The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-15
EXAMINATION Of
RUSSIAN UNION
MEN COMPLETED
Most of Them Were Poles
and Only a Few
Were Held.
,SAYSMARGDLIS
If District Had Any Of the
Other Kind They All
Got Away.
,SAYSMARGDLIS

The last of the alleged anarchists
who have been held in the county Jail
for the past two weeks were given a
hearing before Inspector w. W. Isl
bray Of Pittsburgh Saturday, the trial
lasting from ten o'clock in the morn
ing 10 ten at night in the grand jury
room Of the court house. Eight men
were examined on questions involvina
membership in the So called Federal
Russian Workmens union, the advo-
eating of violent overthrow of govern
ment, assassination of public officials
etc. Inspector Sibray was accompan-
led here by Attorney Jacob Margolis
of Pittsburgh who acted as counsel
for the accused men. After the hear
ing Inspector Sibray made his report
to the immigration Bureau at Wash
ington. Seven Of the me wee Pol
ish according to the statement Of At
torney Margolis, and all, he exects
will be released.
A peculiar situation developed Sat
.lrday night after the regular sched-
su's Of lle arings when an attorney re
rrorted to Inspector Sibray that 2
prisoner who had been ordered freed
by Inspector O'Brien some weeks az
was still in jail. 1t was claimed that
Special Agent Lambeth had ordered
his detention after the trial but sad
failed to secure warrant and that
the man was held Illegally. The pris-
oner Philemon Masenko Of Downs
was examined by Inspector Slbray
who ordered his immediate release
but the man preferred to spend the
night with Jailor Buckley, going ho1O G
In the morning.
1t is understood that fight will be
made between the Department Of Jus
tice and the immigration Bureau fol
possession OF Luigi Lazarus of Anna
belle, who it is claimed can either be
deported or heavily penaHzed by a
fine and imprisonment. Luigi it is
said, assumed a defiant attitude and
is an avowed enemy of the existing or
der.
In commenting on the causes which
have lead up to the imprisonment OF
these men Attorney Margolis said yes
terday before returning to Pittsburg:
Any Russian peasant under the
Cars regime was lucky to get two
years schooling. Many Of them re-
ceived no education whatever.
The Russian peasant Of the class
we have in this region, knew nothing
Of the Russian government except as
an instrument Of oppression.
Often he had hard and unscupu'
loua boss to brind him down.
Black bread was his portion. Robbed
by a corrupt priesthood of which the
notorious Rasputin was a type, the
vistim Of any number Of economic
wroigs, America presented haven
of refuge
Here, however, the government was
also remote from his daily life. In
ether words, the government meant
nothing to him. He dug coal, lived
well, sang his folk songs and was
happy.
The Federated Union OF Russian
workers meant to him what the West
Virginia societies Of New York and
Washington mean to the West Virgin
ian sojourning In those places. The
uricn was functioned in two ways.
The first to enable those who wished
to do so, to get in touch with their
kindred from whom they had been
separated during the five years Of the
war. The second was educational for
reasons stated above. What more mai
ural than to get together? Economic
subjects were discussed, OF course. The
present soviet government OF Russia
naturally, Violence was never atvo-
Gated. The records show Attorney
Margolis claims, that not one of the
more than seventy arrested, offered
any resistance. Not more than hall
were members Of the union. Not more
than five at the most will be deport-
ed.
To bonb-turtNing. desperate. arm
ed-to-theteeth, bewhtskered anarchist
is conspicuous by his absence, the at
torney continued. II any Of that Ill
are lnfe4ing this region, they we're
not located by the Department Of Jus
tice. The men arrested are in the
main, inoffensive miners whose chic
! concern seems to be the coal they are
! 9ns digging and the consequent lost
iot wages
Attorney Margons spoke in term:
Of the highest praise when comment
Continued on DaIo pJur.)
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