The State of Utah vs. Joe Hill

NOV 1 1915

C. W. Anderson. 232 Cedar Ave. Minneapolis, Minn.

Honorable William Spry. Governor, State of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sir:

I wish to again bring before you the fact that you have sentenced to be shot one of our comrades, Joseph Hillstrom, whom you know deep down in your heart, is innocent of any crime whatsoever, as the evidence that the State of Utah, brought up against Him will not stand good in the eyes of the people of the U.S. who are everywhere protesting against this unlawfull peace of injustice.

Is the State of Utah so determined to shed innocent blood? If it is, remember the day is not far off when such injustice will have to be answered to the PEOPLE as a whole. Do you think it is going to bring you any thing by letting Joseph Hillstrom be shot to death? NO, it isn't. Remember it will only bring the hatred of the People as a whole against you and is liable to injure the future welfare of the State of Utah.

The citizens of the large city of Minneapolis, Minn. have been in protest against this awfull miscarriage of justice and are not going to keep still until they see Hillstrom given a new trial which is due Him as you know and you must give it to him.

It seems to me that the State of Utah is going backwards instead of advancing as other States are doing. The state in which I am a citizen of (Minnesota) has many years ago abolished such a damnable thing as Capital Punishment and give their prisoners recreation in the open air and also the best of treatment which shows advancement if you please. What is Utah going to do about it? Do you mean to come frankly out in the open and confess that you don't want to try and advance?

Did you ever read the Constitution of the United States? Do you know what it says there? It plainly states that every man, women and child shall have a fair and impartial trial by Jury. Such was not the case of Joseph Hillstrom and if are going to be honest with yourself and the People as a whole you must by all means give Hillstrom a new trial. When such Men as the Swedish Minister to the U.S. and Honorable Woodrow Wilson intervenes it is about high time that you, (who are supposed to be serving the people of Utah to the best of your ability) wake up to the fact that you are living in the 20th. century and not a thousand years ago when barbarism existed and I must say that it still exists in Utah if you are so determined to shed blood of an innocent man. You are the one who has the power to give Hillstrom a new trial and you want to be sure and act before the 19th. of November, Be sure that you act right, by letting Hillstrom have a new trial, as I am sure and so are thousands of other citizens of the U.S. that Joseph Hillstrom will be able to exonerate himself if he is given a fair and impartial trial which you must give him. Remember and act before the 19th. of November as the people of the U.S. have their eyes on Utah and are waiting to see what you are going to do. I am a man who believes in justice and I want to see it in this case of Joe Hillstrom's. Hoping that you act right by giving him a new trial I remain

Yours to Progress.

C. W. Anderson.

Resolved, that in such a case American citizenship has no longer any value to us, and that we foreswore the loyalty and allegiances to American laws, government and institutions, which has heretofore characterized our people. For where law and government cease to be the instruments of justice and are used for the murder of the innocent, loyalty ceases to be virtue. And be it further

Resolved, that these resolutions be immediately communicated to the press, to the President of the United States, to the Governor of the State of Utah and to the Mayor of our City.

A. Aranson. Chairman of Meeting.

Nov. 12th. 1915.