The Washington times., 1911-12-03
M'NAMARAS DIRECT Y
OPPOS|TES,, JOHN ].
BOLD, JAMES T|M|D.
Elder Brother a Natural
Leader and Has Had
Strange Life Story.

L
| Bridge and Structural Ironworkers, is
nearly tn rty-five years old and fer
| thirteen years has been identified with
! labor unions, principally with bridge
and structural ironworkers' unions
He was born In Cincinnati, December
g. 1876, the oldest of ten ch ldren, six CT
whom are living. He attended the com.
mon schools in Cincinnati until he VAS
twelve years old, when he began a
three-year course in q business college,
| Nothing of an eventful nature hap
pened In his life, according to his own
story, unit the panic of 1892, when he
turned his hand to anything and
everything to keep the pot boiling"
John j., the older of the two defend-
ant brothers. experienced his first taste
Of the bitterness of the world when he
was eighteen years old, for in 1894 his
father, John Mcnamara, was arrested
for mistreating a young girl and SEN
fenced to the Ohio State prison. Johns
| mother, who has ever been devoted to
her Children, and especially to the two
sons accused Of the dastardly crimes
In Los Angeles. protested strongly
! against the parole that was granted
her husband few years after he was
sentenced. The father of the McNa-
maras disappeared after he was given
his liberty and is supposed to be living
In the vicinity Cf Columbus.
John ]. Mcnamara did his first bridge
work In 1898, Joining union the follow
Ing year. During the six years between
1898 and 1904 he followed his trade, work.
Ing in various sections of the Middle
West, his occupation being principally
confined to steel bridges. viaducts and
similar structures.
4 RpCause of his fnfelliQapca o~H ,,of,,-
raj leadership he soon became recog-
nized as power in the labor unions
and after holding about all the offices
In the unions of Cincinnati and Cleve-
land. he attended his first convention
of the International Association in
1907
At the Kansas City convention In
1903 he was elected second vice presi-
dent, and the following year. at the
convention held at Toronto, he was
chosen secretary-tr easurer of the inter-
national association, which position he
continued to hold up to the time OF his
arrest.
For several years before he was elect
ed secretary-ueasurer he had taken an
active part in the affairs of the union
and for some years served as q member
OF the executive board.
The offices of the international ASSOC
ciation were In New York when he
was elected to the high office, but later,
for sentimental reasons, he was instru-
mental in having them moved to Cleve-
land Two years afterward the Offices
were removed to Indianapolis. for tina
reason that 10 many labor organiza-
ttons had international headquarters
there.
Since 1904. then, John j. Mcnamara
had made his home in Indianapolis,
rooming at the home of o. E. Baity, at
2932 Washington boulevard, in the most
fashionable section or the city. He Todo
daily from his room to the headquarters
of the association in the American Gen.
trail Life Building upon his motorcycle.
| Riding a motorcycle, by the way, was
the only hobby he was ever known II
possess.
Helped His Mother.
While he was living in Indianapolis.
his mother. Mrs. Mary Mcnamara. lived
In South Cumminsville. a suburb of Cin-
cinnati, and John. of whom his mother
was especially fond, made frequent trips
between Indianapolis and Cincinnati.
He contributed generously to her sup
port and his last visit was last Easter,
shortly before his arrest.
His parents being unable to assist
him much in obtaining an education,
Mcnamara is essentially a self-made
man. After removing to indianapolis,
he became desirous of learning about
; the organization in which he held Of
fee, particularly the legal end of 1t,
and consequently attended the Indiana
apolis College of Law. He graduated
from that institution in 1909 and was
admitted to the bar.
Mcnamara. during his seven years
residence in Indianapolis, is said to have
had only one love affair, and that was
with a stenographer in his office. a
Miss Mary c: Dye; They had a dis
charged and went to her home in Cleve-
land.
said MeNamafa after his arrest The
cludes such planning, for such a man
does not know when he leaves home In
the morning that he will return at
night. 1t probably tends toward fatal
ISM"
But those who knew McNamara init
mately understood that he intended
office. and that his ambition was TO
follow In the footsteps of Clarence S.
Darrow. of Chicago and become q
great labor lawyer.
James B. a Printer.
Not so much is known of James II,
Mcnamara as Of his brother, John ].
Like the latter however, James b.
Mcnamara was born In Cincinnati. the
date of his birth being June 2. 1882.
The younger Mcnamara also attended
the common schools of Cincinnati, and
at an early age learned the printers
trade, which he followed almost con-
inuously up to the time he became
involved In the labor troubles. His work
as a printer was chiefly confined to job
offices in Chicago. Cleveland, Cincin-
natl and other large cities. but unli'e
his brother he was never especially ac-
tive in trades union affairs.
James Is the direct opposite of his
brother physically, and also tempera-
mentally. The elder brother is a big,
broad-shouldered, deep-chested man,
with light blue eyes and iron gray hair
His personality Is engaging.
James B. is many pounds lighter; he
Is thin, aenemic, pale, and hollow-chest-
ed. His forehead is low. his eyes are
small and evasive, and his face Is thin
and angular with a pointed jaw.
The slender form of James b. Is not
topped with a head that holds the la
tent power that reposes in his brother.