New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
Death Sentence Irnpos-
ed ON Labor Leader
COMMITTED by
Governor
Stephens Cites
Wilson's Plea
President Wrote That
Execution Would
Fl alt Interna-
tional Affairs

SACRAMENTO, Cal, Nov. 28.-The
sentence Of Thomas J. Mooney, con-
dsmnsd to be hanged on Dec nber 13
for the deaths Of ten perseas killed
by bomb explosion in San Francisco
during a preparedness parade, July,
1915, was commuted by Governor W.
D, Stephens tonight to imprisonment
for lie.
Governor Stephens's statement an
nouncing the Communication said that
in considering the case he had before
him athe urgent appeal Of the Presi-
dsnt of the United States that grant
commutation."
~originally, in January Of this year.
received a letter from the President
asking me If it would not be possible
To postpone the execution of Mooney
until he could be tried upon one of
the other indictments against him.
"Inasmuch as an appeal already had
been taken to the Supreme Court OF
California, which appeal itself acted
ss stay of the execution, there was
al that time no occasion for action on
my part. take it that the President
was not correctly informed as to the
status of the case" &C.
In explaining why he had not felt
called on to act previously the Gov
ernor said:
"The case as presented to the Cali
fornia courts was that Of murder,
without further evidence Of motive
than the impossible tenets Of anar-
chists. whose syrnpathies for the Ger
man cause In the war are well known
Their wild pacifst theories fitted into
the widespread activities of the
Kaiser's agents in this country.
Billings Convicted
"a number Of persons f pronounced
anarchistic tendencies were arrested
shortly after the explosion and Of
these Warren K Billings was con-
vieted and sentenced to life imprison-
r,ent and Thomas J. Mooney was
found guilty and sentenced to be
hanged
$50 long as avenues of appeal to the
courts remained open to Mooney, and
he was awaiting himself thereof,
deemed it improper for executive au-
thority to interfere"
The statement reviews the case fully
and quotes the two messages from
President Wilson, in which the action
gssted. The commutation, says the
Governor, reduces the case to the
status Of that Of Warren K Billings.
Not Considered Martyr
y refuse to recognize this case as in
any fashion representing a clash be-
tween capital and labor" the Governor
aid, and he characterized as absurd
the propaganda that would make
Mooney appear as a martyr to the
cause OF labor. In support of this
statement. he quotes letter from
Alexander Berkman outlining tho plan
nterward adopted for the Mooney
campaign &
He denies that Mooney was true
Haand Of labor and characterized his
previous record as such that it did not
enlist faith In him among law-abiding
citizens, but said in conclusion that
this particular case had been decided
On It's merits.
Presidents Two Messages
The two messages sent by President
Wilson follow:
N"rhe White House,
Washington, D. c., March 27, 1918.
Governor William D. Stephens,
Sacramento, Cal:
With very great respect take tho
liberty Of saying TO you that IL you
could see your way to commute the
most heartfelt effect upon certain in
ternational affairs which his execution
would greatly complicatc.
"WOODROW WILSON.
The White House,
Warrington. d. c., 3;15 .. M, June
q, 1917.
Hon. William d. Stephens,
Sacramento, CAL:
Il bog that you will believe that
am moved only by a sense Of public
G1fW and ri rrp ~. -, n~..
and complicated interests involved
When again must respectfully suggest
communication Of the death sentence
r@pcsed upon Mooney. would not
vsnture again TO call your attention TO
Continued 01s r,noe fre