Evening journal., 1918-06-11
SHALL MOONEY DIE?


q ENTENCE again has been passed upon Thomas
- Mooney, convicted OF murder in connection with
bomb explosion in San Francisco July 26 1916. Will
a preparedness" parade was being held Six peopl
instantly killed and about forty wounded o
whom four subsequently died Arrests made o
Thomas j. Mooney and his wife Rena Mooney, ware
X Billings. Israel Weinberg and Edward D. Nolan
Tom Mooney molder by trade and a membe
OF the molders' union. For many years he had beer
OF the most widely known labor leaders on thu
Pacino coast. Mrs Mooney was music teacher Bill
ings youth Of radical tendencies and follower Of
Mooney in labor agitation; Nolan also was friend Of
Mooney and radical labor leader Of lesser prominence
Weinberg itney driver. hired at times to convey
Mooney and his assistants to labor meetings He was
accused Of driving the automobile that said to
carried Mooney and the others to the spot where the
bomb planted"
Billings first tried convicted and sentenced to life
Imprisonment. He still protests his innocence Mrs.
Mooney and Weinberg have been tried and acquitted
Nolan has been put to trial Tom Mooney was
convicted OF FIRST degree murder and sentenced to be
hanged
Mooney insists that he had no hand in the numbering
Of those innocent persons that July day He
that he did not plant" the bomb and that he
nothing whatsoever about II until after the explosion
had hurled those men. and children into eternity
Mooney and thousands Of labor organization leaders
insist that he is being "raroaded to the gaows because
he labor leader Of pronounced radicallsm.
That Mooney was not honestly convicted and there
fore should have trial is the announced belief Of
the United States Mediation Commission OF which Sec
retary OF Labor w. B. Wilson is chairman.
This also is the conviction of the President OF the
United States.
on the other hand Thornwan Mullally chief assist
ant to the president Of the United Railways san Fran
CISCO and who grand marshal Of the parade that
day, insists that Mooney is guilty beyond question Of
doubt. Labor leaders, though say that Mutually is an
arch-enemy Of union labor.
San Francscos Chamber of Commerce believes
Mooney guilty and opposed to giving him new trial
month before MONEYS arrest the chamber de-
clared its intention to make San Francisco an open shop
town"
District Attorney Charles A. Fickert who prosecuted
Mooney, processes to he Of his guilt despite
dence which has come to light since the trial
This evidence has TO do with a witness named oxman
who that he Mooney the other defendants
near the spot where the bomb exploded shortly before
the internal machine brought death to parade watchers
This testimony practically clnched the States and
the death sentence came quickly.
After Moneys conviction there came 10 light let
ters confessedy written by Oxman prior to his having
been called 10 testify The plain import of these letters
is attempt by oxman to suborn perjury corrobora-
tion Of the vital testimony which he to give and
which in fact, he did give against Mooney. The
against Mrs Mooney and Weinberg fell TO the ground
and Nolan not tried
All these facts are told the report Of the United
States Mediation Commission, appointed by President
Wilson, in its report to the chief executive the United
States.
There be doubt that Mooney was regarded as
labor agtator Of malevolence by the utilities OF san
Francisco and that he the special object of their
opposition"
when Oxman was discredited the verdict against |
Mooney discredited"
The Attorney-seneral asked the Supreme Court that
in view OF the oxman exposure the should
turned TO the Trial Court for a new trial"
I'VE are in this war to vindicate the moral claims Of
unstaned processes law however slow at times such
may be These claims be tempered by the
fire Of devotion to them at home"
Your commission therefore respectfully recommends
that the President his good Offices to invoke action
by the Governor Of California and the cooperation
its prosecuting officers to the end that trial may
be had for Mooney whereby guilt innocence may be
put to the test Of unquestionable Justice"
The President OF the United States has asked the Gov
Of California to commute Moneys sentence life
Imprisonment. The Governor cannot grant Mooney a
new trial This was in the power Of the California su-
preme Court when It heard the appeal and refused to
order the case back the Court for rehearing
What should be done Of course is to send Mooney
back for another trial and whether jury will
vct him the strength Of oxmans evidence now This
cannot be done The time for that has passed
Tom Mooney must die-unless the Governor Of Cali
forna commutes his sentence or pardons him.
William D. stephens is Governor Of California He
huus uie me OF rom Mooney IN tne hollow OF his hand
VIII he ignore the appeal Of the President Of the United
States2 VIII he cast aside the finding OF the United
States Mediation Commssion7 VIII he push Tom Mooney
through the trapdoor Of the gaows on the evidence OF
this discredited witness OxmanY VIII he pay no heed
to the appeal from Judge F. A. Grnn who presided al
the trial OF Mooney and who sentenced him 10 death
! believe that all Of us who participants in the
trial concur that right and justice demand that new
trial Of Mooney should in order that no possls
mistake shall be made in q case where human life
is at stake"