The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-08
Federation Committee
Brands McNamarasa as
Disgrace to Cause.
WILL WELCOME
INVESTIGATION
Any knowledge of Crimes Conn
mitted Vehemently Disclairned,
but Dynamiting Is Partly Con-
doned - Mechanical Is
Telling His Story to
Grand Jury.

Washington. D. c., December -
Branding James B. and John ]. Nc
Namara as "recreant to the good name
ana nigh ideals OF labor" and EXPRESS
ing the satisfaction of organized la Dor
That the "culprits have been commen-
surateiy punished for their crimes" the
McNamara ways and means COMMITTEES
OF the American Federation of Labor.
after two days conference here. lato
to-day Issued statement violently
condeEning the McNamaras for "their!
lnhumanity." and declaring that organ
lied labor should not be held ..eithor
legally or morally responsible for the
crimes OF an individual member"
inc labor leaders assert that they
VIII welcome any investigation which
either Federal or State courts may un-
dertake." -'-i
The statement is signed by every
member of the Mcnamara committees
except +. NJ. Ryan, president of the
International Bridge and Structural.
Iron Workers Union. with which John
d. McNamara, one of the convicted Los
Angeles Times dynamIters, was prom
inentiy connected officially. Mr.. Ryan
was present yesterday. but returned ia
indianapolis early to-day.
Would Have Signed 1t.
Had he remained, however," said
President Gompers, positively. II am
sure that AIR. Ryan would have added
MS signature. He was called back to
indianapolis by pressure of business.
Tie did not see the statement, but am
sure he Is In accord heartily with its
sentiments" ~.
As to their knowledge Of the crime
to which the McNamaras confessed.
the committee. In Its statement, asserts:
we here and now, individually and
effectively, declare that the hrst
knowledge or intimation of their guilt
was conveyed by the press In their
confessions of guilt.
From the outset we assured all con-
tributors and the public generally thar
we would publish an accounting OF
tho moneys received. from whom rc.
lsceived and to whom paid. A report In
full will be made first to the eSecu-
tive council of the American Fedora
Ition of Labor ct It's meeting to be
held at Washington, January s. 1919.
Organized labor of America" tho
statement continues, "has no desire to
condone the crimes Of tho McNamaras.
1t joins In tho satisfaction that the
majesty or the law has been main
tanned and the culprits commensurate
ly punished for their crime"
Partly Condoned.
Partly condoning the crime of tho
McNamaras. however the statement
says In the following breath: And yet
II is an awful commentary upon exists
ing conditions when any one man
among oil the millions OF workers can
bring himself to the frame of mind
that the only means to secure justice
for labor Is In violence, outrage and
murder. 1t is cruelty unjust to hold
the men OF the labor movement either
legally or morally responsible for the
crimes OF on individual member. M
such moral code or legal responsible
ity is placed upon any other associa-
tion of men In our country.
I'm so far as We have the right to
speak In the name of organized labor,
we welcome any investigation which
either Federal or State courts may
undertake. The sessions of the con-
.vcntons OF tho American Fedora ton OF
Labor are held with open doors that
all may see and hear what is being
said and done. The books, accounts
and correspondence of the federation
are open to any competent authority
an investigation OF them
The men of organized labor. In
common with all our people," the COM
mittee ahirms, are grieved beyond ex-
preston II words at the loss of life
and the destruction of property, not
only In the case under discussion, but
IN any other case which may have
to think that any man connected with
the labor movement should have been
builty of either.
The lesson this grave crime teaches
however. will have its salutary effect
1t VIII demonstrate now more than
ever the inhulnanty, as well as the
rutiiity of resorting 10 violence in the
effort to right wrongs or to attain
rights"
I>idnnppfp, rnnJ.,.,nt
While not defending the crime Of
the McNamaras. the COMMITTEES con-
demned the kidnapping" of the Nc
Namaras. who. they say. were ar
rested in Russian style. not Amer
ican. In the method OF arrest they
find 'hgh-handed irreguIarity and
tyrannical lawlessness,' and W. j..
severely criticized. Organized labor
properly expressed It's condemnation
Of violence on hearing of the Los
Angeles disaster. 1t is claimed
The universal condemnation OF a
murderous deed in labor circles ought
to be fact so fnr beyond question:
the statement proceeds. 80 easily as
eertalnable from accessible records 4
that no man with any regard for his
reputation for veracity could deny Ii.
Violence. brutality, destruction OF
life and property are foreign to the
aims and methods of organized labor
Of America, and no interest is moro Sc
ve-ely injured by the employment OF
such. methods than that OF the work. 1.
ers organized in the labor movement
Therefore, quite apart from the
spirit of humanitarianism and JUS
tice which prompts tho activities of
the organized labor movement, policy \
and hopes for success forbid the re-
sort to violence. Tho American labor
movement and its men are loyal
Americans and seek to obtain. tho &