Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-07
National Organizer Deprecates
Haste in Forming Conclusions.
Says That Seizure of Men maraS Wns
Unjust, but Leaders May Have
Done Great Wrong to Rank
and File.

Carpenters hall at eight o'clock. Ma
tional Organizer ]. u. Pierce OF tho
American Federation of Labor, whose
home Is in Worcester. Mass, ex-Mayor
James T.. Burke of this city. ana fresi-
dent George T.. Maynard OF the ,Carpen-
tcrs' local of Burlington were the
principal speakers. Edward f. Parent
presided.
The attitude OF the men present was
for the most part quiet, thoughtfu' ana
reserved. Hearty applause followed some
of the assertions Of the speakers, out
there was no Indication of an impulse
to act hastily upon the matters under
consideration, and no definite action was
brought before the gathering Mr.
MAYNARD stated that the meeting was not
called fer the purpose Of considering the
Mcnamara case, but that when Mr..
Pierce left town several days ago. intend
ing TO return this week. Il was then the
intention of labor leaders in this city to
hold meeting uron his return.
Mr. Pierce opened his remarks with an
expression OF his surprise over the turn
of events in the Mcnamara case. and
urged that labor men wait few days
before making Up their minds in regard
to the attitude which they are to adopt
! He declared that the seizure Of the Nc
! Namaras at the time of their arrest
| was unjust, inasmuch as n man arrested
! In one state for a crime committed in an
! other Is entitled to legal protection before
/ his removal over the border line The
capt,,re Of the McNamaras and their
extradition he termed n kidnapping.
The National Employers association,
said Mr. Pierce, has a large fund.- a
! portion Of which was used for the
prosecution of the McNamaras. To meet
| this, 1t was necessary for organized Lab IT
to raise money and If persons in au-
thority knew of the guilt Of the Nc
Namaras before their confession, then
n great wrong was done to the rank and
file Of organized labor in taking from
labor men funds for the purpose of
protecting men thus known to be guilty.
I'VE must watch our leaders more
closely" declared the speaker. Watch
the fellow who advocates blow. and
| then. when the blow is about to be
struck. is found hiding around the
corner" He also said that 1t is a
known fact that "our locals are im-
pregnated with paid spies in the en-
ploy of the National Employers as
sociation.
1--WE have a pretty good organiza-
ton said he, with only a few bad
spots. Vermont is one Of these The
boys here seem to have fallen asleep"
Prophesying a shorter working day
in years to come, Mr. Pierce made a
strong attack upon the employment Of
women and young girls at a mans
labor in the steel mills for ~ or IA
hf,t do,
"a per week
These women" said he. ARE not
the wives and daughters OF the mill
owners-oh. no, they are our sisters,
and the mothers Of coming genera
tons"
Mr.. Pierce touched upon the courts.
declaring that many, II not all Of our
Judges. have at some time been in the
employ Of the corporations, or are
close friends of them THE Judges.
said he. mean to be fair, but their as
sociations and environment color their
views The decision of five men. from
which there IS no appeal, said he
should not be above the legislation
and the judiciary of this country.
Mr. Pierce declared that the attitude o.
the press toward the labor organizations
In regard to the Mcnamara case had been
unfair
II a minister goes amiss" said he
or II banker makes away with the
! money IN ms care, the papers do not con-
demn the entire ministry nor the bank
ers as class But when some few labor
men commit crime. the newspapers prin,
columns about the affair"
PRESS Is FAIR. SAYS MIR. BURKE.
Mr. Burke was then called to the floor
and he took Issue with Mr.. Pierce upon
the attitude of the press.
| lhdorse the last speaker said the
former mayor, but in his attitude to.
ward the papers he was little unfair
All over the country they have beer
pretty fair on this matter of the Nc.
Namara crime-that is my observation.
You labor men have got to square
yourselves with the people. The labor
man who commits crime like that OF
the McNamaras does the greatest possible
marin to labor organizations. Labor mer
should wash their hands of this matter
ana II there are any accomplices higher
up you should say to them get out Your
leaders must be conservative, rather thar
these ratte-brained fellows
James Mcnamara and John ]. McNa-
mara are not the only two guilty ones
There must be others. So. l say, let US
walt Organized labor must be uphold.
ers of the law, not violators of it. We are
on our good behavior. We can win the
sympathy of the public in no quicker
way than by being law-abidng citizens
If you can't win without numbering, Their
don't try to win
The attitude OF the local press was dis
cussed by Mr.. Burke Mr.. Pierce and
others, and clippings from various news
papers were read by Mr. Maynard.
Mr.. Pierce declared that many acts o!
injustice against organized labor, includ.
ing cases even OF murder. had not beer
given due publicity by The press of this
lcouniry.
Talk about the fairness OF the press T.
he exclaimed, why, they can't be fai,
II they want to be-
Most OF the magazines. hc added have
been bought up by the money power
In the course of an attack upon warfare
he said: II believe the two worst in.
situtions this government supports to-
day are the school called Annapolis ant
the school called West Point"
Returning to tho topic of the influence
OF the unions, he said: IF II were MOI
for our unions in time of trouble there
would be more boodshed than there Is
The unions hold the men in checH"
In an interview at the close OF the
meeting Tuesday night Mr.. Burke
pointed out that some OF the statement.
made nv Mr. Djarca showed oplv nn<