New Britain herald., 1930-07-16
Three-Cornered Battle Looms In
 California's Gubernatorial Race
 With Mooney's Freedom As Issue
Young Tries to Keep La Dor Leaders Case in the Background as Cam paign Propaganda.

San Francisco, July Is (UP)-A three-cornered battle for the gover- norship of California, one of the most bitter in the states history, became still further complicated yes terday by the fight to free Thomas J. Mooney and Warren k. Billings from prison.
 It had been the hope of Governor C. C. Young, candidate for reelection, to delay examination of John Mac Donald, star witness in the Mooney Billings trial, until after the primary election August 26, to prevent the case from becoming a political issue.
 Macdonald, who was discovered in Baltimore, reaffirmed his affidavit made in 1921 that he had com mitted perjury in the murder trial of Mooney and Billings, who are serving life sentences for participa- ton in the San Francisco Prepared ness Day bombings in 1916.
 Governor Young is opposed by District Attorney Buron R. Fitts of Los Angeles and Mayor James Rolph. Jr., of San Francisco. All are candi- dates for the republican nomination, which in California is tantamount to election.
 The governor has repeatedly as- serted that he does not believe the Mooney Billings pardon applications should be an issue in the campaign.
 What it will do, now that Mac Donald is to be returned to Cali fornia to tell his story, is a. subject causing much speculation in politi- cal circles
 Has Studied Case
 Governor Young, 61, a former school teacher, had made a thorough study of the Mooney case for more than two years. He is a member of the progressive wing of the republi- can party in California, which acknowledges United States Senator Hiram ". Johnson as it's leader.
 The governors closest adviser, aC- cording to his associates, has been Mrs, Young. who has taken a deep interest in the Mooney case.
 When Billings applied to the su-
 
 months ago. Governor Young, who was then near decision on the Mooney application. said he regarded the two cases as identical. The Bill lings case went before the supreme court because of a state law requir- ing such action if a person had been convicted of a prior felony.
 I the supreme court to recommend pardon for Billings. his close friends assert. When he received the courts recommendation. and found it un- favorable, he made it public without comment.
 Buron Fitts, a disabled war veter- an, 3S years old, first achieved po- litical prominence in American Le- zion circles. He was eelcted lieu tenant governor in 1926, and resign ed in 1928 to become district attor- ney of Los Angeles.
 Fitts Stays Neutral
 Among Fits chief supporters in southern California are persons known to be opposed to pardons for Mooney and Billings. As a result, the candidate has maintained neu- tral position. declaring he will give 6 definite decision on any pardon application within six months after 1 become governor"
 Mayor Rolph also has maintained silence in regarding recent Mooney Billings developments in the hope that if unfavorable reaction results from Young's attitude, he may bene- fit by it. Rolph is widely known as Californias official "greeter" to prominent visitors. and is an advo- cate of modification of the prohibit ton laws. Young and Fitts are on the side of enforcement
 The position Of organized labor in California remained doubtful since recent developments in the Mooney case until yesterday. At every state convention in recent years the state federation of labor has adopted reso- lutions urging the governor 10 grant a pardon to Mooney and Billings.
 Yesterday. however, the joint labor legislative board of California, rep resenting the executive council of the state federation of labor the railroad brotherhoods and other statewide labor organizations, formally en- dorsed Governor Young as a candi- date for reelection.