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About The times. (Portland, Or.) 191?-19?? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1911)
W e Need Business Stand by your Colors You Need Us Think It Over THE TIMES Play the Game Fairly “ WE S T A N D FOR T H E O P EN S H O P " Vol. I. No. 8 PORTLAND, OREGON, DECEMBER 9, 1911 Price 5 Cents HOWARD M. CUNNINGHAM PREDICTS M NAMARA BROTHERS SENTENCED STRUCTURAL IRONWORKERS GET A THAT UNLESS CURBED I. W. W. AT LOS A N G E LES - ONE FOR LIFE TURNDOWN BY MAYOR RUSHLIGHT RIOTS WILL OCCUR IN PORTLAND ANOTHER FOR FIFTEEN YEARS IN BROADWAY BRIDGE CONTRACT On Wednesday the structural ironworkers filed a petition with Mayor Rushlight that was all right from their point of view, but not from the public’s viewpoint. Mayor Rushlight was requested to ask the City Executive Board to specify in the city ’s contract with the Pennsylvania Steel Company that union labor be exclusively employed in building the Broad way bridge, and that the eight- hour rule be enforced. The petition states that the Pennsylvania Company opposes labor unions, and that the com pany will import all its labor to perform the w ork ; that Portland union labor should be given the preference, etc. Mayor Rushlight very sensibly views the matter. He says the Executive Board can do nothing but let the contract to the Penn sylvania Steel Company, because the law requires that the contract must go to the lowest responsible bidder. He further opines that the Executive Board has no auth ority in the matter, and cannot designate that the contracting company must engag" union labor only. The mayor justly concludes that the steel company has the " A LESSON." Under the caption, “ A Lesson,” The Oregonian thus editorializes on the result of the recent city election at Los Angeles: A Socialist offered himself as a candidate for Mayor of Los Ange les. frankly avowing his socialism and declaring his purpose to give a socialistii administration. lie polled nearly 20,000 votes in the elimination primary and approxi mately 40,000 votes in the election Tuesday, lie was defeated by a citizens’ (Good Government) can didate, who received about twice the number of votes given the so cialist. Los Angeles thus repudi ates socialism through the voice o f two out of three o f its citizens. It would appear to follow that one citizen in three there is a socialist, or is not alarmed by the red flag and prepared to tolerate and even indorse the socialistic propaganda. ,V * V A V A % W .V * V .V » V .V .V .% > LIST \ OF McNAM ARA'S •! VICTIMS. 8 Above the consecrated dust of the victims of James B. McNamara, whose silent forms are more eloquent than any spoken word, the Los Angeles Times recent ly erected a suitable memor ial to remind all men that, though dead, they are not forgotten. The Roll of Honor comprises the following names: Robert L. Sawyer. Harry L. Crane. .1. Wesley Reaves. Charles Haggerty. Frank Underwood. Howard Courdaway. J. C. Galliher. Eugene Caress. Fred Llewellyn. W. G. Tun stall. Don E. Johnson. Charles Gulliver. Churchill Ilarvey-Elder. Carl Sallada. Harry L. Flynn. Elmer E. Frink. Grant Moore. John Howard. Ernest Jordan. Peace to their ashes! For ever green be the turf which California, through all her perennial summertime, will graciously tend above their cherished graves! Sweet be their eternal rest, sublime their solace !—General Har rison Gray Otis. But the great majority are frightened by socialism. M hether their fears are well grounded, whether socialism is a terrifying reality or an unsubstantial shad ow. is not now material. Its power right to employ such labor as it In a letter to The Oregonian revolutionary and anarchistic na sees fit to engage. Howard M. Cunningham registers ture. The riotous scenes that this cre Mayor Rushlight does not ques the following protest against the ates is a disgrace to our city, to tion the responsibility o f the con unrestricted use of streets by humanity and to law and order. tracting company, but he does speakers representing the Indus 'I he sidewalks and streets are question any authority by the Ex trial Workers of the W orld : blocked during these meetings to ecutive Board to even request, The writer begs leave to state an slieh an extent that pedestrians much less dictate, whom the steel opinion and to suggest that some cannot pass. These meetings are company should employ. rapid disposition be made of a of an extremely riotous nature, at Bad the structural ironworkers bunch of idlers calling themselves one time requiring the services of taken the pains to consult an at the Industrial Workers o f the a sergeant and seven patrolmen, torney, they would not have made World, who are nightly creating and should be suppressed at once so egregious a blunder. The disturbances on our streets, that and for all time. They should be Pennsylvania Steel Company has is proving a menace to law and arrested for disorderly conduct a large and important contract to order, a disgrace to