The sun., 1919-02-25
"a REDS HELD IN
ANTT-WILSON PLOT
Evidence Sought to Convict
Anarchists Arrested Here
and in Philadelphia.
SECRET SERVICE ACTIVE
Tracing Of Suspects Shows
Spain as Probable Source
Of Inspiration.

The arrest Of fourteen anarchists. ].
w W. agitators and other radicals by
secret service men here on Sunday
was shown yesterday to be the first visi-
BILE evidence OF strict surveillance being
kept on all persons suspected of violent
intentions toward the Government. The
secret service mon felt that danger
threatened the President, and they acted
with promptness that made any imme-
diate menace from any member OF this
group an impossibility. Ten arrests
also were made in Philadelphia Sunday.
All arc being held for investigation.
Most Of the prisoners are Spanish.
II is probable that in a few days most
or the fourteen mon arrested there will
either be released or ordered deported
as undesirable aliens. It Is not likely that
any criminal charges will be made
against them. as no evidence to show a
criminal conspiracy has yet been uncov-
cred. but the secret service men and de-
tectives who took part in the raid feel
we'll satisfied with the result OF their
work.
''If we had to turn them all loose we
would still feel that we had done what
we set out to do" said q Federal officer
yesterday.
The Government is taking no chances
In dealing with those who might at any
moment precipitate a national disaster
The secret service men knew days before
the raid that two OF these men were go
Ing TO Boston, had heard that they were
to take with them a bomb, they knew
that President Wilson was to land In
Boston yesterday and they acted at the
right moment
Entire Country IL Covered.
The precautions are not confined to
any one locality. but cover the entire
country. The directing power, Of course,
is the secret service, which is charged
with protecting the President. but IN
every State and large city the local au-
thorities are cooperating with Il. No
anarchist or other radical who is known
to believe In removing by death an off,
Ger or the Government can make a move
that is not Immediately known to the
Government, and action is sure to be
swift. Ihe officers are not waiting for
evidence. but will break up the plot first
and get the evidence afterward. II is not
the way the police power usually works.
but 1t Is felt that unusual conditions call
for drastic methods.
The police pointed out yesterday that
many OF the men under arrest have
been In this country comparatively
short time, some Of them only a year
AID half or even less They recalled
that when the causes of the great riots
in Buenos Ayres were traced to their
source 1t WAS found that the Inspiration
for the radical outbreaks was in Bar
celona. Spain. a centre Of anarchism and
German propaganda. And so when they
found in the homes of these men a lot
of letters and publications from Spain
they began 20 speculate. These papers
are now being translated by the Gov
eminent.
In the careful watch which Govern
ment agents have kept on anarchists
recently they noticed that the group In
Philadelphia, where ten men were ar
rested on Sunday. was becoming un-
usually active. Not move that any Of
these men made was allowed to pass
without careful investigation. and go
thoroughly had the secret service men
laid their net that when they learned a
few days ago that a plot was being
formed against President Wilson they
were prepared TO cope with any situation
that might arise.
Local Police Ala Secret Service.
They heard that two men were 10
leave Philadelphia for Boston and that
they would take with them bomb TO
hurl at President Wilson when he rode
through the streets receiving the well
come OF his countrymen. They knew
each member of the group so we'll that
when the two men took the train II was
known at once. and n message was sent
to Capt. Rubano OF the secret service in
this city. He at once got in touch with
the local police Lieut.. James Gegan,
in charge OF the bomb squad, and his
men were placed at Rubano's disposal.
The results were the arrests reported
yesterday.
At the Federal Building Rubano held
consultations with Assistant United
States Attorneys Ben Matthews and
Burdeau Harry Weinberger, who was
counsel for Alexander Berkman and
Emma Goldman, later appeared and
said he had been retained to defend all
fourteen men and demanded that they
be nj once produced so that he might
bail them. He would not say who re-
ta!red him, He had several rather
lively tits with Burdeau and Rubano
before he left the building without hav-
their probable disposition.
II WAS the intention OF Lieut.. Gegan
late In the afternoon 10 take his prison.
ers to the Federal Building and ar
raign them before Commissioner Hitch
cock but he changed his mind, and the
men we're kept at headquarters under
going the examination by the immigra-
ton officers.