The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-04-28
By JACK TOMBSTONE.

For II years ever-growing numbers
1 of workers throughout the world
have pressed for the freedom of Tom
Mooney and Warren K. Billings until
today one does not have to talk much
about whether they are innocent or
guilty.
What does the struggle for
MONEYS freedom involve? Why is
it that many who in the earlier
period of the Mooney defense gave
it support such as President John
Fitzpatrick and Secretary Ed Nockels
Of the Chicago Federation of Labor,
and (who still express d verbal SYM
pathy for Mooney, in practice actu-
ally help to keep Mooney in prison?
The writer was the organizer of
the Chicago Mooney Defense Com
rnittee set up shortly after the in
dictment of Mooney in 1916 and re-
manned as the secretary Of that Com
nittee until the First National Con-
ference to free Mooney held in Chi
cago about Is years ago. The writer
was also responsible later for getting
the confession Of perjury from the
main witness, John Mcdonald, and
was one of those who took Mcdonald
to San Francisco in 1921 10 tell his
story to the Grand Jury,
THE EARLY FIGHT
FOR MOONEY
The Chicago Mooney Defense Com
mittee in the early years was one
of the most important committees in
the country, second only to the Com
nittee set up at the coast by Bot
Minor and his very few courageous
colleagues. The latter later merged
with the Tom Mooney Defense Com
mittee.
The militancy and strength Of the
Chicago Committee was made much
easier to develop by the ready and
willing support given it by the Chi
cago Federation of Labor, especially
headed at that time by John Fitz-
patrick and Ed Nockels. They gave
ready support to the Mooney fight
because of mass pressure, providing
it remained strictly within the limits
CT the law.
During this entire period William
z. FosteT-already then nationally
known labor organizer-eXercis {
strong influence in shaping militant
policies for the Chicago Federation
It was with the help Of the Chicago
Federation of Labor, for example
that the Mooney defense was sblt
to expose Oxrnan through his notort'
GUS letters to Regal. It was the Chi
Cago Federation of Labor that sen
the photo Of John Mcdonald
throughout the east that loca ted NC
Donald in Trenton, New Jersey. L
was primarily through the Chicago
Federation chat Mooney was gotter
to prepare the confession Of McDon
aid and to pay the expenses to TAXI
Mcdonald to the coast and back.
remember when John B. Fry, ther
editor Of the Molders' Journal, came
through Chicago in 1918 and triec
to convince Nockels that Mooney wa
guilty and Nocke1s ordered him on
of the office of the G. F. of l..
/ Fosters entrance into the Chicago
Federation Of Labor as a delegate
and as an active leading force in tn,
CIllCdgO ldDOr movement dDOuG lSl
had a profound effect not only OF
the Chicago labor movement, but Oh
the labor movement throughout tn
country. From then until 1925, TIN
Chicago Federation Of Labor, unde
the leadership Of Foster and the lef
wing that organized around him, be
came the recognized theological
leader in the many militant, bite
strike battles that developed in tina
period throughout the country.
During these years 1t was the Chi
cago Federation Of Labor, rather thai
the A. F. of L.. to which the workers
resdy to struggle, locked for leader
ship. The national railroad strike
the national miners strike and man,
other strikes, we're deserted and be
trayed by them. The organizing o
tile stockyards, the steel strike, an,
many other major campaigns, srna
mated from the Chicago Federation
OF Labor, under the leadership o
rcsseg enc the LETT wing ORGANIZES