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Begun for Authors of Red Propaganda
Chicago Bankers, Government Officials and Michigan Police Unhesitatingly Blame Communist Party for Systematized Attack on Integrity of Financial Institutions in Many Large Cities
Chicago, July communistic propaganda found Pontiac, Mich., hotel were sought today by the secret service and detectives everywhere the directors of campaign against the confidence bank depositors. Chicago bankers, government ficials and Michigan police unhesitatingly blamed the communist party systematized attack the integrity financial institutions in many large cities, particthe runs which threatened every bank Chicago month. said by Smith, prosecuting attorney Pontiac, have been backed by Soviet RusWilliam Foster, communist candidate for president, denied his organization had sponsored whispering campaign against the first national bank of Pontiac, or that man known as George Rowland, in whose room seditious letters were found, was member the party. "Rowland," was believed today really to be George Powers, once candidate for president Queens borough in York City with record for criminal syndicalism in Michigan since last August. He escaped police trap his raided hotel room and became object national dragnet.
Illinois' drastic sedition viding 20 years imprisonment and directed against "anyone advocates reformation of ment by violence any lawful means," eyed the handiest weapon should any radicaught and connected with the Pontiac literature For letters signed "Yours for the revolution," and some discussed bringing about the unrest which will lead Chicago's June bank runs closed more than 40 includtwo in the loop, and caused city's citato store upwards of $100,000,000 in cash hand in order meet demands of depositors. The situation here. no longer acute, appeared definitely linked with in the Pontiac letters sent from Chicago, advising "Rowland" that there was "much progress here" and "considerable runs jugs in Melvin Traylor, president of the First Bank formhead the American Bankers Association, blamed the "radicals He said believed the "plot and that he had reports from many cities that similar system was used frightening depositors by anonymous telephone messages. Rowland's letters told of plan, discussed but abandoned, simultaneous many key cities. Other Chicago bankers radicals opened 400 bank accounts and then withdrew them simultaneously, spreading news of the The American vigilant intellifederation identified rade H. Rowland's Cleveland correspondent, Harry Gannes, director agitation and propaganda for the New They said he in Chicaduring 1931 when bank runs first became serious. Rowland's Chicago formant, they said, Herbert Newton, alias Gilmer Brady, with offices communist headquarters in West Madison St indicted in Atlanta for criminal syndicalism and studying sociology the Univerof Chicago. The federal seditious conspiracy makes force essential to prosecution for attempts to overthrow the government. Federal the service has jurisdiction over rumors against banks but that most state laws make them crimes.