The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-12-05
ASTOUNDED GOMPERS
PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN FED
ERATION OF LABOR.
Says He Has Been Deceived But Is
Not Apprehensive as to Effect OF
Development on Labor.

Development on Labor.
81 am astounded, I am astound-
ed My credulity has been imposed
upon. 1t is a bolt out Of a clear
sky"
The exclamations were those of
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, when
advised of the pleas of guilty in the
Mcnamara case.
Mr.. Gompers was on his way from
washington when he was awakened
at a New Jersey station by an Asso-
ciated Press reporter. He went to
the rear Of the car and read careful
ly the account of the sensational de-
vc]opments of the Los Angeles dyna-
hitting case.
The labor leader was visihiy moved
as he read how the men in whose
defense he had spoken and worked
so untiringly had admitted their
guilt. Tears came into his eyes and
The hand that held the pages shook.
Fe said nothing, however, until he
lad finished the story and then he
broke forth with his eXclamations Of
astonishment and Indignation.
"If this is all true my credulity has
been imposed upon" he declared. 81
rs astonished at this news. We have
had the gravest assurances given to
us by every one connected with the
trial, either directly, or indirectly,
that these men were innocent.
Asked if he would have anything
to say about the prisoners personally,
he replied:
"No, 1 shan't add to the misery by
condemnation Of them"
What effect do you imagine this
viii have on labor unions?'
To this inquiry Mr.. Gompers up
held his fingers and calculated:
"None!"
Referring to the explosion Mr..
Gompers continued:
eve have discouraged acts like
those. We have patriotic and peace
loving men, and We have only wish
TO call out the best elements in hu-
man nature. Those two men must
have been crazy. 1t is an act that ]
condemn with all the force that is in
me-"
Asked again If be believed that
developments would injure the cause
of labor, tears came into Mr.. Comp
ers eyes as he answered:
They are not going to do it any
gooa, but l want to repeat that the
cause Of labor has been imposed up
on both by supposed friends and en-
elnies. The men Of labor were led to
believe that the Mcnamara boys were
innocent and they acted on that be-
lief. 1 received letters from them
myself protesting their Innocence,
and it was only in September that |
visited them in their cells in the Los
Angeles jail when they aske1 me to
deliver a message to the labor inter-
ests of the country that they were
innocent men.
THE cause af labor can not win by
such methods as these men pursued.
Damage to property and destruction
Of life We have denounced and done
al! in our power to prevent. Such
methods as these we have got to
stamp out.
"This unexpected self-conviction is
nothing more or less than a failure of
two individuals to live up to the high
principles of organized labor and can
not reflect just condemnation upon
the cause as a whole"
Asked what action the American
Federation of Labor might take, Mr..
Gompers said the news was too re-
cent for him to make any prediction.
"The American Federation of Lab
or only closed its annual meeting
he added "As to a pos
sihle special meeting it is too early to
say"