Today -100: September 6, 1917: German loyalty will bring to nought every attempt to separate the German people and their Kaiser

Russia arrests some more grand dukes and countesses.

The US arrests IWW president Big Bill Hayward and raids IWW offices all over the country. Also the Socialist Party’s hq in Chicago. The Wilson administration has decided to destroy the IWW, and it pretty much will. The NYT claims from an unnamed source that the IWW had a nation-wide plot to burn corn and wheat crops, disrupt mining, and commit “a multitude of crimes” to disrupt the war effort.

The grand jury that issued the IWW search warrants is rumored to also be investigating Chicago Mayor Big Bill Thompson (yes, everyone named Bill in 1917 was nicknamed Big Bill, it was the law) and the pro-Thompson newspaper The Republican.

The Justice Department is also investigating the German-language press for possible prosecutions.

Kerensky sends the governor-general of Finland back to Helsinki with dictatorial powers to put down any moves towards independence.

Kaiser Wilhelm finally responds to Woodrow Wilson’s reply to the pope, saying “German loyalty will bring to nought every attempt to separate the German people and their Kaiser.” It probably sounds even more pompous in the original.

With male elevator operators all off to the front, Greenhut’s department store on 6th becomes the first to employ elevator girls.

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