Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-05
Did Burns Slop Over?

Did Burns Slop Over?
After the distinctive triumph of De-
tective Burns in the case of the Me-
Namaras. one could hardly expect him
10 make such bald, bare statement
as that regarding Samuel Gompers
without some ground on which TO base
it. on the other hand. If Samuel
Gempers had the smallest suspicion
that these men were guilty. in the
position which he assumed from the
start. in this case. he is unworthy the
recognition Of dog.
We decline TO consider for moment
that Mr. Gompers had the faintest
iEkling of the guilt of these men.
without being able to express any
hard and fast admiration for such Ia
character as Mr.. Gompers. we have
always deemed him to be honest and
loyal. according 10 his judgment, to
the hest interests Of union labor.
Her.ee, until further developments. we
must continue to believe that Detec-
tive Burns, in his hour Of personal tri-
uinph. stopped over. slightly, and his
words were twisted into their worst
meaning by some ambitious news
paper man.
To admit that President Gompers
and other labor leaders suspected the
guilt of the McNamaras and continued
to denounce all those who sought to
bring the suspects before fair. judg-
ment. is to open ones mind to the
consideration of possibility that the
whole labor organization is rotten to
the core and dominated by anarchists
and cutthroats.
II Samuel Gompers and other labor
leaders suspected that the McNa-
maras were guilty and yet went ahead
with the raising of an enormous fund
with which TO @vindicate at any cost
these Iaens who have sent more than q
score of souls to eternity. the hand Of
the Almighty should weigh heavily
upon labor organization until it is
purged of such leaders and impulses.
In the horrifying revelations of a
few years ago. counter plots against
labor were charged by leaders in the
same manner as those made against
Gen. Otis: that he caused his own
plant to be blown up in order to dis
credit labor. In all these instances it
has been shown conclusively TO the
people of the country that all plots
have been laid and Matched within
the ranks Of unionism.
Is it not high time that the rank and
file awaken to the dangers ahead of
labor organization, with such awful
Indictments constantly arising against
it,
In future, ought not labor to see to
it that investigation of all charges
it is had, and that officials implicated
are either convicted or indicated with
judicial precision and promptitude?
Enormous funds for the protection
of INNOCENT men are unnecessary.
Courts of justice are for the hearing
and weighing of evidence against
person. and he must be deemed guilt
less until he is proven guilty.
We hope to live 10 see the day when
enormous defense funds for those
charged with violation of laws, will be
considered as tacit confession Of guilt
and necessity for buying skill in de-
teeting technical loopholes for escape,
the bribing of jurors, and the like.
Now is labor's opportunity to cleanse
its ranks and its name-turn that $780,
o00 provided for defense" % of the
McNamaras, into fund for roofing
out the whole system Of rottenness and
criminal plotting against law and or
der as well as capital. II is as much
To labors best interests as it is to that
OF the government. Let labor make
common cause with state and federal
officials against all those within or
without its ranks. who are leading it
away from strict compliance with the
law