The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-08
Brand McNamara Brothers as Re-
creant to the Good Name and
High Ideal Of American
Labor.
PROBE IS WELCOMED
Accounting to be Made Of the Defens,
Fund Raised to Aid Dyna-
miters In Their Court
Fight.

James b. and john j. MCNAMARA as
"recreant to the good name and high
ideal of labor and expressing the
satisfaction Of organized labor tina,
the culprits have been commensurate
" punished for their crime" the Nc.
Namara Ways and Means Committee
Of the American Federation of Labor,
after two days conference, issued
statement vigorously condemning the
McNamaras for their "inhumanity"
and declaring that organized labor
should not be held "either legally or
morally responsible for the crimes of
an individual member
The labor leaders assert they will
welcome any investigation which eth
er federal or state courts may under
take"
The statement is signed by every
member of the Mcnamara committee,
except F. NJ. Ryan. president Of the
international Bridge and Structure.
Iron Workers Union, with which tue
convicted Los Angeles Times dyna-
miters we're prominently connected
ofdcIaIiy. Mr. Ryan returned to In
dianapolis.
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
diana by the 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
sert:
I'VE, 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 report
in full will be made first to the Execu-
tive Council of the American 9edera-
ton OF Labor at its meeting to be
held at Washington. January 8. 1912.
Organized labor of America the
statement continues, has no desire to
condone the crimes of the McNa
maras. 1t Joins in the satisfaction that
the majesty of the law has been main.
tanned and the culprits commensui.
ately punished for their crime"
Partly concerning the crime of the
McNamaras, however, the statement
says In the following breath" and
yet 1t is an awful commentary upon
existing conditions when any one man
among all the millions of the workers
can bring himself to the frame oi
mind that the only means to secure
Justice for labor is in violence, out
rage 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. NJ
such moral code or legal responsible
ity is placed upon any other associa
tion of men in our country.
Investigation Welcomed.
I'm SO far as we have the right tt
speak, in the name of organized labol
we welcome any investigation which
either federal or state courts ma!
undertake. The sessions of the con
ventions Of the American Federation
OF Labor are held with open door
that all may see and hear what is be
sing said and done. The books, &C
counts and correspondence OF the fed
Grafton are open to any competen
authority who may desire to make |
study or investigation OF them.
The men of organized labor, II
common with all our people, are griev
ed beyond expression in words at tb'
loss OF life and destruction of prop
erty, not only in the case under dis
cussion, but in any other case whicl
may have occurred. We are hurt ant
humiliated to think that any man con
nected with the labor movemen
should have been guilty of either
The lpegnp thio Orova rripa fpachr