"We don't want you to speak on the street at this time."
"Have you any ordinance against it, that is, have I broken any law?" enquired Thompson.
"Oh no, no. That isn't the idea," rejoined Kelly. "We have strikes on, labor troubles here, and we don't want you to speak here at all. You are welcome at any other time, but not now."
"Well," said Thompson, "as a representative of labor, when labor is in trouble is the time I would like to speak, but I am not going to advocate anything that I think you could object to."
"Now, Thompson," said Kelly, "if you will agree to get right out of town I will let you go. I don't want to lock you up."
"Do you believe in free speech?" asked Thompson.
"Yes."
"And I am not arrested?"
"No, you are not arrested."
"Come up to the meeting then," Thompson said with a smile, "for I am going back and speak."