The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-11-20
mo KID GLOVES
FOR RED RADICALS
Kennewick is not Big Enough
for 1. w. w. and American L
Legion Men. i

/ ~. ~. ~ -- L. !
At an open meeting of Robert Ely
post of the American Legion, Mon
day evening, returned service men
openly pledged their unstinted support
to the city, county and state officials
in any effort that may be put forth
to keep this community free from 1.
w. w. and other extreme radicals
who have but small regard for law
and order.
The meeting which was attended by
number of ;Kennewick's business
and professional men, not members
of the Legion, was called for the pur-
pose of correcting mistaken impress
sion that members Of the legion had
taken the law into their own hands
and were making open war fare upon
the reds and were substituting direct
action for due process of law, and
for the purpose Of soliciting the moral
support of the general public sin a
program to apprehend any I. w. W..
that might come into the community.
By reason Of their active part in
the roundup of the reds last Satur-
day, members of the legion had called
forth criticism from some of the men
of the town who thought that they
were acting upon their own initiative
and not as duly deputized peace Of
fcers. Members of the legion who
spoke at the meeting made it entirely
plain that they were pretty firm in
the conviction that this community
| is not large enough for members of
their organization and those of the
II. w. w. and kindred organizations
the avowed purpose of which is
defiance of the constituted authority
and overthrow of the government.
If the service boys ever doubted
that at least one of the city's leading
citizens was solidly and enthusiastic
ally back of them, all such doubts
were routed when M. M. Moulton took
the floor and made one Of the most
stirring addresses ever heard in Ken
newick. Mr.. Moulton left nothing to
the imagination as to where he stands
on the I. W. w. question. He declar-
ed that the hour had struck for show
down between the law-abiding, pat
riotic citizens of this country and
those who are plotting the overthrow
of the government and the ruin of
the country. He declared that anar-
chy under the Stars and Stripes
could no longer be tolerated, that the
criminal and seditious organizations
which have been permitted to exist
must go, and that the outstanding
duty of every red-blooded American
today is to stand unqualifedly and
fearlessly back of any effort that may
be put forth in this community, in the
state or the nation to blot out this
great menace. " t.. gs
Other speakers enthusiastically
voiced the sentiments expressed by
Mr.. Moulton and the meeting failed
to bring forth any appeal for soft
action or kid gloves in dealing with
the local I. w. w. situation. 4
Members of the legion have given
ample proof that they mean to back
their words with their actions. Every
day and every night some of the boys
have taken the oath as special police
officers, have donned their "gats, :
kept "dog watch" in and around the
city and declined any pay for their
services. -.
awe mean business" said J. w.
vickers, post commander. in discuss
ing Monday nights meeting. 1--WE
mean just this, no man is going to
carry an 1. w. w. card in Kenne-
\ wick and enjoy his liberty, if there is
! any rrr law in the land which can be in
yoked to put him behind the bars. I
have always been firm believer that
av,erv man should care for the filth that
accumulates in his own back yard. l
likewise believe that when an /. w. W..
ennfers this community he becomes
o,,r problem and should not be chased
o,,t TO become the thorn in the flesh
4 If some other. community. /" ): -s;a-ss s as
'tssFls -..ss&'"t.' At-s :, TF,fa5 q. ~, -