Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-13
TOLD OF FACTS OCTOBER is
while IN LOS ANGELES.
Uniformed by Oscar Lawler Others Be,
sides McNamaras Were Guilty.
IACTED INSIDE OF 4s HOURS
lost No Time in Setting Federal Ma
chinery in Motion After
Learning Federal Statutes
Had Been Violated.

Los ANGELES, December 13.-Presi
dent Taft personally initiated the gov.
ernment's present investigation, bott
here and at Indianapolis, into the dyna
rniting conspiracy in which the McNa-
mara brothers figured
The President, when he visited Los
Angeles Octobera 16. was apprised by
Oscar Lawler, then assistant of Dis
trict Attorney John d. Fredericks, of the
strong case built up by the latter against
the McNamaraS.
The Presidents action was taken forty
eight hours after he left here. The Nc
Namara trial was then hut FIVE days old
but the President was convinced. it is
said, of the array of facts gathered by
the state, and was told that the McNa
mara brothers were not the only guilty
persons
President Fully Informed.
Details of alleged tampering with wit
nesses and evidence in various parts oi
the country and the ina ability of the state
authorities here to bring all offenders t,
justice were related to the President.
1t was a final move of the people here
TO ask the nations chief executive to as
Sist them in matter In which they were
being balked on many sides. The local
federal authorities had declined to take
any steps in the matter, pending orders
from Washington, and District Attorney
Fredericks was unable to go to Washing
ton TO present the facts. 1t was through
Mr.. LAWYER, a friend Of the President,
that the action was instituted.
II cannot discuss any conversations
have had with the President, declared
NdF Lawler TO-DAY. Nor can i talk about
any Of the present phases of the govern
lnent's investigation"
state4 East Resort.
1t can be stated positively. how
ever. that the President was ap-
preached by Mr.. LAWYER after District
Attorney Fredericks vainly sought
some other way to bring the federal
authorities into the case
Fredericks knew, he said. that fed
eral statutes had been violated. He
knew there was evidence in Indian
apolis which was not accessible to the
state authorities here except by the
intervention of the federal govern
nent He had heard of the Willingness
of United States District Attorney Mil
Ter at Indianapolis to take Immediate
action. but authorization was needed
from some one higher up.
Mr.. Lawler saw the President and
TO persons who since have learned the
details of that conference, Mr.. Lawler
pointed out the number of labor lead
ers who were involved.
The possibility of political injury to the
President as taken into consideration
With union labor lined up on the side of
the McNamaras at that time, which was
long before the confessions of guilt were
dreamed OF, il was indicated to the Presi-
dent by many persons that an unfavorable
political effect might result with the labor
element in the country IL he took def
mite stand in the Mcnamara case. The
President. it Is said told Mr.. Lawlor he
would proceed rega rdless of that.
The President was told the Indian
apolis federal authorities were anxious
TO go ahead IL he would say the word
Effect Was Immediate.
Immediately after leaving here the
President was in communication with
Attorney General Wickersham and the
order went forth to United States
District Attorney Miller TO begin the
government investigation at Indian
apolis.
The effect here. 50 far as the state
was concerned, was immediate and
many witnesses who had been persuad-
ed by friends of the defense not TO
come here to testify came over to the
81 (f ha stara