Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-20
WILL EXONERATE CONPERS
Federation Committee i1 To Report on
Internal Troubles TO-DAY.
CONVENTION CONDEMNS ElloTS SPEECH
Does Not Think Such n Man should
he Retained as Head of Prominent
University I'm These En-
IiEhtened Days.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 19.-The special
committee appointed to consider the
charges OF Mr.. shaffer made against Mr.
Gompers will report tomorrow to the full
convention Of the American Federation
| Of Labor.
As an investigation It will terminate in
the exoneratlon Of Mr.. Gompers and as
a sensation II win probably wind up in
the wet hrecracker class. Mr.. shaffer
has not only failed to substantiate his
| charges, but a member Of the committee
is authority for the statement that he has
not even repeated them. He appeared be-
fore the committee and when he came
away declared he had presented his
charges. The committee says he did not
formulate them. In the absence OF direct
accusation there can be but one end to the
investigation.
The convention today wrestled with the
subject OF the autonomy OF trades coun-
ellis and the matter was not exhausted
when the adjournment was taken.
Carpenters Renew Fight.
The chief hght-ot the day came in the
old struggle between the United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners and the
Amalgamated Association Of Carpenters
revocation Of the charter Of, the latter be-
cause OF alleged practices contrary to the
interests Of the trade union movement.
its avowed object being TO force the other
organization into its own ranks. After
several hours Of debate the matter was
referred to a committee Of eleven, FIVE
from each organization and an umpire to
be selected. The committee is to meet be-
fore March 3. 1903 and endeavor to bring
about amalgamation of the two organiza-
tions. All hostilities are to cease pending
the meeting of the commission.
The faction in the convention opposed
10 the reelection OF President Gompers
has as yet been unable to fix upon a rival
candidate James Duncan has refused to
commit himself In either direction and
James Lynch OF the Typographical union
is now spoken Of as a candidate.
The committee on resolutions reported
on the resolution that Porto Rican labor
ers taken into Hawaii are being i'll treated
and should be returned by the United
States government to Porto Rico.
The committee recommended that the
charges OF III treatment be investigated
and II found to be correct a petition for
the return Of the men to Porto Rico be
presented to the government
NAAOhH
A resolution condemning the recent re-
ported utterances OF President Eliot Of Har-
ward college in favor Of "scab" working
men was reported upon favorably by the
committee and is action was endorsed by
the convention.
The first paragraph of the resolution, as
originally introduced, C pm m n o d..
whereas, the head Of the foremost Amer
ioan prpaidnnf Charles w Eliot
OF Harvard, etc." Secretary Agard Of the
resolutions, committee called attention. Of
| the convention to the word 'foremost,"
| saying that the committee had changed
| the word TO prominent" as, the members
of the resolution committee did not believe
that an institution which would retain at
| its head a man capable OF such expressions
as those credited to President Eliot could
! by any possibility be the foremost univer-
| sity OF the country. ~.--.|
Delegate Joseph B. Allen OF Philadelphia
desired that the word be changed 10 the
head OF one Of the degenerate universl-
| ties"
Delegate Lighthall OF Chicago declared
that President Harper Of Chicago university
and John d. Rockefeller the founder OF the
institution. we're both opposed to the union
movement, and that they were trying to
secure control OF the public schools in that
| city and that the laboring men were en-
| deavoring to counteract the movement by
organizing the teachers into unions.
The resolutions as amended by the reso-
! lutions committee was passed unanimously.
No second was made to the motion OF Dele
! gate Allen.
The McComas bill now pending before
| the United States senate providing for In
| creased pay for all overtime on govern
ment works was endorsed by the committee
and the recommendation was adopted by
| the committee. The executive council
recommended that the application Of the
United Brotherhood OF Carpenters and
Joners for the revocation Of the charter
OF the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters
be denied as the charges had not been sub
stantiated.
A long debate followed and was still in
progress when the convention adjourned.
Consolidation Committee Formed.
| At the afternoon session, Max Hayes
moved as a substitute that the entire mat
| ter be referred to a committee of eleven,
Ave from each organization, and an UNI
pire. This was adopted.
The application OF the United Brother
| hood of Carpenters and Joiners for the
revocation Of the charter Of the Amalga-
mated woodworkers was then taken up.
The fight was on the grounds similar to
those in the dispute between the Broth
erhood and the Amalgamated Carpenters
and the matter was laid over until tomor-
| row.
A dispute between the International
typographical union, and the Allied Trades
over the ownership OF the allied printing
trades label was withdrawn from the con-
vention. All parties have agreed to Joint
meeting OF three delegates from each body
at which an agreement Will be framed.
II is understood representation is to be
given in accordance with numerical
strength in the allied printing trades eoun-
ellis, and supreme council composed OF
two representatives OF the typographical
and one each from the Printing Pressmen's s
and the Bookbinders' National union is to
be formed to which all local unions can ap-