Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1909 — SOCIALISTS ACCUSED IN PETITION TO KNOX [ARTICLE]

SOCIALISTS ACCUSED IN PETITION TO KNOX

Secretary of State Called Upon to Make Investigation. Washington, May 14.—When Secre tary of State Knox reaches his desk he will find a petition from the state council of Pennsylvania, Order of Inde pendent Americans, demanding an in vestigation of charges against socialists now resident in the United States . Expressing the belief that the alle gallons warrant government interfer enee, the petitioners ask that steps be taken to suppress the socialists and try them either for treason, insurrection or unlawful interference with the affairs of good government. The petitioners call attention to alle gations that in case of war between America and a foreign power, thr socialists are pledged to engage ii anything which may terminate such a conflict even to causing a general strike and insurrection against the government; that they are contribut Ing towards the printing of literature to inflame people against our govern went; that they are trying to product race hatred; that the mails are beiny used by the socialists with the hopt that it w ill force our army and navy to mutiny, and advocating a pqwder and shot revolution; that debasing litera tufe is contained in socialist books, and that an effort is being made tc overthrow the churches of the coun try. Another allegation is that the socialists are trying to make school teachers socialists so that they shall disseminate falsehoods among school children.