The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-09-04
LANCER KEEPING
TAB ON W0BBLY
WORK IN STATE
Attorney Generals Secret Ser
vice Men Learn Secrets
of |. w. w.
DROUTH SAVED DAKOTANS
Revolution on Flickertail Farms
Had Been Planned by
Haywoodists
DROUTH SAVED DAKOTANS

In connection with the numerous
reports of IW.W. activities Attorney
eneral William LANCER over the tele-
phone admitted that he had a big
force Of men working for the past
month and a half securing evidence
and data on the organization efforts
Of the Wobblies.
II have spent upwards of $4,000
making Investigations. My operators
have discovered North Dakota to be
mighty lucky, for I. w. w. workers,
delegates and members have admitted
to my special agents that their plans
were to absolutely control affairs in
this state. If it had not been for the
short crop in the greater section of
North Dakota and the fact that thous-
ands of Montana farmers driven out
of their own homes by complete crop
failure and an unprecedented drouth,
came to North Dakota to secure work
and would not line up with the I.W.W.
the plans probably would have been
realized"
1t has been freely talked by the NV.
w. members that in Kansas seventy
cents an hour, board and room was
secured at the started Of threshing
work on farms and then demands
were made for $120 an hour and
board and room and it was paid.
Plans to make North Dakota farmers
pay $1.20 an hour and upwards for
threshing help have failed through
crop conditions and Montana drouth.
I.W.W. GETS GOOD WAGES
At one hearing during the past
week, an I.W.W. member declared on
crOss-examination II worked during
the war for $3.50 in a smelter, for a
ttn-hour day. Now I've been getting
GO cents an hour for an eight hour day
and board and room, which with over
time for about a twelve hour day
gives $7.20 day"
"Outside of the general statement
that you think the I.W.W. will better
your condition, what do you really
believe in the organization for?" he
was asked.
II don't know, I have read much
about it."
OF all men examined during recent
Investigations the big majority were
working prior to joining the I.W.W.,
and at a steady trade. Now idleness
is the main philosophy.
Investigations carried on by special
detectives who mingled with and fra
ternized with the I.W.W. in order to
secure evidence declare that the whole
plan of action. the main thought of the
genuine I.W.W. is to go out and work
ON a threshing crew with as many
members on it as possible and when
the time comes when they can't get
along without men strike and go off
and leave unless demands are met.
FORCED TO JOIN UNION
"At least 25 percent of the men who
have become members in North Da-
kota have been forced to take out
cards because of threats. Men work
ing on farms or threshing crews have
been threatened with death unless
tlley signed up. I have many state
ments to this effect In hundreds of
cases men who have been stealing
rides on trains have been made to
sign up under penalty of being hurled
cfr," said this investigator.
ENGINEER THREATENED
A striking example of the vindica-
tions of the I.W.W. organizer came
out at the trial of w. J. Hogan at
Lakota on Tuesday. Following Hog
ans arrest for the attempted murder
of Engineer William Reinsmith Hogan
declared to the Petersburg town mar
shall. IF they railroad me to the pen
for this, that engineer better hunt an
other job, because there are 25,O00 Of
us in North Dakota"