Chairman Murdock, of the COM
mission, issued a statement, de-
claring that if Senator Watson's
resolution would be joined with
one recently introduced by SEN
ator Sherman, republican, Hi
nois, charging the commission
with conspiracy and both could
be investigated at the same time,
'it would be decidedly in the
public interest"
Disclaiming that he spoke in defense
of the meat packers, who, he declared.
charges made against them, Senator
Watson told the senate his contention
was that American business should not
be investigated by men who avoW q
determination to destroy it and that the
government should not pc represented
by those who preach a declaration of its
overthrow.
Declaring that the Chicago officers
Of the trade commission. from the
packers investigation was conducted.
were "a center of sedition and anarchy.
and fit place for socialists Senator
Watson went through the list Of men
employed by the commission in the in
vestigation and charged various ones
with being pro-German. anti-ally ad-
mrers of Ienine and Trotzky advocates
of soviet form of government parti-
cipants in red demonstrations and
parades and disseminators Of socialistic
! propaganda.
u. S. Office Red Rendezvous.
Stuart Chase, who had general charge
Of the packers investigation, Senator
Watson charged, besides being a we'll
known exponent of socialist doctrine.
was president and organizer of the
Fabian club, of Chicago, "a society
founded for the express purpose Of fur
thering the doctrines Of socialism
Grouped about him in his office at
Federal Trade commission headguart-
ers' declared Senator Watson, were
Victor Berger, Irwin st. John Tucker
and many other extreme socialists. His
office became the rendezvous of men de-
voted to the destruction of property and
the overthrow of government
Friendly With Lenine Crowd.
Chase, Senator Watson further
charged. helped organize Chicago
meeting at which Berger and other radi-
Gals made inflamatory speeches and al
50 organized meeting at which Lincoln
Steffens spoke.
THAT anarchist" said Senator Wat
son, referring to Steffens. had just re-
turned from Russia and his address was
TO aid in the recognition of Lenine and
Irotzky by our government"
chase later wrote magazine article,
Senator Watson said, assailing the
United States government for not ''re-
organizing the Russian Reds
On Chase's specific Instructions
Senator Watson further charged the
commission accountants inflated the
showing of profits of the packing COM
panies.
Confiscator One Investigators
Samuel w. TAFT. who with Chase had
general charge of the investigation,
Senator Watson charged, was an
avowed admirer" of Lenine and Trotzky
and frequently expressed his admira-
ton or the soviet government Of Rus
sia. lie was pronouncedIy against the
allies in the world war; continued the
senator, and frequently made the state
ment that all big business should be con-
fiscated by the government"
A. >. krayitz, credited in the com
missions report with important aid in
the investigation Senator Watson
charged, was Russian from Riga, an
intellectual socialist Of the most pro-
nounced type and throughout the war
intensely pro-German."
Red Flag at U. S. Meetings.
''He has always expressed himself as
an ardent admirer Of Lenine and
Continued on Page Two)