The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-12-08

that of the workers organized in the labor
movement. Therefore. quite apart from
/ the spirit of humanitarianism and iustirc
which prompts the activities Of tho organ
/ led labor movement. policy and hopes FOR
success forbid the resort TO violence. Tho
| American labor movement and its men arc
/ loyal Americans and sock TO obtain the
abolition OF wrongs and the attainment Of
their rights within the law
Organized labor OF America has no desire
to condone the crimes % the McNamarn~.
OF the law and Justice has been maintained
and the culprits Commcnsurately punished
for their crime
And yet II H. an awful comment arv
upon existing conditions when any one mau
among all the million Of workers can bring
himself to the frame OF mind that the only
means to secure Justice for labor is IN yio-
lence. outrage and murder
II is cruelty unjust 10 hold tho men Of tho
! labor movement either legally or morally
responsible for the crimes Of an individual
member. No such moral code or legal
responsibility j. placed upon any other
/ association of men in our country
In so faraswe have tho right 20 speak in
! the name of organized IA hor we welcome anv
J investigation which either Federal or state
! courts may undertake. Tho sessions ot
| the convention of tho American Federation
OF Labor are held with open door- thai all
may sec and hear what il being said and
done. The books. accounts ana Corre-
spondcnce of tho American Federation of
Labor are open to any competent authority
! who may desire TO make a study or an in
vestisation of them.
Will the National Manufacturers Asso-
/ ciRtion, the Frectors Association and the
detective agencies extend tho same privi-
| lcEe for public investigation and eNainina-
ton Of their books and correspondence
! When We were selected as n committee
of ways and means To raise and dispense
funds for tho defence of the Mcnamara
and the prosecution of the kiduappcre We
were fully impressed with the innocence of
the accused men That impression was
strengthened by their written and oral pro-
| testations of innocence. We here aud now
individually and collectively declare that
the first knowledge or intimation Of their
| guilt was conveyed by the press IN their
| confessions of guilt. From tho outset We
assured all contributors and the public gen
orally that We would publish an accounting
Of the moneys received. from whom received
and 10 whom paid This assurance will he
fulfilled report in full will first 10 made
TO the executive council OF the American
! Federation of Labor AZ its meeting To he
held al Washington. n. c. January 5, 1912
The men Of organized labor in common
with all or people are gri"ved beyond eN-
| preston in words az the loss Of life and tho
destruction OF property not only in the case
under discussion but in any other case
| which nav have occurred. We are hurt
and Inundated to think that any man con
nected with the labor movement should
have been guilty Of either.
The lesson this grave crime teaches will.
| however. have its salutatry effect. II will
! demonstrate now more than ever the in
I humanity as well as the futility Of resorting
to violence in the effort to right wrongs or
| to attain rights
| In view Of the great uplift work in which
| the men of the labor movement have been
and are engaged and the industrial prob
| lens with which they have to contend wc
| insist that our organizations of labor should
be Judged by what they do and aim To do
rather than to be opposed and stgmatiZed
because one or a few may be reCreant 10 tho
good name and high ideals Of labor, and We
appeal TO the fair minds. citizenship and the
press of America for fair treatment