The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18
AGITATORS EXCORIATED
FEDERATION OF LABOR SOCIALISTS
DENOUNCED By GOMPERs.
Charged with Trying to Besmirch
buned by the Convention.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec. 17.-Though
the convention of the American Federation
of Labor has extended over six days, fully
two-thirds of the business mapped out for
the delegates remains untouched. 1t has
been six days of talk. AS a sailor delegate
expressed it tonight, 'the time of the con-
vention has been largely wasted in wind
jamming." Much of the argument and de-
bate has centered around the question of
socialism and the efforts of the Social
Democrats to secure an Endorsement of
their propaganda This issue was disposed
of this afternoon, however, when the So
cialists were buried under an overwhelming
vote and it is now thought that the con-
vention will come to an end by Wednesday
next.
A forlorn hope was never bolstered up
by more matchless eloquence than the So
cialists put forth in behalf of the
principles which they believe offer the true
relief from grinding Industrial condi-
lions" and the Oppression OF capital at
this mornings session. While the speech
making was at its height Mr.. Com
pers took hand and denounced
the efforts of the Socialists to infuse their
doctrines into that of trades unionism. He
said: This question involves the integrity
of the labor movement of our country
Either the trade-union movement is right or
wrong. We must either declare for the union
movement without frills or follies, or make
an admission that it is wrong. BY their
deeds shall we know Them rather than with
their honeyed words with which they seek
to lure us. If they were to express them
selves in this convention as they express
themselves outside they know they would
not be tolerated for two minutes. 1 propose
to call attention to the mask and the real
face. The very men who advocate and ask
us to commit ourselves to this movement,
have, in the past, done all that man can do
to disrupt trades unions. One of the parties
referred to called convention to form a
rival to this federation. At that convention
they, on broad streamer, embazoned in
letters of red, Wreck the old trades unions
and pull for socialism They have be-
smirched the name of labor They have at
tackled the integrity of the men who tried
to better the conditions of labor. They have
attacked conservatism and everything that
is ground for our cause. If their propositions
were likely to advance the interests of la
Dor, L would give it my adherence at once,
but, knowing, as l do, that every attempt
at diverting our efforts has been followed by
an era of inertia and indifference, cannot
subscribe to it. Rather than turn our unions
into ward clubs we are working on the line
that will better our interests before the
whole country. I know that progress is
necessarily slow and there is no such thing
as a short cut to the millennium. am sure
that we are on the path of progress, which
are following the day of labor is at the
end of that lane. We should be broad and
comprehensive in all that we do and the day
of labOrs emancipation will soon come'
Great applause followed Mr. Gompers's
remarks. Henry l.. Lloyd of Boston, the
conservative economist, then took the floor
and he went after Socialists without gloves.
1t was the sense of his remarks that if the
federation tied itself to any ism it would
be useless for it to ask for legislation at
the hands of Congress or the state legisla-
lures.
The debate continued almost to the close
of the days proceedings. The result was
utter rout of the Socialists, their resolutions
being buried by vote of AZ to I. The re-
port of the resolutions committee embody-
ing the resolution offered as a substitute for
the Socialist resolutions was then laid be-
of 1907 to 420, the vote against the SubSti-
tute representing the Socialist strength in
the convention. Previous to the balloting
the Socialists claimed $50 votes in the con-
vention. The resolutions finally adopted are
we are committed against the indorse-
ment or Introduction of partisan politics.
religious differences or race prejudices. We
hold it to be the duty of trades unionists
TO STUDY ana DISCUSS all Qu6SllOuS IHdC nave
any bearing upon their industrial or political
liberty but we declare that it is not within
the province of the American Federation Of
Labor to designate to which political party
a member shall belong or for which political
party he shall vote
The convention then listened to an address
by Clarence Darrow, the Chicago lawyer
who defended Debs in the Federal Court
on 1.-THE Courts and the Workingmen." The
speech was ordered printed in the minutes
of the convention. The convention adopted
the following resolutions:
BY Owen Miller: Indorsing the bill before
Congress which prohibits the employment
of enlisted soldiers of the army in competi-
ton with civilians in any capacity.
BY John Michel: Denouncing the shoot
ing down of the striking miners at Virden,
H.. by ''the armed guards of monopoly
and indorsing the efforts of the United
Mine Workers Of America to raise fund
for the relief of the families of the killed
and wounded in the conflict.
BY George f. Mcneil: Urging trade union
lists everywhere to work and agitate against
1.-The inhuman practice of compelling men
to labor seven days a week."
A pleasant feature of the days proceed
ings was the presentation just before adj
journmenI of tokens Of esteem to the frater-
nal delegates sent to the convention by the
British Trades Congress- TO William In