New-York tribune., 1919-07-15
Representatives of Ohio and
Illinois to Cooperate
With Lusk Committee
in Repressive W ork
Alarmed at Bolshevism
New York Authorities Seek
l. W. W. Books, Secreted
After the Martens Raid

Alarmed at the progress being made
by the Bolshevik agitators preaching
the soviet ideas of Lenine and Trotzky,
the authorities in Ohio and Illinois
have sent representatives here to con-
suit with the Lusk committee with a
view OF starting similar Investigations
IN these states. These men conferred
with Deputy Attorney General Samuel
Berger and other members Of the Lusk
committee yesterday and later an
nounced their intention of cooperating
in the work
Other states in the Middle West
have communicated with Senator Lusk
and formally requested that any infor-
nation developed at the inquiry here
which might have a bearing on their
states be forwarded.
Several of the states in the lake
region Will start Investigations de-
signed to curb the activities of the
Bolshevik and 7. w. w. agitators. &C.
cordlng to the information of the com
mIttee. 1t is expected that they will
send representatives here to attend
the hearings of the committee to gather
evidence that might result in prosecu-
tlons outside New York State.
Middle West Reds Stronghold
When the committee seized the books
and records of l.. c. A. r. Martens, the
RUSSIAN sovlet's envoy, it was discov-
cred that he had built up powerful
organization IN this country, designed
10 sway the masses to the soviet idea.
The records revealed the startling in
formation, 1t is alleged, that the entire
l. w. W. organization had been turned
over to the Bolshevik leaders, not only
Tor the purpose of spreading the propa-
ganda but also to cause labor unrest
and start strikes. A considerable part
OF TINS agitation is being carried on in
the Middle West, where the l. w. w.
has It's greatest strength.
Since the first raid directed by the
committee against the headquarters of
Martens many of the books and records
of the radicals in New York have been
hidden by their custodians. According
TO the information of the committed
the membership books of the local |. W.
w. were taken up into rural district
the day after the soviet headquarters
was ralded. Operatives of the commit
tee are now seeking to learn who has
these books, as they may be of great
value to the investigators in placing
the blame for the agitation designed to
bring about a revolution here. Several
clews as to the identity of the man who
L.
have been run down and proved worth
less.
Mr.. Berger~last night declined to dis
cuss the mission of the Ohio and ILL
nois men here, except to say that these
states are interested in the work of the
committee and are anxious to CO.
operate with it in every way. The men
represent the legislatures of the two
states, and it was intimated that they
intend to introduce drastic nt-sedi-
ton bills as a means of curbing the
radicals when the making bodies
meet.
The T. W. W. have their interna
tional headquarters in Chicago and arc
very strong in the Middle West They
were responsible for the riots and
I labor trouble in Youngstown, Ohio. two
years ago. More recently, according tc
the information of the committee, theil
agitators have caused strikes among
the automobile workers of Dayton. II
is expected that the Department of Jus.
tice will be requested by the various
states investigating Bolshevism to CO.
operate.
Chief William Of1ey of the Depart
ment of Justice announced yesterday
the formation OF a special squad, which
will be assigned to run down the Reds
Some of the best agents in the service
will be used for this work and will not
be required to handle any other cases.