The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-01-08
CLEANING UP THE
LARGER CITIES
GOVERNMENTS BIG BATTLE d.
RECTED CHIEFLY AGAINST
COMMUNIST PARTY


government, acting through Depart
ment of Justice agents in thirty-three
cities, stretching frcm coast to coast.
Reports indicated that more than
1000 members of the communist and
communist labors parties, against
whom the raids were directed, are now
in custody, and Department of Justice
officials express the opinion that the
end of this week would see twice that
number behind the bars.
Not alone has the roundup the
largest yet conducted by the govern
ment in its effort to rid the country
Of radicalism, but in the view of Of
ficials it was the most thoroughly car
ried out. Department of Justice agents
had been previously instructed and at
9 o'clock Friday night the move was
begun on the radical headquarters,
whether in Portland, Maine, or IN
Portland, Oregan.
Department of Justice operatives
were directed to catch the radicals
with the goods on" and that these
directions were carried out IS evl-
denced in reports, particularly from
New York, and Chicago where the OF
fices of communist newspapers were
raided, and from New England, where
considerable literature prepared for
dissemination by the two parties was
seized.
The primary object of the raids,
Assistant Attorney Genera Garvan
announced, was the obtaining of evi-
dence upon which the Department OF
Labor might proceed with deportation
of undesirables.
The larger cities in which raids
were conducted are New York, Balti-
more, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleve-
land, Denver, DesMoines, Detroit,
Grand Rapids, Hartford, Indianapolis,
Jacksonville, (Florida), Kansas City,
Los Angeles, Louisville, Milwaukee,
Newark, Omaha, Philadelphia, Pitts
burgh, Portland, (Maine), Portland,
{Oregon), Providence, st. Louis, San
Francisco, Scranton, Spokane, St.
Paul, Springfield, (Mass.), Syracuse,
Toledo and Trenton.
Minor raids were made in other
cities.
The biggest bag" of the radicals
was made in New York, where at
midnight Friday more than 300 had
been arrested and sent to Ellis Island.
From a dozen New England cities
800 or more of the communists were
gathered and in Detroit the raiders
found plentiful supply, taking about
800 into custody. Philadelphia and Chi
cago supplied more than 200 and Buff
falo about 100. A larger number than
from practically all of the cities.
Department of Justice agents de-
sired most of all to capture incrim-
mating docupments, 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
were 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,
several score of whom were aroabd
the transport Buford, which sailed
from New York two weeks ago, men,
bership cards in the organization were
regarded by officials as constituting
the best documentary evidence on
which to base deportation cases.
Officials 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 a Soviet form of government in
this country since their organization
slast September, according to officials.
s Documents gathered by federal
agents recently show conclusively, it
. was said, that plans were drawn up
by leaders of each of these parties to
, develop score or more of Soviets
throughout the country. These were
Ito be merged under a Soviet council
similar TO that which now exists in
Russia, according to Mr.. Garvin.
The department revealed activities
of these two organizations among the
negroes. Their attempts to organize
the negroes in support of plans to
overthrow the present political and
economic system were carried far,