The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-09-06
LESSON OF THE BARROW
TRIAL.

! tWrittcn for the Commonwealth by
Agnes H. powninpD
The barrow trial has given To the
labor world the liyclicst lessons Of hope
and encouragement. II has shown clear.
" aud unmistakobly that the great hu-
man heart is right; aud that the sym
pathics of the people are with the world
of labor when they have fair chance
to see both sides equally presented.
barrow was indicated. For this all
generous hearts viii rejoice. Accused of
an overt act in defense of the working
men who had foolishly raised their
naked hands against an organized army.
| Darrow's accuscrs were the birds of prey
that fatten on dcspoilcd humanity. It
was Gnod to. soc them thwartcd, and his
honor fully restored
There was a wonderful scrutiny of the
jurors selected to try the case, Social
lists and Union men were quickly eXclud-
ed. The jurors selected were as free
from bias as the cunning eyes of CAPT
talism could find.
Witnesses for the prosecution were a
host of sclf-confcsscd, sordid criminals
testifying to secure immunity. Their
testimony was corroboratcd by another
host of hired detectives. This was forti-
fled by the ambitious lick-spittlc poll
ticians strutting for their brief period of
power Is prosecuting attorneys. Jealous
for advancement that was sure to come
20 thcm if they could get barrow.
Cal auia's jury system is not the
best \ man must be a property owner
70 serve. Vet this Los Angeles jury,
chiefly of ranchers and small business
men, were not deceived by cunning, nor
over borne by prestige. If the case of
labor can be gotten fairly before a jury
of our fellow-citizens we need have no
fear of the decision.
Again the public had been led to be
lieve that the plea of the McNamaras,
on the eve of the election, was brought
in after Franklin had been arrested for
bribery, the inference being that the
plea of guilty, which cost the workers
as it did the winning of the election, was
given in the hope of securing immunity
for those connected with the alleged
bribery.
This gave to many in the labor move
ment a feeling of distrust-even resent
ment-toward barrow. This was en-
tirely wiped out by the evidence which
proved that the arrangements for the
plea of guilty were almost complete when
the arrest for the bribery was made
Thus is the former confidence and honor
accorded Darrow for his loyal service to
labor in many cases, fully restored.
It was also proven in the trial that
the settlement of the Mcnamara case
was eXtra-judicial; that leading members
of the NJ. and NJ were the real Judges
stating the terms and fixing the SEN
fences.
Lincoln Steffens testified to how he
had gone from member to member of
the inner circle of the NJ & NJ. securing
their permission that the lives of the
McNamaras might be spared, and that
the sentences be as light as the revenge
full spirit of big business would permit.
Darrow said in his plea: "'Word came
from the East, from the seat of money
and from monopoly, that j. J. Mcnamara
would have to plead guilty to something
and take a sentence, too" So the NJ.
and NJ pronounced sentence and the
elected Judge of the superior court was
but clerk, only giving formal public
sanction to the mandate capital had
secretly made.
1t was also proven that Burns had de-
tectives in the union; and the former at
torney of the NJ. & NJ. told the jury that
he, while in the employ of the associa
tion, had put spy into every union
local in Los Angeles. We have heard this
thing said before; we now have it proven.
As we value the future of the race we
must work increasingly to end such in
fanny. And we can work triumphantly,
for humanity will never be so corrupted
that it will not sustain what is best for
all when it once understands.