New-York tribune., 1911-04-24
TNIONISM AND DYNAMITE.

The arrest of the secretary and treas
urer of the international Association ~
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
and two other labor unionists for the
dynamite outrages in Los Angeles re-
calls the arrest and trial of the officers
| of the Western Federation Of Miners
| for dynamite outrages In the Western
mining regions. In this case, as in that.
there has been in single Industry a
series of explosions, destroying many
lives and much property. and under con-
ditions that pointed to the responsibility
of unionism. In various parts of the
country iron works or bridges ana
buildings in process of construction have
been blown up during the last year, ana
in every instance non-union labor was
being employed or some quarrel existed
between the iron workers union and the
employer whose property was dynamited.
In addition TO these explosions, and ap-
parently connected with them. there was
the blowing I'D of 1.-The los Angeles
Times plant, in which twenty-one per-
sons lost their lives THE Times" con-
Quoted non-union shop and bad waged
II bitter war on unloniSm.
The evidence by which the detectives
hope to connect the prisoners with this
series of explosions evidently is not all
made public But if the luggage of the
two alleged active agents contained the
arms. explosives and Internal machines
in
would seem 10 be little doubt that they
are dynamiters. 70 connect The iron
workers secretary and treasurer with
the explosions the only fact made pubic
is the alleged finding Of explosives con-
cealed in the building occupied as 4
headquarters of the union and OF more
explosives in barn, the owner Of
which. a union iron worker, is said to
have declared that they had been placed
there by the secretary and treasurer OF
the union. In the Western miners case
the evidence which connected the actual
dynamters with the murders was over
wheming, but the relation 10 them ot
the higher officers of the union was not
made out TO the satisfaction of the jury.
4 similar difficulty may be encountered
in this case
The authorities should proceed with
the utmost fairness and with scrupulous
regard for the regularity of the methods
employed, 50 that no cry of persecution
may be raised. such as was raised III the
Western Federation of Miners prosecu-
ton. The large reward offered in con-
nection with the Los Angeles explosions
will tend 10 lend color 10 the charge
that plant" has been arranged. 1t is
10 be regretted. therefore. that unusual
secrecy was maintained about these ar
rests for ten days, and that the prison
erS appear not to have been confined in
the regular manner. 1t ought not 10
be- possible 10 becloud the issue by the
charge that these men have been kid
mapped" as the miners were said to
have been. or that they are being rail
roaded" There has been too much
dynamiting in the supposed interest OF
union labor all over the country. The
truth should be brought out, if possible,
in such way that every one will see
that il is the truth beyond dispute. This
would serve the interests of union labor
rs much as those Of the public. If there
are secret murderous rings in unlonism
All labor uni0nists should he made aware
Cf their existence