Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-14
TAFT INITIATES INQUIRY
Federal Investigation Into Dynamit-
ing Cases Ordered by Him.
HAS LONG TALK WITH LAwLER
Action Taken because California
Authorities Were Unable to
Reach witnesses and Evil
dehce in other states.

LOS ANGELES. Dec. 13-President
Taft personally initiated the govern
ment's present investigation both here
and at Indianapolis into the dynamiting
conspiracy in which the Mcnamara
brothers figured.
The president when he visited Los
Angeles on October 16, was apprised by
Oscar Lawler, then an assistant Of Dis
trict Attorney John ID. Frederlcks of the
strong case built up by the latter against
the McNamaras.
The presidents action in the matter
after his conference with Mr.. Lawler,
was taken forty-eight hours after he left
here. The Mcnamara trial was then but
five days old, but the president was
convinced, II Is said, OF the array of facts
gathered by the state and was told that
the MoNaInara brothers were not the
only guilty persons.
"Details of. alleged tampering with wit.
nesses and evidence IN various parts OF
the country and the inability OF the state
authorities here to bring ali offenders tc
justice were related to the president.
California Authorities Baked.
1t was a final move OF the people here
to ask thesanatlons chief executive tc
assist them in a matter in which they
were being baked on many sides. The
local federal authorities had declined tc
take any steps in the matter pending
orders from Washington. and District Al.
torney Frederlcks was unable to go tc
Washington to present the facts. 1t wa.
thought Mr.. Lawler, friend of the presl.
dent, that the federal action was insti'
tuted.
Il cannot discuss any conversations
have had with the president" declared
Mr.. Lawler today. Nor can talk abou
any of the present phases Of the govern
ments investigation"
1t can be stated positively, however
! by the Associated Press that the presi
dent was approached by Mr.. Lawler afte
District Attorney Fredericks vainl.
sought some other way to bring the fed
eral authorities into the case. Frederick
knew, ne said, that federal statutes ha,
been violated. He knew that there wa
evidence in Indianapolis which was no
accessible to the state authorities her
except by the Intervention of the fedora
government. He had heard OF the will
ingness Of the United States District Al
torney Charles II. Miller at Indianapoli
] 10 take lumeulhte dCAloHs pul dulHoIlNd
ton was needed from someone higher M
Not Afraid of Political Effect.
Mr.. Lawler saw the president and tol
him the circumstances. According I
persons who since have learned the dc
tails OF that conference, Mr.. Lawle
pointed out the number OF labor leader
who were involved.
The possibility of political injury TO IN
president was taken into consideration
with union labor lined up on the side {
the McNamaras at that time, which wa
long before the confessions OF guilt wer
dreamed OF. II was indicated TO the pres
dent by many persons that an unfavol
able political effect might result with III
labor element in the country IL he too
a definite stand In the Mcnamara cas-
The president. II Is said. told Mr. Lawlt
that ne would proceed regardless Of tina
The president was in favor OF beginnin
the federal prosecution here, but Il wa
pointed out that on account Of the per
dency OF the states case a cumberson
situation might arise. The Indianapol
federal authorities he was told, hoWeve
were anxious 10 go ahead IL he wOul
say the word. The president said !
would give his answer I'm a day or two.
Immediately after leaving here Il
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