The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-03
he CONDUCTED AN INQUIRY
1t Resulted in Placing Blame on
John ]. Mcnamara
Former Official of City Says He Does
Not Know Whether Gompers
Was Told Of Result of In
vestisstion or Not.

Indianapolis, Ind. Jan 3.-National
labor officials affiliated with Gompers
and the American Federation OF Labor
We're informed two years ago bv
Charles A. Boolowalter. who. as mayor
Iat that time. conducted secret in
vestigation that John j. MeNamara had
directed series of dynamite explo-
sions. This was made known bv
bookwalter today when he was in
formed the governments Investigation
here embraced an inquiry into the cir
cumstances Of four explosions directed
against Albert Won SpreckIesen. a
general contractor. on account OF labor
troubles.
Bookwalter declared he expected 10
Do subpoenaed by the federal grand
jury, which resumed it's session today
He said he'd bare all details of tha
municipal investigation which satisfied
MN that John j. Mcnamara. secre-
tary and treasurer of the Internation-
al Association of Bridge Structural
IRON Workers, was the conspiring exc
cutive who caused the explosions In
this vicinity.
Bookwalter even said he himself had
told John j. McNamara of the strong
suspicion against him, and that in his
conversation with a score of labor
leaders he had placed the responsible
~ upon the Iron Workers union.
We We're on street car together
one day shortly after the Won Spreck-
elsen explosions In October. 1909" said
bookwalter today, ''when John J.
whom knew very well. asked me In
taunting way if I had learned be
DleW up the building was irritated
In those days because myself had re-
ceived threatening letters, and had To
have a guard at my house for sixty
Jays SO l answered rather hotly. Yes.
and l could put my hand on one of
them without leaving this car"
Asked whether he told any one else
besides Mcnamara of what his investi-
cation had disclosde he said he had told
score of labor leaders and he thought
some said. 1T was a shame"
Boolowalter said he did not know
these men told Gompers about
he suspicious. but" said Bookwal-
err Sam Gompers is one of the best
Informed men in this country"
Bookwalter said he had met Com
'ers twice, while with the labor lead
RS, but no reference was made In his
'resence as to the explosions. Book
Valter said he was not Intimate enough
nave discussed the matter with
iompers. He admitted his partner.
Iugo Thorsch. is close friend of
tompers.
do you think Gompers knew while
hese explosions were going on who
'as responsible for them?"
Gompers,' said Bookwalter. 'is the
eneral of great army, and like a
eneral he did not inquire when any OF
Is men were engaging in guerrilla
arfare. But IL this were called 10 the
ttention Of the general naturally he'd
sbuke them"
Bookwalter said he did not think
ompers could have stopped the dyna-
ting because Mcnamara was not the
Ind OF a man to take his orders from
anybody.
Bookwalter said his Investigation
'nvinced him beyond doubt that Nc
amara and the Iron Workers were
atty. He financied the Investigation
mself, and il stopped when he went
At of Office
Gompers Was Not Informed.
Washington, Jan. s.-Gompers this
terDoon denied any person told him
even hinted that John J. McNam
"a or any one else was engaged in a
'namiting campaign.
Labor Leaders Didn't Help.
indianapolis. Jan. 3.-"No union Ia
II leader. not even Samuel Gompers.
Confined on paoa cix