Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-17
MINERS MAY AID
IMPRISONED MEN
WESTERN FEDERATION SENDS
LAWYER TO INVESTIGATE
ALLEGED REVoLuTloNIsTs MAY
BE TAKEN TO ARIZONA
Attorney Is Doubtful About Territorial
Courts, but Says Public officers
Will Give Prisoners Fair
Treatment

Whether the Western Federation of
Miners win or will not come to the as
sistance of the alleged Mexican revo-
lutionists, Ricardo Flores Magon, An
tonic Villareal and Librado Rivera. now
held incommunicado at the county jail,
is a question which is absorbing the in
terest of friends of the prisoners and
which will be determined by the report
of Attorney William b. Cleary of Ari-
IONA. who is now in Los Angeles on
behalf of the miners of that territory.
Mr.. Cleary is the attorney in Arizona
for the Western Federation of Miners,
and has played an important part dur
ing the past few years in the politics
and history of the territory. He ar
rived at Los Angeles Monday and IS
stopping at the Westminster.
Il am here to study the legal aspects
of the case of the Mexican prisoners
explained Attorney Cleary yesterday.
Il do not know whether the Western
Federation of Miners win decide to
take the part of the imprisoned men.
I am merely studying the legal feat
ures of the case with Attorney Job
Hartman so L shall understand it
should l be required to take charge
of it.
mo. I will not remain here in any
event to assist in the defense of the
prisoners. l shall take charge of the
case if the prisoners are taken to ArI-
IONA.
zone of the problems which we are
considering is the advisability of allow
ing the prisoners to be taken imme-
diately to Arizona or, awaiting the de-
cision of the supreme court, to ask that
the prisoners be left in Los Angeles
for trial.
1.-The mining men have not decided
what course they will pursue in the
matter. In November of this year
Bisbee Miners union No. passed q
resolution to give all the aid and as
sistanee possible to the Mexican prls-
oners. but with this exception the
union has taken no action. 1t is by
reason of that resolution l have been
sent here.
mo. there is absolutely no prob
ability of the prisoners being kidnapped
and taken across the border, as was
Serab That was the work of an
alleged corrupt deputy at Douglas. The
state and federal authorities had Moth
ing to do with it. You can safely say
the prisoners will not be kidnapped if
taken to Arizona for trial.
is Not Sure of Courts
"As to the fairness of trial and treat
ment which they are likely to receive
In Arizona I am not prepared to state.
Governor Joseph H. Kibbey, yesterday
appointed by President Roosevelt for
second term is absolutely fearless, and
always has treated labor fairly. United
States Marshal Ben Daniels, Captain
Wheeler of the Rangers and most of
the officers of the state are fair and
square. and will give us every chance.
AS to the courts of Arizona I am not
so sure.
1.-THE large smelter interests of
Douglas and the Southern Pacific rail-
road are against us. They are all inter-
ested in Mexico and want to keep Mex
lean labor peonized as long as possible,
and viii resist every effort of Mexican
labor to educate itself and rise from
mental positions.
I'VE have the same boss in Arizona
as you have in Los Angeles-that Is,
the Southern Pacific and Herrin. Here
it works mostly through the Republ-
can party. In Arizona it works through
the dominant party, which is Demo-
cratic. In New Mexico it shifts its poll
tics again and works through the Re
publican party. This merely illustrates
the fact that the S. p has no party
loyalty, but works through the leaders
OF any party which happens to be in
power i'm the state where it operates.
"Arizona is unique among American
commemorative III having chief exec
utive and public officers who are fair
TO labor as we'll as to other interests.
This is largely due to the influence Of
Theodore Roosevelt"
Mr. Cleary is a man of much force
and has a record of never having lost a
case in Arizona, where he has been
practicing for number of years. If
ne should be placed in charge of the
defense of the alleged revolutionists he
is sure to put up stubborn fight III
their behalf.