The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-05-19
Washington, d. c., May 6, 1911.


TO the Officers and Members of Organ
lied Labor and Friends, Greeting:
| Everyone has been made aware by the
published accounts in the newspapers OF
the terrible accusations made against a
number of labor men in connection with
the explosions in Los Angeles, in which
twenty one lives We're lost. All have
learned too. of the secret spirting away
or kidnapping of the accused men from
their home states, without opportunity
of a word i'm court in their own defense,
handcuffed and in irons taken across the
continent to answer in Los Angeles the
charges made against them.
No member of organized labor can have
sympathy with crime Indeed, organized
labor is opposed to, and is standing
protest against, violgn'e and crime com
mtted by any one CT by any force or
authority. No one could but have feit
and still feel the horror Of the destruc-
ton of human life and of property, but
we can none the less feel the great out
rage which has been committed against
the accused men.
The detective agency engaged in pre-
senting these charges against the men OF
labor is well known to have no hesltaney
or scruples in manufacturing evidence
and charges against others. That agency
has long been known to have spies IN
factories and organizations to misdirect
the grievances of workmen into prema-
t,Sey provoked conflicts with employers
and thereby defeat the ends to secure
redress; to report to corporations the
names of men who are the most mtelil-
gent and active among dlscontented
workers and thereby prevent well-de
fined purpose to secure the redress oil
grievances; to bring about the discharge
the victimization and blacklistng OF
men. A detective agency such as TINS Is
itself accused before the bar OF pubic
opinion, and any accusation which It's
representatives may make must be re-
rarded with suspicion by every tar
minded American citizen
Behind the prosecution stands TINS de-
tcctive agency, with the National Erec-
tors Association of employers, part
Of the National Association of Manufac
turers, a part of the great corporations
of the country, with their millions, aye
billions. of wealth and power. In addi'
tion is the vindictive spirit of persecu
tion of the Manufacturers and Mer-
chants association of Los Angeles, wltA
the bitter invective of the editor ana
nroprietor of the Los Angeles Times,
General Otis. 1t is therefore not diff
cult to appreciate the fact that with all
this untold wealth and power and in
fluence, allied with many hostile news
papers. the accused men will have the
most formidable power and Influences
with which to contend How fair trial
under such circumstances can be accord
cd To them is difficult to understand.
Therefore, it will be readily appreciated
how necessary ample means are for the
adequate defense of the men before the
courts. The men must be properly de-
Tended. aye by the best counsel obtain
able. and the kidnappers 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
could imagine that a number OF million
aires would have been extradited IRON
| their home state and given up to de
| tective agency to be taken to another
state to answer grave charges of crime
without first having an opportunity ol
appearing by counsel and without then
having a hearing in court.
The concensus of opinion among rep
resentative men of organized labor ma
been expressed that the executive coun
ell of the American Federation OF Labor
should have charge of the receiving ane
ldisbursing of funds for the defense OF
the men - h-S'
Cal. and for the prosecution OF thos'
who were guilty of taking the men ol
labor out of their home states, across
/ the continent to California, without thei1
having been afforded the opportunities
for defense and the protection of th'
law.
Therefore, it has been determined tha
ample opportunities for defense. of th'
accused men shall be afforded them be
fore the courts of California, and in tn
4 prosecution of the charges of kidnap
ming in Indiana and, if necessary, tina
the cases shall be brought to the highes
courts of our country. Having beel
charged with these duties, the executiv
council appeals to all labor, to all friend
of labor, to contribute promptly an
generously toward fund by which tn
means may be provided for the duty i'm
posed upon the executive council.
In conformity Herewith, the officer
of all national and international union
are requested to appeal 10 their local
and to the members thereof To suhserlu