Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-04
THE NEXT FIGHT.
Continued from Page One.)

Bookwalter even said that he, him
self, had told John J. Mcnamara of
the strong suspicion against him and
that in his conversations with score
of labor leaders he had placed the re-
sponsibility upon the Iron Workers
| Union.
! 1--WE were on a street together, one
day shortly after the Won Speckelsen
explosion in October, 1907 said Book
walter, when John J., whom 1 knew
very well. asked me in a haunting way
if | had learned who blew up the
buildings. / was irritated those days
because / myself had received threat
ening letters and had to have a guard
at my house for 60 days, so l answer
ed rather hotly: Yes, and l could put
my hand on one of them without leav
ing this car "
Asked if he told anyone else be
sides Mcnamara of what his investi-
cation had disclosed, he said:
Yes. / told a score of labor lead
ers what / knew and that the iron
workers were TO blame. You see 1
knew all the labor union boys"
What did they say when you
blamed the iron workers."
There are lots of good men in union
labor and they always have denounced
acts of violence. / think some of them
said it was a damned shame"
Did any of these men tell Mr.
Gompers that suspicious pointed
strongly to the guilt of the iron
workers."
Il don't know whether they told him
or not but Samuel Gompers is one
of the best informed men in this coun-
try
Bookwalter said that Gompers Wis
tied Indianapolis several times subse
quent to his own conversations with
the labor leaders, both before and af-
ter the McNamaras were arrested and
that he (Bookwalter) met Gompers
himself twice while with labor union
men but that no reference was made
in his presence to the explosions.
1.-The only remark l made about Ia
Dor matters to Gompers," said Book
walter, was to tell him that we had
strike when the City hall was built
and that the unions had made me ac-
cede to their demands
investigation was being made as to
whether he had informed Gompers. He
denied that he was intimate enough
to have discussed the question because
of an alleged business association.
II don't know Mr.. Gompers we'll
enough to talk about these things"
explained Bookwalter. ITS true that
my partner, Huge Torsch, is a close
H. Iyx,n
him for 20 years.
DO You think Mr.. Gompers knew
while these explosions were going on
who was responsible for them?"
"'Gompers is the general of a great
army and like a general he did not in
quire when any of his men were en-
gaging in guerilla warfare. But if
this We're called to the attention of the
general naturally he would rebuke
them
''Do you think he could have stop
ped them had he tried?"
II do not, as the iron workers We're
only an allied organization to the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. John J. Nc
Namara was not the kind of man to take
orders from anybody
Bookwalter asserted that his investiga-
ton convinced him beyond any doubt
that Mcnamara and the iron workers
We're guilty. He said the inquiry, though
lasting only as days, was a thorough one
and was dropped because his term as
mayor expired.
Il myself had financed much of the
work. said Bookwalter, land when
left office l had no further interest as q
public official in the matter"
Mr.. Bookwalter shortly after this be-
came identified with large printing
| house, patronized principally by big Ia
Dor unions He denied that Mr. Gompers
had any interest IN the concern.
William ]. Burns who is here in re-
| Spouse to a subpoena to testify before
| the federal grand jury admitted that his
detectives were working on the details
revealed in the investigation by Book
walter and the circumstances that at
tended the dropping of the inquiry by
| city authorities.
| Hugo Thorsch, who came to this city
seven years ago from Philadelphia, where
| he conducted a printing plant and die
much work for unions, declared that
Gompers at no time has been associated
with him in business.
| w HN ulul BOOhNalleF pursue ms III
| vestigation." quered Burns, 'either as
mayor or as a private citizen after he re
| tired from Office shortly afterward?"
| "If he had done so, scores of explo
sions might have been prevented
| The detective said that all information
| gathered by his investigation would bt
| turned over to the government prose
| cutors for any disposition which they
might choose TO make. The federal grant
| jury resumed, today, its inquiry into thu
alleged national dynamite plot.
| Hugo Thorsch, Bookwalter's partner
| said he would give Burns free access Il
| the books and records of the company
| II never have had business relations
| with Samuel Gompers," said phorsch
| though / have obtained large printint
| contracts with labor unions. Mr.. Book
walter came into this firm because h
! wished to engage in the business ant
| he was a desirable partner"
Mr. Rookwalter said that his reason 10
dropping the dynamiting investigation
I n.