Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-11-26
MITCHELL SPEAKS IN
CRITICISM OF COURT
Labor Leader Claims His Only
Contention Is for Right Of
Free Speech.

Toronto, Ont, Nov. 20.-Indorsing q
report of the committee on boycott,
John Mitchell, one of three officers OF
the American Federation OF Labor who
are under sentence for contempt OF
court, made q dramatic speech TO the
convention yesterday. He declared
that so far as he was concerned. re-
CARELESS of consequences, be intended
While at liberty to declare for the
rights guaranteed him by the organic
laws of his country.
Mr.. Mitchell said he realized that ev-
cry statement made by those on the
convention floor, and especially by
those who on next Monday would have
to deliver themselves to the courts. Is
being closely scrutinized.
Il want the people OF the United
States to know my position he said.
II shall 10 speak defiantly, but / shall
not surrender any right guaranteed to
me by the constitution of our country.
If / know myself, not any amount or
suffering will persuade me that I nave
not the right to spend my money
where l please or that 1 have not the
right to write and speak as I please.
II understand that cognizance Is be-
ing taken at Washington OF the utter
ances of men IN the floor OF this con-
%vention, n / want clearly TO state my
position. 1 propose In the future, as I
have in h past, to exercise the rights
secured to me by the fathers OF my
country, and / propose IL I am sent to
Jail TO declare again when I come out
that / shall not for myself purchase
any product Of the Buck Stove and
Range company. I make his declara-
ton, not to tickle the ear of n man,
but that / may publicly declare the
conviction that is within me
1T seems TO me hat the whole pro-
ceeding should prove a lasting lesson
to he workingmen OF the United
States and Canada. III all the work.
ingmen had been true to themselves
there would not have been a nonunion
product on the market.
II repeat that SO far as / am con-
cerned, n let the consequences be
what they may, / intend while at lib
erty to declare for the rights guaran-
teed to me by the organic laws of my
country. Il am proud Of being an
His Own Career.
Mr.. Mitchell said he had grown as an
American with a stepmother so poor
that she could not buy bread. and re-
lated how he had crept out Of bed at
night to get his fathers soldier coat
to keep him warm.
But / wan to see the word
American stand for all the sentiment
that Is symbolized by the flag OF our
SOutitIys DC SOiiLAiluSd. \ want ICdk
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 liberty e~nunciated by
Judge Tuthill, of Chicago, when he de-
clared unconstitutional the 10-hour law
for women and by that act compelling
them to work IA hours a day"
Mr.. Mitchell said he believed that the
present proceedings would bring home
to the people the necessity of working
in concert.
SIS the time going to come on our
continent when the badge of faithful
ness to labor must be the brand of inn
prisonment?" he said in conclusion.
Surely, / hope not. i hope that the
government may be so conducted that
every citizen may feel that he has been
given justice and equal rights with ev-
cry other citizen"