Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-11-29
DATE TO HANG DECEMBER 10
Action Taken by Chief Execu-
tive in Celebrated Frisco
Bomb Case.
NOT TRUE FRIEND OF LABOR
Statement Says Defendants
Life Not Such as to
Justify Faith in Him.

SACRAMENTO, Cal. Nov. "a
The sentence OF Thomas j. Mooney,
sentenced to he hanged December 10
In connection with the deathx, OF 10
persons from bomb explosion in
San Francisco In July, 1915, was
commuted by Gov w. D. Stephens
today to imprisonment 70" life.
In giving the announcement OF the
governor decision to the Associated
Press, his private secretary. Martin
Madesen, said that the Communication
was signed early this evening, but
that further than the governors
written statement there would be no
comment
The governors statement reviews
the case fully and quotes I'm thief. en-
tirety theItwo message from Presi-
dent woodrow Wilson, In which the
action now taken by the governor
was suggested. The Communication.
says the governor, reduces the case
to the status Of that OF Warren X.
Billings.
Not True labor Friend.
Il refuse TO recognizB this case Al
In any fashion representing clash be-
tween capital and labor" the gov.
ernor says, and he characterizes as
absurd the propaganda that would
make Mooney appear as martyr 10
the cause of labor. In support of this
statement he quotes a letter from
Alexander Berkman outlining the
plan afterward adopted for the
Mooney campaign. He denies that
Mooney IN true friend Of labor and
oharacterizes his previous record AZ
such that II does not enlist faith In
him among law-abiding citizens, but
says In conclusion that this partlcu,
lar case has been decided upon its
merits,
Tho case as presented to the
California courts was that OF mur-
der. without further evidence OF
motive than the impossible tenets OF
anarchists; whose sympathies for the
German cause In the, war are well
known. Their wild pacifist theories
fitted into the widespread activities
OF the kaiser's agents in this coun-
try
"a number OF persons Of pro-
nounced anarchistic tendencies were
arrested shortly after the explosion
and or these Warren X. Billings was
convicted and sentenced to life i'm
prisonment and Thomas ]. Mooney
found guilty and sentenced to be
hanged
Waits for Courts 20 Act.
80 long as avenues OF appeal to
he courts remained opened to
Mooney and he was availing himself
hereof, deemed 1t improper for ex-
'cutive authority to interfere. AL
hough the constitution OF California
clothes tho government with power
o exercise clemency at any time
lfter conviction. II is important, so
ar as practicable, not to intrude
nto any criminal case until the ju-
licial branch has finally disposed
u II. Only recently has final action
'een taken by the United States su-
'reme court, and the case OF the
'eople VS.. Thomas j. Mooney placed
before me. q
I'm considering the Mooney case,
have had before me the urgent
ppeal OF the president OF the United
tates that l grant Communication.
"Originally. In January of this
ear, l received n letter from the
resident asking me II II would not
@ possible 10 postpone the execu-
on Of Mooney until he could be
led upon one OF the other indict-
rents against him.
'lnasmuch as an appeal already
ad been taken TO the supreme court
California, which appeal itself
cted as n stay OF the execution.
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO,