Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-04
Brighter Days for Labor.

The plea of guilty by the NC
Namara brothers comes like thun-
der-peal from a clear sky, but the eff
feet is instantly felt in clearing of
the atmosphere. There is a country
wide sigh of relief-not that these
young men are guilty but that, being
guilty. they have lifted the weight of
suspense, and strong emotions already
bitter and hourly growing more in
tense.
Around these men had been woven
a net of circumstances from which
there was no possibility of escape.
They were doomed before the law and
millions of unprejudiced minds of
America: yet thousands upon thou
sands of their fellows would never
have believed them guilty-and the
chasm between labor and other class
es would have widened deplorably.
The Los Angeles crime has been a
gr.evous blow 20 labor unionism. 1t
came as the crisis in a cycle of crime
growing ont of the war between CAPT
raj and labor that has challenged the
brutalities of the time of Nero. An
archists stepped in TO educate the
eoarser elements of a cosmopolitan
cause, and the loose and explosive ex-
pressions of irresponsible leaders
served to infame passions and excite
unlawful resolves.
Loyalty TO fellows degenerated into
acceptance by some of the creed: 1--WE
are right, and any wrong is iustifoble
10 win universal acceptance of our po-
sition.'
In the very air of the court room at
Los Angeles was q tenseness, and
pressure Of things To come. 1t was al
most as If the surrounding atmosphere
were charged with highly explosive
gas, and that at any moment some one
might strike a match. AS Attorney
Darrow for the defense said, he feared
what might spring out of il.
Now The skyis clear, and-few will be
SO unfair or narrow-,ninded as TO car
~ the crimes to which the MeNamaras
confess. back to responsible labor Or
CARNATIONS or leaders. That these
young men took it upon themselves to
wreak a terrible Vengeance and per-
haps mortal blow upon an implacable
enemy Of labor union methods, must
be accepted with the feelings of a fam
lily which finds itself disgraced by a
reckless and high-handed member
But the public has a right to expect
that labor unions will not only cleanse
themselves of sucn members, but will
set about eliminating the cause out of
which such feelings grow. Labor I'M
ions have no more cause TO make war
on the world to establish unyielding
supremacy for their demands than
have the rest of us.
Leaders of the John Mitchell type
who encourage patience, and for
bearance; who are willing to live and
let live; who favor making labor or
ganiZations factor for improvement
OF service, rather than the negative
leaning toward gaining more and Civ
ing less. are the leaders toward whom
the friends of unionism should turn
Self elected leaders, who lead be-
they want the money, have been
labor's worst enemies. The aggressive
policy which has accepted the advice
of Soeialistic lightweights and anar-
chistic heavyYeights, has carried
unionism nearer the brink of ignominy
than any force that could have been
brought against it.
Now we hope to see order, brother
~ love snd tolerance spring out OF
chaos, hatred and unwisdom.
Let labor so conduct itself that no
criminal dare commit crime that
woul1 reflect on labor.
II should be the part of all leaders
OF any degree of intelligence, 10 see
Ia IL that every man, whether in or
out Of the ranks of labor unions. is
punished 10 the fun extent of the
eenntry's laws for any crime that
might create O suspicion of union
collaboration.
Loyalty to a great cause is greater
than aggressive and Spectacular pre-
tense Of defence Of 9, brother, regard
less of his guilt. Labor would better
have Offered few thousands for the
sitting of facts than hundreds OF
Thousands to prove Innocence al any
cost or means,