Arizona republican., 1912-07-19
The Apostle of Good Will and Distributor of the Golden Rule Tells of the Settlement of the Mo Namara Case
SOME DAYS BEFORE
 BRIBERY DISCLOSURE
No Evidence That Anybody Outside the Ring of Re formers and Dynamiters Seems to Have Been Aware of It
ASSOCIATED PRESS D1sPArcHl


 LOS ANGELES. July 18-Lincoln Steffens, the writer on government, politics and labor, who was credited largely at the time with having brought about the settlement of the McNamara cases. took the stand for the defense today in the bribery trial of Clarence s. DarrOw. and gave inn pressively, in detail the history of that affDir The narration was simple and coflcise
 As the witness told of the futile struggle to save John J McNamara from the penitentiary so that organ ized labor would be spared. what in the minds of many. would amount to the conviction of itself, the defend ant made no attempt to hide his emO- ton.
 The story of Steffens accentuated what appears now to be the crucial issue-whether the agreement to have the McNamara brothers plead guilty was sanctioned by DarrOw more than a week previous to the alleged bribery of Juror Lockwood as claimed by the defense, or, that the negotiations vir- tually had been declared off because of the unwilingness of DarrOW to all low John J. McNamara to plead guilty, as contended by the prosecu- tion.
 That this would be the stand of the prosecution was indicated by Dis trict Attorney FrederiGks. who de- cfared that it would be shown that the negotiatiofis were not brought to a climax until the bribery expose which compelled the McNamara defense to submit to the terms of the prosecu- tion, that both the McNamaras plead guilty.
 Steffens declared without quaifica- tion that Darrow and the McNamara brothers consented to the plan be- fore the arrest of Franklin, but it had been decided to continue the ne gotiations with the ultimate object of saving the elder brother if possible To this end, Attorney Lecompte Davis was sent to the district attorneys of- flee to keep up the bluff by issuing an ultimatum that there would be no settlement if John J. McNamara had to plead guilty.
 The witness gave his residence as Riverside, Conn. his occupation as re- porter. He said he came to Los An geles on November 10 1911; that the settlement of the McNamara case was first discussed at meeting between F. W. Scripps. Darrow and himself at the home of Scripps in San Diego where they were guests on November 19
 Next day he began work on the proposition. he said, first laying it before Meyer Lissner. and later be- fore a committee of representative business men. Although much oppo- sition was expected from the owners of the Los Angeles Times Steffens said Harry Chandler, the general man ager. was very enthusiastic over the plan. Subsequently Chandler became an emissary between the business mems committee, and the district at torney.
 The original agreement was drafted in Lissners office on November 20. and it was hoped that the district at torney would assent to it. according to the witness. It provided that James B. McNamara plead guilty and accept such punishment as the court might provide except hanging.
 To this said the witness, the dis trict attorneys office replied through Chandler. demanding that both men plead guilty. and that both make con- fessions. Telegrams had been received from the National Erectors' associa- tion and other business interests in the east. said Steffens. protesting against any settlement that did not provide for the sending of John J. McNamara to the penitentiary as well as his brother.
 "On November 22nd.' continued Steffens. "it seemed clear to Darrow that a settlement could be arrived at which would save J B. McNamara from the gallows He sat down and wrote a telegram to Samuel Gompers, at Atlanta, Georgia. where the Ameri- vention. asking that one of two or three men he named be sent here as something important had transpired, and he wished to consult with organ ized labor
 Asked for the names of the men mentioned in the telegram. the wit ness said they were o. A. Tveitmoe, Anton Johannsen and Edward N. Nockels Steffens told of his con- ference with Fremont Older in which the latter professed concern as to who would be the goat" and fear that S&rrow would be punished" as well as the witness and injured profess sionally.
 .'Darrow said he did not care about