The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-20
REDS IN
OFF|CE2
INTRENCHED IN
U. S. JOBS, SAYS
SENATOR WATSON
Makes Scathing Attack on Fed
eral Trade Commission.
Indianan Declares It's Employees
Are SOciaIistic Workers.
DEMANDS AN INVESTIGATION
Charges Some L. s. Employees
BOlsheVistS and PrO-Huns.
Disclaims Defense of Packers in
Attack on Commission.
Charges Some L. s. Employees
BOlShevists and PrO-Huns.
DiscIaims Defense of Packers in
Attack on Commission.
INFLATED PACKER PROFITS?
Federal Trade Agent Charged
With Unfair Report.
Chicago Headquarters n Red
Rendezvous, 1t Is Alleged.

Washington, Oct. 2O.-Sensa-
j tional charges that Socialists,
Reds and other radicals are in
trenched in the government de-
partments and particularly that
the investigating forces of the
federal trade commission contain
men hostile to the government
and American institutions were
made in the senate today by Sem
ator Watson, Republican, In
diana, who introduced a resolu-
ton for an investigation by the
interstate commerce committee.
Disclaiming any defense of the great
meat packers, senator Watson de-
clared the open records of some of the
commissions employees of that investi-
cation showed them to be respectively
outspoken anarchists, participants in
Red parades. pro-Germans, admirers
of Lenine and Trotzly and avowed OPP
ponents of soviet government.
Says He Is Astounded.
Watson declared he is ''astounded
1t the number of adherents to social
ism holding government office" He
attacked the federal trade commits
sio='s methods of investigating the
packers.
tfeating socialism in the various de-
partments of the government and L
have been astOunded at the number
of its adherents in office and the very
solid manner in which they seem to
be intrenched in our government af-
fairs" Watson said.
What 1 say in support of this reso-
luton is in no wise . defense of the
packers" Watson continued Their
activities are being investigated by
another committee of this body. 1
mention it only to call attention briefly
to the socialistic activities of some of
the members of the federal trade COM
mission who were chosen to Investigate
the operation of these corporations.
My theory is that no matter what /
business is subject tc investigation by
the federal trade commission, it is en- /
titled to fair and decent treatment. |
The agents of the government should !
be sent out to investigate and not to I,
prosecute. They should impartialIy I
collect the facts and transmit them to /,
the federal trade commission in order /
that that body may come to just con- !
illusions concerning the questions in
Volved. But in these cases, that course /
has not always been pursued
he meant to infer that employees We're |
advocating socialism as part of their /
official duties.
Hitchcock HcckIes Him.
"OnIy in private capacity Watson
explained. Hitchcock then attacked /
the language of Watson's resolution, I
declaring Watson appeared to confuse |
Bolshevism and Socialism.
OF Stuart Chase. who had general {
charge of the investigation of the meat i
packing industry, Senator Watson
exponent of socialistic doctrines. ,
Chase was president and organizer of /
the Fabian club of Chicago. "a society
founded for the express purpose of |
furthering the doctrines of Social :,
ism"
Rendezvous of Reds.
Grouped about him in his offices
at federal trade commission headquar-
ters,' declared Senator Watson. were
Victor Berger. Irwin st. John Tucker
and other extreme Socialists. His Of
flee became the rendezvous of men
devoted to the destruction of property,
the overthrow of government and con-
summation of the ideals of Socialism"
Chase, Senator Watson further
meeting al which Berger and other
radicals made inflammatory speeches
and also organized a meeting at which
Lincoln Steffens spoke.
Ihat anarcnlSt SAID senator Wat
son, referring to Steffens had lust
returned from Russia and his address
fas to aid in the recognition of
Lenine and Trotzky by our govern
nent." Chase later wrote a maya
zine article. Senator Watson said, as
sailing the United States government
for not recognizing the Russian Reds
Inflated Packer Profits.
1T can We verified by affidavit that
{ n % instructed ~ he E-af7
era1 trade Commissions investigating
Continued on Page SKI