The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-07
|. W. W. BURNING
WHEAT, SHERIFF
WIRES HUSSEY!
Special State. Investigators Sent
to Stafford County.
Large Number of Suspects Have
Been Arrested.
CALL FOR 10000 HARVESTERS
That Many Needed in Sixth
District Alone.
Special Trains Are Carrying
Men to Fields.
SEND OUT A CALL TO KANSAS
!. W. w. Organizers Tell Fol-
lowers To Come Here.
Urge Members To Tackle Fer
tile Jnyhawker Fields.
SEND OUT A CALL TO KANSAS
!. W. w. Organizers Tell Fol-
lowers To Come Here.
Urge Members To Tackle Fer
tile Jayhawker Fields.

A1AC Ia AAd W hNl
Kansas wheat fields are being
burned by !. w. W. agents. That was
the report received today by L. T.
Hussey, state fire marshal, in a tele-
gram from Reuben w. Welsh. sheriff
OF Stafford county. Special state in
vestigator3 left Topeka Immediately
following receipt OF Sheriff Welsh's
wire.
For two weeks special representa-
tives of the state fire marshars office
have been working in Kansas wheat
counties TO protect against damage to
crops by labor agitators and dis
turbers. TIE wire which came today
from St. John, no ever. is the first re-
port that the l. w. w. had resorted
to the torch in an effort to force
Kansas wheat growers to yield to their
demands.
Shcrifrs Wire brief.
Wheat fields here set fire. Looks
Ike /. W. w brand
That was Sheriff Welshs brief wire
TO Hussey. 1t was confirmation of
fear which has prevailed among law
enforcement officials since the open
ing OF the harvest in this state. In
spite of the recent statement by John
w. Crawford to the effect that the
]. W. w. VIZ. not working in Kansas.
arrests have been made of a number
OF persons suspected as agents of the
orcanization. In number of cases
mon under arrest arried literature
and credentials OF the orga niZation
which is now causing trouble for
wheat growers.
We will make an immediate and
thoro investigation of the Stafford
county situation.'' said Hussey. 1T is
the first report received which would
indicate that the match has been used
by the I. w. w. in an effort to win
their fight in Kansas. My agents will
arrive in Stafford county tonight and
will cooperate with county officials
in driving this band from the state"
Moro Help Calls.
Added to the new problem which
today confronted wheat growers and
law enforcement officials. was a re-
newed demand for harvesters. This
morning needs of Sixth district coun-
ties was placed at 10000 men for i'm
mediate service. This estimate was
made by Harvey Penny. member of
the state board of administration who
returned today from his home in Hays.
Frank MCIvor. assistant state fire
marshal. returned from a trip thru
northwestern counties. He reiterated
stories of abnormal wages and assert
cd there were not enough men to meet
demands. Several special trains have
been run 70 Sixth district counties
from Kansas City and Denver De-
mands Of farmers, however. have not
been met.
In my Judgment a number of coun-
ties in the sparsely settled counties of
Thomas, Wallace. Ellis Sheridan and
Graham could use 1000 men each"
said McIvor. These men are needed
at once"
Kelley Makes Estimate.
The shortage Of harvest hands is
still acute. according 10 J. VIII Kelley,
director OF the federal employment
bureau here This condition prevails
in spite of the fact that men are be-
ginning to drift northward from Okla
homa, eastward from Colorado, and
1000 men a day are being sent into
the state by the federal bureau at
Kansas city. Beside these, state bu-
rcaus. colleges and chambers of COM
merce and farmers organizations are
all drawing hands 20 Kansas
II is estimated that about half the
Kansas wheat crop has been cut. With
the reduction in acreage comes a pro-
portionate increase in the supply of
labor and this fact leads men in touch
with conditions to believe that the en-
tire crop Will be saved. II the hard
work is diligently continued.
The harvest is now beginning in
southern counties OF Nebraska and
this will create a huge demand for
are assured work for many weeks and
Il will be only by maintaining the pol
icy OF eXertion demonstrated during
the last few weeks that the greatest
wheat crop in Americas history can
be saved in its entirety.
'On to Kansas with 1000 job dele
gates"
That is the slogan to I. w. W. dis
turbers and agitators as printed by
the New Solidarity. the official 1. W.
W. publication in Kansas. Every
delegate and organizer of the organ
ization is urged to hasten TO this state
to take adva ntaGe of the labor situa-
ton. An open appeal is made to or
ganize this state for members and TO
make the Kansas farmer pay dearly
for his prosperity.
Claim is by New Solidarity that in
1916 organizers sent to Kansas Sc
cured 1870 members. Every foot
loose member and organizer of the /.
W. W. is urged to go to the wheat
fields to corral the harvest hands
Literature and blanks seized by depu-
= ties from the office of L. T. Hussey
state fire m" -shal. and by assistants
from the office OF Fred Robertson,
United States district attorney, show
Confined on Page Five.l