The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-18
SECRETARY MCRAITH. WHO
STARTED ALL THE TROUBLE,
FORCED TO RESIGN.
POLITICS AT THE BOTTOM OF IT.
and Senator Jones the Basis
for Allegations Made.

at Denver, the silver issue at New
York, and other questions that dis
turbed other annual conventions and
not to protract this session longer than
the present week. But, after the dis
cussion of the Cuban resolution, yes
terday, it was announced in the lob
bies today that the silver question
would be sprung again, and cause
long discussion on political lines.
Delegate Malone created a sensation
at noon by rising to a privileged queS-
ton, and stating that very damaging
fumors were being circulated against
the general officers, and moving that a
committee Of five be appointed to in
vestigate these charges. Mr.. Malone
would not name the charges, and none
would mention them, but the rumors
were generally conceded to be in con-
nection with the agitation for the an
nual election tomorrow afternoon.
Many delegates insisted on specifying
the charges, or putting them in
writing, but these objections did not
prevail.
President Gompers called Delegate
Phillips to the chair, and all the Off
GERS declined to participate in the pro-
ceedings on this question. All the Off
GERS denied any knowledge Of the ru-
mors. A motion to table Mr.. Mahone's
motion was lost, yeas II, nays SO.
Other motions were made and voted
down. Mr.. Malone refused to mention
the charges unless the convention went
into executive session.
Delegate Warner moved that Dele
gate Malone be required to put his
charges in writing at the afternoon ses-
sion. Many bitter speeches followed,
mostly directed against Mahones ac-
ton. 1t was held that if random ru-
mors are to be investigated all mem
bers of the convention could be ar
raigned. It was held that Delegate
Malone made his motion in open ses-
sion for an investigation, and he should
specify his charges in open session
Malone insisted that he had made no
charges, and would make no charges.
He had simply informed the convention
that there were rumors Cf charges and
he moved that a committee of three
be appointed to investigate those ru-
mors. The motion of Warner for Ma
hone to specify the charges in writing
was carried, yeas 10, nays 20, when a
recess was taken till 2:30 p. m.
It was stated by delegates that
charges have been made against other
officers by Secretary August McCraith,
who circulated them privately this
week. President Gompers and all other
officers and all delegates, except those
in the secret were taken by surprise.
Secretary McCraith, it was said, has
had differences with officers and mem
bers Of the executive council, and he
has been keeping a tab of his observa-
tions, and, on his memorandum,
charges of wilful negligence in coop.
Grating with the officers Of different
unions during strikes and on other oc-
casions have been made. The principal
charge, it was added, was that the Off
GERS cO-operated with certain political
leaders during the recent campaign,
and that some of those who revoked
the commission Of w. c.. Pomeroy as
organizer, were themselves guilty of
the same offense of using their official
position for political purposes
On reassembling for the afternoon
session there Were many visitors pres
ent to hear the charges Of Delegate
Malone against the officers and the
discussion Of the same. The Ashe res
Clution on the jurisdiction Of the fed
erai courts was the special order, but
it was postponed to hear the charges
presented by Delegate Malone against
the officers. A long debate followed on
a motion to go into executive session,
which was stopped by the previous
question being sustained. The motion
to go into executive session carried
Then the rules We're amended so as to
csOJOtAl II c1L O.oO, Oul " IGu1dIU
Iously in executive session for the con-
sideration Of the charges against the
officers.
GOMPERS INDICATED.
The executive session continued until
p. m, and resulted in the vindication
OF President Gompers and the retire
ment of Secretary McCraith. whose
term expires next month. While the
rumors cf the charges surprised Presi-
dent GOmpers and all others except d
select few of the delegates, there seems
to have been much agitation over the
sensation that was to be sprung today.
EX-Secretary A. C. Wines and Secre-
tary August McCraith We're separated
by friends while quarreling in a room
at the Dennison house in the early
morning hours, and revolvers are
said to have been drawn. The trouble
was between President Gompers and
Secretary McCraith and dated back
to the last campaign.
In the executive session Delegate
Malone, who sprang the rumors Of
charges earlier in the day, read a pa
per setting forth that President Com
pers had acted with politicians and
even negotiated with them during the
recent campaign Mr.. Malone said he
would not present it as charge and
that there was rumor of only one
offense, that was that President Com
pers had participated in politics
Secretary McCraith, who originated
the runors on which the charge was
based, then made statement about
keeping politics out Of the Federation
and read all the letters that President
Gompers had written and had received
from political leaders during the cam
paign. These parties wanted President
Gumpers to meet Chairman Jones in
Chicago This proposition was declined
Then it was proposed to have Presi-
dent Gompers meet other silver advo-
Gates in Chicago. President Gompers
replied that he was too busy to leave
his office, but would talk the matter
over if the parties would come to In
dianapolis. It was admitted that at
least one representative Of the silver
cause did come to indianapolis to see
President Gompers.
Secretary McCraith said he felt Pres
ident Gompers had done wrong ard
called the attention of the executive
council to the matter. McCraith also
stated that President Gompers had
been at Chicago at least once during
the campaign. On investigation the ex-
ecutive council reported that they
knew where President Gompers was
while in Chicago, that he did not meet
Chairman Jones nor any ether politi-
clan there, but that he went there TO
confer with a president Of an interna-
tional union.
President Gompers was requested to
make a statement. but he said only a
few words and announced that all his
correspondence and his actions in the
official capacity Of president of the
federation were as open to the dele
gates and the world as the correspond