The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-05-12
Conspiracy
Is Manifest
A. F. OF L. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE AND
DISBURSE ALL FUNDS FOR DE
FENSE.

Washington, May 1.-THE entire
country has been informed through the
press dispatches of the arrest and kid
mapping of j. j. Mcnamara. secretary
treasurer of the Iron Workers, together
with his brother and their spiriting
away by detectives to Los Angeles,
without having been given an oppor-
tunity to consult counsel or defend
themselves even in the most remote
way. With apparent studied and pre-
arranged manner the columns of the
daily press have been carrying an un-
usual amount of lurid and sensational
statements of what is alleged to have
occurred, and predicting even worse.
From these incidents, Indications are
apparent that conspiracy is attempt
ed with the end in view to destroy the
Iron Workers and cast odium on or
ganzed labor in general. The senti-
ments permeating the news assumes
that simply because the men charged
are connected with the activities of
union labor they must of necessity be
guilty of the crime charged. With only
a few notable exceptions has there been
any effort to suggest that it is unjust
to PREJUDICE; that the better method to
be pursued would be to await until
both sides have been heard before pub
lie decision is rendered. To build up
prejudices and inflame the public mind
when heinous crimes have been charged
against the accused is not in accord
with the spirit of American institutions.
The officials of the American Fedora
ton of Labor have always been fore
most in inveighing against even the
slightest infractions of the law, and the
rank and file of its membership are in
entire harmony with this procedure.
Times without number have the men
of labor, although entirely innocent,
been called upon by unfair, unprincipled
and illegal combinations of wealth to
defend themselves against the machina-
tions of unscrupulous men. And rs
often has the bath of fire proved the
fallacies and unserviceable texture Of
the web woven to enmesh them.
Whenever a crime is committed, no
matter by whom, whether it be a mem
Der of a union or not, after the accused
has been tried by fair and unbiased
tribunal, if found guilty punishment
should be inflicted. Organized labor
asks no immunities from the law, neither
is it entitled to any. Labor does not de-
sire government to assist it in any way,
other than that conferred on all citi-
zens. but it does demand that it be per-
mitted, in common with all others, to
work out its destiny within the law.
Immediately after the arrest and kid
naping of the accused, President Com
pers and Secretary Spencer of the
Building Trades Department proceeded
to Indianapolis to confer with the Off
cials of the international unions located
in that city. After two days confer
ence it was advised that the executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor, to avoid diffusion of effort, take
charge of the entire matter of receiving
and disbursing funds, together with all
other matters in connection with the
case, so that ample opportunity for
proper defense may be assured.
The men of labor believe that the
men accused are innocent and they will
use every effort to defend them against
what they believe to he an unjust aecu-
sation. According to the concept of our
institutions every man charged with
crime is assumed to be innocent until
he is proven guilty, and acting upon
this assumption organized labor will
raise sufficient funds to hire the ablest
counsel that can be secured for the pur'
pose of procuring for the accused faiI
and impartial trial.