The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-03

AT midnight reports indicated that
more than 1900 members 81 the conn
munist and communist labor parties.
were in custody, and Department Of
Justice officials expressed the opinion
that daylight would see twice that
number behind the bars.
Not alone was the roundup the
largest yet conducted by the govern
>ment in its effort to rid the country
of radicalisrn. but in the view of Of
ficials it was the most thoroughly car
ried out. Department of Justice agents
had been instructed several days ago
and at o'clock tonight the move was
begun on the radical. headquarters,
Portland. Ore.
CAUGHT WITH GOODS
Department Of Justice operatives
were directed to catch the radicals
with the goods on and that these
directions were carried out was evil
denced in reports. particularly from
New York. where the offices OF COM
munist newspapers were raided, and
from New England, where consider
able literature prepared for dissemina-
ton by the two parties was seized.
The primary object of the raids, As
sistant Attorney General Garvan an
nounced, was the obtaining of evidence
upon which the Department OF Labor
might proceed with the deportation Of
undesirables
The larger cities in which raids were
conducted follow
New York. Baltimore. Boston,
Buffalo. Chicago, Cleveland, Dem
ver. Des Moines. Detroit, Grand
Rapids. Hartford. Indianapolis,
Jacksonville (F1a.D. Kansas City,
Los AnGeles, Louisville, Milwau-
kee, Newark, Omaha, PAfladeI-
phi. PiftsburE. Portland fMe.y,
Fsrtien4 fOre.). rfovisence. .San
Francisco. scranfon, srckane. st.
j LeuiA. st. Paul, Springfield
tMass.). syracusc, Tcieds and
Trenton.
Minor raids were made in other
cities.
BIGGEST BAG IN GOTHAM
The biggest bag OF the radicals
was made in New York, where at mid
night more than 800 had been arrested
and sent to Ellis Island From a
dozen New England cities 500 or more
or the communists were gathered and
in Detroit the raiders found plentiful
supply, taking about 500 into custody.
Chicago and Philadelphia supplied
more than 100 and Buffalo about 100.
A larger number than in any previous
raid was reported from practically
all of the cities.
Department of justice agents de-
sired most of all to capture incrim-
mating documents not so much of the
literature and propaganda, but papers
showing details of the communist or
CARNATIONS in each city. 1t was indi-
Gated that If such evidence we're OBJ
tanned, deportation of the persons con-
cerned would be an easy matter. AS
in the case of the members of the
Union of Russian Workers, several
score of whom were aboard, the trans
port .Buford, which. sailed from New
York 10 days ago, membership cards
In the organization were regarded by
officials as constituting the best docu-
mentary evidence on which to base de-
portations cases.
SEEKING SAME END
Officials said the only difference be-
tween the communist party and the
communist labor party was one of
leadership. Both have been endeayor-
ing to bring about the. soviet form Of
government in this country since their
organization last September. according
to officials
agents recently show conclusively, II
was said that plans were drawn UP by
the leaders of each of these parties to
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