Evening journal., 1897-09-04
Mr.. GOMPERS SPEAKS
Gives Reasons For Not Going to
the Convention.
HIS OFFICE WOULD NOT ALLOW IT.
Says Interests of Ills Fellow Workers
Might Have Been In the Hands of
irresponsible BIen--Hc Is Ready
to Follow Mr.. Ratchford.

Washington, Sept. 4--Mr Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor. when asked why
he and other trades unionists did not at
tend the convention held in st. Louis on
last Monday and Tuesday, said I'm
regard to the convention held last Mon
day at st. Louis, have been placed in
a most peculiar position. The call for
the convention contained my name as
officially indorsing it. This was GER
tainly a mistake in the first instance.
1t was placed there by Mr. Ratchford
under the impression that, knowing my
intense sympathy with the miners in
their just struggle, 1 would go to any
length in order to help them to sue
cess, but my name was placed there
and the official Endorsement given TO 1t
without my knowledge or consent.
AS you will see, the call was issued
10 organized labor, its various divisions
and subdivisions. and to all reform, So
cial educational and scientific bodies
who condemn government by injunc-
ton. Under this call any body of men
who are opposed TO government by in
junction would be entitled to a seat in
the convention. In other words, per-
sons entirely remote froSn and having
no connection with labor movements
could have been in attendance, and by
overwhelming numbers direct the
course. mapped out the policy and
dominated the trades union movement.
As president Of the American Fedora
tlon of Labor, a responsible officer in.
the trades union movement, would not
dare hazard the interests Of our fellow
wurkers at the hands Of persons who
might be entirely irresponsible.
There are numbers of people who
are opposed to government by injunc-
tion and who are yet hostile to the
clear cut and we'll defined purposes Of
the trades union movement.
No Criticism on the Convention.
"I shall say nothing In criticism Of
the action of the st. Louis convention,
and 1 did not say anything earlier be-
cause ! did not wish to interfere with
the programme 1t mapped out. not even
its appeal for a contribution of this
days wages, and l am glad that what
1 now say will not appear until after
the result of this appeal has been acted
upon.
Il dc know that the trades unionists
of the country have responded most lib
orally in aid Of the miners. They are
doing so now and will continue to do so
on this line in order to help the miners
win. So far as / am concerned, have
not lost one jot of interest. on the
contrary. if possible, am more intense
ly interested in having the miners win,
and anything that I can do without
hazarding the interest of labor and our
movement will be cordially performed
to attain that end. AS In the beginning
1 stand ready today to follow Mr.
Ratchford's lead in this strike in every
thing except to place the destinies OF
our movement in the hands OF persons
representing reform. social, educationa
and scientific or other bodies who are
simply agreed in their opposition tC
government by injunction. We ask the
assistance Of all to attain that end. but
cannot permit other domination of ouI
movement nor the direction of its policy
with the possibility of diverting It into
irrational and improper channels