The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1911-12-09
SATURDAY. DECEMBER Q. 1911.
THE MCNAMARA CASES

guilty entered by the McNamaro orotD-
ers in the court at Los Angeles on FRI
day. startled the country, and interest
was very keen to find the cause of this
sudden turn 10 the case. A. first there
was q story about q photograph and a
wire which disclosed to the prosecution
all that the Mcnamara brothers had
admitted in their confidential talks in
their cells. This is entirely omitted in
the later accounts; and from the
amplifed statements made by those
Immediately concerned, there would
appear to be ample reason for the con-
fession aside from any such device as
this.
Mr.. Clarence barrow, chief counsel
for the accused, had made up his mind.
according to his statement, that it was
useless to fight the case. The best
thing that the McNamaras could do, he
explains, was to confess; and in this
connection Mr.. barrow says. II will say
now that there was no other reason or
motive IN it," In his study Of the case
for the months that he has been en-
gagged in il, he concluded that there was
no loophole Of escape. The State had
gathered in every loophole; the facts
were nverwhelm ming, and he has felt for
some time that sooner or later the con-
LESSONS had to come. And he conclud-
ed by saying hat the evidence accumu-
lated by the State presented a stone
wall" Mr.. barrow herein excludes all
~extraneous Influences whatever in the
matter. He brought about the confes-
sion because to fight the case was hope
less, and to make a clean breast Of the
crime BY those who committed it would
commend them TO the lenity of the
court, as nothing else could, and save
their lives.
This statement of Mr.. Darrow. whose
character is such that what he says
must be accepted as the final word in
the case, puts at rest all reasonable doubt
in the case. Those who have been so
Jealous in the cause of the McNamaras,
and who even after the confession. pas
sionately declared that they could not
believe it. must be convinced on reading
Mr.. Darrow's statement. There is
absolutely no ground for any disbelief
in the truth of the confessions.
When Mr.. barrow says further that
James B.. McNamara did not mean to
kill anybody when he blew up the
Times office. that there was not enough
explosive used by him in that blowing
up to really do the damage that was
done, and that the gas explosion added
TO the ruin after the dynamite exploded.
being the real cause of the human
slaughter that ensued. he probably
states the case as leniently as il could
possibly be done. But he admits i'm
mediately that "the crime is the same,
no matter what the intent"
The plea in behalf of the labor unions
that they are not to be held responsible
for this aud other outrages apparently
in their interest, is good so far as those
unions free themselves of completely in
such crimes; and If the unions pro-
coed to Dust from their ranks the blather-
sixties and agitators as some of them
have already declared their intention to
do, the outcome of this famous contest
will eventually result in good. 1t is
surely the duty of the unions to clear
their skirts of such lawlessness. and to
repudiate the anarchical element in tie
unions that is undoubtedly responsible
for such tendencies as make toward
outrage and murder. The members Of
the unions are almost universally a
peaceable, law-abiding class Of citizens.
They are no more likely to commit muir
der or ravages OF the kind committed
in Los Angeles, or of any other kind,
than any other portions Of the com.
muuity. 1t Is the anarchical element
with its blatherskite and incendiary har-
argues that is responsible for every
thing Of this kind aud we feel very
much inclined to endorse the PROPOSE
ton as intimatsd by some Of the labor
ACoucibp tnht tuo hOs AbBCios OutAo6O
will be q lesson to the unions which
they will take to heart in the form Of
eliminating from their membership
persons whose counsel or acts tend TO-
wards lawlessness, destruction Of prop
erty. and murder. Unrestrained license
and ruthless defiance of law are just as
damaoiuo tn labor unions aa fhav are IN
the public at large. and this Los
Angeles case il a powerful educating
force to bring the we'll disposed men,
bers of the unions. who are immensely
in the majority, to a more rigorous en-.
forcement Of lawful practices aD1
peaceful procedure. Mr.. Gompers stf.tes
the case well in this direction, aud so
does Mr.. Mitchell, and their counsel