Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-02
DECLARE CONFESSIONS
Wilt NOT HURT CAUSE
Labor Leaders Assert Abhor-
renee of the Deeds of the
McNamaras.

That the confession of the McNamaras
will not affect organized labor or the
cause Of organized labor to any great ex-
tent is the opinion expressed today by
John B. Lennon. president of the union
label trades department. of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor.
1.-The confession, of course, will be used
as a tool against organized labor. and its
cause, by many Of its enemies" he said,
''but fair-minded persons and the great
majority of people will not suffer their
opinion to be changed on account of 1t.
"Organized labor has never countenanc-
ed such deeds of violence or anything
that tends to violence. The confession
of the McNamaras comes as a great
shock to us all. We were led firmly to
believe that they were innocent, both by
those who knew James B. Mcnamara
and his brother. and those who heard
him declare his innocence himself and
make statements to that effect to the
labor people all over the country. 1t Is
that am not prepared to make formal
statement until have studied the situa-
ton more thoroughly.
II do say, though, that If they have
pleaded guilty, then let justice take Its
course. Organized labor can no longer
take up their cause. as it will never coun-
tenance such acts Of violence"
Will Not Support Known Criminals.
Caleb H. Adams, vice president of the
Central Labor Union of the District. was
loath to make any statement, he said.
until the next meeting Of the union. But
he remarked: 1T is not for me, as an
individual, to speak for the labor move
ment in the District Of Columbia with
reference to the news from Los Angeles.
The Central Labor Union may at its next
the situation. AS an individual I might
say that many of us had been led to be-
lieve in the innocence Of the Mcnamara
brothers because of their own repeated
declarations and the confidence in their
Innocence Of those who knew them inti-
imately.
! Our belief was sustained by the UNI
usual methods employed In making their
arrests and transfer from one. state to
another. While we stand ready at all
times to assist those who may need our
aid In a worthy movement, it may be de-
pended upon that no person whose guilt
Of crime has been established can hope
to receive encouragement. aid or support
from our people.
McNamaras Not Representative.
p. ]. Ryan, chairman Of the legislative
committee Of the Central Labor Union.
said that In making a statement he was
speaking solely for himself and not for
organized labor.
mitted their guilt of the charges against
them" Mr.. Ryan said, "and in so doing
they should be dealt with according to
the law and punished as the law sees
10 got
patriotic. well-directed spirit Of the labor
movement and have brought discredit
upon the organization.
1.-The American Federation of Labor and
labor men all over the country took their
they believed them to be innocent of the
charges Personal intimacy with the Nc
Namaras and their own declarations Of
innocence led them to believe that they
were aiding in q just cause. and. looking
at 1t in that light broadminded people.
unprejudiced, will not be affected by their
confession.
1.-The McNamaras are not to be taken
as a type Of labor leader; they have
betrayed their trust and acted in con-
trast to the principles Of the labor cause
Fair-minded men will not hold organized
labor accountable for their acts.
Labor Not Discredited.
"Organized labor will not be affected
to any extent by the developments in the
Mcnamara case, in my opinion" said
William Johnson, president-elect of the
International Association of Machinists.
The machinists' union is one of the
strongest bodies AFFILIATED with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. and its men,
bers. as well as officers. have taken a
Ing Of funds for the defense of the Nc
Namara brothers.
The enemies of labor will. Of course.
seize upon this eventuality as ammuni-
ton and fire away at the strongholds OF
the workingman. but as a weapon to
discredit labor unions it will prove i'm
potent. They are founded on divine laws
that OF the brotherhood of man and the
fatherhood Of God-and acts Of violence
are not and never will be tolerated
President Gompers and his associates
| have in no way been injured in the eyes
of union men by the confession of the
McNamaras. The officers of the Amer
| lean Federation of Labor have from the
| outset acted entirely in good faith in their
course. They were misled. No action
whatever was taken by them until they
had thoroughly Investigated the charges
and had become satisfied In their own
minds that the McNamaras were innocent
| Of the charges-were victims not of a
conspiracy against themselves alone, but
against labor as an organized body.
nsre is n, not one ba6y Of ns sh
l
represent who for one minute would
countenance any such action as has been
confessed to by the McNamaras. Active
as they were in their defense while con-
WINGED they were blameless, you will find,
now they have acknowledged their guilt.
none more anxious that they be ade-
ouately punished as speedily as the law
DEGREES.
I'VE deprecate and abhor such tactics
az were used in Los Angeles and earnest
" hope for. and will work to have, such
punishment as IL due melted out to every
person who had q hand in the perpetra-
ton of this outrage
| McNamaras the Exception.
| W. E. Burke. business agent Of the
electrical workers Of the District Of
columbia. said: They were never put
up to that by organised labor. Where
lone man, may be found who will do
such a thing, 1000 will be found who
will not countenance 1t. When labor
gets up anything like that, I'll be a
1 rat sure. 1t is just such people as
the McNamaras who get organized labor
lin trouble They are usually put up
to such things by bugs.
| willing to Hang the Criminals.
Thomas M. Ryan. delegate Of the