Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-20
STEFFENS SEEKS
TO BALK 4 TRIAL
Writer Admits Asking States
Attorney Not to Bring Action
Against Darrow.
DOUBT IN GOLDEN RULE
Says He Thinks Capital and Labor
Must Fight With Sribe and
Bombs.

Los Angeles, July 20.-District At
torney Fredericks, in a four hours
cross examination of Lincoln Steffens
yesterday, failed TO shake his testi-
mony in the Darrow case in any ma
terial matter. He succeeded, however,
in bringing into strong relief the
philosophy of Steffens, under which
he excuses the crime of the McNam-
aras.
He led the witness to admit that he
personally tried to get a promise from
the district attorney, through some Of
the business men whom he had inter
ested, that he would not prosecute the
! bribery case against Franklin nor
Darrow, as a part Of the general
agreement under which the McNam-
aras were to plead guilty.
In answer to a question by Juror
Snyder as to whether he believed in
direct action" Steffens declared that
after his experience in Los Angeles
he doubted If the golden rule could be
| applied to present-day conditions. and
said he feared the fight between cap
| ital and labor by direct action would
have to continue.
BRIDES TO ATTAIN ENDS.
This followed an explanation to
Juror Leavitt of what he meant by
direct action of capitalize use of
| bribes, or of armed force, or other
violence, to attain the ends sought by
| capital in conflict with labor.
Juror Golding wanted TO know how
Darrow acted when Steffens told him
that he was suspected of the Lock
wood bribery. Steffens declared that
Darrow's manner impressed nSl as
that of an innocent man. He said that
Darrow turned to him quickly with q
declaration that the question of re
sponsibility for the bribery should be-
left out of the plan for general am
nesty, that he did not want any hitcr
in the negotiations over that.
Steffens brought into his story
declaration that he himself discussed
the settlement plan with Judge Bord
we'll. the trial judge in the McNamar'
case, but received no assurance from
Judge Bordwell as to the sentence,
he would infiict.
Fredericks sought to establish hi
contention that the defense was VIII
ing that J. B. Mcnamara snould D'
hanged if only they could save ]. J
Mcnamara He called the attention
OF the witness to the memorandum o
agreement that had been introduce,
as evidence by the defense, in whicl
the words Except capital punish
ment," following the clause, a. F
Mcnamara to plead guilty and TAX
whatever punishment the court ma
see fit to infiict," had been stricke
out, and asked If he and his side ha
not agreed that this should be stricl
Ell out when the district attorney II
sisted that the matter OF punishment
be left entirely in the hands of tn
court.
FOUGHT TO SAVE LIFE.
: Steffens replied that they gave thi
z assent only on condition that they s,
cured verbal assurance either fror
the district attorney or the court tina
9 no life should be taken.
). "Darrow's especial concern" sal
l. the witness. was to save life. II
O did not want the life of his clients t
be sacrificed. He put that eve
ahead of the cause of organized Ii
bor"
Steffens became tangled and CAV
u conflicting testimony as to the dat
:, when Darrow told Lecompte Davis
II the Mcnamara counsel that he wa
u willing to let J. ]. Mcnamara plea
e guilty.
/ He declared that ]. 3. McNamal
had frequently referred with emotio
in conversation with him to his clai
n that he never intended to take life
d dynamiting the Times building.
d the conclusion of Steffens' crosse
X animation court was adjourned
4:30 until Monday morning.