Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-15
OF REDS SEEN
IN RAILROAD STRIKE
FOR BIG UPRISING.
Walkout Planned by Russian Com
munists, Attorney-General
Says.
FOSTER. ONE OF LEADERS.
FAILED IN STEEL STRIKE

Washington, ID. c., April 14.-Depart-
mcnt of Justice Investigators report that
evidence in their possession proves that
William z. Foster, leader of the ill-fated
steel strike, is the prime mover behind
the "outlaw" railroad strike.
Publicity to show just how the present
'outlaw railroad strike" is in accordance
with the plans of the Communist party
Of Russia and the Third Internationale is
the weapon launched last night by At
torney-General A. Mitchell Palmer against
the strike.
With documentary evidence to sup
port his assertions, Mr.. Palmer traced the
plans of the Communists from their strong
holds in Russia down through agents In
this country, through Ludwig Martens,
self-styled ambassador; through William
y. Foster. famous for this activity In the
steel strike and then into the present
railroad strike.
Upon the LOYALTY and patriotism OF the
railroad men Mr. Palmer is now hoping
that the strike will come TO an end. If
such is not the result, he indi Gates, how
ever, that he had other steps to take, but
as to Just what these steps were he would
not make any statement.
The next step is to await the recep-
ton which these truths will get from the
men who have been railroad workers
and the vast majority of whom are loyal,
natriotic and red-blooded Americans,
he said in closing his discussion OF the
strike.
The story told by Mr.. Palmer was in
line with that which he had told earlier
at the cabinet meeting. he said.
His plan of complete publicity first,
and then of awaiting upon a response
from the loyalty of the railroad men, 1t
is indicated, is in accordance with the
plans of the administration adopted at
the cabinet meeting, though Mr.. Palmer
did not say just this much. For the
present at least, IL was Indicated, how
ever, there would he no decisive and
drastic action such as the use OF lnlunc-
tions and such as resulted In the recent
coal strike.
The railroad strike is not the only
strike which has been planned by the
Communistic agitators. according TO MIR.
Palmer He said he was informed OF
agitations going on in other industries
and that he knew the date upon which
strikes were 10 be called in these indus
tries" In another part of his discus
sion. he said the evidence showed the
intention TO have grand uprising of the
Communistic agitators the world over
On May /.
after the collapse of the steel strike,
William z. Foster, Carl Pierson, A. +.
Reese and others of his associates of the
revolutionary parties engaged IN the
endcavor TO promote the present strike,
said Mr. Palmer. LISTS Of all railroad
men who were members of the ComInu-
mist Labor and Communist parties were
sought, and names of all railroad men
opposed to the present management OF
he brotherhoods also were collected
Meetings were held In the Continental
Hotel in New York, Great Northern
Hotel in Chicago, Park avenue in New
York and other places, at which the
plans were laid.
The basic agitation of these leaders
was the destruction, OF the railroad
hrothcrhoods, the removal of their lead
ers, and the One Big Union. At first It
was intended that the i. ". ". should
not publicly figure In the strike, but
Grunau, in Chicago, deviated from the
original plans and allowed the men to
split the strikers into four separate or
ganizatlons. This caused dissension,
which has resulted in the, movement Tor
the railroad workers One Big Union
Several conferences were held at the
j. w. w. headquarters In Chicago and
at other points IN that city. Grunau
had gone too far with the four organi-
cations to turn back, and the only way
the One Big Union could be nut over
was through the railroad workmen, who
would be urged to strike under the One
Big Union banner and then force Grunaus s
organization to follow suit, reorganize and
make it the One Big Union"