Organized labor unites in defense of the McNamaras Los Angeles Times bombing

the national labor movement outraged way mcnamaras had been treated, , labor leaders quick defend brothers innocence. contended burns had engaged in kidnapping, misrepresentation of status law enforcement officer, , unlawful imprisonment in handling of mcmanigal , j. b. mcnamara. local circuit judge had unlawfully denied j. j. mcnamara access legal representation , had no authority approve extradition. both mcnamaras had been arrested on basis of confession wrung third man who, believed, had been kidnapped , perhaps coerced confessing.

to many in organized labor, mcnamara case appeared repeat of bill haywood case of 1906. in case, leaders of western federation of miners accused of using dynamite assassinate ex-governor of idaho. in mcnamara case, union member had confessed , implicated union leadership, defendants extradited in highly irregular manner, , prosecution s investigation led detective strong ties anti-union business interests. in case, accused union leaders found not guilty.

labor leaders convinced of mcnamaras innocence other factors well. open shop movement , virulent hostility shown otis convinced many whole event frame-up (with some, including eugene v. debs, accusing otis himself of bombing times building). burns repeatedly implied gompers , other labor leaders involved in national bombing campaign, , afl officials feared national campaign of arrests designed destroy nascent labor movement might in works. meanwhile, george alexander, mayor of los angeles, locked in close re-election battle against job harriman, socialist party of america candidate. bombing, felt, might plot keep harriman out of city hall.

organized labor found j. j. mcnamara attractive figure rally behind. outward appearances, did not man dynamite enemies. 34 years old, handsome, had athletic build, well-dressed , well-spoken. had earned law degree @ night while working iron workers’ union. j. j. mcnamara assured gompers had nothing times bombing. gompers believed him completely, , threw influence behind mcnamaras. gompers endorsement, entire labor movement supported mcnamaras, parades, mass rallies, publicity campaigns, , donations mcnamaras defense fund.

burns offended accusations labor supporters had planted evidence had seized @ union headquarters in indianapolis. particularly critical of samuel gompers. burns did not believe gompers part of dynamite plot, blamed gompers being irresponsible in accusing burns of framing mcnamaras, in face of overwhelming evidence. burns wrote gompers not have been unaware of four-year dynamiting campaign, should have given him pause.

gas explosion defense

the defense blamed l.a. times explosion on accidental ignition of gas leak, , denied dynamite in way involved. rest of evidence, such other bombs found in los angeles next morning, , material seized @ union headquarters @ indianapolis, claimed planted. accused otis of taking advantage of tragic accident imprison union leaders on fabricated charges.

to support accidental gas explosion theory, state federation of labor of california appointed committee travel los angeles , investigate matter. committee included number of western federation of miners members, have been familiar dynamite. committee reported there no signs of dynamite explosion @ times building, , solely gas explosion. concluded otis knew accident, had fabricated charges against mcnamaras, partly discredit labor unions, , partly evade blame negligence allowed gas accident happen. report declared:

on other hand. familiar peculiarities of explosions dynamiting, evidence furnishes overwhelming certainty there no dynamite connected affair.

some went farther. eugene debs accused harrison otis of blowing own building frame labor leaders. referred bombing as: job general otis did himself or had done, know man well.