any civilized (there would be no doubt of a con fill, which it must carry out in a community and a detriment to viction) and given the full limit of specified time. It has its own free speech, for which they are the law in fine and a good long men, accustomed to working un continually howling and clamor jolt on the rockpile. der its own rules, and these men ing. If there is to be any law and or are doubtless fully capable and Language which is unfit for der in Portland, let us have it. We efficient. The public has already should not allow these hoodlums had many irritating delays in the publication, unfit for the public to 1 1 run the town, particularly the listen to, of an anarchistic and Broadway bridge matter, and profane nature to the utmost de vicinity referred to. Their con- doesn’t want any more. gree, is dealt out every night by t nued statements that they are THE TIMES, all things being this ruffian class and seem to be going to run the town, do as they please, e tc.; that Governor West equal, would like to see all loca. permitted by our city officials. will pardon all their men who are improvements made by local men This bunch is composed princi sentenced; that no judge will fine —“ open shop’ ’ men—but, in a case like the present, it appears pally of degenerates and foreign or imprison them, for fear of get impossible. It approves the stand ers ; many unable to speak the ting the same dose as Chief of Po taken by Mayor Rushlight, be English language and two-thirds lice Sullivan, of Spokane, did, is cause it is common sense, backed have no vote. They will not work of moment, and the sooner such for any wages. undesirable characters arc driven by law. They use language and threats from the community and city the to arouse the apprehensions and against our Nation, state, county i ,‘tter. I believe in free speech as long stimulate the active opposition of and city officials. Even the abuse all who are not socialists is quite of our police officers in public is ns it is carried on in the bounds permitted, as well as the continual of decency, law and order, but obvious. The plain lessons of the Los An denunciation of the National flag. such uncalled-for remarks as are If these fellows are permitted to made by this bunch of “ Weary geles result are: (1) Los Angeles is not ready continue their street-speaking, I W illies” should be stopped, or free would suggest that every religious speech will inevitably be curbed for socialism. (2) Los Angeles deems all and political organization be given !,, those who endeavor to conform other political, factional, munici u certain coiner to speak on and C. the laws of our city. In the name of decency, law and pal, personal and instittuional dif be confined strictly to that corner. This bunch of undesirables order, let us nip the uprising these ferences trivial and unimportant in comparison with the one over make it a point to usurp the street fellows are certainly planning in corners in tin* vicinity of Burnside, the bud and stop their riotous, un powering dread of socialism. All parties in Los Angeles bur Couch, Second and Third streets, called-for and anarchistic speeches ied their little differences for the which have nightly been used for before we have a riot on our purpose o f fighting the common religious organizations, by the Sal hands. If we do not, we may ex socialistic foe in the recent elec vation Army, Volunteers of Amer pect trouble with them, for from ica, Apostolic Faith Mission and personal investigation and attend tion. tin* Portland Commons, by getting ance at their meetings I know that Republicans discovered sudden on the streets before tin* religious they will stop at nothing, not even ly that Democrats were after all organizations do. and taking the bloodshed, to gain their ends. friends, neighbors and fellow-citi There are hundreds of unem stands that they have occupied for zens with common aims, desires, years. Should they fail in doing ployed in our city at present- men hopes and patriotism. this, they take a position immedi who have foolishly squandered Progressives hailed reactionar ately next to one of these religious their summer’s earnings and are ies as allies, compatriots and bro organizations and endeavor to today without funds or food, and thers. and struck hands with them drown the voices of the men and the majority of ijiese men may be in the fresh delight of the pleas women who arc earnest in tin* en easily persuaded to join the ranks ing revelation. deavor to do mankind good by of the “ Incompetent. Weary Wil Newspapers that had been bark singing revolutionary songs to the lies” (I. W. W.) and take the oath ing and biting at one another for tune of some sacred hymn and by administered to them, and stand years, stimulating the deadliest continual cheering when one of ready to assist in doing anything enmities and perpetuating the bit the religious speakers endeavors that would be an injury to society, terest animosities, tossed their to speak. Their