Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-09
RECREANT TO NAME OF LABOR
McNamaras Condemned for Inhu-
manity in Statement.
RESPONSIBILITY ON INDIVIDUAL
Federation Committee Declares Or
EaniEed Labor should Not he
Held Legally or Morally
Responsible for Crime.


Responsible for Crime.
WASHINGTON. Dec. g. Branding
James y. and John j. Mcnamara as
''recfeant to the good name and high
Ideals of labor" and expressing the
satisfaction Of organized labor that the
'culprlts have been commensurately
punished for their crimes" the Nc
Namara ways and means committee Of
the American federation Of Labor. after
two days conference here, late today
issued a statement vigorously condemn
ing the McNsmarss for their 'inhu-
manity" and declaring that organized
labor should not be held "either legally
or morally responsible for the crimes
| OF an Individual member"
The labor leaders assert that they will
welcome any investigation which either
federal or state courts may undertake"
The statement is signed by every mem
ber OF the Mcnamara committee except
F. NJ. Ryan. president Of the Interna-
tional Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers union. Mr. Ryan returned 10
indianapolis today.
Had he remained" sald President
Gompers positively II am sure Mr.. Ryan
would have added his name. He was
called back to indianapolis by pressure
Of business. lie did not see the state
ment, but am sure he Is in hearty ac-
cord with its sentiments"
As to their knowledge OF the crime to
which the McNamaras confessed, the
committee in It's statement asserts:
I'VE here and now, individually and
collectively declare that the first knowl-
edge or intimation OF their guilt was con-
veyed by the press in their confessions OF
guilt
Accounting of Fund.
| From the outset we assured all con-
trlbutors and the public generally that
we would publish an accounting OF the
moneys received. from whom received
and TO whom paid. A report in full will
be made, first to the executive council
of the American Federation OF Labor at
Its meeting to be held at Washington,
January 5. 1872"
Further than this Mr.. Gompers would
say nothing in regard to the defense fund
money.
organized labor in America" the state
ment continues, has no desire to con-
done the crimes OF the McNamaras. It
Joins in the satisfaction that the majesty
OF the law has been maintained and the
culprits commensurately punished for
their crime"
The statement continues:
And yet II is an awful commentary
on existing conditions when any one man
among all the millions of workers can
bring himself to the frame Of mind that
the only means to secure Justice for labor
is in violence, outrage and murder.
ut is cruelty unjust TO hold the men
of the labor movement either legally OF
morally responsible for the crimes of an
individual member. No such moral code
or legal responsibility is placed upon any
other association of men In our country
Welcome investigation.
, Insofar as we have the right to speak
In the name OF organized labor we wei
come any investigation which either fed
, eral or state courts may undertake. Tn,
sessions of the conventions of the Ameri
, can Federation OF Labor are held witt
/, open doors that all may see and heal
what is being said and done The books
, accounts and correspondence OF the fed
GRAFTON are open to any competent au
. thority, who may desire to make a stud,
or an investigation OF them.
"rhe men OF organized labor, I'm com
mon with all our people," the committee
affirm, "are grieved beyond expresslo,
In words at the loss OF life and the de
struction OF property. not only I'm IN
case under discussion bus In any othe
case which may have occurred. We ar
( hurt and humllated to think that an,
o man connected with the labor movemen
q should have been guilty OF either. Th
: lesson this grave crime teaches, howeve,
: VIII have its salutary effect. II Wi
demonstrate now more than ever the I'm
: humanity. as well as the futility of re
Z sorting 20 violence in the effort TO rigb
r wrongs or to attain rights"
i While not defending the crime of IN
: McNamaras the committee denounced IN
Z kidnapping OF the McNamaras. who
: they say were arrested IN Russian stvls
|. not American.
The method OF arrest they find "hiah
handed irregularity and tyrannical law
lessness." and w. J, Burns. the detectiv
: IN the case, is severely criticised.
l. Organized labor properly expressed n
" concentration of violence on hearing O
v the Los Angeles disaster, Il is claimed.
c The universal condemnation OF a nlur
derous deed in labor circles ought 10 b
n a fact so beyond question" the statemen
70 proceeds, 80 easily ascertainable fror
s. accessible records that no man with an
e regard for his reputation for veracit
/ could deny IT, Violence. brutality. de
Il struction OF life and property are foreIe
- to the aims and methods OF organize
labor In America and no interest Is NOR
'r severely injured by the employment a
y such methods than that OF the worker
s organized In the labor movement.
/ Therefore. quite apart from the spirI
y OF humanitarianism and Justice wbIc
prompts the activities OF the Organize
's labor movement. policy and hopes 10
80 success forbid the resort to violence. IN
rs labor movement and It's men are lows
~ Americans and seek to obtain the abol
ot tion OF wrongs and the attainment {
their rights within the law
Tho statement is signed by samu,
Gompers president OF the federation an
Al chairman OF the committee: Frank Mo
" rlson, secretary OF the federation and ,