New-York tribune., 1919-02-25
Delegates From All Over
Country Sent to New
York, Officials Assert
Plot Followed by
Secret Service Man
Arrests Made on Eve of
Presidents Arrival for
Fear Of Possible Slip
Spectnl Correspon dence

SpectGt Correspondence
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 24.-"Reds," I.
WW's and Bolsheviki of many nation
alities held a countrywide referendum
to select a man to assassinate Presi-
dent Wilson on his arrival in Boston.
Every radical centre from the prin-
cipal cities elected two delegates to
attend a meeting in New York, where
they were to draw lots for the murder
Of President Wilson.
Two men arrested in New York were
delegates from this city to the national
conference, at which the assassination
of President Wilson was to have been
chosen by lot.
These points, the Federal authorities
are satisfied, have been definitely and
specifically established by Joseph ]. Nc
Dewitt, agent of the Department of
Justice, who is specially III charge OF
anarchist and BoIshevik Investigations,
and who caused the New York and
Philadelphia anarchist raids just be
fore President Wilson landed in Bos-
Ton.
Followed the Piottcrs
McDevitt, who is given full credit
for spelling the plot, followed the plot
tsrs and received daily reports from
all their conferences and meetings at
which the conspiracy was hatched He
knew where the two Philadelphia dele
gates to the national murder confer
encs were elected; he knew the names
and addresses of these two delegates;
he knew when they went to New York,
and he knew when and where they
were to meet with the delegates from
other cities to draw lots.
There was a temptation on the part
Of some government officials to permit
the plotters to proceed even further
With their plans. so that there would be
no doubt about the governments abil-
'ly to convict them for a capital Of
isnce.
None dared, however, TO assume re-
sponsibility fer rigkng the Presidents
life. 1t vas, therefore, decided to round
up all the plotters at their New York
conference, beforet they could draw
lots or dispatch the chosen murderer
to Boston.
McDevitt Is Yindicated
When it was decided to round up the
plotters, McDevitt's work was fully
sandieated. At the address furnished
ey him 70 the New York branch Of the
department OF Justice, the plotters
were found, and among them the two
Philadelphia delegates named in ad-
Fsnee BY McDevitt
N, inese two delegates are avowcd T..
~ W. agitators. Their Phila dclphia
headquarters were found stocked with
sohs Of the most revolutionary and an
s.cnistic |. W. w. and Bolshevik liter
Circulars.
When McDevitt late Sunday night
gave orders for raiding the New York
meeting ne also raided the Philadel-
pnla headquarters of the Spanish
sasrch'sts and took ten prisoners.
c. vne more prisoner, Emilia Souva
nascia, was arrested here to-day. He
ssme TO the house and persisted in
sslting in, despite the police guard.
s'arcia denied that he is member
p the l. w. w. but was held by the
s..saeraI authorities for further inves-
One OF the prisoners arrested here
"a sunday night, John Rcgo, vas re-
assssd to-day after the Department Of
tpstice had verified his statements that
~ Is a Mexican and had no part in the
Prisoners Closely Questioned
The prisoners taken in Philadelphia
ssfs all held at the Federal Building,
r.fese the entire day was devoted to
ssir examination by McDevitt, Todd
gehiei, Chief of the Department OF
sss1aee here, and United States At
oauey Kane The examination will
- y continued tomorrow, and probably
~r seyeral days.
fec prisoners were taken one BIZ orc
hs Grand Jury chamber and aues-
sssfcs while translators we're, put 70
gsx on the mass Of literature and let
sans. confiscatcd in the raid on their
quarters.
~ 1ps prisoners involved themselves
~ sssriouS contradiction. Only ORE
s,msd American citizenship. He said
u s.. re been here since .,oyhood. This
~ 1ent, however, is questioned. The
All admitted that they have
Il Continued On pogs eig
n