The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-02
THEIR CAR EERS
ARE 'ONEVENTFUL'
John ]. Mcnamara Tells How
Quiet Lives of Himself and
Brother Have Been.
AN INTERVIEW REPRINTED
While Awaiting Trial, Confessed
Dynaniiter Talks Of Work
for Organized Labor.

The following interview with Joha
j. Mcnamara. in which he tells of thu
"uneventful careers of himself ana
brother. was given in the Los Angclef
jail on October s and was printed in
The Times Dispatch on the following
morning:
Sitting in corridor just outside hi1
cell In the county jail, John j. McNat
mara. secretary Urea surer OF the Intar<
national Association of Bridge and
Structural Ironworkers, briefly sketch,
cd what he termed the uneventfuI livca
OF himself and his brother, James r.
Mcnamara.
i was born in Cincinnati. JecempeS
%. 1876" he said, land L am the uldJ
est of SIX children living although
there were ten children originally.
attended the comm schools in Gin
cinnati until 1 was twelve years old,
ana then took thrce-yenr course In q
business college.
Nothing of any importance hap,
pencd to me until the panic began In
1892. when l turned my hand to any
thing and everything to keep the DOT
boiling. as tn say.
II did my first bridge work at Gins
clnnatt in 1898, Joining the union ths
next year. Between lSoS and 1901. 1
visited various sections of the Middls
West, following my trade and works
Ing OH steel bridges, viaducts and
similar structures.
II have held all of the offices in local
unions, particularly In those of Clevc,
land, and have attended all the con.
vcntions of the international associa1
tion since 1902. l was elected second
vice president at the convention al
Kansas City In 1903. and was choseg
secretary-treasurer at Toronto In 1904,
have held that office ever since.
The last building 1 worked on was
the Rockefeller structure in Cleveland
left that job to go to Toronto, and IL
was held open for ME IL l wanted I'd
go back. but 1 didn't, as 1 had been
made secretary-treasurer and had M
time fully taken up with the dutie1
of that office.
The offices Of the International .\s<
ISOLATION were In New York when 1
was first elected. Later, for sentiment
tai reasons, was Instrumental in hav-
Ing them moved to Cleveland. Two
years aftcr the Offices were removed
there, another change was made to
indianapolis. for the reason that SO
many labor organizations had thei1
international headquarters there
II never planned my life far ahead
precludes such planning, for such q
man does not know when he leaveG
! home In the morning that he will ro-
turn at night. 1t probably tends to
wards fatalism.
Admitted to Bar.
Il wanted to learn of the organizaa
ton In which held office, particularly
the legal end of it. and so I attended
the indianapolis College of Law ana
was admitted to practice in 1909
There Is little else about my life
except my arrest. l am nm inveternte
reader. and always have been, of books
| treating with economics and Industrial
| matters"
James B. Mcnamara. who sat quietly
by while his brother talked. also was
born In Cincinnati, His birthday was
June 2. 1882 He attended the common
schools and then learned the printers
trade. which he has followed almost
continuously ever since. working in Job
offices In Chicago. Cleveland, Cincin-
natl and other cities.
Unlike me-" said John j. Mcnamara.
my brother has never been especially
active in trades union affairs"