Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-21
THE SOCIALISTS
Come Within 400 Votes Of
Controlling Labor Federation.
Skaters Charges Against Gomper'
Fall Flat to the Ground.
No Opposition Remains to the Re-
election Of Gompers.

New Orleans, Nov. 2O.-The Social
lists came within 400 votes of securing
the control of the convention of the
American Federation of Labor, today.
| The struggle lasted almost the entire
day ard many able speeches were made
on both sides, notably those of ID. A.
| Hayes James Duncan and w. Il. Will
son, of the United Mine Workers. in
| behalf of The resolution introduced by
Delegate Berger and amended by Dele
gate Wilson in a manner acceptable
to Berger The debate lasted until 6
o'clock in the evening when a roll call
showed 4744 votes against the amend
ment of Mr.. Wilson and 4344 in favor
of it. The miners voted sOlidly in
favor of the amendment. No business
was transacted in the convention dur
ing the day other than that of the de-
bate and the report of the committee
which investig lted the commensurate
fer trouble, generating GOmpefs.
President GOmpers has been COM
pletely generated of the charges of in
fidelity to the principles of trades I'M
ionism said to have been made by
The odore J. Shaffcr. president of the
"A
and Tin Workers. The report of the
special committee which has conducted
| the investiga ton reported to that effect
| this morning before the convention Of
| the American Federation of Labor. The
committee reported that when Mr..
| Shaffer appeared before it he declared
| that he had not at any time, either in
writing or otherwise, made any charges
| against Mr.. Gompers of infidelity to
| trades unionism nor did he desire to
| before the committee.
r. ]. Sheridan, who brought up in the
| convention the resolution which re-
suited in the investigation, was also
present at the hearing and was asked
| if it was true that Mr.. Shaffer had
| made charges before the last cOnven-
| ton Of the iron, steel and tin workers
against Mr.. Gompers and he replied
| that he had. Mr. Shaffer denied it. Mr..
| Sheridan offered to read the minutes of
| the meeting at which the charges were
said by him to have been made.
| Mr.. Shaffer objected to this, because
| the minutes were those of a secret
| meeting and if read by Mr.. Sheridan it
! would involve him into trouble with
|
| inner workings of the convention.
The convention decided that it had
nothing to do with the question of
veracity between Mr.. Shaffer and Mr..
Sheridan. and there being no charges
against Mr.. Gompers, the committees
report was adopted, completely exon
Grating Mr.. GOmpers.
! The convention then entered upon an
! extended debate, in which at times
considerable feeling was shown, on the
| resolutions introduced by Victor l..
Berger of Milwaukee, committing the
convention to the doctrines Of So
cialism.
| The committee on resolutions recon-
mended. as a similar committee had
reported at the Scranton convention of
last year, that the principles of the
| trades union movement contain all that
is necessary at the present time for
the advancement of the workingmen
of the country. Delegate Max Hayes
offered a substitute for the report of
the convention to the effect that fed
eratiOns advise working people to Or
ganize their economic and political
power to secure for labor the full
equivalent of it's toll and the overthrow
of the wage system and establishing
an industrial cooperative democracy.
The substitute was ruled out of Or
| der.
Delegate Hayes then offered it as an
amendment and it was SO admitted
by the chair. Delegate Max Hayes
| took the floor in defence of his amend
ment. as did Delegates Berger, Ward.
Brewer and Sherman. In opposition to
the amendment and in favor of the re-
port of the committee were delegates
ID. A. Hayes, Vice President Duncan,
Louis Duffy and. others.