New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-07
<s- ACCUSE"


Il Of Emil Zola's called the fostering
daylight has the world heard such a blast
ing accusation as that against the three
men arrested the other lay in connection
with the Los Angeles dynamite outrage.
But IL is no lola who denounces them.
The charges come DANGEROUSLY. spitefully'
with confused voices SO much has been
said in sweeping terms-"seventy dynamit-
ings" "the unions" 10 be held response
be and from the other side OF con
spiracy." persecution kidnapping and
planted evidence"-that IT is well TO bear
IN mind precisely what was the crime in
connection with which Ortie Z. MECHANICAL
and James w. and John J. Mcnamara were
taken by detectives.
That crime was the alleged dynamiting
Of the plant Of THE Los Angeles Times"
on the morning of October !, 1870 Twenty
one men employed by the paper lost their
lives IN the explosion and the fire which
followed. and sixty others barely escaped
with their lives.
But that CHASTITY nights work was only
the climax OF a long drawn tragedy. II
may yet be proved, indeed, that the eX-
plosion was not Immediately caused by the
wer OF unions and open shop. But II did
come at a moment when the people Of Los
Angeles hardly thought the two sides could
stand the strain much longer. and were
more than half expecting to see bullets
follow blows and dynamite answer 10
words Of vitriol. To appreciate that
tragedy takes some understanding Of the
militant Times" and Of IT'S militant owner
At fourteen Harrison Gray Otis was a
printers apprentice in town near his
home in Ohio. AT twenty-three, still
poor printer. he was a delegate TO the Re-
publican convention OF 1850 which nominal
ed Lincoln for the Presidency. Next year
1T the first call for troops he stayed be-
side his sick Wife, at the second call, a
few months later. he left her and their
young child. He served more than four
years fought IN fifteen battles, was twice
wounded and rose from the ranks TO be
brevetted major and lieutenant colonel.
After the war he drifted from one small
Sob to another. like many another Of the
young men who came home from the
front 10 find the great opportunities snugly
filed by those who had stayed behind. He
was reporter for the Ohio Legislature, a
compositor and then foreman in the Gov
eminent Printing Office at Washington. an
employe OF the Patent Office, where he
rose TO be chief Of a division.
He started THE Grand Army Journal"
the first publication OF the sort Then he
was editor of 1.-The Santa Barbara Press. -
small paper IN small California city.
President Hayes. who had been a fellow
officer OF the 23d Ohio veterans. sent him
20 keep within bounds the killing OF seals
on the Priblov Islands. in Bering Sea.
He was forty-two years old. still COM
paratively poor and comparatively little
known. when he met the opportunity that
made him rich. famous and powerful. In
July Of 1882 he bought fourth interest IN
The Los Angeles Times
II was a little folio sheet. brought out in
town of barely 1900 people. Its circu-
lation was small. For nine years it logged
along al the brisk California pace. growing
with the town and printing the news and
lively comment on things in general. In
the course Of that time Colonel Otis had
acquired controlling interest in the paper
end had become president II the company
and general manager
Then, in 1891. came strike Of the union
printers The colonel declared an open
shop. The strikers retorted with a boycott
Of the paper. People in the streets wore
buttons. Il don't read The Times" He
made them read H.
II haven't forgotten my trade" he said
"I'll show 'em. I'll get my paper out my
self"
That skirmish stirred up all the fighting
blood the veteran had and made him great
Every issue OF THE Times" brought d
Whit Of powder smoke with 1t. and the
editorials struck like bullets Since that
printers strike The Times has shot out