Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-03
Indianapolis Mayor Tells
of Crimes in City Two
Years Ago.
LABOR CHIEFS AWARE?
Intimation Gompers Knew of
Mems GuiIt-Evidence for
Government. ~

indianapolis, Ind, Jan. s.-National
labor officials, affiliated with Samuel
Gompers and the American Fedora
ton of Labor, were informed two
years ago by Charles A. Bookwalter,
who, as mayor at that time. conduct
ed a secret investigation, that John
]. Mcnamara had directed a series of
dynamite explosions.
CONTRACTOR ATTACKED.
This was made known by Bookwal-
ter today when he informed the gov
ernment's investigation bere he had
made an inquiry into the circum-
stances of four explosions directed
against Albert Won Sprecklesen, a
general contractor, on account of
labor troubles. Bookwalter declared
he expected to be subpoenaed before
the grand jury, which resumed its ex-
animation today.
| TO BARE ALL DETAILS.
He said he would bare all the de-
tails of the municipal investigation,
which satisfied him John J. McNa-
mara, secretary-treasurer OF the In
ternational Association of Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers, was the CON
spring executive who caused the ex-
plosions In this vicinity. Bookwalter
even said he himself had told John
]. Mcnamara of strong suspicion
against him and that in his conversa-
tions with a score of labor leaders
he had placed the responsibility upon
, the iron workers union.
HIS TALK WITH JOHN J.
Il 1--WE were on a street car together
} one day shortly after the Won Spreck-
elsen explosions in October. 1909,"
? said Bookwalter today, when John
j., whom l knew very well, asked me
? in taunting way if 1 had learned
: who blew up the buildings. l was
irritated those days because l myself
had received threatening letters and
had to have a guard at my house for
60 days, so l answered rather hotly:
j Yes, and l could put my hand on one
1 of them without leaving this car
r CALLED A SHAME.
s Asked whether he told any one else
8 besides Mcnamara of what his in
4 vestigation had disclosed, he said he
had told a score of labor leaders and
he thought some said, 'It was a
damned shame" Bookwalter said he
did not know whether those men told
: Gompers about the suspicious, "but, i"
o said Bookwalter, Sam Gompers is
g one of the best informed men in this
II country
NO REFERENCE MADE.
O. Bookwalter said he had met Com
: pers twice, while with labor leaders.
9 but no reference was made in his
a presence to the explosions. Bookwal-
. ter said he was not intimate enough
to have discussed the matter with
Gompers, because of an alleged bust
ness association. He admitted his
partner, Hugo Phorsch, is a close
friend OF Gompers. "Do you think
= Gompers knew while these explosions
} were going on who was responsible
for them?'
n DID NOT INQUIRE.
a. "Gompers," said Bookwalter, sis
v the general of great army and. like
h a general, he did not inquire when
d any of his men were engaging in
J. guerilla warfare. But if this were
l. called to the attention of the general
n naturally he would rebuke them"
IS GoMPEBs ANSWERS.
r Washington, Jan. 3.-Gompers thii
Ie afternoon denied any person told hin
le or even hinted that J.. J. McNamar;
,e or any one else was engaged in dyna
a. mite campaigns.
ID