<P> An IWW newspaper, the Industrial Worker, wrote just before the U.S. declaration of war: "Capitalists of America, we will fight against you, not for you! There is not a power in the world that can make the working class fight if they refuse ." Yet when a declaration of war was passed by the U.S. Congress in April 1917, the IWW's general secretary - treasurer Bill Haywood became determined that the organization should adopt a low profile in order to avoid perceived threats to its existence . The printing of anti-war stickers was discontinued, stockpiles of existing anti-war documents were put into storage, and anti-war propagandizing ceased as official union policy . After much debate on the General Executive Board, with Haywood advocating a low profile and GEB member Frank Little championing continued agitation, Ralph Chaplin brokered a compromise agreement . A statement was issued that denounced the war, but IWW members were advised to channel their opposition through the legal mechanisms of conscription . They were advised to register for the draft, marking their claims for exemption "IWW, opposed to war ." </P> <P> In spite of the IWW moderating its vocal opposition, the IWW's antiwar stance made it highly unpopular . Frank Little, the IWW's most outspoken war opponent, was lynched in Butte, Montana in August 1917, just four months after war had been declared . </P> <P> During World War I the U.S. government moved strongly against the IWW . On September 5, 1917, U.S. Department of Justice agents made simultaneous raids on dozens of IWW meeting halls across the country . Minutes books, correspondence, mailing lists, and publications were seized, with the U.S. Department of Justice removing five tons of material from the IWW's General Office in Chicago alone . This seized material was scoured for possible violations of the Espionage Act of 1917 and other laws, with a view to future prosecution of the organization's leaders, organizers, and key activists . </P> <P> Based in large measure on the documents seized September 5, one hundred and sixty - six IWW leaders were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Chicago for conspiring to hinder the draft, encourage desertion, and intimidate others in connection with labor disputes, under the new Espionage Act . One hundred and one went on trial en masse before Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1918 . Their lawyer was George Vanderveer of Seattle . They were all convicted--including those who had not been members of the union for years--and given prison terms of up to twenty years . Sentenced to prison by Judge Landis and released on bail, Haywood fled to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic where he remained until his death . </P>

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