Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-08
LABOR REPUDIATEs CRIME.
MeNamara Committee Will Not Stand
For MeNamara Methods.


Branding James B. and John j
Mcnamara as 'recreant to the good
name and high ideals Of labor" and
| lied labor that the culprits have been
commensurately punished for their
crime, the Mcnamara ways and
means committee of the American
Federation of Labor after a two days
conference in Washington, late yester-
day issued statement vigorously con-
demning the McNamaras for their
| 'inhumanity" and declaring that or
ganized labor should not be held
"either legally or morally responsible
for the crimes Of an individual mem
ber."
| The labor leaders assert that they
will welcome any investigation which
either Federal or state courts may
undertake"
The statement Is signed by every
member Of the Mcnamara committee
except M. F. Ryan, president Of the
International Bridge and Structural
Iron Workers union, with which the
convicted Los Angeles Times dyna:
miters were prominently connected
officially.
| Mr. Ryan was present yesterday
but returned to Indianapolis today.
Had he remained. however" said
President Gompers positively, Il am
sure that Mr.. Ryan would have added
his name. He was called back to In
dianapolis by pressure of BUSINESS
He did not see the statement, but
am sure he is in hearty accord with
its sentiments"
| AS to their knowledge Of the crime
to which the McNamaras confessed,
the committee in their statement, as
serted:
1--WE, here and now, individually
and collectively, declare that the first
knowledge or intimation Of their
guilt was conveyed by the press In
their confessions of guilt.
From the outset we assured all
contributors and the public generally
that we would publish an accounting
Of the moneys received, from whom
received and to whom paid. A re-
port in full will be made first to the
executive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor at its meeting to be
held at Washington, January s, 1912"
organized labor Of America" the
statement continues, has no desire to
condone the crimes Of the McNarnaras.
It joins In the satisfaction that the
majesty of the law has been maintain
ed and the culprits commensurately
punished for their crime.
Partly condoning the crime Of the
McNamaras, however, the statement
says in the following breath:
And yet Il Is an awful commentary
upon existing conditions when any one
man among all the millions Of work.
ers can bring himself to the frame of
mind that the only means to secure
justice for labor is In violence, outrage
and murder.
1T Is cruelty unjust to hold the men
of the labor movement either legally
or morally responsible for the crimes
of an individual member. No such
moral code or legal responsibility Is
placed upon any other association Of
men In our country.
I'm so far as we have the right to
speak In the name Of organized labor,
we welcome any investigation which
either Federal or state courts may
undertake. The sessions Of the conven-
tions Of the American Federation of
Labor are held with open doors that
all may see and hear what Is being
said and done. The books, accounts
and correspondence Of the federation
are open to any competent authority
who may desire to make a study or
an investigation Of them.