The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-01-14
o the American Toilers of to-
day---Stirir1g Address on
Uaiorisrr1 and judicial I'm
reference.

John Mitchell, vice president of
the American Federation Of Labor
and who was sentenced to nine
months i'll Jail for contempt of
court in the Bucks case, made a
stirring address on unionism and
judicial interference in labor
struggles before a large audience in
New York last week, under the
auspices of the woman's Trade
League.
''Had I known,' he said,
''when ! agreed to address you,
that | was to be sentenced to i'm
prisonment, / would not have
made that promise. I suppose
many would wish me to dicuss the
injun elton proceedings and the
learned judges decision, but this
is not the time and place for that.
81 shall III the future, however,
give those who care to know, my
impression of that decision. 1t
shall be given in temperate Ian
guage. shall now, as during all
my life, preserve my diguity'
Union is the Only Protection.
Mr.. Mitchell said that the union
was the only protection to the
workers from the present industrial
system. ''An industrial working
man before an employer to-day is
like a rudderless ship in mid
ocean, he said.
''Thisri is the time for the work
ing people Of America to arise in
their might and perfect their
unions. l do not advise doing
anything now that / would not
have advised three weeks ago, six
months ago or thirty years ago.
Conditions have not changed, even
though a few of us are going tc
jail.''
''I want the working people to
put themselves in Il position where
they will not have to strike.'' y
continued the speaker. 'rhc
right to strike is the right to in
dustrial freedom, bnt weapon to
be used when everything else fails
Wien all else has failed, then
say strike. and strike hard!'
"Boycottn' came a voice neal
the platform. 1t was from Alex
ander Jones, one Of the editors OF
the New York NolksZeitung.'
1t was fully minute before John
Mitchell resumed his speech. lie
said: VA
YES let every man spend his
money where he pleascs. No mcr'
chant las a claim on my money
and | shall not buy any product
that is unfair to union labor, and
no agency in America can make
me do it.'
\ burst of applause greeted thi:
declaration of the sentenced labor
leader.
Liberty Must be Maintained.
My father chafed under slavery
in this country,' Mr.. Mitchell
continued, "and gave four years II
the fight against it. / would b.
an unworthy son if ! SURRENDERED
one tia of that heritage. an
going to maintain my liberty t
speak. to write, to spend IN.
money where l please, my llbert.
TO refuse to buy products that
think are unfair to labor.
"They Will be talking NOR
about labor two months from no'
than ever before, and from TN
discussion good Will come. 70
cmunot stile the voice Of labor.
There is some question abou
my right 10 talk on this question
Why. the poorest, most Lowell
;rrSon in Russia retains the rlgt
ln that country to speak or prll
anything he wants to in praise
tHe Car. but the liberty guarai
Z
~titution was not to say the thins
lhat please. but the things thau {
not please. if it did not give I,
liberty to criticise. what would u
Constitution meanE
.-Gompers Morrison and M1tche
nay 90 to jail, but the consul
jinu will remain, and the right
Tree speech and criticism, too' ai