Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-18

xuafrelvMcCraith, the Secretary, GOcS
Down When the Matter Comes Up i'm
Executive Session-Somc Secret History
of the Presidential Campaign.
Cincinnati, Dec. 1S.-The session Of
the Federation of Labor convention
yesterday was notable for formal
charges that were made against
Gompers and the general officers by
Delegate Malone, Of the street railway
union. He would not state the nature
or his charges, but demanded an exc
cutive session. The convention voted
that he be required to put his charges
In writing. and in the afternoon an
executive session was held, and before
going into 1t the rules were amended
SO as not to adjourn at $50, but to
remain continuously in executive ses-
sion for the consideration of the charges
against the officers. The executive ses-
sion continued till 8 p. m. and resulted
in the vindication of President Gompers
and the retirement of Secretary Nc
Craith, whose term expires next month.
While the rumors of charges surprised
Gompers and all others except a select
Few of the delegates, there seems to
have been much agitation during
Wednesday night in consultation rooms
over the sensation that was to be sprung
yesterday.
Guns Drawn in Quarrel.
Ex-Secretary A. G. Wines and Secre-
tary McCraith were separated by
friends while quarreling in a room at
the Dennison House in the early morn
trarr
nave been drawn. The trouble was be-
tween President Gompers and Secretary
McCraith, and dated back to the last
campaign. In the absence of Gompers
it is said that Secretary McCraith edited
The Federationist. McCraith is con-
sidered a socialist, and was afterward
silver man, but in the absence of
President Gompers he kept out articles
on the silver question that had been
previously appearing in the organ of
the federation. At a subseqent meet
ing Of the executive council this matter
with other differences between the pres
tdent and secretary were considered and
Secretary McCraith was compelled to
apologize to President Gompers.
McCra:th Charged with Conspiracy.
1t is charged that after this action of
the executive council McCraith con-
spired against President Gompers and
tried to make a case against the pres
iGent on the correspondence OF the lat
ter with certain prominent polictical
leaders in the silver movement. NC
Craith held that in replying to the let
ters of silver leaders Gompers went be-
ycnd the power of the president of the
federation. While McCraith is called
an anarchist by many delegates he is
recognized by all as a consistent trade
unionist, and as being averse even TO
any sort of afiiliation with political
parties. 1t is claimed that Gompers
does not affiliate with any party. but
that his correspondence with the advo-
Gates of free silver was in accordance
with resolutions adopted at the last
three national conventions of the fed
Grafton.
McCraith Reads the Letters.
In the executive session Delegate
Malone. who sprang the question on
the rumors of charges earlier in the
day. read a paper setting forth the ru-
mors that President Gompers had acted
with politicians and had even negotia-
ted with them during the recent cam
paign. Malone said he would not pre-
sent il as charge. and that there was
a rumor of only one offense-that was
that President Gompers had partici-
pated in politics. McCraith. who orig
mated the rumors on which the charge
was based, then made a statment about
keeping politics out of the federation,
and read all the letters that Gompers
had written and had received from Do
litical leaders during the recent cam.
paign.