 Hoover hoped that all 55 members of the CPUSA 's National Committee would be indicted and was disappointed that the prosecutors chose to pursue only twelve . A week before the arrests , Hoover complained to the Justice Department – recalling the arrests and convictions of over one hundred leaders of the Industrial Workers of the World ( IWW ) in 1917 – " the IWW was crushed and never revived , similar action at this time would have been as effective against the Communist Party . " 
