The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-13
In Connection With Inyestiga-
ton of Dynamite Conspiracy
BEGAN ATLOS ANGELES
When He Visited That City
October 16 Last.
He Then Was Told of the Facts
in the Case.

Taft personally initiated the govern
ment's present investigation here and
at indianapolis into the dynamite con
spiracy in which the MCNAMARA broth
ers figured.
Tho president when he visited Los
Angeles on October 16, was apprised
by Oscar Lawlor, then an assistant
OF District Attorney John D. Frede-
ricks of the strong case built up by
the latter against the McNamaras.
The presidents action in the matter
after his conference with Mr. LawIor.
wan taken As hours after he left here
The Mcnamara trial was then but five
days old, but the president was con-
Vinced, it is said by the array of facts
gathered by the state and was told
that the Mcnamara brothers were not
the only guilty parties.
Details of alleged tampering with
witnesses and evidence in various
parts of the country and the inability
of the state authorities here to bring
all offenders to justice We're related to
the president. 1t was a final move on
the part OF the people here to ask
the nations chief executive to assist
them in a matter in which they were
being baked on many sides. The To-
cal federal authorities had declined to
take any steps in the matter, pending
orders from Washington, and District
Attorney F'rederickS was unable to go
TO w aSn nln5LOns 10 present the IacCS- 1t
was through Mr. Lawlor, a friend Of
the presidents that the federal action
S~aa instituted.
LawIor Refuses to Talk.
I can not discuss any conversations
I have had with the president" de-
clared Mr.. L4awlOr today Nor can
talk about any of the present phases
OF the governments investigation.
1t can be stated positively, however,
by the Associated Press that the presi-
arxT1r,
ter District Attorney Fredericks vainly
sought some other way to bring the
federal authorities into the case. Fred
eriexs knew. he said, that federal stat
utes had been violated. He knew that
there was evidence in Indianapolis 7
which was not accessible to the state /
authorities here except by the interven-
tion OF the federal government. He had
heard of the Willingness of United
States District Attorney Charles H. Mil
Ter at Indianapolis, to take immediate
action but authorization was needed
from some one higher up Mr. Lawlor
saw the president and told him the cir
cunnstances- According to persons who
q nee have learned the details of that
-onference Mr.. Lawlor pointed out a
number of labor leaders who were in
volved.
The possibility of political injury to
the president was taken into consjdera- /
tion. With union labor lined up on the
side of the AcNamaras at that time /
" nlCh was long D6IOr6 TIE GOIn6SSltJA4S
Of guilt were dreamed of, it was indi- /
Gated to the president by many persons !
that an unfavorable political effect /
might result with the labor element |
IN the country il he took a definite i
stand in the Mcnamara case. The pres +
dent. it is said, told Mr.. Lawlor that \
ne would proceed regardless of that |
The president was in favor of begin i
ming the federal prosecution here, but II
was pointed out that owing to the pen
1ency of the states case, a cumbersome
situation might arise
He Said the Word.
The Indianapolis federal authorities
ne was told. however. were anxious TO
20 ahead ii he would say the word
The president said he would give his
answer in a day or two. Immediate
y after leaving here the president was
n communication with Attorney CEN
sral Wickersham and the order went
'orth to United States District Attor-
,ev Miller to begin the governments
at Indianapolis. The eff
ect here so far as the state was con-
.erned was immediate District At
orney Fredericks was elated- Many
Witnesses who had been pursuaded BY
riends of the defense not to come
lere to testify came over to the SIDE
# the state. AS the hand of the fed
raj government was disclosed. anoth-
r circum stance was added to the rap
div growing pile that forced a surren-
Ter from the Mcnamara defense At
ornevs admit today that they telt the
fleet of the governments hand and
,ritT, the transfer of evidence in IN
anapolis, previously tied up they saw
~ beginning of the governments
ragnet assisting the state
ss1-he presidents real part IN this
oatfer has never been known, de-
Jared a man who knows the details
r # ale went ahead regardless of
,arsonal consideration and would have
,~aoaaded much earlier, / am. sure, If
-a Gould have told him the facts. AS
he axidence was coming in daily. how
,Ter II was impossible to take the mat
az m nv mail with Attorney General
EfcJxersharn. Letters pass through the
.ands OF many clerks Our only move !
ras to appeal to the president direct
vban he came out here and he acted
{ once
Franklin Is Released
los Angeles. Dec 13.=Bert H.
rankin against whom complaint was
oa7a charging him with bribing Ju :
or Pabert Balm in the Mcnamara :
7ur1er trial and with attempting to +
ofIuence the jury. appeared today !
afore Justice VIM F. Young
BEING already under $10,0 600 cash /
ali Franllin was released on his own
IRON Workers VIII Not Act {
4naiarapolis Dec 13-The executive z
&ar5 of the Bridge and Structural Iron {
Yorlxers will not meet to take formal ac-
ion expressing the organization's atti- !
ude since the confessions of the A1cNa- &
aid today the members had written TO
i'm a r7eteing was Unnecessary Mr.
1ockin declined to say that any OF the a
ficiaIs had commented on the public