The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-01-03
THIRTY. LIGHT MEN FOUND GUILTY
LABOR UNION OFFICIALS CON-
WCTED IN DYNAMITE CASES.
Accused of Promoting Explosions on
Non-Union Works Through
out the Land.

indianapolis, Ind. - The United
States government with stern and de-
cisiye swiftness Saturday took into its
possession thirty eight union labor Of
ficials convicted Of conspiracy, in pro-
noting explosions On non-dnion work
throughout the land, of aiding in the
destruction which brought loss OF lie
at Los Angeles, Cal, and Of carrying
on a reign of terror, declared to be
unparalleled in the history OF the
country.
Almost the entire executive staff OF
the International Association OF
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
was convicted. Only two officials OF
that union now remain out of jail.
At the head of the list Of those con-
victed stands Frank NJ. Ryan; the pres
ident
1t was of this union with 1900
members that John J. Mcnamara was
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES while he conducted
the dynamitings out Of which the pres
ent convictions grew.
Saturdays convictions, coming on a
scale unprecedented in federal
court were an aftermath Of the killing
of twenty-one persons in the blowing
ND of the Los Angeles Times building
on October /, 1910. Mcnamara ant
his brother, James B., the Times dyna
inter, are conVicts in California; Rya1
and his fellow officials, former asso
ciates of Mcnamara, are federal pris
oners awaiting sentence.
Two of those convicted were not at
filiated with the Iron Workers Union
but they were found guilty of joinln'
with the iron worker officials in pre-
noting the conspiracy.
One of these is Olaf A. Tveitmoe
San Francisco, recognized labor leade
on the Pacific coast, the testimon
against whom vas that he aided i
causing explosions at Los Angeles
wrote letters about the explosion an
aided in concealing evidence Wante
in California. He is secretary Of tn
California Building Trades Council
Hiram r. Kline, Muncie, Ind, tn
member of another union, was fo
merly an organizer for the Unite
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joil
ers in Detroit.
Another token of the Los Angelo
explosion came in the conviction {
J. E. Munsey, who was charged by tn
government with harboring James
Mcnamara for two weeks at Salt LAX
City while that dynamiter was file
ing from the scene of his crime.
Many of those convicted wei
charged with knowing only of loo
explosions on the contractors who r
fused to recognize the union, b,
were thus brought into the gener
conspiracy Ryan, John 7. Butler, viz
president of the union, Buffalo; Z
gene Clancy, San Francisco; Frank
Webb, New York; Michael J. Youn
Boston; Phillip A. Cooley, New Q
leans; Henry w. Legleitner, Denve
and Charles ~ Beum, Minneapoli
were all convicted as having apr
priated out of the unions funds $40
a month with which Mcnamara pa
for explosions.
Herbert S. Hockin. who resigned
secretary of the union a few wee
ago, was branded as the '1ago' of t
conspiracy in having helped to ms
gate the plots and employing Ortie
McManigal TO carry them out, VIII
afterwards "betraying his fellow &C
spirators" to promote his own int,
ests, stands among the most pror
nent of the convicted. He figured
most daily in the testimony
Sixteen minutes was all the time
quired by the court to receive
jury, read its verdict of "thirty-eig
guilty and two not guilty" and d
miss the jurors.