The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-04
That Is Declaration State and
Federal Officials Make.
W. J. Duval Says /. w. w. and
Anarchists Are at Work.
TO INTERFERE WITH INDUSTRY
Labor AgitatOrs Are in Plot
Too, He Asserts.
Meeting Held Today With Hus-
sey and Mcbride.

Large quantities of dynamite and
other explosives are stored in Kansas
by I. W. w. members and labor dis
turbers and agitators. That is the
declaration of state and federal Off
cials in Topeka today, following a
conference in Kansas City, where the
serious phases of strikes and labor
troubles were given earnest considera-
tion.
william J. Duval, United States eX-
plosive inspector. today asserted that
a we'll defined plan is being worked
out by the /. w. w. and other anar-
chistic organizations to hamper INDUS
try and tie up the business actlVltles
of the country. Duval asserted that
the campaign against industrial ac-
tivity has extended to the point where
a wave of frightfulness was being un-
dertaken. He said large supplies of
explosives were illegally held in the
state AS proof of his assertion that
a general campaign of frightfulness
was to be undertaken, he pointed to
recent action of Kansas City street
car strikers
Kansas City Seat of Trouble?
Both federal and state departments
may soon be called upon to protect
property of industrial plants and pub
lie utilities This action will be de-
termined only by the extent to which
efforts will be made to extend to var
ious sections of this state the tie up
of industries which has been largely
successful thru prosecution OF the
Kansas City street railway strike.
with the cessation of actual fight
ing in Europe" said Duval. there is,
we believe a well defined plan on
the part of the l. w. w. and other
ana archistic forces to hamper industry
and to tie up the country"
a from
Kansas and Missouri which discussed
labor problems and the danger of an
attempted era of fr.ghtfulness and
unrest on the part of labor organiza-
tons and disturbing influences.
Check Up Explosives.
THE committee is determined that
the war measures with regard to the
possession and use of explosives shall
be lived up to-" said Duval. There
are quantities of explosives in storage
in Kansas held without government
authority. We propose to have these
checked up and the law enforced
There is q fine of $4,000 and one years
imprisonment for each offense. That
there is violation of the law Is plain
from recent street railway disturb
ances in Kansas City, where explosives
have been used to spread frightful-
ness"
An investigation is now under way,
il was asserted, and Investigators for
the government are working in a
number of cities State officials who
attended the Kansas City meeting and
discussed the situation with Duval
agreed te lend state aid in breaking
up organized effort that would tie up
business or endanger life or property.
State Officials at Conference.
Paul Mcbride, state labor commits
Sioner; L. T. Hussey, state fire mar
shal: and Imri Zumwalt of Bonner
Snriu.ys assistant fire marshal attend
ed the meeting on behalf of state de-
partments. F. f. Fedd, Fort Scott
coal operator and C. B. Spicer of
P.ttsburg, also attended the meeting.
Special efforts will be made to pro-
tect property against labor disturb
ances and violence in the mining dis
tricts and among employees of public
service corporations.