The age-herald., 1901-09-26
Samuel GOmpers and John Mitchell Refute Statements
 Made Against Them
LIST OF JUDGES SUGGESTED
Shaffer Is Asked to Select Commit tee, and After Hearing the Charges Render Verdict-organlzed
 Labor Interested.

New York, September 25.--In an open letter issued today, Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation or 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, challenged Theodore J. Shaffer. president of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, steel and Tin Workers, to prove his state ments recently made against them. The letter follows:
 New York, September 25, 19Ol '%rheodore J. Shaffer, President of the
 Amalgamated Association of Iron,
 Steel and Tin Workers, Pittsburg Pa |:
 Dear Sir-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 insinuations are made by you against the undersigned. lnasmuch as the accounts published differ in phras- eology only but all essentials agree, there Is no doubt in our minds that the PNDN-SN~~-0--- emanates from you. For your informa- tion you will find herein enclosed the clippings referred to from the New York papers of Tuesday. September A.
 Should Prove Statements.
 ..we have already said that there is no doubt in our minds that the statements referred to were made by you, and as- i&<. haltpvp that should be afforded the ampIest oppor- tunity of demonstrating the truth Of your charges and insinuations 30 that 1T they are founded on fact, the world, and par ticularly the world of organized labor, may know 1t. We believe that you should be afforded the fullest latitude in Justify- ing your course and your charges ana at the same time pillory us If we deserve 1t. On the other hand, we want justice from any imputation at your hands, Hay ing due regard for our feeling toward the labor movement and the interests com mitted to our care. we have no desire to enter into a controversy through the newspapers, and have therefore declined to say anything about the matter to the representatives of the press, who have importuned us to answer. But repeating that we believe it necessary that your charges and insinuations should be sub stantiated or refuted, we submit the fol- lowing proposition to you:
 The Proposition.
 First-That a committee of three meet in Washington, Pittsburg or New York for the purpose of hearing and determin- ing the charges and insinuations you have made against us.
 Second-That if the committee find 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 Cigarmakers' ln- ternational Union; from the presidency of the United Mine Workers of America, and from the second vice presidency of the American Federation Of Labor
 Third-That the committee shall con sist of three members of organized la bor. to be selected by you from lists here in submitted: Martin Fix, president Jo- seph Phillips, secretary, Union Hatters of America; Secretary Tilden or Organiz- CT Spencer, United Association of Plumb ers Gas-Fitters, Steam-Fitters and Steam-Fitters' Helpers; James Lynch' President, or James w. Bramwood' secre tary of the International Typographicdi ITnion: Martin o. Higgins president or inc International Printing Pressmen's Union: M Dolphin, president or Il. B. Perham. secretary, Order of Railway Te- learaphers; William Frazier, secretary International Seamen's Union; F. L. EV- ans. secretary Tobacco Workers Inter national Union; J. L.. Sullivan, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant hnployes International Alliance; Nj. Feeney, presl- dent international Brotherhood Of BOOK binders; William Huber president of the International Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; Thomas Atkin- son. secretary Ama1gamated Society Of of Carpenters and Joiners; J. A. Cable, secretary of Coopers' International Union of America; w. F. klapetzKy, secretary Journeymen Barbers' International Un- ion: John Mulholland president Interna- tional Association Metal Mechanics
 Omit Their Organization.
 You will observe that we have carefully omitted to submit the name or any member of the executive council of the Federation of Labor or any representa- tive of any organization of which any member of the executive council Is member. Of course we have not sub mitted the names of all the men con spicuous for their ability and honesty in the labor movement; that would be inn
 
 m en whose names we have included we think you will readily agree have never had their ability, honesty and steadfast- ness of purpose 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 particularly those in whom we are all interested, the members of organized labor.
 If you prefer that the committee should consist of men active in labor move ments whose organizations are unaff1liat- ed with the American Federation of La bor, you may select the names of either of the following gentlemen to compose the committee in whole or in part:
 P. P. Morrissey, grandmaster Order of Railway Trainm en of America; E. E. Clark. grand conductor of Railway Con- ductors; Mir Moffitt, president of Brick layers and Masons' International Union.
 We should have submitted the name of the officers of the Brotherhood of Loco- motive FireYuau and the Brotherhood of