Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-23
Trial OF Accused in Dyna-
mite 0utragss Set
for Oct. |.
FINANCIAL A WITNESS
Man Whose Confession Led to
Inquiry to Give Whole
Story to Court.

indianapolis, Ind, Sept 23.-Cha<g-
ed with completely in the sooalled
"dynamiting conspiracy" 81 men,
present or former officials or labor
unions. are 70 appear for trial before
Judge Albert B. Anderson and jury
in the federal court OF this district
Oct. l.
Indicted under q federal statute for
bidding the transportation OF explo-
sives on passenger trains. the defend
ants are alleged TO have been con-
cerned in a nationwide plot TO de-
stroy the property OF contractors en-
ployfng non-union ironworkers, cul-
minatinE in the explosion in the Los
Angeles Times building. which cost
II lives.
Fifty-fourwere indicted by the grand
Jury in its report of Feb. 6. last, but of
this number John J. and James B.
Mcnamara are 10 San Quentin prison.
Cal, and ]. J. McGray. a former mem
Der OF the executive board OF the
International Association Of Bridge
and Structural Ironworkers, has not
been found by the federal authorities.
IN IRONwoRIKER BODY.
Most OF the defendants are or have
Y been connected with the ironworkers'
association which since 1905. has
been engaged IN a struggle with the
National Erectors' association, an Or
ganiZation OF structural steel and iron
contractors employing non-union
workmen. Members OF this employ,
ers' association suffered loss from
more than 100 explosions from 1905
10 1911
Following the arrest Of John ]. Nc
Namara. secretary-treasurer of the
ironworksrs' association, at It's head
quarters in this city, and the arrest
OF James b. McNamara and Ortie E.
McBanigal In Detroit, in connection
with the Los Angeles Times explosion,
prssentments were made TO the fed
eral grand jury OF this district that
officials OF the ironworkers' associa-
ton and other labor unions had been
concerned in q conspiracy TO intimi-
date temployers OF unorganiEed labor
by a kystematic destruction of their
property
| Ortie ,McManigals confession, in
which he\ related that he had been
employed by the Mcnamara brothers
and Herbert S. Hockin. acting sec.
retary-treasurer OF the ironworkers
association. 10 dynamite bridges and
buildings in course Of construction by
noh-union contractors, was the basis
OF the governments inquiry. He is
10 be the principal witness for the
government in the forthcoming trial
mass OF letters and other records
seized in a raid on the Offices OF the
lronworkers' association. also will be
offered as evidence OF q general con.
spiracy secretly 70 convey dynamite
and nrro-glycerine from coast tc
coast in a campaign against employ
ors OF unorganiEed ironworkers.
Most prominent among the defend
ants are Frank NJ. Ryan. president
OF the International Association o.
Bridge and Structural Ironworkers
Herbert S. Hockin. acting secretary
treasurer and the alleged head OF the
'dynamiting crew. John T. Butler
OF Buffalo, first vice president, and
Michael J. Young OF Boston and Phil
lip A. Cooley OF New OrleanA mem
bers OF the executive board.
MANY BUSINESS AGENTS.
Business agents and secretaries o
local ironworkers' unions Throughout
the country, alleged to have been i'm
plicated IN the illegal transportation
OF explosives from state 70 state
make up the greater part OF the lis
OF defendants. but officials of othe
unions also are indicted They AZ,
Olaf A Tveitmoe. secretary OF III,
Building Trades Council Of Caliror
mia; William K Benson. former prssi
dent OF the Detroit Federation ot
Labor; Carance z. Dowd. organize
for the International Association o
Machinists; Hiram Cline OF Muncie
- Ind. organizer for the Associatton o
Carpenters and Joiners. and Spurgeol
p. Meadows. business agent FOR IN,
Carpenters and Joiners' union Of In
dianapolis.
United States Senator John "
Kern is 70 be chief counsel for IN
defendants and the government vii
be represented by District Attorne
Charles W. Miller and his assistAn,
Clarance Nichols. who conducted tn
grand 1urys Investigation