The Washington times., 1911-12-02
END OF THE M'NAMARA CASE
land AFTER.

There has been vast denunciation OF
"railroading the McNamaras to the gal
lows" on planted evidence" Today, In
the light of confessions, the record
4, stands forth to convict the denouncers
of purpose that, had IL succeeded,
would have defeated justice.
There was insistence that the Nc.
Namaras were being sacrificed in a
warfare against all organized labor !;
kidnapping, perjury, and conspiracy were
charged.
Now that the truth is known about
the main issue, let the McNamara de-
Tense be investigated. Attempt to
bribe q juror was most circumstantially
charged against an agent of the defense
only few days ago. Like stories have
been afoat before.
This il not the worst. Threats have
been echoed from end to end of the
country that If the McNamaras were
convicted nationwide strike would
be organized in protest. ..-...
Men who assume to be guides and
counselors of organized labor have not
hesitated to menace the country with
calamity akin to civil war.
Let organized labor now have the
courage to consider these things. Can
it afford to follow such leadership Can
it continue adherence to counsels of
such policyi
Organized labor may come forth
stronger or weaker from this ordeal
according as it behaves now.
Unionism must be intelligent in its
methods and worthy in its leadership.
To charge all its membership with re-
sponsibility in such an inhumanity as
the Los Angeles dynamite plot is un-
thinkable. To suggest the destruction
of the very institution of unionism be-
cause of even so wicked an outrage
would be parallel to a demand that q
State of the Union be disestablished and
its right of government taken from
it, because it has at times been de.
bauched by wicked and corrupt leader
ship.
As well propose to take away the
charter of a great city that has fallen
under domination of the boodlers and
the criminal element.
This is time for restraint. People
who oppose, as we'll as those who ad.
vocate, unionism have need for mod
GRAFTON.
But the greatest responsibility of all
Is upon the great mass of those who
compose the well.intentioned, sober,
sincere, and loving ranks of labor.
They must be very sure that no bit.
terness, no extreme acts or expressions.
shall justify sweeping attempts to
spread the red.handed guilt of a few
criminals over the millions of innocent
but misled members. They must stand
firm in purging their organizations, in
putting their business in the hands of
safe, enlightened agents, in demonstrate
ing the sincerity of their good citizen
ship.
The Mcnamara confession will do
organized labor no good" Mr.. Gompers
said. Perhaps that is SO; assuredly, as
to immediate effects, it is so.
But if organized labor can have a
real revival, touched by the spirit of
good citizenship, moderation and earn
est purpose; if it can clean out the
extremists, the undesirables, the crooks,
the bosses, and the grafters among its
leaders, it will at length emerge vastly
better for the experience.
From every point of view it is a
good thing that the McNamaras have
confessed. Reckless charges of con-
sPiracy, jobbery, and the like have
been freely circulated by undesirable
labor leaders. 1t has seemed certain
that no conviction, however clearly es
tablished, would be accepted as honest.
NJ is fearful responsibility, this of
INying set about to poison the minds
OF Millions against the processes of JUS.
tice, We integrity of the Governments
very ndamentals. Fortunately, the
vicious NEk is made utterly purpose,
less and iAfective, because no preju.
dice, no ignosnce, no narrowness of
Vision' can nowNauestion the outcome
of the case. The &uger of excesses, of
arousing or accentsSting animosities
and hatreds, is ended because all un.
certainties have been -enayed.