The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1911-12-04
LABOR LEADERS
BLAME BARROW
Should Have Been Told Of
Guilt of MCNamaraS.
DISHEARTENED

tions, but in Due Course His Action
VIII Be Given Full Approvai-Prose-
cutting Attorney Insisted on Confes-
sions From Both Brothers Before
Agreeing to Compromise.
Los Angeles, Cal, Dec. 4.-Fatigued
and worn, his face deeply lined and
pale, Clarence S. Darrow, veteran OF
many legal battles in which labor has
been involved, is today disheartened
man. He read the comments of labor
leaders throughout the country on the
pleas of guilty entered by both James
B. and John j. Mcnamara, secretary
and treasurer of the International AS
sociation of Bridge and Structural
Iron Workers.
He declared that this was not the
time to make explanations; the SEN
tence of both prisoners had not yet
been fixed. but that labor leaders
would understand in due course that
the proceedings presented the only
solution of a vexatious problem that
had worried him for months.
Organized Labor Not Hurt.
Il cannot talk about it now," Dar-
row declared as he stood on the ver-
anda of bungalow gazing at the
| hills, but organized labor was not
hurt, and the leaders would not be so
bitter if they knew the facts
1t is believed that Mr.. Darrow meant
the compromise effected was much
more extensive than hitherto has been
hinted-namely, that the state of Cali
fornia had in its possession informa-
/ ton that would have involved other
prominent persons, and that the agree
ment to get the McNamaras to plead
guilty practically saves a score of in
dictments and prosecutions.
Mr.. Darrow was perturbed by the re-
ports that labor leaders had been led
to believe the defendants innocent and
that they had no advance information
on the pleas.
| Urged Leaders to Come.
The imrracticability of taking the
labor leaders generally into their con
fidence, ii is thought, is one reason
this was not done, though it is known
that Darrow sent messages to several
prominent labor leaders week ago
lurging them to come here for con
ference. Edward Nockels, secretary OF
the Chicago Federation of Labor, who
has been in the city for two weeks
knew of the situation with respect tC
the plea ard is said to have accepted
the solution as the only practical one
| Taken as whole the fear of further
exposures during the trial is said tc
have cut off its continuation, and II
was limited that at some future time
labor men would know the details.
| The business men of the city, who
instituted the move to end the trial, il
Twas learned, would have been salts
fed with the confession of James b
IMcNamara. They thought that woult
be sufficient vindication for tht
prosecution, but the state official!
thought otherwise.
Fredericks Was Obdurate.
The committee of business men ar
gued and argued, but District Attor
! ney John d. Fredericks was obdurate
1t was a plea of guilty by both broth
} ers at this time or he contended for
! continuation of the trial, he said.
. THAT was my ultimatum," said th
J district attorney, "and the committee
of business men, who were practical
ly the go-betweens, persuaded the dc
fense that it was the last straw" Jus
ten days. explained Attorney Darrow
1--we talked with the Mcnamara broth
J ers about pleading guilty, but only il
, the last few days did the thing com
| to climax"
"How did they feel about the maj
! ter?"
We'll, they accepted their fate wit