New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
Ex-Mayor BookWaIter of Indian
apoIis Declares He Told Union
Leaders Two Years Ago.
BURNS CRIES NEGLIGENCE
Claims Former City Head, After
Dropping Bomb Inquiry, Joined
Printing Firm Which Did
Work for Unions.


having prosecuted John j. Mcnamara two
years ago on evidence in his possession
indicating that officials Of the international
Association of Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers had caused dynamite explosions
here
The detective declared that the former
Mayor dropped the investigation. ana hot
long afterward was invited to become
member of a printing firm doing much
work for national labor unions ana III
which Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation. was reported TO MIN
to have been interested.
Bookwalter. in an interview to-day, de-
! MED that Gompers at any time had Deen
concerned in the printing firm or that lie
knew him intimately. but said that part
ners in the firm were Leo Nj. Kappapor' l,
counsel for the international Association Vi
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers ana
Hugo Thorsch, long friend OF Gompers'
Bookwalter admitted that two years ago
he had told a score Of prominent natio"ai
labor leaders that he was convinced Oh 'He
guilt of John j. Mcnamara ana the iron
Workers Union in connection Win the
four explosions on property Of Albert Won
Spreckelsen in october, 1909.
| "Whv didn't Bookwalter pursue MS IN
vestIRation?" dueried Burns, "eitner as
Mayor or a. a private citizen after ne re-
tired from office shortly afterwardF IL
he knew. as he says he did, that John D.
Mcnamara and the iron workers we're
dynamiting property Of non-union contrac-
TORS Il was his duty to prosecute or tell
the public what he knew. II he had done
| n~n1naiOn9
have been prevented.
Federal Grand Jury Resumes PROBE
The detective asserted that he could not
| st this time discuss the details or BOOK
walters alleged relations with Gompers OF
the printing establishment. but said that
all information developed in his investlga-
don would be turned over to the govern
ment prosecutors for any disposition which
| they might choose 20 make. The federal
| grand jury resumed to-day It's inquiry INTO
the alleged dynamiting plot OF national ex-
tent For the Won Spreckelsen explosions
the dynamite is presumed to have been
brought from Bloomville. Ohio.
"peonIe who defeat the ends OF Justice,
Burns said. "are guilty with those who
were actively engaged in conspiracy to
violate laws
Hugo Thorsch. partner OF Bookwalter'
declared he would permit Burns freely to
Inspect the books and records Of the COM
pany, adding:
| + never have had business relations with
| auuel Gompers though | have obtained
large printing contracts with labor unions.
! IL il true that before | came TO this city
| from Philadelphia seven years ago edited
! a labor newspaper. but that IL my only d.
! rect personal connection with the labor
union movement, ! cannot imagine the
source OF allegations that nave peen as as
| socIated with Samuel Gompers nave
never even been successful In getting a
| printing contract from him. Mr. Book
| walter came into this firm because he
wished To- engage In the business ana ne
was a desirable partner
| Rookwalter in turn. stated that his rea-
son for dropping the dynamiting investiga-
! tion was that he personally had financed
| Il. and when his term OF office as Mayor
expired he felt that his public interest in
II was dead. The former Mayor. according
| 10 his own admission. had himself told
John J. Mcnamara OF the strong suspicion
against him.
| "Ye were on a street car together one
day shortly after the Won Spreckelsen ex-
plos,ons in October. 1909" said Bookwalter,
| "Uhen John j., whom | knew very well.
asked me in taunting way II | had
! learned who blew up the buildings. | was
| Irritated those days because ! myself had
received threatening letters and had TO
have n guard at my house for sixty days
| IN / answered rather hotly. Yes, ana
| could put my hand on one OF them Will
out leaving this car
"What did the labor leaders say when
Won blamed the iron workers.
"There are lots Of good men in union
labor and they always have denounced acts
~ violence. think some of them said II
was "A damned shame"
"Did any OF these men tell Mr. Gompers
,hat suspIcion pointed strongly to the guilt
| OF the iron workers?
"I don't know whether they told him or
not. but Sam Gompers Is one OF the best
Informed men In this country
Rookwalter said that Gompers visited
INDIANAPOLIS several times subsequent 10
hIs own conversations with the labor lead
ars both before and after the McNamaras
were arrested and that he UBookwalter)
mot Gompers himself twice while with Ia
bor union men, but that no reference was
made In his presence TO the explosions.
likens Gompers to General.
"Do YOU think Mr.. Gompers knew while
those explosions were going on who was
| responsible for them
"Gompers Is the general of great army,
and. like a general. he did not Inquire
when any OF his men we're engaged In
guerilla warfare. But If this were called
20 the attention OF the general naturally
he would rebuke them"
| "Do YOU think he could have stopped IL
| had he trIed?'
II do not as the iron workers were only
an allied organization of the American Fed
| Grafton OF Labor. John j. Mcnamara was
not the kind OF man to take orders from
anybody"
| Washington, Jan. Accommodating upon
statement by ex-Mayor Bookwalter' OF IN
dianapolis. that prominent labor oficlals
| were informed more than two years ago
| that ]. j. Mcnamara was engaged III uy
Mantle outrages. Samuel Gompers, presl-
dent OF the American Federation OF LABOR
| to-day said: ..,oso
| NO person, living or dead, ever made
| such "a statement to me, or even gave u