Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-11-19
MITCHELL DEFIANT
IN LABOR SPEECH
STIRS FEDERATION BY ADDRESS
UNFOLDING BOYCOTT DESPITE
JAIL SENTENCE.
WILL NOT SURRENDER RIGHTS.
Declares He Will Still Refuse to BUY
from Posted Dealers After Re-
lease from Jail.
DIsDAINs CONSEQUENCES OF ACT

TORONTO, Ontario, Nov. .1S.-With
the declaration that he would continue
to bestow his patronage where he chose
and exercise his constitutional right of
free speech regardless eff consequences,
John Mitchell, former president of the
United Mine Workers, threw the con-
vention of the American Federation of
Labor into scene of the widest en-
thuSlasm. The labor leader. in the most
dramatic speech that has yet been heard
on the floor, disclaimed any intention of
appearing defiant, but there was a de-
tance in his tone as he declared that
after he was released from Jail he would
stlll refuse to buy the products of the
Bucks Stove and Range company and
that he still would proclaim to the world
that he did not bestow his patronage on
that concern.
Combined with the tone of defiance in
his voice was a touch of pathos which
drew tears to the eyes of many of the
delegates as the former miners idol told
the story of his early boyhood In a
simple, straightforward manner he re-
lated how as boy he crept out of bed
and took his fathers soldier coat to pro-
tect him from the cold and that he was
proud of the fact that he was an Amer
lean.
Il want the people of the United
States to know my position" he said
Il shall not speak defantly, but, be the
consequences what they will, l shall not
surrender any right guaranteed to me by
the constitution of our country. | am
not sure how much mental and physical
suffering will be necessary to make me
submit, but, it L know myself not any
amount of suffering will persuade me
that have not the right to spend money
where l please or that l have not the
right to write and speak as | please, be-
ing responsible under the law for my
acts.
Must Fight to the End.
Whether the boycott be a benefit or
a detrlment each man must decide where
he will bestow his patronage. l main
tain that my patronage is my own, and
no merchant has a property right to it.
1t Is mine to give or bestow as suits my
own pleasure, and any attempt through
the subtleties of the law to take from
men the absolute right to do what they
please with their own money must be
opposed to the very limit.
Il understand that cognizance is being
taken at Washington to the utterances
of men on the floor of this convention,
and L want clearly to state my position.
L propose In the future. as | have in the
past, to exercise the rights secured to
me by the fathers of my country; and |
propose, if | am sent to Jail, to declare
again when | come out that l shall not
for myself purchase any product of the
Bucks Stove and Range company l
make this declaration, not to tickle the
ear of any man, but that l may publicly
declare the conviction that is within me
at seems to me that the whole pro
ceedings should prove lasting lesson tt
the workingmen of the United States anG
Canada If all the workingmen haC
been true to themselves, there would MOI
have been a non-uniOn product on the
market.
Disdains Consequences
Il repeat that so far as ! am con
cerned. and let the consequences b,
ty to declare for the rights guaranteed t.
/ am proud of being an American"
Mr. Mitchell then said he had grown
up as an American with stepmothe]
so poor that she could not buy bread
and related how he had crept out of bee
at night to get his fathers soldier coal
to keep him warm.
But | want to see the word American
stand for all the sentiment that is sym
bolized by the flag of our country" he
continued. Il want real liberty.
don't believe in the liberty enunciateC
by some of our courts that men ant
women should have the right 70 worl
themselves to death / don't believe il
the liberty enunciated by Judge Tuthii
of Chicago. who declared unconstitution
al the ten-hour law for women by tina
act compelling them to work fourteen
hours a day"