Adding a characteristic touch to the rotten hypocrisy of the situation came a letter from Supreme Court Judge McIntosh to George Dysart, whose son was in command of a posse during the manhunt.  This remarkable document is as follows: 

  Kenneth Mackintosh, Judge
  The Supreme Court, State of Washington
  Olympia.

  George Dysart, Esq.,
  Centralia, Wash. 
  My Dear Dysart: 

  November 13, 1919.

I want to express to you my appreciation of the high character of citizenship displayed by the people of Centralia in their agonizing calamity.  We are all shocked by the manifestation of barbarity on the part of the outlaws, and are depressed by the loss of lives of brave men, but at the same time are proud of the calm control and loyalty to American ideals demonstrated by the returned soldiers and citizens.  I am proud to be an inhabitant of a state which contains a city with the record which has been made for Centralia by its law-abiding citizens.

  Sincerely,
  (Signed) Kenneth MacKintosh.

“Patriotic” Union Smashing

Not to be outdone by this brazen example of judicial perversion, Attorney General Thompson, after a secret conference of prosecuting attorneys, issued a circular of advice to county prosecutors.  In this document the suggestion was made that officers and members of the Industrial Workers of the World in Washington be arrested by the wholesale under the “criminal syndicalism” law and brought to trial simultaneously so that they might not be able to secure legal defense.  The astounding recommendation was also made that, owing to the fact that juries had been “reluctant to convict,” prosecutors and the Bar Association should co-operate in examining jury panels so that “none but courageous and patriotic Americans” secure places on the juries.

This effectual if somewhat arbitrary plan was put into operation at once.  Since the tragedy at Centralia dozens of union workers have been convicted by “courageous and patriotic” juries and sentenced to serve from one to fourteen years in the state penitentiary.  Hundreds more are awaiting trial.  The verdict at Montesano is now known to everyone.  Truly the lives of the four Legion boys which were sacrificed by the lumber interests in furtherance of their own murderous designs, were well expended.  The investment was a profitable one and the results are no doubt highly gratifying.

But just the same the despicable plot of the Attorney General is an obvious effort to defeat the purpose of the courts and obtain unjust convictions by means of what is termed “jury fixing.”  There may be honor among thieves but there is plainly none among the public servants they have working for them!

[Illustration:  Mike Sheenan

Born in Ireland. 64 years old.  Has been a union man for over fifty years, having joined his grandfather’s union when he was only eight.  Has been through many strikes and has been repeatedly black-hated, beaten and even exiled.  He was a stoker in the Navy during the Spanish War.  Mike Sheehan was arrested in the Union hall, went through the horrible experience in the city jail and was found “not guilty” by the jury.  Like Elmer Smith, he was re-arrested on another similar charge and thrown back in jail.]