New-York tribune., 1912-02-07
EXPLOSIONS IN II STATES
One Hundred outrages Ascribed
to Hostility to open Shop"

Fully one hundred explosions or dN-
Mantle, at points scattered over seventeen
states. and covering a period from the
summer of 1905 TO October l6, 1911, when
dynamite was found beneath a bridge near
Santa Barbara, Cal, just before President
Taft's special train passed over 1t. were
inquired into by the federal grand jury
which has just reported thirty-two indict-
ments at Indianapolis.
Il has been the theory Of the government
that all of these explosions were intended
10 intimidate employers and non-union
workingmen with the general intent to
abolish the so-called open shop and
compel submission TO the demands of cer-
tain labor organizations, more particularly
the international Association of Bridge
and Structural Iron Workers.
The states in which explosions occurred
we're Ohio, Indiana. Illinois. Pennsylvania,
New York, New Jersey Maryland, Con-
necticut Massachusetts. Michigan, Wis
consn, Missouri, Iowa Nebraska, Utah.
California and Washington. Ohio, with
twenty explosions, had more than any
other one state. Illinois. Indiana and New
York follow in order in respect OF the num-
Der of explosions.
There were two explosions I'm 1906, nine
in 1906, six in 1901 twenty-six in 1905
twenty in 1909, twenty-five in 1910 and thir-
teen 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
brothers John J. and James B. Mcnamara
John j. Mcnamara was Secretary-treas-
urer Of the International Association OF
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers.
The preliminary exhibit OF facts and
allegations about the explosions and their
supposed origin was gathered and pre-
sented to the federal authorities by the
National Erectors' Association, an organl-
zation Of iron and steel manufacturers and
contractors, who had declared for the
open shop" After the explosions in 1906
the Erectors' Association was formed anC
In May, 1896, after declaring as an organi-
zaton for the open shop" engaged de-
tectlves to seek out the identity of those
responsible for the explosions.
one Of the first instances of the finding
Of hidden explosives occurred before the
erectors organized, and followed an at.
tempt TO blow up a building in East 23d
street in this city. Two men were con-
victed. One of them confessed to having
received $50 on one occasion for a Job,
and 500 for cutting a cable. He told Of the
location of 100 one-pound sticks of dy-
Mantle. which subsequently were found
in the Jersey Meadows and in the sands
at 2ith street and the East River.
The erectors continued their inyestiga-
tions until the spring Of 1911, but while the
detectives we're working in one place the
explosions occurred with more frequency
in others. More than a dozen vladucts,
bridges. buildings and other construction
work, all being erected by firms employing
non-union labor had been blown up before
orue L. McManigal appeared on the
scene and before he began TO work with
John j. and James b. Mcnamara as a
professional dynamiter
The investigation OF the dynamite con-
spiracy, after the plea Of guilty had been
made by the Mcnamara brothers. was
continued, to ascertain who else. il any
one, participated In or gave financial SUD-
port TO the crimes.
The chief explosions, or attempts which
were given special attention by the federal
grand jury, were as follows:
1905.
Summer-Millers Falls. Mass: American
Bridge Company. railroad bridge. (At-
tcmpI)
Summcr-New Haven American Bridge
Company; bridge. (AttemptJ
1906
January 19-New York City, Post G. Nc
Cord Building East I'D street (attcmptI
two men convicted; 100 pounds of dynamite
later found In Jersey Meadows and In sand
at 9th street and the East River.
March l2-Cleyeland. American Bridge
Company; hotel (Attempt)
April 2-Cleveland. American Bridge Com
pdny; hotel. (Attempt)
April 2-Cleveland, American Bridge Com
pany: Arcade Building (AttemptJ
May lZ-Bridge on Buffalo X Susquehanna
Railroad, American Bridge Company (At-
tcmptD
May 31-Newark. Pittsburgh Construction
Company; warehouse; derrick wrecked.
August l5-Conshohocken, Penn: Nc
Cuntic- Marshall Construction Company :
ron mill several thousand dollars by iire
September N-Cleveland, Pittsburgh Con-
struction Company: railroad yiaduct (At-
lempt)
October 12-Near Charlton. Penn. Ameri.
can Bridge Company; viaduct; derrick car
December So--Whiskey Island, near cleve.
land; Pittsburgh Construction Company;
bridge: damage slight.
1907.
June %-Detroit Russell Wheel and Foun-
dry Company; gas building; damage not
given
September Cleveland. American Bridge
Company. American Steel and Wire Com
psny plant; hoisting engine destroyed
October O-Youngstown, Ohio; Youngs-
town Construction Company; Baltimore a.
Ohio Railroad bridge; slightly damaged.
December 2-Near Harrison, N. j.; Brann