The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-26
And They Demand that He Make
if He Is Able.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE
ASKED THAT THE MATTER MAY BE
WELL SIFTED.
Names Submitted from Which Shaffer
Is to ChoOse-The Case Pre-
sented in Detail.

NEW YORK, Sept 25.-In an open letter
issued to-day at the Ashland House, Sam
uel Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor and vice president of
the Cigar Makers International Union. and
John Mitchell, president of the United
Mine Workers of America and second vice
president of the Federation of Labor, chal-
lenged Theodore ]. Shaffer, president of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers, to prove his statements
recently made against them. The letter
addressed to Mr.. Shaffer. follows:
There was sent out by the Associated
Press and published in the New York
papers a statement purporting to emanate
from you in which grave charges and in
situations are made by you against the
undersigned. Inasmuch as the accounts
published differ in phraseology only but in
| all essentials agree, there is no doubt in our
minds that the matter contained in the
publications emanates from you. For your
information you will find herein inclosed
the clippings referred to from the New
York papers of Tuesday, Sept "a.
1--WE have already said that there is no
doubt in our minds that the statements
referred to were made by you, and assum-
ing this to be so, we believe that you
should be afforded the amplest opportunity
of demonstrating the truth of your charges
and insinuations; so that if they found
ed on fact the world, and particularly the
world of organized labor, may know it.
We believe that you should be afforded
the fullest latitude in justifying your
course and your charges and at the same
time pilory us if we deserve 1t. On the
other hand. you will realize the impossi-
bility of our allowing your charges and in
situations to go broadcast and stand un-
answered and unchallenged.
Having due regard for our duty toward
the labor movement and the interests COM
mitted to our care, we have no desire to
enter into controversy through the news
papers, and have therefore declined to say
anything about the matter to the repre-
sentatives of the press who have impor-
tuned us to answer. But repeating that
we believe it necessary that your charges
and insinuations should be substantiated
or refuted, submit the following prop
osition to you:
"First-That committee of three shall
of New York for the purpose of hearing
and determining the charges and inSin-
uations you have made against US.
guilty of your charges and insinuations
we will resign from the presidency of the
American Federation of Labor and the
vice presidency of the Cirgar Makers In
ternational Union, from the presidency of
the United Mine Morkers of America and
from the second vice presidency of the
American Federation of Labor.
"Third-That the committee shall consist
of three members of organized labor, to be
selected by. you from lists herein submit
ted: Martin Fix, president, or Joseph Val
entine, vice president, Iron Molders' Union
tary Union Hammers of North Amer
ica Secretary Tilden or Organizer
Spencer, United Association of Plumbers.
Gas Filters, Steam Filters and Steam
Filters Helpers; James Lynch, president,
national Typographical Union; Martin
dent. or II. B. Perham, secretary, Order
zier. secretary International Seamen's
Union; Z. Lewis Evans, secretary To-
bacco Workers International Union; Jere
rant Employees International Alliance; NJ
Feney, president international Brother
hood of Bookbinders: William Huber pres
ident International Brotherhood of Carpen-
ters and Joiners of America; Thomas At
kinson. secretary Amalgamated Society of
Carpenters and Jointers; James A. Cable
secretary Coopers' International Union of
America; w. +. Klapetzky, secretary Jour
neymen BARRIERS international Union
Association Allied Metal Mechanics.
You will observe that we have carefully
omitted to submit the name of any mem
Der of the executive council of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, or of any repre-
sentative of any organization OF which any
member of the executive council is MEM
ber. OF course, we have not submitted
the names of all the men conspicuous for
their ability and honesty in the labor
movement. That would be impossible un-
der the circumstances, but the men whose
names have included, we think you
will readily agree, have never had their
| honesty StpaQfaStnaSS of
pose questioned or impugned: that they are
all men whose verdict, when rendered
would carry conviction in the minds of the
general public, the workers, and particu-
larly those in whom we all interested
the members of organized labor.
IF you prefer that the committee should
| consist of men active in labor movements
whose organizations are unaffiliated with
| the American Federation OF Labor you
may select the names of either of the fol-
| lowing gentlemen TO compose the commit
| tee, in whole or in part: p H. Morrissev
grand master Order of Railway 1rainmen
| OF America; l.. r. Clark. grand conductor
Order of Railway Conductors; Mr. Mofirr
president of the Bricklayers' and Masons'
| International Union.
I'VE should have submitted the names of
| the officers of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
| tive Firemen and the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers. but inasmuch as Mr..
Sargent. OF the former, has been associated
| with Us In our efforts in the steel strike
and because OF Mr.. Arthur's policy of iso-
lation toward the general labor movement
we have omitted their names
I'VE cannot imagine that YOU would
make grave accusations against US without
| generalization as 20 their consequences:
we therefore insist that in common Justice
| 10 us and with due regard 10 the interests
| which both YOU and we represent you will
advise US at the headquarters of the Amer
| lean Federation OF Labor, 423-425 street
| n w. Washington. D. c., within three
days OF your acceptance of the PROPOSE
| ton.
The letter is signed by Samuel Gompers.
/ president OF the American Federation of
| Labor. and vice president Cigar Makers
international Union. and John Mitchell.