United labor bulletin., 1911-05-18
APPEAL-EoR FUNDS
ISSUED BY 0oMPERs
(Continued from page IL

suspicion by every fair-thinking Amer
lean citizen.
Behind the prosecution stands this de-
tective agency. with the National Erect
ors' Association" Of employers, part OF
the National Association Of Manuiactur-
ers, a part of the great corporations OF
the country, with their millions, aye Dill
lions of wealth and power. In addition
is the vindictive spirit Of persecution or
the Manufacturers and Merchants Asso-
citation of Los Angeles, with the bitter
invective of the editor and proprietor OF
the Los Angeles Times, General Otis. II
is therefore not difficult to appreciate IN :
fact that with all this untold wealth and
power and influence, allied with many
hostile newspapers, the accused men will
have the most formidable power and in
fuences with which to contend. How a
fair trial under such circumstances can
be accorded to them is difficult to under
stand. Therefore. it will be readily ap-
preciated how necessary ample means
are for the adequate defense OF the men
before the courts. The men must be
properly defended, aye, by the best coun-
sci obtainable, and the kidnapers must
be taught a lesson that the lives and the
persons of labor men are just as sacred
as are the lives and liberty of any other
man in our country, regardless OF his
wealth, his possessions or his standing.
No one coulu imagine that number of
millionaires would have been extradtted
from their home state and given up to
detective agency to be taken to another
state to answer grave charges of crime.
without first having an opportunity Of ap-
pearing by counsel and without their hav-
ing hearing in court.
The consensus of opinion among repre-
sentative men of organized labor has
been expressed that the executive coun-
Gil of the American Federation of Labor
should have charge Of the receiving and
disbursing of funds for the defense of
the men incarcerated in Los Angeles,
Cal, and for the prosecution Of those
who were guilty Of taking the men OF
labor out of their home states, across the
continent to California. without their
having been afforded the opportunities
for defense and the protection Of the
law.
Therefore it has been determined that
ample opportunities for defense of the
accused men shall be afforded them be
fore the courts of California, and in the
prosecution of the charges of kidnapping
in Indiana, and If necessary. that the
cases shall be brought to the highest
courts of our country. Having beer
charged with these duties, the executive
council appeals to all labor to all friends
Of labor. to contribute promptly and gen
erously toward a fund by which ths
means may be provided for the duty i'm
posed upon the executive council.
In conformity Herewith, the ofhcers
Of all national and International union,
are requested to appeal to their locals
and to the members thereof to subscribe
or contribute in any way that these re
spective organizations have the facilities
to carry them into effect, and to forward
the same to the secretary of the Amer
| lean Federation of Labor.
All state declarations. city central bod
les and local unions and members thereo
are urgently requested to endeavor Il
buttons or appropriations as their law.
or their opportunities may afford In ad
dition central bodies are requested to ap
point committees for the purpose OF so
liciting contributions
All moneys contributed will be used II
furtherance of the purposes as set forth
in this circular and will be duly account
ed for and a receipt promptly Forwarded
10 each contributor. whether interna
tional. state. central. local or individual.
Send all moneys to Frank Morrison
Secretary, American Federation of La
Dor, s01-S09 G. street N. W.. Washington
d. C.
again urging upon all the necessity oi
aiding in the effort to defend the mer
Of labor against the heinous crime
charged against them. and to prosecute
the cases of kidnapping. We have the
honor to remain.