Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1917 — TROOPS AT ROCKFORD [ARTICLE]

TROOPS AT ROCKFORD

STATE SOLDIERS QUELL I. W. W. RIOTERS IN ILLINOIS. Department df Justice Agents Busy Rounding Up Draft Slackers — Wisconsin Pict Charged. Rockford. 111., June B.—Companies II and K, Third Regiment, are under arms here, to curb renewed unong the I. W. W. and Socialists who refused to comply with the, selective draft law. James Cully, an I. W, W. organizer, whose harangue stirred the rioters to march to the county Jail, was arrested on a charge of treason. Duluth, Mihm, June B.—Six hundred slackers are t.d be arrested here, according to the lists sent in by registrars. I. W. W. slackens are said to have kept many men in the Mesaba range from registering. Washington, Ju.ne’S.—While the government moved rapidly toward selecting the draft men£ of justice agents were rounding up slackers and anti-conscrlptionists. More than 200 arrests were made during the day, it was estimated several thousand offenders were in jail. I, W. W. members were prominent in the list of prisoners. Charges of an organized plot to defeat the draft were laid before President Wilson by L. W. Neiman, editor of a Milwaukee newspaper. lie declared influences were at work to overthrow the entire military program. Department of justice agents"arrested 140 1. W. W. members In Rockford, Freeport and Belvidere, 111. J Arrests also Were made at Bristol, Conn.; Scranton, Pa.; Seattle, Hubbell, Neb.; Trenton, Neb.; Mason City, la.; Little Rock, la., and other cities. The Wisconsin plot, as disclosed by Neiman, included the use of pro-Ger-man newspapers in carrying on the propaganda? He was introduced to President Wilson by Senator Hasting of Wisconsin and presented a list of charges with evidence. Federal agents are working on the case and early arrests are likely.