The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-08
LABOR FAKER
ADMITS GUILT
IN BOMB CASE
Senator Lacey, of N. T.,
Admits Perjury
BY Il. M. WIcKs.
Especial to The Daily Worker)


fore Federal Judge Hazel on charge
of perjury in connection with the dy-
namiting of the Niagara Falls high
speed line of the International Rail-
way Company during the street car
strike Of 1922, pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to fine of $500 and one
day in jail.
According to competent legal au-
thorities Lacey loses his citizenship,
and thereby his right to sit in the
State Senate, tho this is denied at
Albany.
The charge against Lacey grew out
Of the dynamiting of the high speed
line during the car strike which start
ed July 1, 1922. The bombing of the
line occurred in August, and militant
members of the labor movement in
Buffalo openly charged that the la
Dor fal1irs in charge of the strike had
conspired with the company to dis
credit the strikers, who were support
ed overwhelmingly by the population
of this city.
Conroy Implicated.
Clarence Conroy, notorious reac-
tionary, who was the business agent
of the street car mems union, was
soon implicated in the affair. So wide
spread was the rumor duplicating
Conroy that a United States grand
jury was forced to return an indict-
ment against him. This indictment
was quickly followed by charges
against Senator Lacey and various Of
ficials of the car mems union, charg-
ing conspiracy to transport dynamite.
Four of those indicted on conspiracy
charges have already pleaded guilty,
and twelve more face trial
To Testify for Government.
Lacey was permitted to plead guilty
to the charge Of perjury and received
a light sentence. It is quite likely, in
view of his record as a Tammanyite
turnkey of capitalism, that the $500
was paid by his political masters, so
his only inconvenience was his one
day Jail sentence which he has re-
ceived Colonel William B. Donovan,
United States attorney, said that La
cey had made full confession to him.
It is believed that Lacey will be used
as a government witness against the
other twelve still under charges of
conspiracy.
Judge Praises Lacey.
Judge Hazel, in sentencing Lacey,
praised him for his manly attitude
in making a clean breast of it."
Altho his offense was a serious one,
still there were extenuating circum-
stances that made it possible to let
the culprit off easily.
There are rumors that Conroy is
to go on trial for conspiracy. The
street railway company used this trail
tor to labor as long as they could, and
now that the strike is smashed and
the union completely destroyed, they
leave the miserable creatures they
used against the workers to face the
music.
"a Labor Senator"
When the Buffalo Labor Party was
in the process of organization its bit
terest opponents were Lacey and Con-
roy. Lacey at that time was senator,
having been elected by the Demo-
cratic machine as a friend of labor"
Municipal elections were approaching
and Lacey became candidate for the
City Council against the Labor Party
candidates. An attempt of his sup
porters to secure his Endorsement by
the Central Labor Council failed to
gain the needed support, so they re-
Trained from presenting his name to
the body.
Ignorant and vicious, Lacey typifies
that gangster element of organized la
Dor that is always ready to sell a
strike to the employers or play the
contemplate game of the bosses by
indulging in dynamiting Of struck
property.
The significant thing about the Au-
gust, 1922, dynamiting of the Niagara
Falls line was the fact that a repre-
sentative OF the company had his car
parked within a short distance Of the
scene. Dynamite was found in Sen
ator Lacey's car, and after a few
weeks indictments were returned
against number of active strikers.
Honest labor leaders in Buffalo
claim that Lacey and Conroy are the
real culprits. and that they win prob
ably both be released and permitted
to turn states witnesses. while some
Of the workers implicated will be
made the goats.
Now that the object for which the
International Railway Company has
long fought-destructio OF the union
has been achieved, nothing remains
but to dispose of the mess in the east
est way, with the least Inconvenience
to those involved.
Lacey was one of Gompers' local
apostles. and HIS election was hailed
by the Old Man OF the Sea as great
victory for labor. Gompers has thus
far been silent on the Lacey confes-