New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-13
RYAN PAID VISIT TO
JEROME ON INVITATION
President of IronWorkerS' Union
Refers to 1t in Letter to
John J. Mcnamara.
EXPLANATION BY LAWYER
Elk. District Attorney Says He
Told Visitor He Could
Stop Acts of
Violence.

Indianapolis. Dec. 12.-For asserting that
"virulent attacks" were made on him by
contractors who employed non-union
workmen, Frank NJ. Ryan. president OF
the Ironworkers' international Union.
was censured by the court at the "dyna-
mite conspiracy trial to-day as giving
'frresponsive" answers.
Ryan, the most prominent Of the forty
one defendants, was asked what he meant
by comments he made on an invitation
he received TO visit William T. Jerome
when he was District Attorney OF New
York. Ryars comments were contained
in letter written in January. 1906, TO
John J. Mcnamara, secretary of the
union. At that time, according to the
government, Ryan was in New York d.
recting the "dynamiting campaign in
the ironworkers' general strike against
open shop" contractors
Ryan identified copy OF a letter he
received from Mr.. Jerome, saying: II
shall be glad to see you alone or with
your attorney, II you prefer"
In his letter 10 Mcnamara, he said:
Another surprise. l inclose copy CT
Jeromes letter, with a suggestion that
II am prevented In any way from con-
Quoting the affairs OF the association you
should advise the first vice-president to
take charge"
What did you mean when you said, III
| am prevented from conducting the ef-
fairs Of the association" asked the
United States Attorney. c. W. Miller.
Il meant just what it says" replied
Ryan. who, although the District Attor-
ney objected, kept on talking.
There had been virulent attacks pub
lished in New York and emanating from
the National Erectors' Association. and a
man named Donnelly had come from Al
bany TO circulate a petition TO have me
impeached as president / did not know
what there was TO II until / investigated
Donnelly's end, and wanted to be pre-
pared for any emergency. That Is all
there is TO II. except that l saw Jerome
Objection was then made 10 Ryan's re-
marks. Federal Judge A. b. Anderson,
turning toward the witness, said:
"All this talk Is irresponsible. This is
the case OF the United States government
against these defendants. and not ths
ErfCtOrS ASSOClaIOn. Inc
established this prosecution"
Senator ]. w. Kern, for the defence.
then asked Ryan: Were you apprehen-
sive that you had done anything con-
trary 10 law that might endanger your
II was not" replied Ryan.
No further inquiries were made regard
ing Ryan's visit to Jerome. In his prevf-
GUS testimony Ryan said his visit was
friendly, and he denied IL had anything
10 DO with violence in the conduct OF the
strike in New York.
Mr.. Jerome said last night that he re-
called having sent for some one Of the
labor leaders back in 1906. but he did not
remember the mans name. There had
been several acts Of violence. supposed
to have been done I'm the name Of labor.
among them the killing Of an iron worker
at the Hotel Plaza. which was then IN
course of construction and he wished. as
the District Attorney OF New York
County, to tell the leaders that thoy
could stop such crimes II they saw iit
Il made this man understand that !
believed that If they passed down the
word that there should be no violence, no
violence would be done by labor mon,
despite the protests OF the leaders that
they, as leaders, could not control indi-
vidual acts Of violence" concluded Mr
Jerome.