The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-03

udy paid a nlgh tribute to the action
OF Clarence s. Darrow in advising his
clients to plead guilty.
Mr.. Darrow's courageous and noble
act deserves the highest appreciation,
said Brandeis
Declaring that the cause Of union
ism must advance because 1t is an
essential part of our present indus
trial system, Brandeis continued.
Without unions the cause of de-
mocracy In America would have suf-
fered far more than it has from the
reckless abuse of power and the op,
pressive methods of the great financial
and Industrial interests.
The Los Angeles incident, In max
ing union members pause to consider
their proper attitude towards mem
bers charged with improper practices,
cannot fail to mark turning point in
unionism, and, to my mind, will lead
eventually to greater growth and in
creased usefulness and success.
"The unions ought to set up stand
ard. And when a man shirks his duty,
Or does any act which is contrary to
law, he ought to be told you are in
juring the union; you are not injur.
ing your employer-you are injuring
the union
THE severist critics of union men
ought to be their own members. After
the Los Angeles incident, the union
lists, leaders and privates alike, will
realize more fully the Importance of
keeping clear the record of their I'M
IONS If the individual said anything
that reflected on the movement or
tended to retard it's development,
would have the local union compel
him to live up to certain standard or
fine him. Or If the local union fails
in this, then discipline the local, or
if the international body refuses to
fine the member then discipline the
international through the American
Federation of Labor.
1T is the labor men themselves,
that ought to separate the sheep from
the goats. They ought to do it every
time there is an act of violence, or
any act which you and /, sitting calm
ly and judicially, would not approve.
This is the regeneration-this is
one of the things that is going to help
unionists and not harm them. 1t may
be like performing serious opera
ton, hut as it is performed it will
clear the way"
1t would be a sad mission, that OF
disillusioning these people Organic
ed labor would receive terrible blow
unless the world would understand
But the world will understand" he
cried almost aloud as the streaks OF
dawn sifted into his room and re-
minded him that within few hours he
must be back again to the hall of
records to go through the pitiful
shame of trying to convince twelve
men and true that his clients were
innocent.
Without waiting for breakfast he
hurried to the jail The McNamaras
were still asleep. Their crimes were
sitting lightly upon them. In re-
Spouse to Darrow's request, warden
aroused the men from their slumber.
Then a tragic scene took place.
The color had died from the at
torneys face but his voice was clear
and firm. Leveling his finger at his
clients he said:
Boys, we are going to plead guilty"
John McNamara's face whitened,
but Jim. the weakling, thinking tina,
barrow was playing some strange
joke, broke into a half-hearted laugh
as though in appreciation of the law
yer's humor.
barrow paused. John Mcnamara
knew that barrow was not given to
testing. For the other brothers bene-
fit barrow repeated: Boys, we're
going to confess" There was a con
vlncing ring to the words this time
that even jim must comprehend. John
spoke first
Il do not intend to confess. Do you
think ] intend to put my head into
the moose? You We're employed to
defend me and my brother Do you
call this defending client?"
II was employed by organized labor
by the men and women all over the
country whom you have deceived into
believing you are innocent. ! have
"a greater responsibility upon my
shoulders this morning than ever had
before. know that you men have the
cause of union labor at heart. 1t is
your duty to confess
The brothers would not confess at
that time.
For almost week the daily sham
wal enacted in the court room while
barrow spent the hours between SEES.
sions with his prisoners pointing out
to them their duty as he saw it. Lin
coin Steffens, famous author and news
paper man, who had advised with Oar
row and first suggested that the "one
way out" CT all the turmoil and dis
cord in Los Angeles was for the pris-
oners to admit their crime and throw
themselves upon the mercy of the
court, accompanied barrow on sew
eral of his trips to the McNamaras'
cell and begged them to do as their
attorney suggested.