Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1911-12-14

/ eight international unions which have
ltheir headquarters in that city, and
1.-THE meeting of the officials of large
number of trade unions called by au-
lthority of the Executive Council of
1.-The American Federation of Labor,
ind held at Indianapolis, June 20,
1911. What President Gompers learn
led there was precisely what everyone
iattending the conference learned, and
That was nothing that helped to solve
1.-THE mystery of the Los Angeles dis
lasteT, or, of criminality of any kind.
Indeed, the unlawful and un-Ameri-
lean kidnapping of Mcnamara formed
/ one Of the chief factors of fixing in
Eshe minds of the working people of
lour country that he was innocent.
They reasoned, as they had right to
treason, that If there existed evidence
| of McNamara's guilt Of the crime
charged, every protection would and
Ishould have been accorded him to
demonstrate before the courts of
| Indiana that he was innocent Of the
Icrime with which he was charged. His
| prot stations of innocence, his de-
lmands to be represented by counsel,
were all ruthlessly ignored.
Violence brutality, destruction of
life or property, are foreign to the
aims and methods of organized labor
of America, and no interest is more
severely injured by the employment
|of such methods than that of the
workers organized in the labor move
|ment. Therefore, quite apart from the
spirit of humanitarianism and justice
which prompts the activities Of the or
ganized labor movement, policy and
hopes for success, forbid the resort
|fo violence. The American labor move
Ement and its men are loyal Americans
ma seek ID 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 OF the
|McNamaras. It joins in the satisfac-
| ton that the majesty Of the law and
Justice has been maintained and the
Iculprits cOmmensuTately punished Tor
their crime.
, And yet it is an awful commentary
lupon existing conditions when any one
man among all the millions OF workers,
lean bring himself to the frame OF
mind that the only means to secure
Justice for labor is in violence, out
lrage and murder.
h ii is cruelty unjust to hold the men
lof the labor movement either legally
Tor morally responsible for the crime
lof an Individual member. No such
lmoraI code or legal responsibility IS
placed upon any other association Of
| men in our country.
IN SO far as we have the right TO
sneak. in the name of organized labor,
I'VE welcome any investigation which
either federal or state courts may UNI
ldertake. The sessions of the cOnVen-
Ifion of the American Federation OF
Labor are held with open doors that
all may see and hear what is being
said and done. The books, accounts
and correspondence of the American
Federation of Labor are open to any
IcnmDetent authority, who may desire
lbo make a study or an investigation Of
them.
viii the National Manufacturers As
IsnciatioIl. the Erectors' Association
and the detective agencies extend the
same privilege for public investiga-
ifion and examination of their books
land correspondence
When we were selected as q Com.
Imittee on Ways an Means to raise ana
d iiiss finds for the defense of the
lMeNamaras and the prosecution OF
ltha kidnappers, we were fully I'M
dressed with the innocence Of the
acc,Ised men. That impression was
STRENGTHENED by their written and oral
manifestations of innocence. We here
land now. individually and collectively,
ldeclare that the first knowledge OF
Elimination Of their guilt was conveyed
In the press in their confessions OF
a,,ilf. From the outset we assured
Ian contributors and the public gen
IerallvS that we would publish an ae-
teol1nting Of the moneys received,
from whom received, and TO whom
inaid This assurance will be fulfilled.
4 renort in full will first be made to
line Executive Council Of the American
FederatiOn of Labor, at its meeting to
lhe held at Washington, p. G.. Janu-
ary s, 1912.
i The American labor movements has
Idone "a much for the workers of ouI
In liehfening the burdens which the
4 workers have had to bear, bringing
hight and hope in the homes ana y
the lives. the factories ana the Work
fshops of our country, that 4 cnak
llenges the world Of investigators TINS
ORGANIZATIONS OF labor OF AIneFles
:lhaVe been the most potent factors q
1.-THE establishment and maintenance q
THE largest measure OF lndustLla
lpeace, Their course IS OF c0nclila
TORY character to reach trade agree
lments with employers, and the falth
HUI adherence tO aggeements. WneL