The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-11-24
A MANLY SPEECH
John Mitchell Says Dramatically That He
Endorses Boycott.
AROUSES ENTHUSIASM

He Rightfully Declares That No
Concern Has a Property Right to
His Patronage, and Charges That
Washington Is Watching Proceed
ings Of the Convention.
Endorsing a report Of the com
mittee on boycott, John Mitchell,
one Of the three officers Of the
American Federation of Labor, who
are under sentence for contempt OF
court, made a dramatic speech to the
convention Of that organization now
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 rights
guaranteed him by the organic laws
If his country.
The report which drew forth
Mtchell's speech. and which was
adopted by the convention among
other things declared:
I'VE 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 only
| ,dult male labor, but our women and
| children, and OUT resources and II
appeal to his fairness, and his con-
science will not sway him, boycott;
we say that when labor has been
| oppressed, browbeaten and tryanniz-
| ed, boycott; we say that when social
and political conditions become so
bad that ordinary remedial meas
Tres are fruitless, boycott, and final
ly We say, we have "a right to boy
;ott and we propose to exercise that
right. In the application Of this
right Of boycott. to paraphrase the
president (GompersG. we propose to
strive on and on"
The convention broke into loud
| cheering for Mitchell as he conclud
ed, and there were cries for Nor.
rision." The secretary did not re-
spond. President Gompers was ab-
sent. ~
Mr.. Mitchell said he realized that
every statement made by those on
the convention floor, especially by
those who on next Monday will have
to deliver themselves to the courts,
ls being closely s%cfutinized.
II want the people Of the United
States to know my position" he
said. II shall not speak dedantly;
out be the consequences what they
will, I shall not surrender any right
guaranteed to me by the constitu-
ton Of country. ! am not sure
low much mental and physical suf-
'ering will be necessary to make me
submit, but If I know myself, not
my amount Of suffering will per-
suade me that I have not the right
to spend my money, where I-please
or that I have not the right to write
md speak as 1 please, being respon-
sible under the law for my acts.
whether the boycott be a bene-
At or a detriment each man must
'ecide where he will bestow his
,atronage. l maintain that my pat
..onage. is my own and no merchant
las a property right to it.
81 understand that cognizance Is
being taken at Washington Of the
ltterances of men on the floor OF
his convention, and l want clearly
O state my position. l propose In
he future, as I have in. the past,
TO exercise the rights secured to
ne by the fathers Of my country;
md / propose, If I am sent to jail,
% decalre again when l come out
that 1 shall not for myself purchase
any product of the Bucks Stove &
Range Go.
II repeat that 30 far as I am con-
,erned, and let the consequence be
What they will, I intend while at
liberty to declare TO 'rthe rights
guaranteed to me by the organic laws
If my country. I am proud OF be-
.ng an American"
Mr.. Mitchell said be had grown
ID as an American with a stepmoth-
ar so Door that she could not buy
bread, and related how he had crept
out of bed at night to get his faith
er's soldier coat to keep him warm.
But I 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. l 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. l don't believe in the lib
erty enunciated by Judge Tuthdll
Of Chicago, who declared unconstl-
tutional the 10-hour law for women,
and by that act compelled them 10
work IA hours a day."
Mr.. Mitchell said he believed the
present proceedings would bring
home to the people the necessity
If working in concert. us the time
going to come or our continent when
the badge Of faithfulness to labor
must be the bran1 of imprisonment!'
he said In conclusion. Surely l
hope not. I hope that the govern