The Washington times., 1911-12-04

Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, ana his associ-
ates for their mysterious refusal to con-
tribute out of the funds of the fedora
ton to the defense of the McNamaras.
Mr.. Tottner said he would like to know
II the officers Of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor were not, after all, con-
vinced Of the guilt of the accused.
1t was largely on Mr.. Gompers' assur-
ance that there was no doubt OF the In
nocence OF James B. Mcnamara and
his brother that union organizers in
this city worked night and day. to raise
money for the defense fund. They now
inside sources of information and after
he had interviewed the McNamaras and
looked over the situation In Los Angeles
Mr.. Gompers could have been de-
Want Full Penalty.
Throughout the rank and file Of the
labor army In New York there is a de-
mand that the McNamaras pay for
their crime with their lives. Never
In New York city have the members
.elt the bitterness toward any so-calied
oppressor OF the workingman that they
hold toward the men who. they say.
For the first time in my life I am a
believer In capital punishment" de-
cisred the president Of the Central Fed
Grated Union.
been in hiding since the confessions
OF the Mcnamara brothers. for they
are not only stunned by the unexpect-
ed pleas Of guilty. but they are not
anxious an. to face the wave Of indisna-
ranks Of their followers.
1--WE leaders were the ones who
vouched to the members Of the labor
unions for the innocence Of the Nc
Namara brothers and kept the men
going down into their pockets Tor
the defense and agitation funds" Mr..
TottnSr said. "Now we are going to
be called upon for explanations and
some of the men were assessed for
the defense fund not only by the
Central Federated Union, but by the
International organizations as we'll.
Explaining In Order.
There has got to be a lot of ex-
planning by labor union officers. and
there's going to be housecleaning
of the International Structural Iron
Workers. One of the first moves will.
l believe. be wholesale arrests of
others implicated in bomb outrapes.
! have reasons to believe that at least
In New York within q short time.
I'VE have been lot Of drpes. but now
our eyes are opened. We now have to
admit that the dynamite exploded in
steel work Of the Hotel Plaza, in build
ings erected by Post & McCord, and at
other points in the last few years was
undoubtedly the work Of union iron
Mr.. Tottner said there has been
great change In the sentiment of labor
union members toward william J. Burns
since the confessions were made.
II have been denouncing him nightly"
he said. Now I would like to 60 down
on my knees and apologize to him. /
think the country. as we'll as organized
labor. owes him a debt of gratitude for
outing two Of he greatest criminals the
world has known where they beyong."
we should Ike to know whv the
officers Of the American Federation of
Labor refused to vote any money out -
a $4,000 contingent fund for the =
tense Of the Mcnamara brothers if A.,
convinced Of the prisoners innocence as
thev declared themselves to be. A re-
quest that the money be devoted to that
use was made bv locals all over the
country. but FOR some reason that was
never explained the officers refused"