The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-06
OVER II STATES
Work of Dynamite Grand Jury
Has Extended.
Fully 100 Explosions Have
Been Investigated.

indianapolis, FEB. 6."tully one
hundred explosions of dynamite. at
points scattered over II states, and
covering a period from the summer of
1905 to October Is, 1911. when dyna-
mite was found beneath a bridge near
Santa Barbara, Calf. just before Pres
dent Taft's special train passed over
it, were inquired into by the federal
grand jury which has investigated
what the government has regarded as
a nation wide dynamite conspiracy
and today returned 81 indictments.
It has been the theory of the gov
eminent that all of these explosions
were intended to intimidate employers
and non-union workfngmen with the
general intent to abolish the socalled
open shop" and compel submission 10
the demands of certain labor organ
izations, more particularly the Inter
national Union of the Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers.
The states in which explosions oc-
CURED were Ohio, Indiana, 1ll1nciS,
Pennsylvania, New York, New jersey,
Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Michigan wisconsin, Missouri. Iowa.
Nebraska Utah, California and Wash :
ington Ohio, with twenty explosions, |
had more than any other one state |
Illinois. Indiana and New York follow |
in order in respect of the number Of |
the explosions.
There were two explosions in 1905; /
nine in 1906; six in 1907; twenty SIX
in 1908: twenty in 1909; twenty-five !
in 1910. and thirteen in 1911. These /
figures are exclusive of the explosion
which wrecked the Los Angeles Times /
plant and resulted in the confessions
and Imprisonment OF the orothers'
John J. and James B. Mcnamara.
John J. Mcnamara was secretary
treasurer of the International Associa-
ton of Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers.
Erectors Started 1t.
The preliminary exhibit of facts and
about the explosions ana
their supposed origin was gathered
and presented to the federal authorl-
ties by the National Erectors assocla-
ton. an organization OF IRON ana
steel manufacturers and contractors
who had declared for the open shop |
After the explosions in 1905, the Free
tors association was formed, and IN
May, 1905. after declaring as an or
ganization for the open shop" en-
gagged detectives to seek out the iden-
-ity of those responsible for the ex-
plosions.
Ore of the first instances of the find
ing of hidden explosives occurred be-
fore the erectorS organized and follow
ed an attempt to blow UP building
m East Twenty-third street, New York
sity. Two men were convicted one
IF them confessed to having received
$50 on one occasion for Job, and
100 for cutting a cable. He told of the
location of 100 one pound sticks OF
dynamite. which subsequently We're
'ound in the Jersey meadows and in the
sands AT the foot Of East Twenty
fourth street.
The erectors continued their investi
cations until the spring of 1911, bu5
while the detectives were working in |
)ne place, the explosions occurred with
more frequency in others. More than
l dozen viaducts, bridges, buildings
md other construction work, all being
,rected by firms employing nouuniOn
abor, had Eeen blown up before Ortiz
:. Mechanical appeared on the scene,
ind before ne began to work with John
+. and James B. Mo~ amara as a pro-
essional dynamiter. II
The investigation of the dynamite {
conspiracy, after the pleas of guilty {
lad been made by the Mcnamara I
'rothers, was continued, to ascertain {
Who else, if anyone, participated in or I
ave financial support to the crimes.
The indictments were returned at :
10 O'Clock this afternoon, ten min
ties after the jury met '
Create No Surprise. \
Former associates of J. J. Nc
in the office Of the Inter- 7
ational Association of Bridge and i
structural Iron Workers received the q
ews without surprise. a
Both Frank NJ. Ryan, the president /
nd Herbert ). Hockfn the secretary
reasurer said they knew the direction
f the investigation because the asso-
iation records were evidence before
he grand jury.
But we have maintained right
long" said Hoclxin, that nobody in
mis- office was concerned with Nc
amara in his dynamiting."
Part of the indictments are known
) be against men who met Ortie e. '
IcManigaI in Detroit in June, 1907, il
nd induced him. because of his famil- q
Lr.ty with explosives gained while n
orking in a stone quarry to become a q
lifting crew" n
Other indictments are believed to be +
gainst men who met Mechanical in b
oston and showed him where to put +,
lie explosives which blew up part of b