The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-02
LABOR WAS DUPED.
Samuel -Gompers Expresses Indigna-
ton at the Deception.

TROY. N. Y, Dec. z.-InaI the con-
fession of the Mcnamara brothers will
! be considered at a meeting of the ex-
ecutive council of the American FEEDER
ation of Labor in Washington on jan
uary 8, rext, was the opinion expressed
today by President Samuel GOmpers,
who came here from New York today
to attenc meeting of the state com
mission which is investigating factory
conditions in first and second class
cities Mr.. Gompers is member OF
the commission, under appointment OF
Governor Dix He pans to return to
New York tomorrow and Washington
on Tuesday Mr.. Gompers appeared
to be extremely nervous whenever he
referred to. the sensational end of the
Mcnamara trial.
Labor was grossly deceived he
said, with considerable emotion. "Only
a few days ago and just before the
close of the recent convention of the
American Federation of Labor at At
lanta, we received a telegram from the
McNamaras thanking the labor unions
for their care and help.
For Evolution Not Revolution.
1.-The assumption is that the labor
unions will suffer as a result of the
confession, but I don't think they will.
even if it will do them no good or
course we stand for evolution rather
and the upIift of man rather than vio-
lence and brutality.
mo cause is advanced when violence
is resorted to, but the severest critic
ism that can be made against us, mean
ing the federation, is that we had faith
in the men who were accused of the
crime.
1--WE have every cause to accept their
kilograms declaring that they were
falsely accused and expressing the con-
idence that they would be ad1udgeo
innocent.
.sWhen men proclaim on their honor
that they are innocent one day and =
hours later plead guilty to crime OF
the character of this would 1T not un-
settle any man interested in our cause!
I'VE went to work and assembled a
fund of $4,000 to defend them and we
engaged the highest types OF men, NOR
ally and mentally to appear Tor tneH-
Take Clarence Darrow. he gave up
his business in chicago, Closed ms oL-
fee and his home and went to Califor-
MIA to free them, believing as we dld
in their complete innocence. Then TINS
information comes that they are guilty
and admitted it by their own tongues
..If this were a crime against So
ciety it would be different, then 1t
would be a revolution; but it is an at
tack on the business of an individual
and that leads business men TO thlnk
that the labor Unions have dupeo
NO one .Hkes this and it would be
better for Us were it against society.
when z made my Trip TO lHe d
cific coast I went to see them, as nat
uraIly I w,ould. I saw big John and
taking me ~ the hand, he said
Sam. tell the boys that l am lnno-
cent. Give them this message from
me and tell them how grateful we are
for their assistance
APE looked at me frankly and open
" and I believed what he had saiu
and did convey his greetings as re-
o11asted. When I got there the hrst
thing he did was to give me caro-
receiver: one that is made by pasting
cancelled stamps or bits OF cigar
hands on the bottom of glass plate.
Tn The center of it was my picture
have It at my home now
ct left believing in the innocence.
Of lin and his brother and was among
chose who expected that at the trial
tnev would be cleared
This was long before the Atlanta
convention and when more assurances
came from them as it did at this
meeting. why would not it be dis
ot1ieting when to the world they admit
their guilt It was an imposition and
one that it is difficult to explain
sAs to Detective Burns, don't
want to consider him. He has moth
ing to do with US and that is all there
is to that"