The herald., 1898-12-18
FAIL TO CONVINCE LEADERS
OF LABOR
AMERICAN FEDERATIoNIsTs
Seem Strongly of opinin That Indorse-
ment of Any "Ism" Would
Be Mistake
Associated Press Special Wire.

eloouence than the Socialists among the del
egates to the American Federation OF Labor
put forth in behalf of principles which they
believe offer the true relief from grinding
industrial conditions and oppression OF cap
ital at this mornings session of the Fed
Grafton of Labor. The Federation is opposed
to committing itself to the Endorsement OF
any political party and has voted in each an
nual convention to this effect. Democrats
and Republicans have given up their efforts
for their theories of government, but Pop
ulists have not. Each year when the con-
vention meets they are on hand. They re-
alize that their work will be in vain as far as
practical, definite results are concerned,
but they glory in the agitation they cause
and in the fact that they make converts in
secret.
While the speech-making was at its height
Mr.. Gompers took hand and denounced the
efforts of the Socialists to infuse their doc
trines into that of the unionists. He said:
"1his question involves the integrity of the
labor classes of our country. Either the
trade union movement is right or it is wrong.
We must either declare for the union move
ment without frills or folles or make an ad-
mission that it is wrong.
"'By their deeds shall we know them,
rather than with their honeyed words by
which they seek to lure us. If they were
to express themselves in this convention as
they express themselves outside, they know
they would not be tolerated for two min
utes. | propose to call attention to the
mask and real face. The men who ask you
to commit yourselves to this movement have
in the past done all that a man can do to
disrupt trades unions. One of the parties
referred to called a convention to form a
rival to this Federation. AT that conven-
ton they, on broad streamer, emblazoned
the letters of Wreck the old trades unions
and pull for Socialism,
"They have besmircbed the name of la
Dor. They have attacked the integrity of
the men who tried to better the conditions
OF labor They have attacked conservatism
and everything that is good for our cause.
"If their propositions were likely to ad-
vance the interests OF labor l would give
them my adherence at once. but knowing
as | do that every attempt at divertlng our
efforts has been followed by an era of in
ertia 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 coun'
try.
81 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 part of progress. We should be
broad and comprehensive in all that we do,
and the day of labor's emancipation will
come soon now
Great applause followed Mr.. Gomper's
remarks and Henry Lloyd of Boston, the
conservative reunionist, took the floor He
went after the 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-
ture. The convention adjourned at noon
without acting on any of the resolutions.
The debate on social conditions and pro-
posed remedies for so-called evils was re-
sumed at the afternoon session and was con-
tinued almost to the close of the days pro.
ceedings. The result was an utter route OF
the Socialists, their resolutions being buried
by vote of Az to l.
The resolutions finally adopted are as
follows:
1--WE are committed against the indorse-
ment or introduction OF partisan politics,
religious differences or race prejudices. We
hold 1t 20 be he duty of trades urionsts to
study and discuss all questions that have
any bearing upon their industrial or politi.
cal liberty, but we declare that it is not
within the province of the American Feder-
alton of Labor to designate to which politi-
cal party member shall belong, or for
which political party he shall VOTE
The convention then listened to an ad
dress by Clarence Darrow, the Chicago law.
yer who defended Debs in the Federal court,
on "The Courts and the Workingman."
The burden of his speech was plea for
the abolition of the present procedure in
contempt proceedings before the courts and
for the submission of charges of contempt
to jures of twelve citizens. He asserted
that the corporations and money interests
had secured control Of the courts The
young lawyer who shows ability, he argued,
is picked up by the corporations; he be
comes the paid champion Of their interests
anu Ill Time he Is elevated TO the Doncn,
where he is almost certain to hold to his
bias in favor of the money power.
Mr.. Darrow also paid his respects to the
lawmaking power declaring that every one
knows that most of the legislatures have
been corrupt for the last twenty-five years,
that they have been in the employ of the
corporations and their exchange has been
in favor Of the corporations and against the
common people.
The speech of Darrow was ordered print,
ed in the minutes of the convention.
A pleasant feature of the days proceed,
ings was the presentation, just before ad.
journment of tokens of esteem to the fra.
ternal delegates sent to the convention by
the British trades congress. To William
lnskip the convention presented a gold
headed cane and gold ring and to William
Thorne gold watch and chain.
Though the convention has extended over
six days fully two-thirds of the business
mapped out for the delegates remains un.
touched. 1t has been six days of talk As
q sailor delegate expressed it tonight, "The
time Of the convention has been largely
wasted in wind jamming"
1t is now thought that the convention will
come to an end by Wednesday next.