The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-11-18
MITCHELL IS FOR
RIGHT TO BOYCOTT

Toronto. Nov. l7.-Endorsing n rc-
mort OF the committee on boycott,
John Mitchell. one OF the three officers
OF the American Federation of Labor
under sentence for contempt Of court
made dramatic speech TO the con
vention today. He declared that so
far as he is concerned. regardless OF
consequences, he- Intended while AT
liberty to declare for the rights guar
anteed him by the constitution.
The report which drew forth Mitch
ellis speech and which was adopted
by the convention. declared:
I'VE say. when your cause Is Just
and every other remedy has boon EN-
ployed without result. boycott; We
say that. when the employer has de-
termined TO exploit. not only adult
male labor. but women and children,
and our reasoning and appeal TO his
fairness and his conscience VIII not
salay him. boycott; We say that. when
labor has been oppressed, brow woeaten
and tyrannized. boycott; We say that
when social and political conditions
become so bad that ordinary remedial
measures are fTuitless. boycott: and,
finally, We say. we have right to boy
colt and we propose 10 exercise that
right. On application OF this right OF
boycott. to paraLhrase our president
(Gompers), we propose TO strive on
and on"
The convention broke into loud
cheering for Mitchell as he concluded.
and there we're cries for Morrison.
The secretary did not respond Pres
Ident Gompere was absent.
Mr.. Mitchell said he realized that
every statement made by those on tho
convention floor, especially by those
who on next Monday will have to de-
liver themselves to the courts, Is be-
ing closely scrutinized. II shall want
the people OF the United States to
know my position" he said. II shall
not speak defantly, but I shall not
surrender any right guaranteed 10 me
by the constitution OF our country. II
know myself. not any amount OF suf-
fering will persuade me that ] have
not the right to spend my money
where / please or that | have not the
right to write and speak as I please.
II understand that cognizancc Is be-
ing taken at Washington OF the ut
tcrances of men on the floor Of this
convention, and ! want clearly To state
my position.
'I propose in the future TO exor-
else the right secured to me by the
fathers Of my country; and | propose.
If am sent to jail to declare again
when I come out that | shall not for
myself purchase any product OF the
Bucks Stove and Range company.
make this declaration. not TO tickle
! the ear Of any man, but that ] may
: publicly declare the conviction that is
within me.
"It seems 10 me that the whole pro-
ceeding should prove lasting lesson
J 10 the working men OF the United
States and Canada. If all the work
/ ingmen had been true to themselves
Z there would not have been a non-union
product on the market.
II repeat that. so far as I am con
/ cerned-and let the consequences he
what they may intend while ! am
! at liberty TO declare for the rights
b guaranteed TO me by the organic law,
/ of my country. I am proud of being
an American"
Mr. Mitchell said he had grown up
as an American with a stcpmother so
poor that she could not buy bread
( and told how he had crept out al
bed at night to get his fathers sol
] dier coat TO keep him warm
But | want TO see the word Amer
! ican stand for all the sentiment that
Is symbolized by the flag OF our coun
try" he continued. II want to see real
liberty. | don't believe in the
liberty enunciated by some of our
courts. that men and women should
have the right to work themselves tc
death.
II don't believe IN the liberty enun
ciated by Judge Tuthill Of Chicago
who declared unconstitutional the ten
hour law for women and by tina,
act compelled them to work fourteen
hours a day"
Mr.. Mitchell said he believed the
present proceedings would bring homo
the people the necessity of working
in concert.
is the time going to come on oui
continent when the badge faithful
ness bc a brand of imprisonment? 2
He said in conclusion: Surely,
hope not. hope that the government
may be so conducted that no either
may feel that he has not been giver
justice and an equal right with every
other citizen"