The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-31

denied pardon to Mooney and Billings. Now
Mooney continues:
INSTALLMENT is.
THE Convention of the A. F. of L. held in Los
Angeles, in 1927, and the activities of the
labor leaders at the convention, Enthusiastically
indicates their real attitude on the Mooney
Billings case. Among the principal speakers was
Governor G. G. Young. Naturally, Paul Schar-
renberg, who has been his close friend for over
twenty years, did his utmost not to have the
delegates embarrass him by any undue reference
to the Mooney-Billings case. In this noble"
task he was most ably assisted by the foremost
red" batter of the A. F. of L., Matthew VOL,
vice president of the American Federation of
Labor and Chairman of the powerful Resolutions
Committee. Also member of this committee
was Victor Olander, Secretary of the Illinois
State Federation of Labor and Secretary
Treasurer of Scharrenberg's Gown" Seamens
Union.
And so it happens that in 1927 the American
Federation of Labor in convention in the City
of Los Angeles, California, Mooney and Billings
home state failed for the first time to resolutely
demand the unconditional pardon of these two
men. Edward Nockels, Secretary of the Chi
cago Federation of Labor, had come from Chi
cago expressly to urge the Convention to take
Committee, influenced by Olander and Woll at
the solicitation of Paul Scharrenberg, success
fully consigned the Pardon Resolution to the
"graveyard!"-the Executive Council of the A. F.
OF l.. This is the text of the committees
recommendation:
"The committee is of the opinion that the
general purpose of the resolution can be ac-
complished by instructing the President and
the Executive Council to use their judgment as
to the procedure best calculated to bring about
the release of Mooney and Billings and recon-
mends that the President and Council be so
instructed. The committee also recommends
that all affiliated organizations, including Cen
trail Bodies and State Federation of Labor be
guided solely by the declaration of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor and the advice given
from time to time by the President and the
Executive Council whenever called upon to take
action regarding the case to which the resolu-
ton refers"
Thus did the American Federation of Labor
assist" Mooney and Billings at time when
concerted action by all their friends was most
needed to secure pardons for them The A. F.
of L. resolution distinctly ordered all affiliated
organizations to be guided solely by the decara-
lions Of the President and the Executive Council.
The 1927 convention did more than this. AT
the solicitation of Paul Scharrenberg Matthew
Vol again came to his rescue with this resolu-
ton:
THAT before moneys are appropriated to
other than union organizations listed in the
official directory of the A. F. of L., that in
formation with regard to the organization max
ing the request and the purpose for which the
money is to be used be sought and obtained
from the President of the A. F. of L. . The
committee recommends that the resolution be
adopted and that the President be instructed
to send copies thereof to all affiliated National
and International Unions, State Federations,
City Central Bodies Federal Labor Unions
and to the Labor Press"
Paul Scharrenberg through the willing assis-
lance of the A. F. of L. officials, secured these
two resolutions and so thoroughly revealed him
self as the helpful friend" of Mooney and
Billings Let the workers know him by his own
actions He stifled the angry protests of the
rank and file of the American Federation of
Labor, and not content with that he went
further and made it practically impossible for
any body directly chartered by the A. F. of L.
leadership think they are leading, If they have