Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-28
LABOR. UNIONS
WANT COOK
RELEASED
AMERICAN CONDUCTOR
HELD IN MEXICAN JAIL
Ambassador Ordered to Look
Into Case of Railroad Man
Held Without Bail for Trair
Robbery.

tBy Morning Journal Special Teased wirel
Washington, Dec. 2tAoting under
the demands Of labor unions, the state
department has called upon the
American embassy at Mexico city to
investigate sharply the incarceration
of Conductor James A. Cook, an
American who WAS arrested and i'm
prisoned for alleged completely in the
robbery OF freight trains on Mexican
railroad
Cook has been imprisoned some
time without trial and his friends in
this country have besciged the presi-
dent and state department that he be
given immediate liberty or admitted
to bail. In cases of this kind. the lat
ter alternative is never resorted to un-
der Mexican law.
The text of the note addressed to
the embassy is not nude public. al
though what purports To be a copy OF
the note was published In an after
noon paper here today. state de-
partment officials decline to say
whether it was authentic, but they
acknowledged that the American dip
lomatic representative in the Mexican
capital had been instructed to begin
an immediate and thorough investga-
ton of the matter ana bring the re-
to the attention Of Mexican officials
THE department deplorcs the sem
sational stories based on this act, -
said a high official of the department
tonight
''Tho United States has taken steps
to safeguard the rights of an Ameri-
can citizen because the friends of that
citizen believe these rights are not
being recognized
L.. oh ha
case. but | do know that the man In
the case has not been in prison much
longer If as long as many suspected
prisoners under the same charge have
been incarcerated In this country
awaiting trial. 1t is entirely natural
that friends of Cook should be anN-
ious about him and should likewise
exert every effort to have him brought
to a speedy trial The idea Of an
American pictured as helpless and
subjected to persecution, languishing
in foreign Jail, always viii appeal
to the tender hearted. 1t is altogeth-
er likely, however, that the Mexican
law is taking its course.
Cook. il is said here, was member
of the brotherhood Of Railway Train
men before he went To Mexico to work
there. This organization is powerful
and closely allied with other railroad
These labor bodies have bought pres
sure to bear not only on the White
House and the state department but
also on congress. The delegation
from Texas. the state from which
Cook halls, has taken the matter up.
At present the exchanges between
the United States and Mexico are
purely friendly ana Informal They
are being conducted through the reg
ular diplomatic channels and by the
state department with complete
recognition of the peculiar laws gov
erning the operation Of railroads in
Mexico Not the slightest friction. the
officials Of the department announce,
has aroused as "a result Of the inter-
change and "a satisfactory solution OF
the problem is a matter Of a rev
hours or days.
The delay In the matter Of giving
Cook "a hearing Is well known here.
Under Mexican law the conductor
of "a train which Kills or mains cit-
zen or is looted IL held without bail
until he can be heard and his case
passed upon by court Of first IN
stance. which corresponds with the
American grand jury COOK WAS arr
rested last August and has been IN
prison since. all attempts To obtain his
release on bail having been refused