The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-11-20
JAIL AWAITS
RED CARD MEN
in KENNEWICK
Deputy Sheriffs, Police and
Legion Men Cooperate in
Red Roundup
TWO ORGANIZERS ARE JAILED
Twenty-three Supposed 1. w. W..
WalkOut at Warren's COmpany's
Camp No. Two.

This community awoke suddenly
last Saturday morning to the fact
that it had an I. w. w. problem. AS
result of that awakening three al
legged members of the /. w. w. are in.
the county Jail at Prosser and two
/. w. w. organizers are in the local
city Jail, every train which comes
into the city both day and night is.
being watched and the closest vigil
ance is being maintained by city and
county authorities. .-r. ~. 5.
This is purely an agricultural COM
munity, there is no so-called industr-
ial classes here and no labor organi-
cations, consequently the general
belief has been that Kennewick was
not on the I. w. w. map. So it was
that last Saturday when a telephone
message was received from one Of the
camps of the Warren Construction
company that 23 alleged members
of the !. w. w. had quit their jobs
and We're headed for town, there was.
not little surprise in local police
circles. There were hurried consulta-
tions between the mayor, the. chief Of
police, and county deputy sheriffs,
and members of the American Legion.
Everybods was "rarin to CO." especial
ly the Legion boys. Everybody was
certain of one thing, the wobblies
were not to be left at large in the
community, but nobody was exactly
sure what kind of reception to ac-
cord the wobblies when they arrived
in town. a
However by the time the alleged
wobblies began to arrive plan Of
action was determined upon. An Of
ficer was stationed at the offices of the
Warren construction company and as
fast as the men came in they were
searched for red cards and question
ed as to their membership in the I. w.
w. organization. Those who carried
no cards and denied membership in
the organization were released and
the holders of cards were taken to
Jail. ,,t
The walkout at the camp came when
the camp foreman discharged work
man named johnson, When johnson
called for his time he was taken into
custody but was later released be-
cause he carried no card. He is re-
ported, however, to have told other
workmen at the camp that he was an
|. w. W.. This he denied when ques-
toned by the officers.
The man who was probably respon-
sible for the walkout is r. M. Beck
an /. w. w. organizer. He is one of
the two men who did not show in town.
He still has $6.SS coming down at
the offices of the Warren company.
The three men held in Jail Satur-
day were M. M. Mullan, ]. Callahan
and Ed Lidbury. Monday they were
taken to the county Jail at Prosser
by Sheriff Rolph. Information has
been filed against them by Prosecut-
ing Attorney Hamilton charging them
with violation of the state criminal
syndicalism law.
Within a few minutes after they
had landed in Kennewick Monday
from Pasco F. A. Brown and C. F.
Neil were taken into custody. These
men not only carried the red cards
put membership blanks, receipt hooks
and certificates showing that they
Ere /. w. w. organizers. They are
still in the city Jail but will probably
be taken to the county Jail this even
ing or tomorrow.