songs are of a etc. journalistic feuds to the ash heap, And it is so much simpler to be destroyed their ready-for-use lexi HONESTY IN BUSINESS A L straightforward. Trickery wants cons of abusive epithets, and pre W AYS PAYS. sented to a gratified people the learning, and is worthless from a rare spectacle of responsible news pecuniary point o f view when you papers uniting in common effort have learned it. for it loses you in (By Alfred De Rothschild, famous for the common good. reputation far inor** than you will European banker.) The experience of Los Angeles The line dividing keen business ever gain in cash. would appear to teach that mcfht from dishonesty is perfectly dis of the questions that divide people The ethics of business are quite tinct. into scattered and quarreling as definite and binding as in any But nearly half a century spent groups are after all not worth o f the professions. Some profes while. Portland possibly may in business has left me convinced sions I could name would suffer that it does not even pay to be profit by the Los Angeles exam dishonest and to do things in com by comparison. ple. mercial life which a gentleman's THOUGHTS OF GREAT MEN ordinary sense of honor would Boiled potatoes are better than keep him from doing in private soap for cleansing* hands black life. That which weighs heavily in Tin* city man recognizes at once ened by contact with kitchen youth, ami commits us to desper the difference between an advan utensils. ate action, will be a trifle under tage to tie used and an advantage older eyes, to blunter senses, a not to be taken. Your business more enlightened understanding. TO THE PASTE POT rival is not going to give away —George Meredith. anything to you. If people would dare to speak But you also expei t that he will Adhere and stick, thou gooey pot to one another unreservedly there of paste ; conform to the rules of the game, would be a good deal less sorrow in the world a hiuidred years playing along certain recognized Thou savest time when writers tire in haste. lines o f honorable conduct. hence.—Samuel Butler. If you know something that Through thee, h ! times, our The measure of our sincerity is “ co p y ” much is stuck; the amount of health and wealth other people don't know, you have we will hazaru in the defense of a perfect right to use that knowl Yet. saving work, thou bringest edge for your own ends. No stock our right.— Emerson. us good luck. —C. E .S. We must iarefully distinguish broker goes and publishes to the hetwpen the absence of tact and world private information that is * the presence of principle.— John going to put him at an advantage | Vaccination is a voting qualifi in the markets. cation in Norway. Davidson. But then, again, while the rules In their chemical composition The third international aeronau and customs o f the stock and the banana and potato are almost tical exhibition will be held in money markets are well recog identical. Paris in November and December. nized and acted upon, shifty deal An Italian university professor A Oerman explorer has discov ing is at once marked down. claims to have found radium in ered a South American native You can be dishonest once, but ordinary dew. tribe which regards eating in pub not twice. No one will ileal w'ith The United States has issued lic as something of which to be you if your reputation has been nearly bO.(HM) patents for inven- ashamed. stained. Itions along electrical lines. Judge Bordwell. at Los Ange les. on Tuesday, pronounced sen tence upon James B. McNamara, who confessed to the murder of Haggerty, in the dynamiting of the plant o f the Los Angeles Times, sending him to tin* peniten tiary for life. The sentence pass ed upon John J. McNamara, for dynamiting the Llewellyn Iron Works, was 15 years. District Attorney Fredericks urged the clemency of the court for the guilty pair because they had pleaded guilty and had ren dered services to the state. After the condemned men had been brought before the bar, Judge Bordwell inquired: “ Are you ready to proceed?” “ The state is,” said Fredericks, and read James B. McNamara’s confession amid absolute silence. “ Is that statement correct?” “ It is,” said McNamara. “ Then the court finds,” said the judge, “ that the degree of guilt of the defendant is murder in the first degree.” “ James B. McNamara, you may stand up,” he said. “ What is your full name?” “ James Boyd McNamara,” said the prisoner. The court then began a formal statement reciting the indictment for murder of Charles J. Hagger ty upon which McNamara pleaded guilty, and asked McNamara if he had any statement to make. “ I have n ot,” he said. “ Have you anything to say?” he asked Fredericks. “ There has been no dickering or bargaining in this matter,” he said. “ Counsel on the other side arc well aware of the usual cus tom of granting clemency to per sons pleading guilty. This defend ant by so pleading has settled for all time a question which other wise would always have been