Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-18
VINDICATION FOR COMPERS
Turmoil Raised by Secretary McGraith Re-
coils on His Own Head,
SENSATIONAL CHARGES ARE DISMISSED
Federation of Labor Adopts II Vote al
Confidence in Its President, Ac-
cuscd OF Improper Deal
inEs with Politicians.

GOmpers called the American Federation OF
Labor to order for the .hird day the roll
call showed a full attendance. There has
been a disposition to keep out such que5-
tions as the socialist agitation made at Dem
yer, The silver issue at New York and other
questions that disturbed other annual con-
vontions. and not to protract this session
longer than the present week. But after
the discussion OF the Cuban resolution yes
terday il was announced in the lobbies
today that the silver question would be
sprung again and cause a long discussion on
political lines.
There was considerable canyassing today
for the election Of officers which takes place
tomorrow afternoon. 1t IS the general
opinion that all VI the general officers viii
be reelected except Secretary Angus; Nc
Graith, who is opposed by Frank Morrison OF
Chicago. the representative of the lnterna-
tiona Typographical union. A special COM
mittee was appoin. cd to visit the prOprietoTs
of the Cincinnati Free Press and Abend
Press to get them TO unionilo their offices.
On the call Of the committee the commit
tee on organization reported the condition OF
the different trades unions, most of which
needed and asked for help from the fedora
ton Most Of these applications for assist
anCs were referred TO the incoming eNecu-
tive council but the federation organizers
to the Engineers Progressive association, the
Horse Shors' union and the various state
and local organizations.
The committee organization strongly
endorsed the recommendation Of President
Gompers for the federation to employ special
organizers and lecturers to lend the trades
unions needed assistance.
On the motion of Joseph OSullivan of
BOSTON to amend the report that the eXecu-
tive councils shall reOrganize the stationary
engineers "A animated discussion occurred.
ADVICE TO ENGINEERS.
After addresses by Delegates Bennett, Gal
rand and others the amendment of Mr.
O'Sulliyan to refer the application of the sta
tionary engineers to the executive council
with instructions to extend local unions and
organize a national union was carried unani-
mously.
Mr.. OSulliyan then moved to amend the
report on organization further, to in
struct the incoming executive council to
organize all wage earners-the unskilled
laborers as well as skilled laborers. A gem
Cral discussion followed on the organization
of unskilcd labor. 1t was urged that the
section men on the railways as well as the
shop and train men should be organized
The agreement extends to all unskilled labor
eTs In the cities and the amendment carried
with instructions to the executive council to
organize these classes The report of the
committee was then received and approved.
Delegate O'Donnell, on a question of
privilege. apoogized for referring to Dele
gate Blake in harsh terms yesterday during
the debate on the Cuban question.
Letters from the Canadian delegates were
read and referred to the appropriate com
mittees.
Delegate Fitzgerald presented supple
meDtary report from the committee on
grievances, which was adopted granting a
new charter to the brewers of Albany, N V
Delegate O'Sulivan offered a resolution
fixing SO cents per month as the minimum
fnra oil ,aa1n ,I,F ,r
referred.
President Gompers stated he had invited
eE-Governer Charles Foster, chairman of
the Ohio commission on the investigation
Of convict labor, to address the convention
Mr.. Foster could not be present, but sent a
letter on the subject which was read and
ordered printed in the proceedings
The special committee on the Armour boy
colt reported long list of labels for differ
ent orders, with a resolution for the mem
bers of families as well as members of
unions TO observe the same.
Delegate Phillips made an amusing speech
on educating wives and women on shopping.
Mr.. Phillips insisted that the women
usually educated the men. He said women
would buy where they could buy cheapest
Several delegates replied that many wives
were bstter uaionists than their husbands
Delegate Woodbury. said the list of labels
was forty yards long and no one could re-
member 1t, and there should be one label
lOI all lTdutS UNIONS uuOpLel ana the mono
gram of the American Federation of Labor
would answer the purpose. Several delo-
gates said there were many using coun-
terfeit labels fraudulently. The report was
received and the resolution adopted.
Resolutions We're adopted for boycotting
the American Tobacco company Of New
York and to enforce the hatters' label and
other approved labels.
SPRINGS AN INVESTIGATION.
Delegate Malone of the Street Railway
union created a sensation at noon by rising
to a privileged question stating that very
damaging rumors were being circulated
against the general officers and moving that
a committee of five be appointed to nvesti-
gate these charges. Mr.. Malone would not
name the charges and none would mention
them, but the rumors were generally con-
cedod to be in connection with the agitation
for the annual election tomorrow afternoon.
Many delegates insisted on specifying the
charges or putting them in writing, but
these objections did not prevail.
President Gompars called Delegate Phil
lips to the chair and all the officers declined
to participate in the proceedings on the
question All the officers denied any know-
edge of the rumors. A motion to table Mr..
Mahones motion was lost yeas 10, nays 80.
Other motions were made and voted down,
Mr., Malone refused to mention tine charges
unless the convention went into executive
cessiOn.
Delegate Warner moved that Delegate
Malone be required to present his charges
in writing at the afternoon session. Many
bitter speeches followed, mostly directed
against Mahones actions. 1t held that
If random rumors are to be investigated
all members of the convention could be ar
raigned. 1t was held that Delegate Malone
made his motion in open session for an in
vestigation and he should specify his
charges in open session.
Delegate Tobin. president of the Shoe
makers association, believed that Malone
and others were chasing shadows He had
differed from President Gompers and others, |
but was not circulating these rumors.
Delegate Keough had heard the rumors
and wanted them investigated. He said
the charges were not senational, but based
on differences in administration.
Delegate Yarnell had heard the rumors.
One of these charges, he said, was wilful
negligence on the part of officers and he
thought 1t would not be denied by some of
them.
Several delegates thought their union
should not receive support during troubles
they had experienced.
Mr., Malone insisted that he made no
charges and would make no charges. He
said he simply informed the committee that |
there were rumors of charges and he moved !
that a committee Of three be appointed to
investigate those rumors
The motion of Warner for Malone to spe- |
city the charges in writing was carried, |
uvb "a Nuua toll