The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-07-27
SOCIAL REVOLUTION
IN COUNTRY OBJECT
OF RUMOR CAMP Align
RamIfications Of Conspiracy
Are Revealed by Police at
Pontiac, Mich.
SEEK REGIONAL DIRECTOR
System Followed Was for
Agents to Undermine DEPOSIT
tors Faith in Banks

Pontiac, Mich, July 27.-(R-state
police sent out orders Wednesday for
the arrest Of George Rowland on a
charge he acted as Detroit agent OF a
radical group which planned a social
revolution by circulation OF rumors
attacking a number of large banks
in the country.
The officers said that a raid on
Rowland's hotel room here Tuesday
revealed ramifications of the plot.
Capt. Ira H. Marmon Of the stat.
police. who directed an Investigation
OF Rowland's activities here and led
the raid on his room, said letters and
kilograms seized established that
Rowland had directed circulation Of
rumorS against banks in Illinois. In
diana, Ohio and Michigan and that
ne had been instrumental in attacks
against the First National bank here.
Marmon believes Rowland was
warned by a confederate and fled.
Marmon said the letters showed
mat Rowland was one of several re-
glonal directors of attacks against
banks and that number of subordi-
mates were working under his direc-
ton IN the middle west, particularly
IN Chicago and Cleveland.
Called Big Depositors
Telephone conversations from Row.
lands hotel room, which were tapped
oy detectives, Marmon said, showed
Inc method of operation Of the ring.
Agents going into a new city. Sc
cured the names of prominent busi-
ness men from the city directory.
called them by telephone and warned
them that banks in which they had
money were unsound.
Letters written by Rowland but not
vet mailed also were taken. These.
harmon said, asked for reports on
he progress of campaigns and sue-
yested means Of procedure.
Advertisements assuring depositors
u the soundness of the First National
BANK here recently were placed in a
.ontiac newspaper after officials of
he institution said they felt that
pressure had been brought to bear
lgainst depositors.
One letter, which had been written
o Rowland by "Comrade HG" at
Cleveland read:
Tells Of Campaign
Following your instructions to me,
am writing to give you as clear a
picture as possible of our campaign
gainst the banks in this district.
You know it is slow proposition
o get people steamed up for a run.
However, your telephone program
GEMS to be working out fine. There
considerable unrest here and we
re informed by clerks in both the
Union Trust and the Cleveland Trust
hat the depositors are very nervous.
We have tried to keep up the good
York.
I'VE note here with great satisfac-
ion that you are making considerable
rogress in Pontiac and that you are
aking good crack at the one jug
bank which is there, the First Ma
lonal. and it seems to us II you can
ut that over good dent will be
1ade In the bank at Detroit and it
ont be long before our combined
ffortS will make a lot of trouble
here as well as here, Chicago and
lsewhere.
Object to Strip Faith
Il did not have much trouble in
the agitation propaganda
ureau that this was important work
nd the sooner We strip the petty
and the white collar stiff
his faith in banks the sooner we
Ill bring about the unrest that will
lad to the revolution.
"All of the other activities: CAM
align, unemployed councils, workers
x-service mems league. ETC.. are 60
lg forward satisfactorily.
I'VE will all hope to see you in the
ear future as we know you are in q
Of spot. Yours for the revolution"
A letter written to Dear Comrade
H read in part:
Il am very encouraged because We
ave had plenty Of runs against the
e banks, particularly the big five in
hicago. meaning the First National,
ontinental Illinois. ETC., and the
Mon Trust and Cleveland Trust in
leveland and others. My work here
breaking down the outpost Of the
anking structure In Detroit by break
q the First National is bearing
uit."