The Daily Alaska Empire

COMMIES MAKE MORNING SEIZURE WISCONSIN TOWN

Mayor Dragged Into Street - Police Chief Shot Down in Mock May Day

MOSINEE, Wis., May 1-(P)--The pajama-clad mayor was dragged into the snowy street and the chief of police was "executed" today as a mock May Day insurrection clamped an iron hand over this paper mill community at sunrise.

Police Chief Caryl Gewiss was theoretically shot down in his headquarters for failure to turn over his office to the Reds. Leader of the flying squad which took over the police station was Benjamin Gitlow, who once was the real Secretary-General of the Communist party in the United States.

Real party members were not in evidence as the 2,200 residents of Mosinee began the one-day trial of life under Soviet rule. However, copies of the Daily Worker and pamphlets denouncing the American-Legion sponsored demonstration were distributed to homes some time Saturday night.

Dragged From Bed

The surprise element apparently was maintained even for city officials in on the planning. One of the coordinated assault teams of six armed men each dragged protesting Mayor Ralph E. Kronenwetter from his bed into the snowy street. He faced Joseph Jack Kornfeder, the Commissar-for-the-day, who told the shivering mayor he was an "enemy of the people."

Kronenwetter, his city hall associates and other civic leaders were allowed to dress, then were carted off to a barbed wire enclosure.

While the first arrests were made other assault teams threw up road blocks, posted proclamations and raised the Red banner over city hall and the police station.

"Commies" In Control

Three hours after the first officials were seized the city was in almost complete control of the Communists. There was one notable exception-an American flag still streamed brightly over the police station, apparently overlooked by the security police.

Red flags bearing the hammer and sickle over most business places and armed guards patrolled public buildings.

Clergyman Imprisoned

Gitlow and two of his police imprisoned a clergyman whom they found in the pulpit of his church, Emanuel Lutheran Mission.

Proclaiming "We confiscate your church as an institution against the working class," Gitlow sent the Rev. Lyle Koenig to the barbed-wire enclosure.

"You teach superstition, you believe in the hereafter," Gitlow shouted at the pastor.

Most Mosinee residents took the maneuvers seriously but a few openly scoffed.

COMMIES MAKE MORNING SEIZURE WISCONSIN TOWN
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of Moscow, Idaho, aren't taking a back seat to the bigwigs in Moscow, Russia, today.
In the USSR's Moscow, May Day, the traditional Soviet holiday, is being celebrated with military parades, acres of red bunting, speeches and mass homage to portraits of Stalin, Lenin and members of the