[Illustration:  Hizzoner, The Jedge

In his black robe, like a bird of prey, he perched above the courtroom and ruled always adversely to the cause of labor.  Appointed to try men accused of killing other men whom he had previously eulogized Judge John M. Wilson did not disappoint those who appointed him.  In open court Vanderveer told him.  In open court Vanderveer told this man:  “There was a time when I thought your rulings were due to ignorance of the law.  That will no longer explain them.”]

Warren O. Grimm came from a good family and was a small town aristocrat.  His brother is city attorney at Centralia.  Grimm was a lawyer, a college athlete and a social lion.  He had been with the American forces in Siberia and his chief bid for distinction was a noisy dislike for the Worker’s & Peasants’ Republic of Russia, and the I.W.W. which he termed the “American Bolsheviki”.  During the 1918 raid on the Centralia hall Grimm is said to have been dancing around “like a whirling dervish” and waving the American flag while the work of destruction was going on.  Afterwards he became prominent in the American Legion and was the chief “cat’s paw” for the lumber interests who were capitalizing the uniform to gain their own unholy ends.  Personally he was a clean-cut modern young man.

Shadows Cast Before

On June 26th, the following notice appeared conspicuously on the first page of the Centralia Hub: 

Meeting of Business Men Called for Friday Evening

“Business men and property owners of Centralia are urged to attend a meeting tomorrow in the Chamber of Commerce rooms to meet the officers of the Employers’ Association of the state to discuss ways and means of bettering the conditions which now confront the business and property interests of the state.  George F. Russell, Secretary-Manager, says in his note to business men:  ’We need your advice and your co-operation in support of the movement for the defense of property and property rights.  It is the most important question before the public today.’”

At this meeting Mr. Russell dwelt on the statement that the “radicals” were better organized than the property interests.  Also he pointed out the need of a special organization to protect “rights of property” from the encroachments of all “foes of the government”.  The Non-Partisan League, the Triple Alliance and the A.F. of L. were duly condemned.  The speaker then launched out into a long tirade against the Industrial Workers of the World which was characterized as the most dangerous organization in America and the one most necessary for “good citizens” to crush.  Needless to state the address was chock full of 100% Americanism.  It amply made up in forcefulness anything it lacked in logic.

So the “Citizens’ Protective League” of Centralia was born.  From the first it was a law unto itself—­murder lust wearing the smirk of respectability—­Judge Lynch dressed in a business suit.  The advent of this infamous league marks the final ascendancy of terrorism over the Constitution in the city of Centralia.  The only things still needed were a secret committee, a coil of rope and an opportunity.