The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-24
Mcnamara Adds Voice
In Support of |. L. d.
Prisoners Xmas Drive.


the I. L. d. answer them?'
The fortitude Of Mcnamara after
"a years in prison, his clear I'M
Outstanding. isolated by prison cen
sorship though he is, of the role
of the social forces in his own
case, the development of that role
in the years that have passed since
he was betrayed and sent to Jail
by labor misleaders, and his clear
sighted, mistaken faith in the
working -class, have been an inspi-
ration to thousands the country
over with whom he has conducted
correspondence.
Mcnamara wrote in 1888 letter
which was published in the West
ern Worker" of January /, 1884:
WHEN pleaded guilty of taking
W part in the Los Angeles metal
trades strike in 1910, in order to
save my brother, two partners and
the Committee of 26 labor leaders
from San Francisco, the leaders Of
organized labor and the Socialist
Party, all over the country, ran
away like rats leaving a sinking
ship.
These leaders lost sight of the
aims, ideals and purposes Of the
trade unionistS, whom they rep
resented. In 1912 I became con-
WINGED, beyond all doubt, that these
leaders were never militant or class
conscious. I lost all confidence in
them. 1t was brain racking and
ul-scorching, but I knew from ex-
perience that the cause Of the work
ing class was just one.
"All my confidence is in the work
ers, organized and unorganized, and
as the years went rushing on my
confidence in the workers, who toll
and spin from childhood to the
grave, grew more and more.
The workers and farmers have
gone through many struggles and
sacrifices on the agricultural and
industrial fields. All through his
tory such patience. such heroism,
has been unheard of. And it will be
through such struggles and sacri-
fees that the workers and farmers
will find their way to economic
security. by equal distribution of
production and consumption of all
the material necessities of life for
all who toll.
MY course is the right one, a
life dedicated to the emancipation
of all humankind and with indy
ing confidence in the workers"
THE labor leaders have tried, and
will attempt to divorce the Times
case from the class struggle" he
wrote in another letter, but it never
will be accomplished with the mill
tants on the job"
THE struggle for the rights of
political prisoners, the collection
Of relief for the prisoners and their
families, the work of solidarity, led
by the 1. L. D., with those who
have given their freedom for labors
cause, are questions that Mcnamara
naturally understands very well.
He is an enthusiastic supporter
of the Prisoners Relief Fund, and
the Christmas Relief drive of the
T. L. D.-tnough for himself, watch
ing the events Of the world struggle
as news of them filters into his
San Quentin cell, he frequently asks
that his share Of the fund be turned
over to the defense of the Scots
boro boys, to the victims of Hitler's
terror.
IF all the opposition groups, who
claim they are striving toamake this
world better place for workers"
he writes, would become class con-
scious, and join the I. L. D., every
day would be Christmas for all
those who toll and spin from child
hood to the grave
Meanwhile! there are thousands Of
prisoners behind bars, thousands Of
wives and children left destitute,
thousands of widows and orphans
made by the nurderous onslaught
of fascism. Mcnamara supports the
call of the I. L. D. for funds for the
prisoners and their families, to be
sent to the Christmas for Political
Prisoners Fund of the I. L. D.,
Room $40, 80 East 18th Street, New
York City,
when the seasons greetings of
the holidays are with u.s." he writes
to the I, L. D., Il will be holding
steadfast to the lofty ideals which
brought emancipation and the first
fatherlsnd Of the workers to one
sixth of the world"