The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-05
COMPERS TO SHAFFER
IN TIKI FEDERATIONIsT.
Ono Untruth and Explains Away
some of His statements.
SCRANTON MINES ARE OPEN
y DISCRIMINATION AG 4 UNION
OR N~ONUNION MEN.
Fall RiNer's Pending Big Strike
More Chicago Lincmen Out
other Labor News.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4-President Com
pers. OF the American Federation OF Labor,
publishes in the October issue of the Fed
eratiOnist. the official organ of that body, u
vigorous and detailed statement in reply to
charges made by President Shaffer. of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers. regarding the attitude of Mr..
Gompers and President Mitchell, Of the
United Mine Workers of America, during
the recent steel strike. Mr.. Gompers says:
"Mr. Shaffer says that he especially relied
upon the American Federation of Labor for
financial assistance. L assert that he never
asked for any. No request, written, tele-
graphic OF verbal, was ever received during
the entire strike at the office of the Fedora
ton of Labor from MIR. Shaffer, or from
any other representative OF the Amalga-
mated Association, asking for financial as
siStance. Yet | venture TO assert that near
~ every dollar of financial assistance re-
ceived at the office OF the Amalgamated
Association came from unions affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor.
and IL the Federation. as such, did not give
a cent IL was because II was neither d.
rectly nor indirectly asked to do so"
Regarding Mr. Skaters statement that
he arranged a meeting between Mr.. j. Pier
pont Morgan and Mr.. GOmpers. for which
he alleges Mr.. Morgan gave up his Vaca-
ton. hut Mr.. Gompers failed TO appear, Mr..
GOmpers says.
Mi. shaner says that which is absolutely
untrue and he knows it,
correspondence from Mr.. Shaffer urging
Mr.. GOmperS and Secretary Morrison TO
come Immediately to Pittsburg is published,
and after detailing several interviews with
Mr.. Shaffer and others Mr. GOmpers says:
1T will thus be seen that Mr.. stevenson
ian employer of union labor, friendly TO the
Amalgamated) was To meet Mr.. Morgan at
the very time when Mr.. Easley (of the
Civic Federation, not Mr.. Shaffer. had ar
ranged for me TO meet Mr.. Morgan"
Mr. GOmpers says he explained to Mr..
Shaffer that il WAS inadyisable To nave too
many irons in the fire at the same time,
and that Mr.. Shaffer agreed with him as
to the substitution of MIR. Stevenson for
himself (GOmpers) at this proposed con-
ference, ''all OF us being fully persuaded
that Mr.. Stevenson. being so highly recon-
mended by Mr.. Shaffer. and going with the
proposition for arbitration TO MIR. Morgan,
would be successful
The terms of the agreement secured by
Mr. Shaner on Sept IA. and those secured
by Messrs. GOmpers, Mitchell and others.
on Sept 4. are printed in parallel columns.
the former enumerating the Canal Dover
and Demmler mills among those not in
cluded as union mills and the latter pro-
viding for them as union mills.
Mr.. GOmpers says Mr.. Sha1er now knows
that 10 IS unwiSe for men at the head of
organizations TO declare for policies which
the rank and file viii not approve. and that
II such common sense Is ignored the men
will desert their leader.
Mr.. Gompers says that what Mr.. Shafrer
wanted him 10 do was 10 have a general
union strike I'm aid OF the steel strike. This.
Mr.. GOmper says. he could not do. Il felt
confident" say Mr.. GOmpers. that the
executive officers OF the trade unions of
America ought not and would not violate
or break their contracts or agreements with
their employers throughout the country:
hence. there would not and ought not TO
be a widespread sympathetic strike"
Noncompliance or this request. IL is as
serted. Is the basis OF the bitter attacks
Mitchell denied 10 him that he ever had
promised TO call out the miners.