New-York tribune., 1922-08-24
% Deputies Raid Radical
Meeting at Midnight in
Michigan Hills and Ar
rests Follow Quickly
Rose Stokes and
SO More Trailed
Buried Evidence Reveals
Plan to Use Rail Strike
TO War ON Government
Special Dispatch TO The Tribune


William z. Foster, head of the Trades
Educational League, in Chicago to-
night, the seizure Of seventeen mem
bers of the Communist party of Amer
lea, and a nation wide search for
more than fifty other persons, includ-
ing Rose Pastor Stokes, of New York
City. Federal and Michigan state au-
thorities announced the breaking up
OF what they term great radical con-
spiracy.
A majority Of those held were cap
tured in a midnight raid in the hills
of Berrien County, Michigan, twelve
miles south of Benton Harbor, where
the Reds had assembled for their an
nual convention.
Federal authorities say that plans
were discussed whereby the existing
railroad strike was to be used as q
means of spreading a program of vio-
lence.
Sixty Deputies in Raid
For three days Federal officials
watched them, powerless to act with
out authority from Washington. Then
came tip to the radicals and all but
seventeen disappeared inside of an
hour. The rest were surrounded by
sixty deputy sheriffs, members of the
Michigan state constabulary and
agents of the Department of Justice,
and seized.
Foster, one Of those escaping, was
trailed to Chicago. He was taken at
his office.
Mrs. Stokes, whose trial in radical
circles has been blazoned by consider
able publicity, escaped, Federal officials
say She is particularly wanted; her
watched, as well as the homes Of her
numerous acquaintances.
Seventeen Reds have been rounded
up. Chief among them is c. z. Ruthen-
berg, once candidate FOR Mayor of
Cleveland and one of the most widely
known revolutionary radicals in the
nation. Arrested countless times, he
is still under indictment In Chicago for
his activities with the party here in
19l9-20. He is now the national execu-
tive secretary of the Workers party
is the head of its activities in this
country
Others Under Arrest
Also under arrest are Norman Pole
cline, head of the British branch Of the
party; William E. Dunno, editor of
"The Worker" radical organ Of
Butte, Mont; Caleb Harrison, a Chi
cagoan who has been lecturing for the
Communist groups; Thomas r. Sulli-
van, st. Louis, chairman of the Ma
tional convention of the Workers
party; William Reynolds and Cyril
Lambkin, Detroit adherents; Max Ler-
80 AL.
Camden, N. j.; Alexander Bail, of Phil
adelphia, Pa; J. Michele, of Kansas
City; Thomas O'Flaherty, of New
York; z. Nordling, Portland, Ore, and
Charles Erickson, Of Chicago. Erick-
son, it is said, will not be held
Warrants charging violation Of the
Michigan State Syndicalist law were
Immediately prepared. Arrangement
will come at st. Joseph tomorrow.
After the raid the Federal agents
began combing the territory sur
rounding the meeting place. They
discovered mound of fresh earth.
Below it they found two barrels. One
contained five typewriters and MIN
seventy-three bulk parchment en-
yelopes.
1t was in the latter that the Federal
officials found their greatest interest.
Here were lists Of membership Of the
Communist party; and opposite the
name Of each member were cabalistic
markings to denote their standing in
revolutionary work.
Here were plans written by the pens
of secretaries of Lenine and Trotzky
in Russia ia-plans whereby the govern
ment of the United States might be
supplanted by a Soviet government.
There were scores of pamphlets, some
in English, some in Russian, all ad-
|vocating revolutionary tactics.
The story of how the army and navy
and police system was to be over
come in the final battle between "The
proletariat and the capitalists" was
|.retold. 1t was the most convincing
and complete expose Of radical plans
ever seen by the experts examining
the documents.
Fosters home was raided. 1t was
found that his papers had been moved
several hours previously. Foster was
held incommunicado tonight, awaiting
extradition papers from Michigan.
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