The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-03
]. rHE M,NAMAnA coNEEss1oN.

THE MCNAMARA CONFESSION.
Another confession has lifted I
heavy burden from whole people
society can deal with crime when tho
criminal is known. 1t is doubt AND
hesitation that palsy the hand of jus
lice and drive an uncertain people to
madness.
II Beattie had not confessed, lin
EerinE doubt would have tortured
many faithful and earnest hearts for
ever. And the effect of that doubt
syould have been TO weaken and senti-
.1.entalizc the administration OF law
acreafter. Hut Beattic did confess; he
aiftcd all possibility of doubt from
tho minds OF tho Judge and jury and
Governor Mann; he dispelled tho mis-
givings that cIouded many hearts. and
thereby he made what redress was in
his power TO the outraged conscience
,-of society.
OF even more Importance is the as
BOUNDING confession OF the two Nc
Samnras. Besttie was merely q pri-
$ate citizen. His crime and Its pun
Is ment affected none beyond his own
hircle of friends and kinsfolk, but
The McNamaras were high officials In
Il great labor organization. Thousands
OF men mado the McNamaras' cause
their cause. and nm injustice to those
leaders, real or fancied. was seized
upon at once by laborinE men through
out the land as confirmation strong
Rs proof OF holy writ that ''capitar'
was engaged in n cruel and relentless
effort to hang. II possible, two honest
nm inoffcnslve citizens on perjured
evidence. How could II DO otherwise
when the president OF the American
Federation of Labor was responsible
for such wickedly unjust accusations
as those which Mr.. Gompers made
ngainst the city and citizens of Los
Angeles? That is why 1t was far moro
essential to establish the guilt OF the
McNnmaras to the entire satisfaction
OF every laboring man in America
tlis to secure the conviction of the
McNamaras. even with the infliction
of n death sentence In each case.
Nothing will bring back the lives
of the twenty-one men who were
blown up in LOS Angeles: but II is
possible out of that act OF blood and
coldly calculated murder for labor and
capital to come to n better unuer-
standing than ever could have been
reached by the mere finding OF jury
There can be no doubt now that i'm
portant and trusted labor leaders were
engaged in deeds of blood and shame.
81 far those who desired to establish
this fact have gained their point. but
the other side of the case is of equal
clearness and Of far more Significance
and value to this country, that Is, the
fact that the labor unions hnve In
simultaneously declared themselves hor-
,ined by the revelations made by tho
Mcnamara bYothers, and have gone OH
record as being wholly and absolutely
opposed to criminal methods as
means OF determining the questions OF
wages and hours of employment II
WAC the support Of labor unions that
made the McNamaras possible. and
only the labor unions can purge them
helves OF such leaders and compa mons
This confession Is the greatest blow
that organized labor has ever received
in America; IL. effect conno, and
should not be min,m,zed. and tbo IT,
preston made on the nubI,c n.,, ~,
y.adny hei ettaceh ~, ,o,o
Rave performed more good by far than
harm; they have forced narrow and