Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-09
Formal Statement of A. F. of
[. on Dynamite Arrests.
DETECTIVES ARE ACCUSED
Agency Is Charged With Employing
Spies in Factories.
FEAR TRIAL MAY NOT BE FAIR
"vindictive Spirit Of Persecution"
Said to Be Working Against
the Suspected Men.

An official statement was issued today
by the American Federation of Labor,
signed by Samuel Gompers. president;
Frank Morrison. secretary; James Dun
can, John Mitchell, James O'Connell, d.
A. Hayes. William d. Huber, Joseph F.
Valentine, John r. Alpine and H. B. Per-
ham, vice presidents. and John B. Len
non. treasurer. all Of the executive coun-
Gil of the federation. with respect to the
recent arrest of "a number of labor
men in connection with the explosion in
Los Angeles. in which twenty -one lives
were lost
NO member of organized labor can
have sympathy with crime,'' the state
ment sets forth. Indeed, organized
labor is opposed to. and is a standing
protest against violence and crime COM
mitted by any one or by any force or
authority. No one could but have felt,
and still feel, the horror of the destruc-
ton of human life and of property, but
We can none the less feel the great out
rage which has been committed against
the accused men,"
Charges Against Agency.
The statement then charges ''the de-
tective agency engaged in presenting
these charges against men of labor with
having spies in factories and organiza-
tions TO misdirect the grievances of work.
men into prematurely provoked conflicts
with employers. to report the names Of
intelligent and active workers among dis
contented workers to employers to bring
about the discharge, the victimiZation
and blacklisting of men. and with man
ufacturing charges and evidence against
others. 1t declares that the National
Erectors Association of Employers. q
part OF the National Association of Manu-
facturers, and part of the great cor
porations Of the country with their i'm
mense wealth. Is behind the work Of the
detective agency, together with the vim
dictive spirit of persecution of the Manu-
facturers and Merchants Association of
Los Angeles. as well as Gen. Otis. editor
and proprietor Of the Los Angeles Times.
With these forces against them. it init
mates. the accused men may not have q
Satr tS1al and that ample means for their
adequate dsfense before the courts are
ayhe men must be properly defended
z declares; aye: BY the best counsel OBJ
tsa0ht . lesson that the lives and the
6ss0on0 Of labor men are Just as sacred
- aSe the lives and liberty Of any olner
man IN our country. regardless OF his
Vsa1th. his possessions or his standing"
Appeal for Money.
" CuucAoo1u& WIN an appear Tor 1unOs
f0r this purpose. the report states:
'Ths consensus Of opinion among rep
1easutative men Of organised labor has
bean expressed that the executive coun-
cil Of the American Federation of Labor
should have charge CT the receiving and
Disturbing Of funds for the defense Of
the men incarcerated in Los Angeles,
Cal. and for the prosecution Of those
who were guilty Of taking the men Of
labor out of their home state, across the
continent to California, without their
having been afforded the opportunities
for defense and the protection Of the
law.
Therefore. 1t has been determined that
ample opportunities for defense Of the
accused men shall be afforded them be-
fore the courts Of California, and in the
prosecution Of the charges of kidnapping
In Indiana. and. If necessary. that the
cases shall be brought to the highest
courts Of our country. Having been
charged with these. duties. the executive
council appeals to all labor, to all
friends Of labor. to contribute promptly
and generously toward a fund by which
the means may be provided for the duty
imposed upon the executive council"