New-York tribune., 1918-06-20
Labor Convention
Demands Retrial
Of Mooney Case
Calls on Wilson and Cali
fornia Governor to Dispel
Doubt as to Guilt

ST. PAUL, June 19.- Resolutions call
ing upon President Wilson and the Gov
ernor of California to use their powers
to obtain a new trial for Thomas j.
Mooney featured the session to-day of
the American Federation of Labor con-
ventlon. Mooney is under sentence Of
death in California for alleged partici-
patton in preparedness day bomb
outrage IN San Francisco.
The Mooney resolution. which was
adopted unanimously. asserted that un-
less Mooney Is to go to the gallows
with the belief prevailing that his con-
viction was obtained through perjured
testimony, a new trial must be given
him. An appeal to the Governor of
California asks that executive to dis
pei the impression that grave mis-
carriage of justice is being allowed
with the knowledge of the authori-
ties"
In an address to the convention to-
day, NJ. Justin Godart, Assistant Secre
t.ry of France and head of n French
war mission to the United States, de-
clared that q union of French and
American workers will be one of the
results Of the conflict in Europe. M.
Godart. who, together with other mem
convention, SAID that the prevailing
thought in the minds of the soldiers
and workers Of France was TO win the
war. Replying, President Samuel
Gompers said:
eve ask you to hold out a little
while longer. We arc coming and
Americas workers and soldiers are de-
termined to see this war through to
the end"
The convention to-day adopted res
olutions asking that shipment of news
print paper to other than countries of
the Entente be prohibited for the dura-
clared the print paper shortage to be
due to strikes, lockouts and low wages.
Necessity of educating illiterate
workers was set forth in report sub
m:tted by the Committee on Educa
ton. An address by Miss Mollie Fried
man, of New York, advocated estab-
lishment of union-owned schools.
Investigation of the Postofficc De-
partment was asked by the delegates
in resolution adopted, special men
lion being made Of the cost of carry
ing mail and the possibility Of grant
ing postal employees an increase in
salary
Another resolution adopted pro-
teSleu against any luCItdSe III pOS CaSc
rates on second-class mail matter, it
being asserted that newspapers are
disseminators of war news, in which
every person in the country is inter
eSted.
Defends Child Labor Law
1t was asserted that the new postal
law, which goes into effect July /,
would tend to create zones of thought
and to promote sectionalism.
Child labor occupied a part of to-
days discussion. President Wilson and
Secretary McAdoo were petitioned to
prohibit transportation of all articles
manufactured or produced by child
labor, and a resolution was adopted
asserting that the Supreme Court of
the United States erred in recent de-
cison holding anti-child labor legisla-
ton unconstitutional. The resolution
declared that the interpretation and
construction of our constitutional pro
visions in the interest of property and
in violation of the rights of humanity
are inconsistent and in direct conflict
with the ideals of human justice"
Election of officers was made a spe-
cial order Of business for tomorrow
afternoon.