Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-23
MITCHELL WILLING TO
GO TO PRISON FOR CAUSE

Indianapolis, Jan. GA resolution
to appropriate $2,b00 to assist In de-
fraying the expenses of John Mitchell
and other officers of the American
Federation OF Labor in their defense
against the jail sentences pronounced
In washington, was adopted In today's
| session OF the United Mine Workers
convention. The resolution adopted
also instructed the miners executive
board to appropriate In the future as
much more as s necessary to give
these men proper defense.
Mr.. Mitchell addressed the conven-
ton "It would seem" he said, that
at least In a miners convention, a for
mer lender OF the working people loses
none of his luster because he Is SEN
fenced to Jail"
There was a long burst OF applause.
after which Mitchell. continuing. said:
The mani don't care who he Is
who lays violent hands on this great
organization will have to answer for
that act. Settle your difficulties here
and then go back and let every man
do his full share In building up this
union until the time will come when
no man shall mine coal in this coun-
try unless he belongs TO the union.
This was my dream. my ambition; IL
Is my dearest wish"
Touching on his own life, he de-
clared:
Some one may have said, John
Mitchell is out of the labor movement
now: he won't see things as he used
to see them when he worked in the
mines or with the miners. Gentle
men, / want to make pledge to you
here. do not intend that the day
viii ever come when | shall see things
differently. So long as / live, l hope
to be true to and defend the rights OF
these people and to advocate the
cause OF labor.
III my going TO prison and even
staying there would help to organize
all the miners in this country, / would
say without any hesitation. The pris-
on for me- Gentlemen, earnestly
hope that the legislation enacted by
this convention and your conduct here
may reunite--if that Is necessary--aii
into one insoluble body that will con-
tnue TO work for the interests of the
many
BE careful when you leave here
that nothing has been. or Is done. that
would bring back the old days when
miner fought miner. and operator
fought them all Your differences
VIII be your employers opportunity
Though | may not be able to remain
with you long. my spirit will be with
you here"
He recalled that he had given so
much of his life to the upbulding of
this great union that he had become
to regard IT somehow as my own
child. And he declared, II viii de-
fend IL as | would defend my child"
When the former president OF thr
miners appeared upon the stage OF
Tomlinson hall, the thirteen hundred
delegates went Wild with enthusiasm
Many delegates wept with emotion.
Mr.. Mitchell, who was deeply moved.
said
81 feel keenly sensitive TO the reccp-
tion you have given he this day. II
would seem that at least in miners
a former leader of labor.
ing people loses none of his lustre
because he is sentenced TO jail
He was interrupted by another
thunderous burst of applause. When
the tumult had subsidized Mr.. Mitchell
began a long speech dealing with the
sentence TO Jail imposed upon him.
Samuel Gompers and Frank Morrison
bv Judge Wright OF the District ~
Columbia.
Mr Mitchell pictured what he con-
sidered the injustice of a system bv
which the constitutional rights OF
free speech were denied and by which
men could be deprived OF their lib
erty without trial by jury.