The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-18
John Mitchell Proposes to
Speak and Write in Favor of
Boycotting Obnoxious EN-
ployers When He Gets Out.
DECLARES HE Is PROUD
OF BEING AN AMERICAN
But Says He Wants Real Lib
ety and Not That Freedom
Recently Enunciated by
Some of the Courts Judges.
MAKES DRAMATIC SPEECH

Toronto, Ont, Nov. 17.-Endorsing a re-
port of the committee on boycott, John
Mitchell, one of the three officers of the
American Federation of Labor under SEN
tence for contempt of court, made a dra-
matte speech to the convention He de-
clared that so far as he is concerned, re
CARELESS of consequences, he intended,
while at liberty, to declare for the rights
guaranteed him by the constitution.
The report which drew forth MitchelFs
speech and which was adopted by the con
veption, declared:
I've say, that when your cause is just
and every other remedy has been en-
ployed without result, boycott; we say
that, when the employer has determined
to exploit, not only adult male labor but
also women and children, and our reason
ing appeal to his fairness and his con-
science viii not sway him, boycott we
say that, when labor has been opposed,
brOw-beaten. tyrannized, boycott; we say
that, when social and political conditions
become so bad that ordinary remedial
measures are fruitless, boycott; and final
ly, we say we have a right to boycott,
and we propose to exercise that right.
In the application of this right of boy
colt, to paraphrase the president Com
pers), we propose TO strive on and on"
Cheers by Delegates.
The convention broke into loud cheer
ing for Mitchell as he concluded and there
were cries for Morrison. The secretary
did not respond. President Gompers was
absent.
Mr. Mitchell said that he realized that
every statement made by those on the
convention floor and especially those who
on next Monday would have to deliver
themselves to the court, is being closely
scruunized L want the people of the
United States to know my position he
said Il shall not speak defiantly; but
1 shall not surrender any right guaran-
teed TO me by the constitution of our
country. If 1 know myself not any
amount of suffering will persuade me that
/ have not the right to spend my money |
where I please or that | have not the |
right TO write and speak as / please.
I understand that eogIiizs1uce is being 4
taken at washington of the utterances |
Of men on the floor of this convention, /
and want clearly to state my position
II propose IN the future. as I have in /
the past. to exercise the rights secured /
to me by the fathers of my country; and |
I propose, If | am sent to Jail, to declare /
again when ! come cut that I shall not, |
for myself, purchase any product Of the |
Buck Stove q Range company. / make /
this declaration not to tickle the ear of /
any man, but that / may publicly de-
clare the conviction that is within me.
Lesson for Labor.
1T seems to me that the whole proceed
ings should prove a lasting lesson to the /
of the United States and /
Canada II all the wOrkingmen had been /
true to themselves, there would not have
been a non-union product on the market.
Il repeat that SO far as am concerned,
and let the consequences be what they |
may, I intend, while at liberty, to declare /
for the rights guaranteed to me by the
organic laws of my country. l am proud /
of being an American
Mr.. Mitchell said he had grown up as
an American with step-mOther so poor |
that she could not buy bread, and told /
how he had orept out of bed at night To
get his fathers soldier coat to keep him /
warm.
But I want to see the word American
stand for all the sentiment that is SYM
bolized by the flag of our country" he
continued. II want real liberty. do not |
believe in the liberty enunciated by some
Of our courts that men and women should
have the right to work themselves to
death.
"I do not believe in the liberty enunci-
ated by Judge Tuthill of Chicago. who de-
clared unconstitutional the ten-hour law
for women, and by the act compelled
them to work IA hours a day"
Mr.. Mitchell said he believed the pres
ant proceedings would bring home to the
people the necessity of working in con-
cert
Us the time going to come on our CON
tinent when the badge of faithfulness to
labor must be the brand of imprison-
ment?" he said in conclusion. Surely, l |
hope not. I hope that the government
may be so conducted that no citizen NAV |
feel that he has not been given justice |,
and an equal right with every other cit
zen"