The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-26
RADICAL
MEETING
RAIDED
Authorities Arrest S
Eighteen Leaders Of
Communist P art ty
Who Were Plotting
Trouble

l. L. " OS4o4S
Washington. Aug. 23.-The ar
rest Of Il alleged Communists af-
ter the secret convention OF the
Communist party at Bridgeman,
Mich. yesterday by Michigan state
authorities disclosed a program
for the organization of Communist
groups in the army and navy, and
!, for the initiation of militant action
on the part Of radicals in the Unit
/: ed States. according to information
from official sources in Washington
today.
/ William j. Burns, chief of the
bureau of investigation Of the de-
partment of justice, declined to
comment in any way on the Micai-
gan arrest. but in other quarters
it was said that definite connec-
ton between the Communist Inter-
/. rationale Of Soviet Russia and the
Friends Of Soviet Russia in the
United States had been established
with the Communist party, other
wise known in America under It's
reorganization name as the Work.
ers' party
Many prominent alleged Com,
munists who. attended the conven-
ton managed to eiude the autfori-
ties by automobile, according to
information here. These included,
officials asserted, William q. Fos-
ter of the Trade Unions Education,
al league, described as active in
Communist councils: Boris Rein
stein, formerly military propa-
gandist with the Red army in. Rus
sia who recently arrived in the
United States. and one Lozovsky.
general secretary Of the Red Union
Trade gnion Internationale, who
has been in the United States for
the last two years. Before attend
ing the conference at sBridgeman,
it was said. ne was IN secret con-
ference with several OF the leading
radicals in New YORK city
Oficials; said last year the sec.
ret convention of Communists
was held undisturbed at Wood
stock, n. T. This year, they add
I ed. the place Of assenblage vas set
; for Chicag go, and the delegates were
then taken across Lake Michigan
to Bridgennan. Information now
ever. was placed in the hands OF
! the Michigan commissioner OF pub
lie safety by secret agents and the
trap. was sprung. but not before
some had escaped.
| The Communist party became an
underground organization, it was
said. after the arrests Of Janu-
ary, 1920. and after its operation
had been adjudged illegal by the
government and various state
courts. The Workers party was
then formed and this was declared
by officials to be under the, control
and complete discipline Of the Com
munist party. Thousands of circu-
lars were sent out by the Work.
ers' party during the coal and
rail strikes, urging workers to
mass eaction.'' officials asserted.
William Dunn, one of those tax
en- into custody at Bridgeman, was
declared by officials to be the gu
bernatorial candidate Of the Work
ers' party in New York at the eiec-
ton next November.
Chicago, Aug. 2s.-William 2
Foster. president of the Trades
Union Educational league. who has
been sought by federal agents as
one Of those participating in an al
legged radical convention held in
forest near Bridgeman, Mich, was
taken into custody tonight while
in the Offices of the Educational
league. Foeter strongly denied
having attended the convention