The Inner Circle

Scales then proceeded to tell the audience in general and the city officials in particular that he would himself appoint a committee “whose inner workings were secret,” and see if he could not get around the matter that way.  The officers of the League were then elected.  The President was County Coroner David Livingstone, who afterwards helped to lynch Wesley Everest.  Dr. Livingstone made his money from union miners.  William Scales was vice president and Hubbard was treasurer.  The secret committee was then appointed by Hubbard.  As its name implies it was an underground affair, similar to the Black Hundreds of Old Russia.  No record of any of its proceedings has ever come to light, but according to best available knowledge, Warren O. Grimm, Arthur McElfresh, B.S.  Cromier and one or two others who figured prominently in the raid, were members.  At all events on November 6th, five days before the shooting, Grimm was elected Commander of the Centralia Post of the American Legion, taking the place of Scales, who resigned in his favor.  Scales evidently was of the opinion that a Siberian veteran and athlete was better fitted to lead the “shock troops” than a mere counter-jumper like himself.  There is no doubt but the secret committee had its members well placed in positions of strategic importance for the coming event.

The following day the Tacoma News Tribune carried a significant editorial on the subject of the new organization: 

“At Centralia a committee of citizens has been formed that takes the mind back to the old days of vigilance committees of the West, which did so much to force law-abiding citizenship upon certain lawless elements.  It is called the Centralia Protective Association, and its object is to combat I.W.W. activities in that city and the surrounding country.  It invites to membership all citizens who favor the enforcement of law and order ...  It is high time for the people who do believe in the lawful and orderly conduct of affairs to take the upper hand ...  Every city and town might, with profit, follow Centralia’s example.”

The reference to “law and orderly conduct of affairs” has taken a somewhat ironical twist, now that Centralia has shown the world what she considers such processes to be.

No less significant was an editorial appearing on the same Date in the Centralia Hub: 

“If the city is left open to this menace, we will soon find ourselves at the mercy of an organized band of outlaws bent on destruction.  What are we going to do about it?” And, referring to the organization of the “secret committee,” the editorial stated:  “It was decided that the inner workings of the organization were to be kept secret, to more effectively combat a body using similar tactics.”  The editorial reeks with lies; but it was necessary that the mob spirit should be kept at white heat at all times.  Newspaper incitation has never been punished by law, yet it is directly responsible for more murders, lynching and raids than any other one force in America.