The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-20
A MANLY SPEECH
John Mitchell Says Dramatically Thai He
Endorses Boycott.
AROUSES ENTHUSIAST

Concern Has Property Right TO
His Patronage, and Charges That
Washington is Watching Proceed
inss Of the Convention.
Endorsing a report OF the coE-
mfttse on boycott, John Mitchell,
one of the three officers Of the
American Federation Of Labor, Eho
are under sentence for contempt Qt
court, made dramatic speech 10 the
convention OF that organization nov
in session at Toronto, at Wednes-
DAYS session. He declared that as
far as he was concerned, regardless,
of consequences he intended, while:
at liberty to declare for the Tight,
guaranteed him by the organic laws
of his country.
The rerort which drew forth
| Mhtchell's speech, and which vas
adopted by the convention among;
other things declared:
1--WE say that when our cause IS
just and every other remedy has
been employed without result, boy
cott; we say that when the employer
has determined to exploit not cnly
adult male labor, but our women anrd
children, and our resources and our
appeal to his fairness, and his con-
science will not sway him, boycott;
we say that when labor has been.
oppressed, browbeaten and tryanhi2--
ed, boycott; we say that when soclai.
and political conditions become 80
bad that ordinary remedial meas
| ures are fruitless, boycott, and tinal7
ly we say, we have right to boy
colt and we propose to exercise that
| right. In the application OF this
right Of boycott, to Daraphrase the
president (Gompers), we propose to
strive on and on" -.
The convention broke into loud
cheering for Mitchell as he conc,ud.
ed, and. there were cries for Nor
rision." The secretary did not re-
spond. President Gompers was ao-
sent.
Mr.. Mitchell said he realized that
every statement made by those on
the convention floor, especially b..
those who on next Monday will have
to deliver themselves to the courts,
| is being closely scrutinized.
II want the people Of the United
States to know my position" he
said. II shall not speak dehantfy;
but be the consequences what they
will, shall not surrender any right
guaranteed to me by the constitn-
tion Of our country. l am not sure
how much mental and physical suf-
fering will be necessary to make he
submit, but il / know myself, not
any amount of suffering will per-
suade me that have not the right
to spend my money where / please
or that I have not the right to write
and speak as l please, being respon-
sible under the law for my acts.
Whether the boycott be brne-
| fit or q detriment each man must
decide where he will bestow his
patronage. I maintain that my pat
ronage is my own and no merchant
has property right 70 it.
II understand that cognizance is
being taken at Washington Of the
utterances of men on the floor OF
this convention, and l want clearly
to state my position. propose in
the future, as l have in the past,
to exercise the rights secured to
me by the fathers of my country;
and l propose, if / am sent to jail.
to decalre again when I come out
that l shall not for myself purchase
any product Of the Bucks Stove &
Range Co.
81 repeat that so far as am con-
cerned, and let the consequence be
what they WI, I intend while at
liberty to declare TO Tthe rights
guaranteed to me by the organic laws
of my country. 1 am proud Of be-
ing an American
Mr.. Mitchell said he had grown
up as an American with stepmoth-
or so poor that she could not buy
bread, and related how he had crept
out of bed at night to get his faith
cr's soldier coat to keep him warm.
But ! want to see the word
American stand for all the sentiment
that is symbolized by the flag OF our
country" he continued. Il want
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
to death. | don't believe in the lib
e.ty enunciated by Judge Tuthili
of Chicago, who declared unconsti-
tutional the 1o-hour law for women,
and by that act compelled them TO
work II hours day.
Mr.. Mitchell said he believed the
present proceedings would bring
home 10 the people the necessity
Of working in concert. rs the time
going to come on our continent when
the badge OF faithfulness to labor
must be the brand Of imprisonment?'
he said in conclusion. Surely
hope not ! hope that the govern
ment may be so conducted that no
citizen may feel that he has not