The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-18
HOOvER'S HELP
REQUESTED IN
MOONEY CASE
SCrippS- Howard Editors
Ask President to Intervene
in California.
Continued from Page II

only the mercifr' Intervention of a
chief executive Of the United States
can serve the ends Of justice
President Hoover wisely has stated
that one of the predominant issues
If not the outstanding problem
of our times is the efficient and i'm
partial enforcement Of law
He has created a commission on
law enforcement. manning it with
persons of distinction and high
competence in the law, and has
vested 1t with sweeping powers Of
investigation, criticism and rec
concentration.
This conference Of editors and
editorial executives Of the twenty
five Scripps-H Howard newspapers
unanimously urges Intervention now
by the President in the Mooney
Billings case to the end that delin-
quent Justice may be accorded these
men.
We realize that in its external
legal technicalities the case of
Mooney and Billings may appear
strictly state affair. But We feel
that even a casual examination of
the easily available facts will con-
vince the President that this case is
the business OF every friend of JUS
tice and American ideals OF which
he is. by virtue Of his official posi-
ton. the supreme symbol and pro-
tector.
Justice in Peril
we contend that such assertions
as have been put forth by the SUI
preme court of California, and by
the states attorneys who obtained
the conviction of Mooney and Bill
lings, strike at the very roots of
American conceptions Of law and
justice.
There latter are based on the
premise of equal justice for all, ir-
respective of opinion, and upon the
assumption that man must be
proved guilty of the specific charge
in the indictment. If we are to con-
vict a man of a capita crime be-
cause he holds unpopular opinions,
then we surrender the legal progress
of a thousand years and revert to
the justice of the inquisition and
witch trials.
THE case of Mooney and Billings
les a challenge not only to Califor-
MIA Justice, but also to the fair repu-
tation of our whole country before
the bar of world opinion. We, there
fore, recommend that the President
specifically, and at the earlies posi-
BILE date, bring the case of Mooney
and Billings to the attention OF the
law enforcement commission The
commission has unusual facilities
for full and impartial investigation.
World Watches Case
We believe that a painstaking
review of the case by the Wicker
sham commission will do more than
anything else now feasible to erase
the long-standing stain upon our
national record and to restore to
both California and the nation a
reputation for fairness and judicial
impartiality.
AS a resident of California and
as the chief executive of the ma
ton, we feel that the President has
bo h a double interest and a double
responsibility in seeing that justice
is done, even though tardily, to
these two men, from many of whose
opinions We dissent, but who never
thcless are entitled to complete jus
tice from our courts.
1t is our belief that such world
wide attention has ben focused
rpon this case that only the most
Grass judicial stupidity could believe
that it ever can be hushed up until
Justice is done.
vigorous Campaign Pledged
The Scripps- Howard newspapers,
ac,uated solely by the twin desire to
see Justice done these men and pub
lie confidence in the courts restored,
pledge themselves to keep before
the public the details of this Judi
cisl lynching until justice finally is
done.
Scores of other influential liberal
newspapers throughout the nation
are determined equally that the
spirit of justice shall not languish,
forgotten and friendless, in Cali
lornia penitentiaries.
we feel that the present situa-
ton lays a great responsibility and
p great opportunity before the Pres
ident upon which it is our earnest
hope that he will act"