The Washington times., 1919-12-21
GREENWICH VILLAGE.
REDS RENDEZVOUS
Federal Investigators Probe
Traces ParIor BoIshevists to
Bohemian Center.

New troubles are lowering over
Greenwich Village" the habitation at
the foot OF Fifth avenue OF artists,
literary folks, and just plain ''bofre-
rrlians." Inquiries OF Attorney General
Palmer into "parlor Bolshevism" are
leading. among other places, straight
down into "the village" and the "in-
tellectuals with advanced thoughts"
the declaimers on the "uplift Of the
dovntrodden- and the opponents Of
Americas Industrial despotlsm' are
having cause to hold their heads
nearer together over the candle-lit
tables, and whisper in more awesome
whispers than they have done in
long day.
authorship OF some OF the tons OF
red literature and un-American
propsranda which have been seized
by the agents OF the Attorney General
is being traced into the haunts of the
village. Not all Of Il has been written
there. 10 be sure, but there is evidence
that some OF II has.
For several weeks the agents OF
Attorney General Palmer have been
lurking around the Village, and not
before in all Its existence has II
known such stirring times. Rumors
rife that the Government agents are
here have furnished larger thrills
than an of the production of art and
literary effort that the Village has
sponsored. II has been rumored. and
the Department of Justice has not de.
nicd il, that there have been almost
as many Government agents In the
district as there were regular in
habitanss.
Along last May. when the home of
Attorney General Palmer in Wash
ingtoa was partially wrecked by
bomb. William F. Flynn. former head
Of the Secret Service, was called to
spread a "dragnet- for bombbists,
terroTists, agitators and the distrib-
uters Of anti-American propaganda.
Mr.. Flynn made no statement or an
houucements. He did not give out
interviews or receive visits of the
newspaper men. He set to work
building up an organization and look
ing for evidence on which the Govern
ment could act decisively. thoroughly
and effectively.
Some time later-the officials of
the Department of Justice do not say
how long-the eyes OF Mr.. Flynn
were focused on Greenwich Village.
He suspected II was breeding place
Tor anti-American doctrines, and he
sent men and women down there to
find out
Just what was learned is not stated.
but this fact Is vouchsafed. The
campaign of the Department OF Jus
tiec Is not at an end. II is about to
enter upon It's second phase-that of
rounding up the ''parlor Bolshevists"
who have INDUCED in the business of
writing booklets and pamphlets pro-
claiming anarchistic doctrines and
preaching the overthrow OF the Gov
crnment. and those who have supplied
tho money for carrying on the cam
paign in America
Some of the booklets, according to
intlr'ations OF the department. had
their origin in the Village, and some
OF the funds paid out to writer's OF
this material found its way down into
itE l,-T1ts-
\ lSrSe par. Of the work OF investi-
CATION Of the department has conferred
CT New York. extending to its bohe-
IHian rendszy
The ''Dsrlor EoISIevists'' have not
been rec rrdHS aS particularly dan
ceroUs b ttc department. They have
ms-e : ~'-yeH 20 inspire others to do
The - ~ rOuS things They have
talked and furnished money. while
others nave considered the ways and
r.eans Of translatinS their sentiments
ard views into action.
It is not the intention of the De-
partment of Justice. il is stated. to
interfere with free speech and lawful
assembly, but there is a determination
&c draw the line at seditious utter
snces against the Government