Illinois [32 items]

Moline Ill Nov 5-1915.

Resolution

To the Hon. Gov. Spry:-

Whereas, it has come to our notice that the State of Utah has decided to commit "Legal Murder" and take this life of our Comrade and fellow worker Joseph Hillstrom on the 19th day of Nov 1915. and Whereas, we realize that the said comrade and co-worker has not received a fair trial acording to the Constitution of The United States and the State of Utah and Whereas, the said trial constituted only a mockery of Justice, therefor

Be it resolved. That we the Socialists of Moline Ill In regular meeting assembled this 5th day of Nov 1915. do most earnestly and enthusiastically enter our protest against such unjust procedure and in the name of Justice and common humanity, we ask that you stay the hand of execution and recommend that a new and fair trial be given our wronged brother.

[illegible] Liljegren?. C.A. Gustafson. Resolution committee-L.K. England

East St. Louis, Ill., No. 6, 1915

TO THE HONORABLE GOVERNOR OF UTAH: We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Illinois, after investigation, finding that a poor Swede by the name of Joseph Hillstrum has been sentenced to be executed in your state purely on circumstantial evidence, and feeling positive that you would not allow a man who might be innocent to be executed when you could prevent it, herein ask you in the name of Justice and humanity, to commute his sentence.

W.B. [illegible] 428 E [Brodway?], East St Louis [Theo?] Boyle 428 E Bway Geo C [Weeks?] " " JHKirby " " Chas L Henderson 428 E. Bway Martin Heater " " RMPorter " " John H Stoeber 428 E. Bdwy August = Rice = 330 Broadway J F Ferrill 428 E Bway. JP Brown. 428 E B'wy - East [illegible] C Morrison - 428 E B'way - City Joe Thompson 428 [illegible] [City?] [illegible] Savage.

Resolution

Whereas, we, the Swedish speaking people of [illegible] Lodge of [J.C.G.J.?] is massmeeting assembled, have learned that one countryman of ours, JOSEPH HILLSTROM by name is being unjustly held in jail in Salt Lake City, Utah, under sentence to die on Nov. 19, 1915;

Whereas, we from all accounts of his trial have become convinced that the said Joseph Hillstrom is innocent of the crime of which he is accused and is merely a victim of a conspiracy, due to hatred and prejudice on account of his activity in the labor movement;

Whereas, he has been denied a new trial in spite of the gravest errors in his trial; and

Whereas, this innocent man is in immediated danger of being judicially murdered, due to the stubborn prejudice of his judges, and

Whereas, these same judges in the Board of Pardon have tried to justify their position by slandering the character of the man they unjustly deliver to death, by falsely imputing to him a criminal record;

Therefore, be it

Resolved, that we, one for all, and all for one, demand that the execution of Joseph Hillstrom be stayed, and that he be immediately liverated or granted a new trial. The sentence has been pronounced by men, and it can be set aside by men as long as Hillstrom is alive. Law was made for the sake of man and not man for the sake of the law. And be it further

Resolved, that we condemn as cowardly the action of the Board of Pardons in falsely imputing, through the press, a criminal record to a man whom they deny the chance to defend himself; and be it further

Resolved, that, should, contrary to our expectaions, the sentence be carried out, we shall hold the whole American people responsible for such an outrage; and be it further

Resolved, that in such a case American citizenship has no longer any value to us, and that we forsware the loyalty and allegiance to American laws, government and institution, 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 a 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

[signature] John Freed Chairman of Meeting.

Nov. 6, 1915

Moline Ill. Nov 11-1915

Hon. [illegible?] [Spry?]

Salt Lake City

Utah

Governor of Utah,

The appeale is directed to [illegible] of Pardon, in behalf of [illegible] [illegible]