New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-08
ANARCHISTS AND PROUD OF IT.

There are some labor organizations
which. like the Bourbons. forget nOtii-
ing and learn nothing. They still live
in the darkness of the brutal carry
days of English unionism. when the
labOrer was taught that society was
organized by his enemies and that his
hand must be against every other man
because every other mans hand was
against MIN. That Ishmaelitish CON
ception persists. and TO ii is due the
perverSe and anarchistic belief among
some labor unions that they and their
officials are exempt from judgment
under the ordinary codes of law ana
morals
II would be hard otherwise 10 ac-
count for the action of the lnterna-
tional Association of Bridge and Struct-
ural IrOnworkers in re-electing as IFS
president man convicted in the fed
eral courts of cOnspiring 10 promote
the Mcnamara dynamiting outrageS.
The Judge who sentenced Ryan could
| find no extenuating circumstances In
his case and gave him seven years In
the penitentiary-the longest sentence
given TO any Of the union officials I'M
plicated i'm the Mcnamara crimes.
| Probably few of the ironwOrkers who
| have now voted 10 ''vindicate Ryan
would care to apply in everyday Ire
the practice of dynamiting neishbors
with whom they happened to have bust
ness differences. Ryan may he him
self in ordinary social intercourse a
man Of peace and moderation. with no
wish 10 defy The laws which protect
property and person. But he has been
convicted Of breaking these laws In his
official capacity. and the willingness of
his followers TO cOndone his crimes be-
cause they were committed In the as
sociation's supposed interest is an
abomnable perversion Of the natural
instincts of justice and conscience.
Most organizations which wish 10 re-
tain public respect pay some outward
Difference to existing standards of hon
orable conduct They try TO seem law
abiding. even if they are not. The
American Federation of Labor. with
which the international Association OF
Bridge and Structural Ironworkers is
allied, has taken no action against that
association. on the ground that the men
convicted acted only as individuals and
probably misrepresented the sentiment
| Of their followers But that plea Of
avoidance will no longer hold. The
ironworkers have, frankly advertised
| their insensibility TO crimes perpetrated
with their funds and under their name
They are willing 10 be considered III
their organized capacity as enemies Of
law and order The public now knows
exactly where they stand.
| But will Samuel GOmpers. the presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor. who publicly disayowed sym
pathy with the Mcnamara crimes and
| with the individuals who instigated
them. allow this anarchistic association
to affiliate longer with the body OF
which he is the head?
The reelection of Ryan is direct
Indictment to dynamiting. II says TO
the labor unionist: BLOW up the non
union job and organized labor will
stand by YOU" II is different from
standing by the accused dynamiter
with funds for his defence before his
trial and before his guilt has been le-
| galy established. 1t is standing by
him after his trial and conviction.
What will Mr.. Gompers do about 1t: