The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-02-24
A SQUARE DEAL FOR FRED j. MOONEY.

The arrest of Fred j. Mooney, former secretary
OF the local union of the bridge and structural iron
workers, for alleged completely in the dynamite
plots came complete shock and surprise to the
of abor in Duluth and to Mr. MONEYS host Of
friends in and out of the labor movement - -
The Labor World was mistaken in the Nc
Namara brothers. We did not think that it was
possible for such a man as John j. Mcnamara to
permit himself to be implicated in anything that
tended to destroy life property. If he had been
at least have learned that in the end lawessness
would have been stopped and the penalty would be
paid by the innocent we'll by the guilty.
All history teaches this fact Mcnamara should
have known it as do most all of the informed men
of labor in every country in the world.
Now it is possible the government in it's determi-
nation to get all Of the guilty men, has gathered in
number OF the innocent. We know Fred j.
Mooney; we know of his work we know of his atti-
tude on labor policies generally, and because we do
know OF these we are convinced that the govern
ment has made mistake
Mr. Mooney has gone over with us his CORES
pondence for the years he acted as secretary of his
local union He has industriously endeavored to
ascertain whether or not he ever used language in
any letter written by him that would lead a person
to believe that he had knowledge even by Inference
OF the dynamltlng jobs that were being carried on
throughout the country, and he has failed to find
single word that could by the farthest stretch of the
imagination fasten any crime upon him.
In the complaint served upon him he is charged
with having been one of party to carry dynamite
from Bellefontaine to indianapolis on or about De-
cember 5, 1906. An abundance of evidence can be
produced to show that Mr.. Mooney worked in Dll-
luth during all of the months of November and De-
cember that year. and that he never at any time
visited in indianapolis until September, 1907
Mr. Mooney is poor man, and if the govern
ment IS in error believe it is, he will be put
to an expense he is unable to meet if he is to under
60 trial at Indianapolis to which place it will be
necessary to bring his witnesses from Duluth and S.
periOr.
If the government has such good case why does
it not make it's complaint fully know here and why
cannot preliminary hearings be had before Judge
Morris to determine whether or not Mr. Mooney is
the right man, and whether or not he was in Du-
uth rather than at Indianapolis at the time charged
in the Indictment?
Mr. Mooney has family to provide for His
only means of support is his daily wage He is pay
ing Oh little home. There is debt on it to the
amount of $780, If he is not the right man or if he
can prove an alib why the evidence not be talk
en- in Duluth? Why should he be dragged to Indian
apohs with no chance for redress if he is innocent
The government cannot afford to become per
secutor to satisfy the ambition Of an overzealous
prosecuting attorney to make good The humblest
citizen should be given the utmost protection under
It, In Colonial days England insisted upon taking
men across the sea to be tried there for acts COM
mltted In the Colonies Its course was protested in
the Declaration OF Independence We must be care
ful lest we make the same error today.
/ In view of the fact that Mr.. Mooney has no means
OF redress it would seem that simple Justice would
accord him every protection in his right here in the
Federal court of Minnesota.
All that is asked is square deal