Evening star., 1938-12-16
Olson Again States
Intention 10 Pardon
Thomas J. Mooney
Governor-EIect Will
Act Unless Evidence
Changes Present View

Gov.-elect Culbert L. Olson Of
California again indicated here to-
day he will pardon Thomas j.
Mooney unless evidence radically
changing my present belief" is pre-
sented. r
The Governor ELECT, who takes
Office January 2, discussed the
Mooney case after he had described
his plans to relieve .Californias
"greatest problem'-reyfef of IN
employed. He is in Washington to
talk over this and other issues with
administration leaders and to at
tend the Gridiron Club dinner to-
morrow night.
When asked what he planned to
do in the case of Mooney, whose
application for Supreme Court per-
mission to file a petition for writ
of habeas corpus was denied De-
cenber 5, Mr.. Olson stated:
I'm the 1887 session of the State
Senate lin California; I supported
. resolution for MONEYS pardon by
the Legislature. gave reasons why
I believed he was convicted on per-
jured testimony and false evi-
dence-why from my own individual
and complete investigation of the
case believed he should be set free.
That is still my conviction. 1
suppose I'll be asked to pardon
Mooney. When and if this request
comes, will grant the right to be
heard to whomever might come to
me on MONEYS behalf or to show
where I might be wrong. Unless
evidence to the contrary is pre-
sented, shall stick by my present
belief"
Decided to Seek Writ.
When the Supreme Court refused
to review the Mooney case, the man
who is imprisoned for participation
in the bombing of the Preparedness
Day parade in San Francisco in
1916, said he would await election
of a Governor who would pardon
him. Shortly after this decision,
however, Mooney decided tosseek the
writ of habeas corpus.
Gov.-elect Olson said he plans to
talk with Harry Hopkins, w. P. A..
administrator, and other work re-
lief officials and lay before them his
plans for solution of this problem in
California-a program which he
said might be worked out on long
time basis over the entire country.
Briefly and generally, his plans
outlined in an interview today pro-
pose to reduce relief rolls by works
program on self-help basis, to en-
able relief clients to produce enough
to live on and improve their own
standard of living. He explained
this program would take place in
fields not now exploited by private
capital, in so far as possible, and
not with any intention for public
sale to cause any competition with
private industry.
May Cut Relief Costs.
Mr.. Olson said his proposed pro-.
gram probably would cut relief costs
IN California by at least half when
1t is given time to take a foothold.
Mr.. Olson said he hoped to see Mr..
Hopkins this afternoon to discuss
this problem and also that of Cali
fornia's transient influx. Concern
ing the latter, Mr.. Olson said he is
OF the opinion that the cost in caring
Tor migratory and transient indi-
gents flOcking to his State anpI1ally
should be shared by the Federal
Government and by governments of
the States from which they come
originally.
Mr.. Olson, who is accompanied on
his visit to Washington by his son
and private secretary, Richard
Olson, said he probably would get
his business transacted in time to
return to California Monday or
Tuesday. He said he would visit the
White House either tomorrow or
Monday for a brief chat with Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
He said he also expected to talk
at least by telephone with Senator
King of Utah, for whom Mr.. Olson
was secretary when Mr.. King was
In the House of Representatives
from 1897 to 1901. At that time, Mr.
Olson recalled today, he attended
Columbian University (now George
Washington University Law School
and also acted in the capacity of
Washington correspondent for sew
eral Western deWspapers.