The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-01-09
"S000s::FlK'EN in
RAIDS IN 50 CITIES
Government Makes Greatest
Roundup Of Radicals
SEEK TO CONTROL LABOR
Object ie To Rid v. S. OF Plotters--
Deportation OF Proved RevoIu-
tlonists Promised BY
Garvan

/
Washing ton.-The greatest roundup
OF radicals In the nations history was
conducted by the government acting
through the Department OF Justice
agents in 80 cities stretching from
coast to coast.
Latest reports indicate that more
than 5000 members of the communist
and communist labor parties, against
whom the raids were directed, were in
custody.
Not alone was the roundup the
largest yet conducted by the govern
ment in it's effort to rid the country Of
radicalism, but in the view of officials
it was the most thoroughly carried
out Department of Justice agents
had been instructed several days ago
and at nine o'clock the move was be-
gun on the radical headquarters,
whether in Portland, Maine, or in
Portland, Oregon.
Department of Justice operatives
were directed to catch the radicals
with the good 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 biggest bag" of the radicals
was made in New York, where, at
midnight more than 800 had been ar
rested and sent to Ellis Island
From dozen New England cities
600 or more of the communists were
gathered, and in Detroit the raiders
found plentiful supply, taking about
400 into custody. Chicago and Phila-
delphia supplied more than 800 and
Buffalo about $50. A larger number
than in any previous raid was re-
ported from practically all of the
cities.
Raids were conducted in the fol-
lowing cities: New York, Baltimore,
Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland.
Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, Grand
Rapids, Hartford, Indianapolis, Jack
sonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles,
Louisville, Milwaukee, Newark,
Omaha, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Portland (Me.), Portland (Ore.), Proyi-
dence, San Francisco, Scranton,
Spokane, st. Louis, st. Paul, Spring
field lMass.), Syracuse, Toledo and
Trenton.
The object of the raids, Assistant
Attorney General Caravan said, was
to obtain for submission to the De-
partment of Labor cases for depor-
tation of "a very large number OF
our most dangerous anarchists and
radical agitators." Agents of the de-
partment, he added, went out pre-
pared to catch the radicals with the
goods on"
Officials here declared the nation
wide roundup was the most completely
planned and the machinery was the
best oiled for this of any raids
launched against the radical element
IN this country. It was arranged some
10 days ago when the raid should
take place and confidential communi-
cations were sent to Department OF
Justice representatives and United
States attorneys in the 33 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 COM
munist organizations in each city 1t
was indicated that If such evidence
we're obtained, deportation of the per-
sons concerned would be an easy mat
ter. AS in the case of the members
of the Union of Russian Workers, sew
eral score4of whom were aboard the
transport Buford, which sailed from
New York 10 days ago, membership
cards in the organization were regard
ed by officials as constituting the best
documentary evidence on which to
base deportation cases.
Oficials said the only difference be-
tween the communist party and the
communist labor party was one OF
leadership. Both have been endeavor-
ing to bring about the establishment
of soviet form of government ii this
country since their organization last
September, according to officials.