Denver labor bulletin., 1918-08-03
GOVERNOR STEPHENS GRANTS EPRIEVE
TO TOM MOONEY ON EVE OF PROTEST
Parade and Mass Meeting Denver and Other Cities Thruou
Country Held Sunday, After Order Staying Execution
Until December 10 Had on Saturday Been
Issued by California Executive.

| tous from this land of its love and
loyalty.
while this country is waging the
mightiest war ever undertaken by civil
lized men to establish justice turnout
the world, the sincerity of our pur-
pose would be gravely impeached if
an innocent man were strangled by
our own judicial machinery which was
organized and established for the ex-
pressed purpose for protecting inno-
cence-
"The conviction of Tom Mooney has
been shown by subsequent disclosures
to be the result of a conspiracy so
| fragrant that it has been denounced by
the judge who presided at the trial,
and by the attorney general of the
state, who asked the supreme court
to reverse it, a request which was de-
MED upon grounds that showed the
| judicial system of California to be
more mindful of technicalities than
careful of human life. The commits
sion appointed by the President of
the United States, headed by the sec
rotary of labor. has urged upon the
authorities of California that new
trial be granted the defendants in the
interest of elementary justice
Believing that the noble and I'M
selfish efforts of this country to ex-
tend the dominion of justice abroad
Will be retarded and imperiled if our
courts organized to enforce justice
at home become agencies to perpet-
uate monstrous injustice upon citizens
entitled to the protection of our laws
| We do hereby resolve, that organ
lied labor urge upon the authorities
of the United States and of Califor-
mia the imperative necessity of taking
i off ffxrx, Co. =
this country the justice we are seek
ing to establish turnout the world by
the prompt liberation of Tom Mooney
from the peril of death or imprison-
ment in which he has been placed by
perjury and conspiracy.
ave do further resolve that the
Colorado State Federation of Labor.
the Denver Trades and Labor Assem-
bly, and the Denver Building Trades
Council be requested to appoint a
committee representative of our citi-
zenship for the purpose of present
ing these resolutions to the proper au-
thorities and for the taking of all
other steps that may be deemed
necessary to make them effective
| In announcing his action, Governor
Stephens said it would require all of
his time between now and December
ID to examine the mass of court rec
ords and briefs in the case Attic the
formal judgment of the supreme court
had not been handed down, Governor
Stephens said he announced his inten-
ton of granting Mooney a reprieve at
this time in order that persons thru
out the country might be assured the
case would be given the fullest con-
sideration by the executive and judi
cial branches of the state govern
ment.
Order for Reprieve.
Governor Stephens formal an
nouncement follows:
81 have decided to grant reprieve
to Thomas ]. Mooney, which will op-
crate as n stay of execution until De-
cember Is, 1918.
1T is true that the Mooney case
still is in the supreme court of Cali
fornia, but l take this action at this
time in order that all persons in this
state and elsewhere turnout the
United States may be assured that
the fullest consideration will be given
to this case by the executive and Judi
cial branch of the government of Cali
fornia.
THE Mooney case has been in the
courts of this state for more than
two years. The records and briefs
are voluminous. 1t will require all
of the time between now and the 18th
day of December to give to this mat
ter that careful consideration which
justice. both to Thomas J. Mooney and
the people, demands shall be given.
civilian ID. STEPHENS,