The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-12-21
(By Job Hartman }

4
McNamara's plea OF guilty. why the
ticn and what effect it had.
knew nothing whatever of the
negotiat ions. nor of their intention
! to plead guilty, until after their
pleas had been entered.
cannot describe how kecnly /
felt the blow. was convinced that
it would defeat us. but the wonder
, ful solidarity of our movement.
, manifested that our meetings that
night. led me to think that my first
! judgment was wrong, but it was not
Without such an experience no
one can realize how hard it was to
hold ones and apparent poise and
composure.
How manfully and nobly our
| splendid movement faced and haIf-
, lied this great crisis. The city OF
Los Angeles owes u debt OF uDi-
! speakable gratitude to the magni f.
cent conduct of the aggrieved peop lie
in that trying period following the
shock of the news.
After the election I had 10 ns
conference with Mr.. Darrow md
other attorneys. They showed me
all the evidence recently develo ped
iE the case. The web had bcen
made complete. There was no es-
cape 1t was so conclusive that
even I. B. Mcnamara could not tlave
been placed on the stand to DENY it.
Thc cases would have required
years to complete The honest
working people of this country
would have had to pay one ID illion
dollars more for the defense only to
~ 80 II -
guilty written out at length.
Was that and the education al ef-
feet of it. and all that would follow
in its trail. the best?
AIessrs. Darrow, Davis. McNutt,
and Scott answered No.
Should they withhold their answer
because of the local campaign?
Again they answered "Np.'
Was il wise and proper to give
their answer at that time or "Nev-
err s.s''ir ,t-f-E
This question cannot be answer
ed by me. My word could go no
| further than theirs. My vision
might be clouded because ! was in
voleved in the movement and was
directly affected by the decision. -
The movement must answer" this
question. know it will be delib-
crate and fair in its final answer.
Now I want 20 say a word to my
countrymen. Whenever the masses
| of mankind abandon all hope of n
peaceable solution of our social
problem We will have present with
us all the elements with us that
cause civil wars and open warfare
will then commence.
These men had abandoned all hope
| of a peaceable solution and thus.
| misguided. began guerilla war
| fare.
How much of this. do you want?
However much we bemoan 1t. i say
to you it viii! Increase, directly in
proportion as The hope OF the op-
ipressen is crushed.
For years ] have seen the. hope
| Iessness OF such course. and at
the same time 7 saw why that course
| is sometimes taken and the warning
| it should be to our great movement.
! have shown you an astounding
fact. grist. If Won please. being
ground from our economic and So
cial mill.
Now listen. while tell YOU the
remedy.
The great American Labor move
ment. including the Socialist Party.
must merge their political activities.
Their united power viii inspire an
/ abiding hope for the philosophy OF
Socialism will furnish the reason
| fer the hope. and at the same time
| a solution for the problem.
In our great movement IN Los An,
geIes. wa have done this very thing.
| The spirit of Los Angeles Increment.
| was sweetened with the conscious
| ness of its own power and know
! ledge of the reasons leading to a
peaceful solution of ou- social ills.
| While victory was almost in our
I hands. the plea of guilty was enter
| ed. It was brought on by an act o;
| the defendants. resulting from an
abandond hope. arising out OF fail
| ure. to understand how 70 restore
and maintain that hope The dis
| migrating influence of direct act
! ion arising from abandoned hope
| must be apparent to any one while
I the beneficial influence of great
| political and economic organization
Will, hope inspired by their own
power and with the knowledge CT
social problems and how to solve
them must be equally apparent