The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-17
LABOR FEDERATION ASKS CLEMENCY IN TIE H|LLSTROM CASE Unfair Trial Alleged-Jury
 Prejudiced Against Or
 ganized Labor
IUTAH'S GOVERNOR HAS
 NOT POWER TOPARDON
Government Ownership of Telegraph Lines and a Merchant Marine Manned By American Sailors
 Among Resolutions

San Francisco, November 16.-The American Federation of Labor, in session here today. passed resolutions asking clemency for Joseph Hillstrom native of Sweden, and members of the Indus- trial Workers of the World who is under sentence to be shot at Salt Lake City, Utah, Friday, for the murder of grocer and his son in 1914
 The resolutions declared: Tt was ap- parent Hillstrom did not have a fair trial.'
 President Gompers is authorized to transmit copies of the resolutions to Gov ernor Spry of Utah, the board of par dons of Utah, the Swedish minister to the United States and President Wilson. Gov ernor Spry is urged to exercise his pre- rogative of clemency and to stop the ex- ecution of EIillstrom, and see that he be given a new and fair trial"
 ''The feeling against Hillstrom as a la Dor agitator was such as to initiate against him with the jury to his detri- ment," the resolutions said. and also the evidence against him was purely ,circum- stantial and highly improbable"
 Industrial unfonism, or organization of workers by industries, as opposed to ex-
 sting craft union. received its customary rejection at the hands of the federation today.
 Resolutions Adopted
 The federation went on record as fa- voring the following propositions:
 Government ownership of Mount Yer non and Monticello.
 The eght-hour day for all government employees. t'..t'
 Government manufacture of stamped envelopes. s'-.'.''
 Better pay for postoffice clerks and the elimination of night work, so far as pos sible.
 A government bureau of safety. A resolution was adopted favoring bill to be presented to Congress prohibiting any enlisted musicians of the army and navy from entering into the competitive field with civilian musicians. If this bill should become law the marine band at Washington would be af- fected
 ton favored:
 Government ownership of telegraph lines.
 Creation by Congress of permanent nonpartisan tariff commission. An American merchant marine to be manned by American seamen under con- ditions which would make them an eff I fective naval reserve. 1 Sending a petition to Congress asking enactment of a law that would prohibit contractors from employing ellen labor on all government work in preference to American citizens in the United States and it's territorial possessions i The resolution favoring government ownership of the telegraph says evidence
 before the industrial relations commission
 regarding condition of wages, hours and l freedom of speech of telegraphers of this country was such that it is hard to be- lieve they could exist in a free coun-
 try"
 1 Moral support for the International | Ladies Garment Workers union of New | York was favorably reported. l The legislative council was asked to use it's efforts to induce Congress to en- act law prohibiting stop watch speed 1 ing in any departments of the govern ment.
 | Salt Lake City, November 16.-The | governor of Utah has no authority to stay proceedings in the case of Joseph FIillstorm or to give him a new trial. as
 urged by the resolutions adopted today by the American Federation of Labor in Il convention at San Francisco. The state constitution of places the pardoning power l with the state board of pardons. The gov II ernor may grant respite until the next il session of the board of pardOns, but for no longer period. Governor Spring exer- cised this prerogative in the, case at the request of President Wilson, September 30, when he granted a respite from Oc- tober 1, the date originally set for Hill-
 strom's execution until october 16, the
 date of the next meeting of the board oi pardons. The respite was terminated by unanimous vote of the board October l6 no few facts having been presented, and ct, lota raco onfQpcad tO ha y- pected next Friday. The power to order l a new trial is vested in the state supreme l court and that body having already re ! viewed the case, under the law cannot I now order a new trial.
 N Governor Spry had not received the re- ' quest of the American Federation of I Labor this afternoon.
 l Hillstrom in his normal condition at the \ state prison and a death watch has not II x,x>t l,nar nla ned nvAr him.