The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-02
INSTALLMENT Is.
FREMONT OLDER-CRUSADER.

THE QlSOyal ana corrupliVe HlaCllIldlloilS VI lIo
California labor leaders" has not deferred
the foremost editor of the Pacific Coast, FIRE.
mont Older from waging tremendous battle
for the pardon of Mooney and Billings. Threat
ened with blackman, financial ruin, social ostra-
csm, and even bodily harm, he has been thun-
dering for 10 years: Mooney and Billings must
be pardoned" Despite all discouragements he
has carried on the fight right in the city of the
frame-up and when Mooney and Billings again
walk the streets of San Francisco they will have
to say: IF Older had not helped u.s. we might
not be here"
ABLE ATTORNEYS HELP TOM MOONEY.
When Tom Mooney and his co-defendants
needed capable attorneys, no labor leader Of
fered to help them by engaging competent de-
Tense council. No comment is needed to charac-
terize the action of A. w. Brouet, the former
President of the San Francisco Labor Council.
He cold bloodedly betrayed Mooney and Billings
to Fickert and the frame-up crew.
Typical of the behavior of the Caseys, Nc
Laughlins, Mullens, O'Connells and the boss"
himself, Paul Scharrenberg is the conduct of
William Haggerty. This labor leader was a
big time" politician in the Machinist Union
Local No. g. of San Francisco Like Broullet
he had studied law, and was the attorney for
the Machinist Union. He was leader OF the
Union Labor Party, and held lucrative job
during McCarthys administration of San Fran
cisco. When the Los Angeles Metal Trades Strike
Committee was organized, Billy" Haggerty was
elected one of the g."
After the Preparedness Parade bomb explo-
sion, Edward Nolan, an active militant member
of Machinist Local No. 68, was arrested ore
of the bombers. Nolan, and all his co-defend-
ants, was held incomnunicado, and for a time
he was not allowed to see his relatives or friends
Finally his friends in the Machinist Union asked
Haggerty to defend him. To their great aston
ishment the former member of the Los Angeles
Committee of 26" refused. He did not know
whether Nolan was innocent or guilty but he
rushed into print, and gave statement to the
press stating that he would not under any cir
cumstanees defend Edward Nolan on the charge
placed against him. Only 'laboT leader"
would have the effrontery to publis. such
statement. He could have refused to defend
Nolan without making a public statement. AS
member of the Bar his action was highly UNI
ethical and grossly unWarrsnted, but as leader
of labor it was a foul betrayal Haggerty, as
counsel of the Machnist Union, knew that at
the time of his arrest Nolan was officially lead
ing a strike against various automobile repair
shops, and that he was highly respected in the
Union. Even the frame-up crew had to release
NOldIl, lOr ne was amply dDle 10 prove MS nulU-
cence, but this did not interest Haggerty. AS a
member of "the 26' he had to appear respect
able" even if it mean the wanton betrayal OF a
member of his own union.
Tom Mooney and Warren Billings did receive
able legal aid in spite of the Brouillets, Hag
gertys, and the frame-up crew. Maxwell Nc
Mutt, the son of very wealthy surgeon, born
in the lap of luxury, raised and educated as an
ultra conservative, saw through the frame-up
and agreed to defend Mooney and Billings when
almost the whole world, even Fremont Older,
seemed to be crying for their blood His cour-
age cost him thousands of dollars through the
loss OF many clients, he was socially ostracized,
his life was threatened members of the Bar
refused to speak to him, but true to his high
ideals he made the decision to defend the two
men whom he knew to be innocent, and nothing
could deter him from acting as their advocate.
few months after McNutt took charge of the
Mooney Billings defense, w. Bourke Cochran,
one Of the most eminent attorneys of his time,
voluntarily offered to defend Mooney without
fee and an act of public service came all
the way from New York at his own expense to
act as McNutt's associate. After Cochran's death,
Frank P. Walsh an attorney with nation wide
reputation as an able, fearless and honest man,
continued the fight begun by Cochran He has
been tireless advocate of Moneys pardon, and
has spent. thousands of dollars. from his pr
sonal funds, studying the case aid nreparing his
arguments for ths pardon peltiog