There was the usual brand of hypocritical and fervid speechmaking.  The flag was waved, the Government was lauded and the Constitution praised.  Then, after the war-like proclivities of the stay-at-home heroes had been sufficiently worked upon; flag, Government and Constitution were forgotten long enough for the gang to go down the street and raid the “wobbly” hall.

Dominating the festivities was the figure of F.B.  Hubbard, at that time President of the Employers’ Association of the State of Washington.  This is neither Hubbard’s first nor last appearance as a terrorist and mob-leader—­usually behind the scenes, however, or putting in a last minute appearance.

[Illustration:  Avalon Hotel, Centralia

From this point Elsie Hornbeck claimed she identified Eugene Barnett in the open window with a rifle.  Afterwards she admitted that her identification was based only on a photograph shown her by the prosecution.  This young lady nearly fainted on the witness stand while trying to patch her absurd story together.]

The 1918 Raid

It had been rumored about town that the Union Hall was to be wrecked on this day but the loggers at the hall were of the opinion that the business men, having driven their Secretary out of town a short time previously, would not dare to perpetrate another atrocity so soon afterwards.  In this they were sadly mistaken.

Down the street marched the parade, at first presenting no unusual appearance.  The Chief of Police, the Mayor and the Governor of the State were given places of honor at the head of the procession.  Company G of the National Guard and a gang of broad-cloth hoodlums disguised as “Elks” made up the main body of the marchers.  But the crafty and unscrupulous Hubbard had laid his plans in advance with characteristic cunning.  The parade, like a scorpion, carried its sting in the rear.

Along the main avenue went the guardsmen and the gentlemen of the Elks Club.  So far nothing extraordinary had happened.  Then the procession swerved to a side street.  This must be the right thing for the line of march had been arranged by the Chamber of Commerce itself.  A couple of blocks more and the parade had reached the intersection of First Street and Tower Avenue.  What happened then the Mayor and Chief of Police probably could not have stopped even had the Governor himself ordered them to do so.  From somewhere in the line of march a voice cried out, “Let’s raid the I.W.W.  Hall!” And the crowd at the tail end of the procession broke ranks and leaped to their work with a will.