The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-28
INSTALLMENT IA.
Tom Mooney-Loyal Trade Unionist

Tom M00ney-LOyal Trade Unionist,
1t has often been charged by the California
Labor Leaders" that Tom Mooney was not a
representative of the organized workers of San
Francisco. On the floor of the Labor Council,
March Is, 1913 Barney Doyle of the Municipal
Garments Union, made the statement that:
"Fickert had personally informed him that he,
Fickert, was assured by the President of the
Labor Council, A. w. Brouilet, and other men,
bers of the committee from the Council, that the
Mooney Billings cases would not be made labor
case" Briefly, the facts are that for twenty
eight years Mooney has been continuous active
member in good standing of the International
Molders' Union which is affiliated to the Amer
lean Federation of Labor He was delegate to
the San Francisco Labor Council; Trustee of his
Local Union; and has been elected a delegate to
every International Convention of the Molders'
Union for the past twenty years. Three of these
delegateships were voted to him while he was in
prison; one was given while he was under death
sentence. All Of these votes we're given him as
an indication of confidence in his innocence.
The International Molders' Convention in Cleve-
land, Ohio 1923, also elected him delegate to
the Convention of the American Federation Of
Labor from the International Molders' Union.
LABOR LEADERS" DO NOT WANT
MOONEY PARDONED.
The Tabor leaders" are Just as treacherous
today as they were during the trial and the
years Immediately after. These officials are now
more determined than ever that Tom Mooney
shall remain in prison, or at the very most shall
be released only with the restrictions of parole
Mooney pardoned would be dangerous for these
betrayers of labor. Paroled he would be effec-
lively hamstrung with the shadow of the walls
of San Quentin constantly over him.
The following letter written January 49, 1929
to Tom Mooney by Fremont Older Editor of
the San Francisco "Call-Bulletin" is most IL
Illuminating:
have had long talk with Governor Young
this afternoon 1 have just come from the
meeting and have not any hope that he can
be induced to pardon you.
l suppose that Mrs. ...... has told you
how labor feels. When 1 say labor mean
the leaders of labor. They seem not to want
you pardoned. They prefer that you should
come out on parole. Governor Young knows
that this is what they want and don't believe
he will do the thing 1 want him to do and
what you want him to do
Here is a paragraph from Older's book, my
Own Story" published by the Macmillan Co. It,,
too, speaks for itself
The little faith in human nature that had
left after the (San Francisco graft prosecution
was considerably lessened by my experience in
trying to bring about the pardon of these two
men (Mooney and Billings. 1t was lessened
still more when ! discovered that ten of the
twelve prominent local labor leaders were
either actively conniying at keeping these men
in prison or doing nothing to help them. This
threw me into q respondent mood. / had
learned to expect that kind of attitude from
the rich and powerful and those who fawned
upon them, but to find the foremost local
leaders OF labor either acting or thinking with
them was more than I could calmly bear.
The outstanding labor leaders" Of California
are known to have pledged in confidence with
Governor Young not to pardon Tom Mooney.