The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-18
UNION LABOR DEFIANT
FEDERATION STANDS OUT SQUARE
LY FOR BOYCOTT.
John Mitchell Leaves His Erstwhile
Conservatism and Declares Re-
belIion Against the Laws
Resolutions nre Adopted.

Toronto. Ont, Nov. 17.--Endorsing
report of the Committee on Boycott,
John Mitchell, one of the three OFF,
GERS OF the American Federation OF
Labor who are under sentence for con-
tempt of court, made dramatic speech
to the convention of that organization
at today's session.
He declared that as far as he was
concerned. regardless of consequences,
ne intended, while at liberty, to de-
clare for the rights guaranteed him by
the organic laws of his country.
The report which drew forth much
applause and which was adopted by the
convention. among other things. de-
clared:
1--WE say that when your cause is
just and every other remedy has been
employed without result, boycott we
say that when the employer has de-
termined to exploit not only adult male
labor, but our women and children,
and our reasoning and appeal to his
fairness and conscience will not sway
him, boycott; we say that when labor
has been oppressed, brow-beaten and
tyrannized. boycott; we say that when
social and political conditions become
so bad that ordinary remedial meas
ures are fruitless. boycott; and, finally.
we have right to boycott and we
propose to exercise that right. In
the application of this right of boy
colt, to paraphrase the President,
CGompers). we propose to strive on
and on"
Tne convention broke into loud
cheering for Mitchell as the report
was concluded. and there were cries
for Morrison p Ths secretary did not
respond. President Gompers was abb
sent.
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. Is
being closely scrutnized.
az want the people of the United
States to know my position" he said.
IT shall not speak defantly; but be
the consequences what they will, will
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 IL / know my
self, not any amount of suffering will
persuade me that / have not the, right
to npend my money where please and
the right to write and npeak as l
please, being responsible under the law
for my acts.
whether the boycott be a benefit or
a detriment. each man must decide
where he will bestow his patronage. i
maintain that my patronage is my own
and no merchant has property right
TO 1t. 1t is mine to give or bestow as
suits my own pleasure and any at
tempt 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.
II understand that cognizance Is be-
ing taken at washington of the utter
ances of men on the floor of this con-
vention and I want clearly to state
my position. propose in the future,
as I have In the past. to exercise the
rights secured to me by the fathers of
my country and 5 propose, IL / am
sent to jail to declare again when /
come out that / shall not for myself
purchase any product of the Bucks
stove and Range Company. make
this declaration, not to tickle the ear Of
any man, but that 1 may publicly de-
clare the conviction that is within me.
"It seems to me that the whole pro-
ceeding should be lasting lesson to
the working men of the United states
ana Canada. If all the working men
had been true to themselves there
would not have been a non-union pro-
duct on the market.
81 repeat that so far as / am con-
cerned, let the consequences be what
they may, 1 intend while at liberty to
declare for the. rights guaranteed to
me by the organic laws of my country.
1 am proud of being an American"
Mr.. Mitchell said he had grown up
as an American with stepmother so
poor that she could not buy bread, and
related how he had crept out Of bed
at night to get his fathers soldier coat
to keep him warm. -