C: Aug.-Sept. 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915

Prairie City Oregon Sept 9th 1915

Your honor Governor of Utah

We'll never allow the Execution of Joe Hill I Consider it to be rank murder a blow at Liberty and a crime [crosed out] against the Working Class of the United States

Yours for fair & Order in our land of the free

Mr A.B. Carlson [signature] Mrs A.B. Carlson and the Whole Family

Prairie City Ore Sept 9. 15

to the Governor of Utah

Your Hors

Hoping & Praying that the exsecution of Joe Hill will be stayed of you. I consider it Rank murder a Blow at Liberty and Grievence against the Working Class of the United States do not let all the murder that goes on at Present Blind you in that hope I am yours Respectfully

A.B. Carlson Mrs A.B. Carlson [signature]

Shelbyville, Ind Sept 10th 1915

The Hon. William Spry Salt Lake City, Utah

My Dear Sir

I see by the press that a one Joe Hill a labor agitator & organizer is soon be shot in your state unless you intervene in his behalf by either commuting his sentence or by pardoning him.

Altho I personally can not know much of the merits of the case. I beg, plead & implore you to save this man from the public murder.

Capital punishment by death is nothing short of just plain cold blooded pre-meditated murder - and we who praech "thou shalt not kill," be consistent enough to lead the way to better & higher things - and besides statistics do not show that the death penalty lessens crime one iota but to the contrary brutalizes a vast number of the entire common wealth - to the shame of our boasted civilization

Trusting you see fit to save this great Nation of Ours another ghastly Brutalizing episod like the execution of Becker of N.Y.

I remain Respectly J.E. Chenowith [signature] 32 Public Sqr.

[letterhead] Ralph D. Chapin Artist [address crossed out]

Answered

610 West 70th Street, Chicago, Illinois September 11th 1915

Honorable Governor Spry, State of Utah,

Dear Sir:

The artistic element of the City of Chicago are taking a profound interest in the case of Joseph Hillstrom {Joe Hill} and the opinion prevails that the evidence upon which this talented young man has been convicted is ridiculously inadequate. Without wishing to pass judgement on his guilt or innocense, I would like to urge your honor to do all in your power to see that Joseph Hillstrom is given a fair and impartial trial (which obviously he has not had) and that if such trial is now impossible, then that he be given the benefit of your most serious official consideration and your utmost humane clemency

As an American of pre Revolutionary stock I take liberty of thus addressing you honor, hoping that you will do all in your power to save the state of Utah from the foul blot of such a purposeless and needless execution.

I am, Sir

Yours Most Respectfully

Ralph H Chaplin [signatue]

{President of the Englewood Art Students League.}

Athens Texas Sept the 11 1915

Governor of Utah

Salt Lake City

kind sir I consider the execution of Joe Hill to be a rank murder, a blow at liberty and a crime against the working class of the United States. and as a citizen of the same I protest against any such foul murder.

yours truly F.L. Carrigan [signature]