Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-18
MITCHELL SAYS
UNIONS SHOULD
WAGE BOYCOTT
LABOR LEADER CAUSES STIR
AT CONVENTION
DECLARES HE WILL CONTINUE
TO MAKE FIGHT
One of Three Officers Sentenced
for Contempt of Court Delivers
Impassioned Address at
Toronto
[By Assoclated Press |

] II ANBOAA VI biIb NOlillllllltb Oll DOy
- colt, John Mitchell, one of the
three officers of the American Fedora
tion of Labor under sentence for con-
! tempt of court, made dramatic greech
/ to the convention today. He declared
| that So far as he Is concerned, re-
gardless OF consequences, he intends,
while at liberty, to declare for the
rights guaranteed him by the constitu-
ton.
The report which drew forth
Mitchells speech and which w3s adopt
ed by the convention declared.
I'VE say that when your cause Is
just and every other remedy has been
employed without result boycott; we
say that when the employer has deter
mined to exploit, not only adult male
labor but women and children, and our
reasoning and appeal to his fairness
and his conscience Will not sway him,
boycott; we say that when labor has
been oppressed, browbeaten and tyran-
lied, boycott; we say that when social
and political conditions become so bad
that ordinary remedial measures are
frutless, boycott, and, finally, we say
we have a right to boycott and We
propose to exercise that right.
I'm the application of this right of
boycott, to paraphrase the president
(Gompers), we propose to strive on
and on"
convention Cheere
The convention broke into loud
cheering for Mitchell as he concluded,
and there were cries for Morrison. The
secretary did not respond. President
Gompers was absent.
Mr.. Mitchell said he realized that
every statement made by those on the
convention floor, and especially by
those who on next Monday will have
to deliver themselves to the courts,
was being closely scrutlnized.
II want the people of the United
States to know my position" he said.
II shall not speak definitely. but shall
not surrender any right guaranteed to
me by the constitution of our country
If / know myself, not any amount of
suffering will persuade me that l have
not the right to spend my money
where l please or that l have not the
right to write and speak as | please.
Il understand that cognizance is be-
ing taken at washington of the utter
ances of men on the floor of this con-
vention, and l want clearly to state my
position.
II propose in the future. as I have
in the past, to exercise the rights Sc
cured to me by the fathers of my
country. and I propose. If l am sent
to Jail, to declare again when l come
out that 1 shall not, for myself, pur-
chase any product of the Bucks Stove
and Range company.
~ make this statement not to tickle
the ear of any man, but that | may
publicly declare the conviction that is
within me.
1T seems to me that the whole pro-
ceedings should prove a lasting lesson
TO the workingmen of the United
States and Canada. If all the work.
ingmen had been true to themselves,
~ f,nx
union product on the market.
To Declare for Rights
"I repeat that, so far as l am con-
cerned, and let the consequences be
what they may, l intend, while at lib
erty, to declare for the rights guar
anteed to me by the organic laws of
my country. l am proud Of being an
American"
Mr.. Mitchell said he had grown up
as an American with a stepmother so
poor that she could not buy bread and
told how he had crept out of bed at
night TO get his fathers soldier coat
to keep him warm.
But 1 want to see the word Amer
lean stand for all the sentiment that
is symbolized by the flag of our coun-
try" he continued. "I want real lib
erty. l don't believe in the liberty fur
niShed Dy some OF our COURTS ludl men
and women should have the right to
work themselves to death.
'I don't believe in the liberty enun-
ciated by Judge Tuthill of Chicago, |
who declared ten hours unconstitu-
tional for women. and by that act
compelled them to work fourteen hours
a day"
Mr.. Mitchell said he believed the
present proceedings would bring home
to the people the necessity of work. ,
ing in concert.
''Is the. time going to come on our
continenp when the badge of faithful
ness to labor must be the brand of i'm
prisonment," he said in conclusion.
"Surely, I hope not hope that the
government may be so conducted that
no citizen may feel that he has not
been given justice and an equal right ,
with every other citizen"