The Massachusetts court held that your law was constitutional; but our
law, which did not go as far, the Court of Appeals of the State of
New York held as unconstitutional, and there was this further gem in
the language――the court said that there had been altogether too much
legislation of this kind in the United States and the time had come for
the court fearlessly to oppose the barrier of its judgment against it.
I love that word “fearlessly.” [Prolonged cheering.] Those amiable,
well-meaning, excellently intentioned judges, who, doubtless, did not
in their whole circle of acquaintances know one woman who was working
in a factory or a sweatshop, said that they would stand “fearlessly”
for what?
“Fearlessly” for the right of the big factory owner and the small
sweatshop owner to earn their money by working women, haggard, hour
after hour, day after day, night after night, in the factory and
sweatshop.
Now, friends, do you know what my proposal is――this revolutionary
proposal of mine [laughter], this proposal of mine that they say
represents socialism and anarchy?