The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-18
The Charge of Partisanship
Ends In a Fizzle.
Promised Sensation In Fedora
tiOn Ends InglOriOusly.
EXONERATES GOMPERS
Federation Adopts Resolutions
of Confidence and Respect.
Two Members Armed With Re-
vOlVers Nearly Fight.

Cincinnati Dec. 1S.-The executive
session of the Federation Of Labor yes
terday continued from p. IN. to ..
n and resulted in the vindication of
President GOmpers and the retirement
Of Secretary NcCraith whose term ex-
pires next month. While the rumors
of charges surprised President Com
pers and all other except a few of the
delegates, there seems to have been
much agitation during Wednesday
night in the consultation rooms over
the sensation that was to be sprung
yesterday.
Ex-Secretary A. C. Wines and Sec
rotary August McCraith were separ-
ated by friends while quarrelng in
room at the DennisOn House i'm the
early morning hours, and revolvers are
said to have been drawn. The trouble
between GOmpers and McCraith dated
back to the last campaign. In the
absence of President GOmpers. it is
said that Secretary McCraith edited
The EederatiODist. McCraith is con-
sidered a socialist and was afterward
a silver man, but in the absence of
President Gompers he kept out arti-
cles on the silver question that had
been previously appearing IN the organ
of the Federation At q subsequent
meeting of the executive council this
matter, with other differences between
the president and secretary. We're con-
sidered, and Secretary McCraith was
compelled to apologize to President
GOmpers.
1t is charged that after this action
of the executive council Secretary Nc
Craith conspired against President
GOmprs and tried to make case
against the president on the CORE
spOndence of the latter with certain
prominent political leaders on the silver
movement McCraith held that in re-
plying to the letters Of silver leaders
President Gompers went beyond the
powers of the president Of the fedora
tion-
While Secretary NIcCraith is called
an anarchist by many delegates, he is
recognized by all as a consistent and
true unionist and as being adverse
even to any sort Of afhliation with po-
litical parties 1t IS claimed that RreSl-
dent Gompers does not affiliate with
any party, but that his correspond
ence with advocates of free silver was
fra accordance with resolutions adopted
at the last three national conventions
OF the federation. 1t was out of this
correspondence that sprang the rumOrs
about Gompers being closely assOci-
ated with National Chairman Jones
and others.
In the executive session Delegate
MahOney, who sprang the question of
the rumDrs of charges earlier in the
day. read a paper setting forth the ru-
mOrs that President COmpers had act
ed with politicians and even negotiated
with them during the recent campaign
Mr.. Mahoney said he would not pre-
sent it as a charge and LnaL there was
rumor of only one offense, ana that
was that President Gompers had par
ticipated in politics
Secretary NcCraith, who originated
the rumors on which the charge was
based. then made a statement about
keeping politics out Of the federation
and read all the letters that Gompers
had written and received from political
leaders during the recent campaign
These parties wanted President Com
pers to meet Chairman Jones in Chi
cago. 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
mis- office. but would talk the matter
over if the parties would come to In
dianapoIis 1t was admitted that at
least one representative Of the silver
mon had come to indianapolis TO see
Crompers None of the letters had
beer filed with the private papers Of
Compers but were filed with the OIL
gial correspondence and labeled
Secretary AIcCraith and any others