Montana labor news., 1939-01-12
Mooney, Weeping With Joy
Pledges Fight on Fastism
Continued Efforts Will Be Made
to Free Warren X. Billings.
Labor Throughout the Country
Praises CALIFORNIA; New Lib
eraI Executive.
By AL RICHMOND

SACRAMENTO, Calf, Jan. T.
There isn't a freer man in all the
world today than Thomas J. Mooney.
OF course it was an illusion but it
seemed that as the hands on the
clock in the assembly chambers at
the state capitol in Sacramento
reached 1885 a. m. (Pacific Coast
Time) today they paused in their
rounds.
For at that moment, Governor
Culbert Olson pronounced: Il have
signed and now hand you, Tom
Mooney, this full and unconditional
pardon"
The thread of time broke-the
thread that had been winding for
twenty-two-and-a-half years behind
San Quentin's grim walls
Tom, the radiance in his eyes
through mist, tears we'll
ing in his throat, stepped forward
and dedicated himself to that faith
which had remained mistaken in
all those long years behind the bars.
He pledged to devote the re-
mainder of his life to working for
a new and better social order, to
bringing about the unity Of labor
and the release of his comrade, War
rem K. Billings. Il am not unmind-
full of the fact" he said, that this
case is not merely one of an indi-
vidual charged with a crime.
ut symbolizes our whole economic,
political and social order. This order
is in a state of decay throughout the
whole world. It will be replaced,
and I hope it will be replaced by a
new and better social order.
"To that end l shall dedicate my
life"
He then painted a picture of the
March of Faseism in Europe and the
world.
He continued;
Il know of no greater force that
can halt the onward march of the
sinister reaction Of Fascism than the
economic strength of the workers.
Il shall dedicate also and devote
my life to bringing about the unity
of the labor movement in America"
This rededication was prefaced by
a brief account of the memories that
he had borne for % years, memories
of the trial at which he was framed.
The tears became uncomfortable and
voice broke when he recalled the
villification that was directed at his
mother, who gave her life in the
fight for his freedom, and others
dear to him in the courtroom where
the sentence of death was pro-
upon him.
81 shall never forget" he said
He shall never forget the provoca-
tions of the prosecution. The mean
ingful gesture of the foreman of the
jury who drew his forefinger across
his throat when the jury filed into
the courtroom.
In his hour Of triumph, Mooney
was not unmindful of the great
forces that brought his liberation.
Il have struggled for the past %
years to bring this about myself"
he said.
"You, Governor Olson, and l and
the scene just enacted are symbols
of the democratic expression of the
of the people of California"
Tense Atmosphere
The historic scene was enacted in
a tense atmosphere with the large
audience in the assembly chamber
of the great momentum
of the actions they were witnessing.
Up front was man with tears
streaming from his eyes across the
furrows of an aged face. When
Olson came to the climax of his
presentation, there was a burst of
In handing Mooney the
pardon, Olson said:
81 want you to know that | am
not only convinced of your innocence
but that I believe your life's obses-
sion has been to help the cause of
the working classmen, the under
to bring about social JUS
tice through a solidarity Of the labor
moving to that end"
Olson indicated he will join Tom
in bringing about the liberation of
K. Billings.
eIn granting this pardon to Tom
Mooney" he said, 81 am mindful of
the case Of Warren K. Billings.
Billings was convicted on substan-
TALLY the same evidence as Mooney.
feel it my duty to sug-
gest to the Supreme Court that if
Billings apply for a review of his
case and for recommendation of his
pardon, that his application be
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