Evening star., 1932-04-22
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO. Calf, April 22.-As
supporters of Tom Mooney gave notice
his account with justice was not yet
closed, filing clerks here shut the covers
on another chapter of the convicted
dynamiter's struggle for freedom-the
refusal of Gov. James Rolph, jr.. to
grant pardon.
The Governor of California-the
fourth before whom the Mooney case
has been brought-declared in a TOO
word decision announced at the State
capitol yesterday he was convinced
Mooney and Warren K. Billings, con-
victed accomplice. were guilty.
Varied comment greeted the decision.
but Mooney and his supporters were
confident in their predictions the fight
would go on.
Among these was Fremont Older, San
Francisco newspaper editor. who said:
The Case is no more settled by Gov.
Rolph's action than it was before he
made It,"
Mooney Issues Statement.
Mooney himself. in a statement re-
leased by the Moulders' Defense Com
mittee over his name. declared the
struggle had gained added significance,
with the assertion
This makes me the outstanding fig
ure in the worlds labor movement and
symbol of the struggle of labor for its
rights
Another declaration in the statement
was: The decision of Gov. Rolph is
class decision with a class motive. and
along these lines it shall be fought out
in the future"
The Governors decision was based on
report given him by legal advisors ap-
pointed last December after considera-
ton of the case had been urged by
group of attorneys led by Mayor James
j. Walker of New York
1t touched but generally upon the
points at issue.
After briefly reviewing MONEYS
efforts for freedom, since his original
death sentence was commuted by Gov
William D. Stephens to life in prison.
the decision said the investigation in
cluded study of all available documents
and information, independent efforts
to gather other material and. "ss far as
obtainable, the history Of the life of
Thomas j. Mooney" Records of BILL
ing's application before the State Su-
preme Court for a pardon recon-
mendation also were considered, Gov
Ro!ph said.
open Mind" Claimed.
He declared the problem was consid-
cred with open minds, in a spirit of
absolute fairness =" and con-
cluded
These facts, taken in conjunction
with all Of the other matters above
have convinced us
that Thomas j. Mooney was guilty of
the cffense charged against him; that
he was justly convicted by the jury be-
fore whom he was tried. and that the
application made on his behalf for the
pardon should be denied"
The "offense charged was the bomb
ing at a San Francisco street corner.
during the 1916 Preparedness day
parade, which killed 10 persons and in
jured 40.
1t was Gov Rolph himself, then
mayor Of San Francisco, who led the
line Of marchers as the blast roared
out
But details of the crime and investi-
cation were left to l25-page report
submitted by the Govern-r's chief
adviser, Matt ]. Sullivan, former Cali
fornia Supreme Court justice. The
lengthy report also took opportunity to
reply to these who have criticized the
Of Mooney and Billings. 1t
said:
United States Senators and members
OF the House Of Representatives. Gov
eEnors Of several States and even State
have been Influenced by
the poisonous propaganda"
statement, appearing in an Inter
national Defense League pamphlet, pur-
porting to be signed by United States
Senator Burten K Wheeler of Montana,
was attributed to the same propaganda
which influenced Senator Royal Cope-
land OF New York to join his heart and
soul with the material and immaterial
vitals OF Tom Mooney"
= Einstein Stand Cited.
The report to the Governor further
stated Prof Einstein, the famous
scientist, has joined the army of those
against the further imprison-
ment OF Mooney and Billings" and
added Unfortunately this good man
and great scientist knows as much
about Mooney and Billings and the case
against each as they know about Elm
STEMS inexplicabe theory Of relativity."
Mayor Walkers plea at the hearing
IN San Francisco last December was
referred to as 'eloquence misapplied.
Regarding the plea made by Walker
and other attorneys, the report con-
cluded:
But we believe. however. that thev
must have been ignorant Of the past
life Of Mooney. his record as dyna-
miter his public and private utterances
in favcr Of anarchy ana revolution. his
publication Of the Revolt "a San Fran
cisco paper Mooney published prior to
the 1915 bombing his connection with
the Blast (ancther publication and the
Blasters."
The report denied Mooney and Billings
were representative of labor" and
added;
Instead of being representative of
labor, Mooney has been for many years
an agitator, stunning physical labor.
He has been a thorn in the side of
labor for many years"
Cost of Propaganda"
The report also declared the alleged
propaganda was being supported bv
c0ntr buttons which it estimated "in
excess of S1.250,000.'
Against this enormous sum in aid
CT vicious propaganda, based upon
slander, libel and attacks upon our
State, our Governors, our courts and
public officials generally" the report
continued mot one dollar has been
received or expended for counter prop
aganda"
His hope of freedom shattered,
Mooney returned to his duties as veg
etable man" in the San Quentin Prison
kitchen. His personal remark on the
decision, he explained were limited by
prison restrictions.
At Folsom Prison, Billings, also serv-
ing a life sentence, declared Gov.
Rolph's decision lacked courage" and
was in line with the attitude of his
predecessor in Office. Gov. c. c. Young.
The Moulders' Defense Committee
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