in doubt. He saves the state great expense and has served the state in other ways.” “ The defendant will arise,” said Judge Bordwell, and commented upon McNamara’s declaration that he did not intend to destroy life. “ The circumstances are against you in making that statement,” he said. “ A man who will place l(i sticks of dynamite in a place where you, as a printer, knew that gas was burning in many places and knew many were toiling, must have had no regard for life; must have been a murderer at heart and undeserving of clemency.” For reasons other than such a plea of nonintent, Judge Bordwell declared he would impose a sen tence other than death, and he would impose the penalty o f im prisonment for life. John J. McNamara was taken next, and to him the Llewellyn Iron Works indictment was read by the judge. lie said he had nothing to say. District Attorney Fredericks, however, said that, as in the other case, the plea of guilty merited consideration, but pleaded that the defendant be given “ a few years of freedom at the end o f his life.” Judge Bordwell declared that the strictures against James B. McNamara would also apply to him. Clemency, lie declared, was not because of merit as to intent, lie then ’ niposed a sentence of 15 years in San Quentin penitentiary, one more year than had been pre dicted. IT WON T HURT THE UNIONS. The bullpen, and the constabu lary rifle volleys, and tin* blacklist, and the scab with a blackjack, have frequently brought retalia tion in the shape of bombs and fires and riots, but always the vast majority of the workers were not in sympathy with violence, and were union men only to get a square deal. Because a crooked labor leader proves a confessed felon, a mur derer. a bomb thrower, affects not at all tin* vital principle of tin- good of tile mass, the helpless mob; just as a crooked banker who despoils his depositors docs not damn all banks, and as a rav ing fanatic, shouting weird imag inings in the name of some strange god. does not corrupt the unde- filed religion that dwells in the hearts of mothers and babes. The McNamara brothers plead ed guilty to murder; they should hang by the neck until dead for their crimes. And if the prosecu tion has any evidence against any other labor leader, no matter who he may be, involving him in this dirty mess, that leader should get the limit. The best thing that can happen to organized labor is to get every crook, every felon, and every dynamiter behind the bars or under the gallows, as soon as possible, and the sooner the rank and file get rid of the motto, “ Our leaders, right or wrong.” the bet ter for the rank and lib*. Organized labor in Oregon has never been guilty of an outrage; it has. with tin* grange, been the only big agency for the political good of the state. When organ ized labor becomes the chief agency for political reform every where, there will be no room for McNamaras, nor any other fat- witted. bone headed thug who has no greater idea of justice than the average detective employed by the Citizens’ Alliance. “ But the cause of labor back 20 years.” one fool “ leader” is re ported to have said on reading the confessions of the McNamaras. Bah. if every crook that has been fooling his honest fellows and hid ing behind tin* union’s skirts would confess and get what’s coming to him the cause of labor would be advanced, for when vio lence is eliminated, ami tin* man who works stands simply on his inherent right to a square deal, the fight is won. If the men who work tomorrow voted together they could win in a day the battle for the ninety- nine out of a hundred; and that’s the only way all the problems con fronting the nation are every go ing to be settled. Meanwhile, lit tle by little*, the work will go on, the crooks on both sides will be exposed and kicked out, the old brutality, the relic of barbarous days when the bosses ruled su- CONFESSION OF J. B. Mc- NAMARA. James B. McNamara brief confession penned I his own hand and bearii many evidences of a mi little skilled in letters, as follows: ‘ I, James B. MeNamar defendant in the ease of tl people, having heretofoi pleaded guilty to the erin o f murder, desire to mal this statement of facts: “ And this is the truth On the night o f Heptemln •Hi, IfilO. at 5:4 5 I*. M., placed in Ink Alley, a pn tion nt the Times building, suitcase containing lb stb l of MO per cent dynamite, s to explode at I o ’clock tl next morning. It was u intent ion to injure t In* huili ing and scare the owner, did not intend to take tl life ol any one. I sincere regret that these unfurtiinai men lost their lives. If tl giving of my life would brin them hack, I would gladl give it. In fact, in pleadili guilty to murder in the fin degree. I have placed in life in the hands of the slat “ James B. .McNamara.” W /A V ,V .V .W A V .V ,V .V , preme will be a better place for all of us. And the I. \V. W. agitator, who loafs and curses, with the strike picket, who is a thug, will depart forever.— The Daily News. a / D