Montana labor news., 1938-02-17
MASS MEETING HEARS ADDRESSES BY
TOM BROWN, PRESIDENT OF Miners;
Left ERICKSON AND FRANK F!NNEGAN
Adopts Resolution Asking Muir
ray-O'Connell Hearings Be
Held and That Mooney Be
Called to Testify.

Interest in the Mooney ease has
developed to such an extent that it
is doubtful if any active and in
telligent person in the United States
is not familiar with the case. This
was adequately evidenced at the
meeting Of the Miners Union Tues
day evening, February 7, when Left
Erickson, County Attorney of Sid
ney, Richland County, Montana,
spoke before a packed house.
Other speakers on the platform
were Tom Brown, president of the
Miners Union No. l, which spon-
sored and initiated the meeting;
Noble Burton, representing the
Building Trades Council of Helena
and a member of the plumbers or
ganization of that city; Frank Finne-
gan, liberal member of the legisla-
ture from Deer Lodge County at the
last session, besides secretary of the
State Typographical Conference, and
Clarence Blewett, editor of the Mon
tana Labor News.
Sylvester Graham, member Of the
Miners Union, was chairman of the
meeting. Other persons on the plat
form included Tim Harrington of
the Engineers Union and Maurice
Mulcahy of the Firefighters, both of
whom are delegates to the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council.
Tom Brown described a general
outline and history Of the Mooney
case from the time he was accused
of the bomb explosion at Stewart
and Market Street in San Francisco,
July 22nd, 1916, until the present
time. Mr.. Brown showed that the
testimony of the main witnesses, Mr..
Oman and Mr.. Mcdonald, had been
.discredited and that as a matter of
fact a national scandal arose over
the exposure of the testimony of Mr..
Oxman and the prosecuting attor-
ney, Mr.. Fickert, of San Francisco,
and the collision among these two
men. Other things mentioned by
the speaker showed that much of
the testimony produced at the trial
was by low characters, including
dope fiends and prostitutes. Photos
taken shortly after he was arrested
showed that he was many blocks
away from the scene of the explo-
sion, at the time it occurred, and
that he could not have possibly been
at that point at that moment. In
asmuch as Tom Mooney and Billings
have exhausted every recourse at
law in California, the case will now
60 before the Supreme Court of the
United States.
Frank Finnegan read a personal
telegram which he had received
from Tom Mooney, in which Mr..
Mooney expressed his thanks to the
of Montana and gave assur-
ances of his continued fidelity to
the cause of the people. Mr.. Finne-
gan read another telegram from Mr..
John Jenkings, chairman of the
Mooney Defense Committee at
Washington. The latter telegram
praised Jerry O'Connell for his in
tense interest in the Mooney case.
Both kilograms are herewith reprint
ed because of their significance.
San Francisco, Calf, Feb. 9, 1888.
Tom Mooney Mass Meeting,
Butte, Montana.
I am gratified to learn Mooney
meeting is being held in Butte
tonight. I extend my heartiest
greetings of trade union solidarity
to all members and friends of or
ganized labor in Montana and my
grateful thanks for your splendid
support through the years. The fight
for our freedom is now being waged
On two-fold front in United Supreme
Court where my petition for writ
Of habeas corpus has just been filed,
and in Congress where Murray
O'Connell resolution, introduced
by your fighting liberal con
gressman, Jerry O'Connell, and Sen
ator James Murray, is up for con-
'ideration. Congressman O'Connell
S the first person ever to introduce
4 resolution in Congress in behalf
If my freedom. Jerry O'Connell
spoke in San Francisco February 8
mass meeting of two thousand
sponsored by organized labor
md delivered fighting, eloquent talk
our behalf and visited me at San
Quentin prison following day. I was
,ery happy to meet Congressman
)'Connell, who is sincere, foremost
lighter in our cause, and l con-
,ratulate the people of Montana for
ending him to Congress and hope
-ou will return him there and send
lin on to higher office. l know you
will continue to support our fight
md anxiously await the day, which
hope is not far off, when I can
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