The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-26
STATEMENT
 CHALLENGED Open Letter to the Strike
 Leader. INVESTIGATION IS ASKED G0r11perS and Mitchell Reply to President Shaffer. They Propose Committee Be Named to Determine Charges Made Against Ths-a-wfll Re-
 sign If ~

| New York, Sept. 2s.-In an open letter. issued today. Samuel Gompers. Presidents of the American Federation of Labor, ana Vice-President of the Cigarmaxers' Inter- | national Union, and John Mitchell, Presf- dent of the United States Mine Workers Of America. and Second President of the Federation of Labor. challenged Thee bamated Association of Iron, Steel and I Tin Workers. to prove his Statements recently made against them. The lettea New York. Sept. ss, lsoi Theodore J. Shaffer, President Amal@ gamated Association Iron. Steel and | Tin Workers. E1ttsburg. Pa: Dear Sir-There was sent out by the Associated Press and published in the New York papers, statement purportinR to emanate from you in which grave charges and insinuattons are made hy you against the undersigned. Inasmuch ology only. but In all essentials agree. there is no doubt in our minds that the matter contained in the publication em- you will find herein enclosed the clip pings referred to from the New York papers of Tuesday. September 24.
 We have already said that there is no doubt in our minds that the Statements referred to were made by you and, as- stunning this to be se, we believe that you .,l, should De afforded the amplest op-
 
 your charges and insinuations: so that If they are founded 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 piIlory us If we realize the impossibility. of our allowing your charges and fnsinuations to 70 broadcast and stand unanswered and ular Submit Three Propositions. Having due regard for our duty toward the labor movement and the interests committed to our care, we have no de- sire to enter into q controversy through the ntEspaperNs and have, therefore, de- oiined to say anything about tha Inaffer | to the representatives of the pfaSs who have innp0rfuned us to answer. Hut re- beating that we believe 1t necessary that your charges and insinuations ehoi,Id he substantfated or refuted, we submit the following proposition to you:
 FtESt-That a committee of three shall meet in Pittsburg, Washington or New York, for the purpose of hearing and determining the charges and insinuations you have made against us.
 Second-Tha& if the committee finds us guilty of your charges and insinuauons, we will resign from the presidency of the American Federation of Labor and the national Unioni from the presidency of the United Mine Workers of America and from the second vice e-presidency Of the
 
 Third-That the committee shall con- sist of three members of organised labor to be selected by you from lists herein Valentine. vice-president, Iron Molders Union of North America; John Phllnpss secretary Union Hatters Of Americas Secretary Tilde9 s,'oS or Srs9H1issS s1 spsn9ss: s: Filters, Steam Filters and Steam F1ttsF'a Helpers; James Lynch, president CT James ": Branwood, secretary 1nter- Higgins, president International Printing Pressmen's Union; M. Dolphin. president or H. B. Perham, secretary, Order oE secretary international Seamens Union; E. l.. Evans, secretary Tobacco Workera International Union; J. l.. Sullivan, sec- retary Hotel and Restaurant EmployeS international Alliance; M. Feeney, Presi- dent International Brotherhood Of Book binders; William Huber, president Inter- national Brotherhood Carpenters ana secretary Amalgamated Society or Car penters and Joiners; J. A. Cable, secre- tary. of Coopers 1nternatlonaL Union ol America; W. E. Klapetsky, secretary Journeymen Barbers International unioni John MulhoIland, president International Association Metal Mechanios.
 You will observe that we have care fully omitted to submit the name of any member of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor or any which any member of the Executive Council is a member. 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 under the circumstances; but, the men whose names we have included we think you will & readily agree. have steadfastness of purpose questioned or impugned: that they are all men whose verdict when rendered would carry con- viction in the minds of the general pub lie, the workers and particularly those in whom we are all interested. the mern- bers of organized labor.
 shafrer May Choose Arbitrators.
 If you prefer that the committee should whose organizations are unaff1liated with the American Federation of Labor. you may select the names of either of the fol- lowing gentlemen to compose the com mittee in whole or in part:
 P. H. Morrissey, Grand Master Order of Railway Trainmen of America; E. E. Clark. Grand Conductor of Railway Con- ductors; MT. Mofit, President of Brick layers and Masons International Union.
 We should have submitted the names of the officers of the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Bremen and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers but inasmuch as MT. Sargent of the former has been asso- strike and because of Mir. Arthur's pol icy of isolation toward the general labor we have omitted their names We cannot imagine that you would make grave accusations against us with put generalization as to their conse- 1uences; we therefore insist that In justice to us and with due re- gard to the interests which both you and we represent, you win advise us at the headquarters of American Fedora ion of Labor. Washington. D. C., within three days of your acceptance of our proposition. Fraternally yours,
 Samuel Gompers. President of American Federation of La-
 bor; Vice President of Cigar Makers
 International Union.
 John Mitchell, President of the United Mine Workers
 of America; Second Vice President
 American Federation of I.sbor