Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-27
SAYS
|. ". ". TRIED TO
.INCITE NEGROES
Omaha Chief Makes Report
Concerning Raids on Reds
In Answer to Letter
From Senator Curtis.
BY E. c. SNYDER.
ial Correspondent Of The Bee.

| SpeosoA correspondence OF Inc Bee.
Washington, Nov. Ex-senator
Curtis of Kansas, with a desire to
know the facts underlying the re-
cent race riots throughout the coun-
try, and in Washington and Omaha
in particular, introduced a resolution
in the closing days of the last ses-
sion calling upon the judiciary COM
mittee to undertake an investigation
of the causes leading to the out
breaks and if possible trace them to
origin in the radical element now
extremely active in certain sections
Of the country.
The resolution was adopted by
the judiciary committee and a sub
committee consisting of Senators
Dillingham; of Vermont, Kellogg of
Minnesota and Walsh of Montana
was appointed to make the investi-
CATION. The committee, however, is
in doubt as to just how far it can
go into its inquiry, and as conse-
quence Senator Curtis has been
gathering a mass OF material bear
ing upon these riots, which he will
lay before the subcommittee next
week.
Eberstein Answers Letter.
After the introduction of the reso-
luton and its adoption by the SEN
ate, Senator Curtis wrote Mayor Ed
Smith of Omaha as to any facts he
might be in possession of showing
an active participation of the l. w.
w. in the recent Omaha disturb
ance. This letter the mayor referred
to Chief Eberstein, who, after some
weeks, answered Senator Curtis in.
terrogatives in most general way.
paying little or no attention to the
Omaha riot.
Among other things Chief Eber-
stein says that on two occasions,
while he was connected with the
Department of Justice, he raided
the l. w. w. headquarters in Omaha
and found large amounts of sedi-
tious literature. A number Of more
radical members were arrested and
the bulk of them were kept in Doug
las county jail for upwards of 4
year, finally being discharged from
custody a few at time by direction
Of the United States attorney for
Nebraska.
The ]. w. w. were not raided
again until November 16, when Chief
Eberstein received instructions from
the governor Of Nebraska, through
the county attorney, to make an
other raid on tho bunch. He did
this, taking a large amount Of sedi-
tious literature.
I. w. w. Reused Nebroes.
As to the /. w. w. being respon-
sibleI for the incident of the colored
people in Omaha to stir up trouble,
Chief Eberstein passes over the
Omaha outbreak and lynching of the
negro with the statement that he has
found some evidence that the l. w.
w. were endeavoring to incite the
colored people to race rioting."
Senator Curtis has been advised
that a report on the Omaha riot
from the Chamber of Commerce is
on the way and he hopes to have a
report from General Wood as to .he
responsibility of the radical element
in melting the people to riot for
fancied wrongs done them by the
white population.
Congress. said Senator Curtis to-
day, "has always claimed that it had
no jurisdiction of these matters.
That they properly belonged to the
state. My judgment is that the
state having failed to take cogni-
zance Of this very serious situation
and having failed to enforce the law
and punish the guilty thereby pro-
tecting its citizens in their lives and
property, it becomes the bounden
duty of congress to take notice of
the conditions, investigate the facts
and make report as to what legisla-
ton is needed.
"In order to show the Importance
of this committee l am gathering