Governor Spry (1909-1917) Joseph Hillstrom Correspondence

Curlew Wash Sep 10th 1915 Governor of Utah, Salt Lake City

Dear Sir. I am a farmer and I have followed the trials of Joe Hill through various papers and I have made up my mind that Joe Hill has not had a fair deal.

You have the power to allow this man to be murdered by the state or to show clemency.

I protest in the name of humanity and justice and I ask you to stop the execution of this working man.

Do this and you will be respected by all honorable men.

Respectfully Alfred Anderson Addie Anderson

Oshkosh 9/10 '15

To the Honorable Governor of Utah: Salt Lake City:

Dear Sir: As a citizen of the United States I protest against the judicial murder of Joe Hill that is scheduled to take place in your state Oct. 1 1915.

Respectfully S. J. Atheam

Olympia Wash Sept 12—1915

Governor Spry Salt Lake City Utah

Dear Sir, I consider the perposed execution of my brother and comrad Jos Hill a rank injustice and a blow at the liberty and self respect of every man and woman in the country remember that if capitalism lives by the sword it must die by the sword. I an American citizen ask [?] the pardon of Joe Hill in the name of God, Humanity and Justice

C N Allen Jr 425—3 st Olympia Wa

Greeley 25 Sep. 1915

To the Governor of Utah: Dear Sirs

Please use every effort in your power to save the life of Josef Hillstrom condmned to die October first at Salt Lake City.

We believe this young man is innocent.

Respectfully Yours, E. Johnson

ALFRED JOHNSON, SECRETARY PHONE NO. 23 ON LINE 3 R.F.D. NO. 4

THE PHELPS COUNTY FIRE AND LIGHTNING MUTUAL ASSESSMENT INSURANCE COMPANY

HOLDREDGE, NEBRASKA, Sept. 27th 1915

Governor Spry Salt Lake City Utah

Dear Sir It seems the state of Utah has condemned to death one Joseph Hillstrom. the State failed to establish a clear case of his guilt as I am informed therefore as a citizen of the United States and of the state of Nebraska. I ask of you to grant that man a new trial. Human life is too precious to be wasted with out guilt being absolutely established.

Respectfully Alfred Johnson

"The struggle for existence among the ferocious wolves is the cause of all the differences and strifes: otherwise, the expanse of the world is spacious, and the table of the supreme bountyis spread in all regions."

Secretary Honore J. Jazon Labor Defense League "So long as any of 751 W. Lake St., of Chicago and Cook County my brothers are in Chicago, jail, I myself am a Ill. prisoner."

Chicago, Ill., Sept. 27, 1915.

To the Honorable Willia Spry, Governor of the State of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dear Governor:

By unanimous vote of the Labor Defense League of Chicago and Cook County, I have been instructed to hereby present to you the petition of the League that, so far as permitted by the Constitution of the State of Utah, you exercise the executive power of clemency in favor of Joseph Hillstrom, condemned to be shot at sunrise on October 1st, prox.

The League is a body composed of representatives not only from organized labor, but also from civic and progressive organizations devoted to social betterment in a general way, and numbers in its membership many citizens of high standing in this State who are endeavoring to bridge the fulg of discord between man and man, which is now threatening the integrity and welfare of our Aerican Commonwealth.

In view of the peculiar circumstances of the Hillstrom case, and the consequently wide-spread belief that his an innocent but chivalrous man, it is felt by our members that hsi death wil seriously hamper our efforts toward conciliation and ending of the class struggle; and we would therefore appeal to you, as a man whose name stands high on the roll of the broad-minded and public spirited men of this nation, to lend us your aid as a citizen and chief executive by giving heed to what we feel assured are your feelings of compassion as a man.

Ordinarily, in a case of appeal against capital punishent, these two influences of official function and personal burden to the ordinary cases which weigh down the citizen made responsible by our institutions for the final worse of guidance in each of the sovereign State of the Republic; but we entertain a strong conviction and hope that in this case you will feel impelle, both as a man and as an officcerof State, to adopt that course of clemency which will tend to unfiy rather thatn disrupt the citizens of this great Republic in this day when the menace of danger to our free institutions, from the destructive forces which rage outside our republic, demands from the destructive forces which rage outside our republic, demands that at such a time we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense in what,

Trade Union and Other Justice-Loving Bodies are Cordially Invited to Send Delegates. Mail to the Secretary of the League a duplicate list of the names and addresses of the delegates sent. Notice of time and place of meeting will be sent to each delegate.

Governor William Spry: September 27, 1915

in spite of our internal controversies, is after all the land where Freedom most faithfully keeps open that pathway for individual talent which is a basic necessity to human progress.

Recent newspaper statementsconvey the news of rumors that insance an ill advised threats have been made to blow up the Executive Mansion of Utah, in the hope, allegedly, of thereby coercing your action in the Hillstrom case.

While it is true that threats and intimidation can have only the opposite effect in most cases upon gentlement and brave menso that in this case it would not besurprising if you were to follow the example set by Governor Johnson of California in the case of Ford and Suhr - we would nevertheless urge our respectful belief that consideration of the peculiar case of Joseph Hillstrom will induce you to make sacrifice of your natural resentment as a gentlenot permit these futile and irresponsible threats to in any way influence your decision of the Hillstrom case on its own intrinsic merits.

With renewed assurance of our high esteem and consideration for you, both as man and as a Governor. We remain,

Sincerely and earnestly, The Labor Defense League of Chicago and Cook Co. By House J. Jaxon Sec'y

agitator, and thus upon the whole disqualified to intermeddle in the Hillstrom case, He has gained for himself a notorious name among the young inconoclasts of Sweden by his inflammatory articles in the destable revolutionary monthly magazine of Revot" and recently by his vile, misleading letters on the Hillstrom case published in the above mentioned periodical offensive to the State of Utah. I

protest to this man's interference.

Respectfully F. Johnson

[STOGUIARU?] W-9-28-15

Governor of Utah Dear Sir - From information I have received I am convinced that Joseph Hillstrom who is being held in the Utah states prison under death sentence has not received a just rial, and as a representative of the people the power lies in you to see that he recieves a fair and immpartial trial. The taking of a persons life is murder wheather [WHETHER] the life be taken according to law or otherwise. Yours for Justice Char. L. Jaques.