Evening journal., 1919-02-11
SEATTLE STUAN-D
BY RADICALS
Strikers Declare Trouble
is Beginning of Rsvo-
luton in America
FIGHT AGAINST
u. S. GOVERNMENT
BY JACK JuNcmsSER
Special Dispatch BY stan Reporter.

SpeCid DlopdlCH be ItoA Af~fS' 49,
-rAl~ILE. Wash. Feb. 1.-THE lrst
real attempt OF any proportion to start
a revolution In the United States look
place in Seattle al 10 o'clock Thursday
morning. FEBRUARY 6.
While 10000 unlonlsts here were
starting the first general strike ever
imposed in America, many leaders
were openly proclaiming IL as the be-
ginning OF an insurreclion-te take over
Industry by mass action.
Seattle. FIRST American city thus
faced. stunned and commercially para
lyzed. now admits on all sides that
this is the import. this,
showdown between democracy and
bolsheNism.
Whatever the original strike motives
leading to the. general sympathetic
walkout with 10000 Puget Sound ship
yard workers. this was the naked Is
sue confronting public opinion here
and throughout the nation as the signal
siren beloved the tie-up.
The unprecedented mass action was
not directed primarily at local emT
ploye-s and authorities but at the fed
eral government and at all capitalists
and the present Industrial system"
BY paralyzlns a city, Il was hoped
that that United States Emergency
Fleet Corporation would be compelled
TO permit a Puget Sound shlpyard wage
higher than the Macy government
award.
Early tendencies 10 minimize the
gravity OF the situation quickly had 10
recognize the amazing fact that perhaps
GO per cent. Of the men now on stake
were unwilllngly swept away by the
infection.
Almost over nisht 10000 workmen
here and many more In Tacoma were
induced 10 take the gigantic ven tnre
which lead rs publicly admitted led
mo man knows where"
And while the radicals were steer
ing toward a situation far more for
mldahle than q mere sympathetic back
IN OF shipbuilders. thew were making
every effort 20 spread the disaffectlon
ihroughoui the State, the coasl and
the country
Onlclals Of the metal trades, strons-
est and most aggressive Of the Puget
Sound crafts. hoped for supporting ac-
tlon by workers in every American
shlpva q.
''We are" said their spokesmen. "un-
dertaking the most tremendous move
ever made by labor In this country. A
move which win lead. no one knows
where"
And with this they coupled their
printed gauge OF battle, as follows:
"Slnce The productsa nd the indus
tries OF the world are ours by risht:
-zlnte with proper orsanizatlon we can
manage both more efficiently and with
Justice to all, and-we're ready, let's
win"
Tacoms extremists added this apreal,
In leaflets At counselins seizure OF the
shlpvards: Russia did 10. Overthrow
the present syst'm as the Russians did
their government"
Prints issued by varIous elements NJ
the strikers. advocated that essential
closed by the tle-uD he
tafen over and reopened under the
management slthouEh this ap-
peal win be vigorously combaled by
the more conservative.
There was general assumntlon and
fear that violence could not be avoid
ed d-splle the precautions OF both
ttrlkffS ana me authorities.
n's~nntlve radicals had heen d~ift'ng 1
into Seattle for weeks and toastlng "the I
dav" MANY ~ the sneakers and lead
ers are aliens, some from Russia,
prcachlne Rolsheviki doctrines.
Practically al rins and ammunition /
in the city had been housht m. whether !
by strikers symnsthlzers other cltl7ens. |
or the police no one seemed 10 know. |
At the CITY han 500 police, motorcycle
and mounted men, armed with carbines.
waited.
Mavor ole Hanson had AUGMENTED
this force with i000 special deputies.
AMI orosnizins labor. announcing that
Il would helm preserve order. had ar
RANGED for Its own force OF visilants.
which leaders asserted would numeri-
caliy erusi the city police force.
Seattle and Tacoma shipyard workers
struck for an avsrage 70 per cent waSe
Increase above the Macy award.
The owners were not permitted TO
treat with the strikers on order or the
Fleet Corporation which
held that any compromise here would