The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-04-15
SAYS SOVIET IS
BEHIND STRIKE
Evidence Has Been Obtained by
Department Of Justice.
CABINET TOLD BY PALMER
Communists Said to Back !. w. w.
For a Mass WaIkout, Followed by a
Revolution
Revolution.

Washington, April I5.-ENidence OBJ.
tanned by the department Of justice
was said To show the Russian Com
munist Interna rionate is undel taking
TO use the railroad strike as Il vehicle
for the creation of Il mass strike i'll
the United States.
This was announced after the first
official cabinet meeting since last tall
had been held al the White House.
Reports regard ng the Communist
understood to have been placed hefore
President Wilson and the cabinet by
Attorney General Palmer.
Federal agents reports were SAID TO
have shown The Communist party was
financing and otherwise aiding the
strike through the agency of the In
duStrai Workers of the World.
The Departments evidence was said
to justify the statement the strike
was merely to be step i'll the Well
known plan of the Communist group,
and the end and aim was mass
strike. 10 be followed by revolution.
Soon after rhe cabinet NEE ing 'he
president leir@raphed The mt mberS or
the newly named railroad Labor board,
asking them IL come 10 Wash ng.on
prepared ~ function as soon As Ihei
nominations had been confirmed i'y ths
senate.
The immediate >ummoninS Of the
board was one Of the subit els decided
upon ut the meeting, il was lean ned.
The president had been Informed Sen
ator Cummin>. Republ can, Iowa,
chairman of rne Interstate commerce
committee, had prepared resolution
nprmtting The beard Ia meet here IN
stead of Chicago. The pres dents ac-
ton was in anticipation of The adop-
lion of This resolution.
Reticeu,e WAS expressed by all mem
herS of the cabinet a> to the policy
decided unom for dealt: 9 with the
strike. only Mr. Palmer No'ld ak 1T
all. and lac confined himself To an
| nounc:ng lie Was mot prepared In say
What conclusions were reached
L
suit. gree ed the members of his off
cial family rs they were u>hrred int
HIS sud, In opening the session he
| look Il seat behind Il big desk. and the
| cahne members were gro ped III II
Semi-circle in front of him in the
order of their rank.
The members Went direct TO he
White H,u. e instead Of The l-Ne'utiY
| offices where cabinet meetings usually
| are held.
Ii was the frs regular meeting at
| tended by Secretaries Colby. Payne,
Meredith and Alexander.
Mr.. Palmer went direct from the
| White House to his Office, and imme-
dia .ely summoned for conference MS
assistants. who have been keeping in
| close touch with the strike situation.
| Later he returned to the White House
| for Il conference with the president
secretary, Joseph P. Tumulty.
While no announcement has been
made as to the departments attitude,
the raid of strikers meeting i'll New
! Orleans by department of justice
agents and the resulting arrest of
| eight alleged strike movement leaders
| was taken in some quarters as indi-
| eating the course which will be pur-
| sued. The New Orleans raid was made
on warrants issued under the Lever
act, charging Interference with the
| distribution of essential food supplies
! and under federal statutes alleging in
| reference with the mails.
Federal Judge Foster called spe-
| cial session of the federal grand jury
| at New Orleans to consider the cases
! of the strike leaders. He announced
| the grand jury men would be instruct
| ed to investigate every possible phase
| of the strike there. Those guilty of
| interfering with movement of the nee
| essaries of life, he said, We're ''as
guilty of felony as murderers.'