"Drastic Steps to Stop Anti-War Activities," Arkansas Gazette, September 6, 1917

              TO STOP ANTI- 

WAR ACTIVITIES 

Headquarters of I.W.W. 

Raided and All Docu- 

ments Seized 

WASHINGTON ACTS 

Order for Raids and Seizures 

is Nation-Wide, and Af- 

fects All Branches 

NO FORMAL CHARGE MADE 

INVESTIGATING HERE 

"Apparently those I.W.W. mem- 

bers are being arrested as a means 

of obtaining evidence," said W. 

H. Rector, assistant United States 

district attorney for the Eastern 

District of Arkansas last night 

after reading the dispatches tell- 

ing of the wholesale arrests.  Mr. 

Recotr said that investigators 

from his department have been 

sent to northern parts of the state 

to investigate activities of the 

Working Class Union.  "This or- 

ganization is something like the I. 

W.W., only worse," he said.  It 

seems to have some strength in Ar- 

kansas, while the I.W.W. has lit- 

tle following in this state so far 

as I have been able to learn."  

Washington, Sept. 5 -- the govern- 

ment today took drastic measures to 

end the anti-war propaganda and ac- 

tivities conducted in the name of the 

Industrial Workers of the World, the 

Socialist party and other organi- 

zations throughout the United States.  

On orders from Attorney General 

Gregory, United States marshals in 

many cities and towns descended at 2 

p.m., Central time, upon local head- 

quarters of the Industrial Workers of 

the World, seized books, checks, cor- 

respondence and other documents, and 

in some instances arrested officials 

found upon the premises.  

In Chicago federal agents took pos- 

session of the national headquarters 

of the Socialist party and a warrant 

authorizing the seizure of its docu- 

ments was served upon its lawyer.