The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-19
Amount Paid the Secretary of the Or
ganization Increased from ST.
500 to $4,000.
OLD AGE PENSIONS WANTED
SOCIALIST DELEGATE THINKS $12 A
MONTH SHOULD BE PAID.
Special Committee Likely to Decide
the ShafYer-Gompers Controversy
I'm Latters Favor.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1S-The salary of
the president of the American Federation
of Labor was this afternoon increased from
81. 100 per annum to 5000 and the salary
of the secretary from $500 to $500. The
increases were voted after long debate,
in which fully thirty delegates participated.
The original resolution. presented by Dele
gate Berger, of Milwaukee, provided that
they should be $1,000 and $500. respective
ly. The committee to which the matter
the salary of the president to $500 and
that of the secretary to $500.
The special committee having before it
disputes between President Gompers and
President shaffer, of the Amalgamated AS
ISOLATION, finally organized this afternoon
by selecting Z. A. Tangueray. of the tel
egraphers. as the fifth member. 1t spent
the entire afternoon in taking testimony.
but does not expect to be able TO present
report before Thursday morning. 1t is
considered almost a foregone conclusion
that the report will be in favor OF Presi-
dent Gompers.
In replying to addresses by Mr.. Edwards
and other fraternal delegates, President
Gompers spoke at considerable length.
clared that he had received copies of news
papers from all parts of the country. some
commenting favorably, others adversely,
upon the criticisms made in his annual ad-
dress upon President Eliot, of Harvard
College "for calling a strike breaker a
hero" He upheld the position he had taken.
declaring that President Eliot belonged to
the school which believes that matters
mi
breaker, he declared, was an economic out
cast as much a traitor TO the cause of
labor as any man who betrayed his country
I'm time of war
A resolution pledging the federation to
use every effort to defeat legislation against
railroad ticket brokers and anti-scalping
bills was favorably reported and adopted
as also was a resolution pledging the aid
of the federation in securing increased pay
for letter carriers.
The resolutions introduced by Victor L.
Berger, of Milwaukee, instructing the Fed
Grafton OF Labor 10 use its best efforts to
induce the national Congress To pass bill
securing TO every wage-earner who shall
have reached the age OF sixty years with
out having had an average annual income
of $1,000. pension of $12 per month pro-
vided that the wage-worker is a citizen of
the United States and has resided i'm this
country for twenty-one years when the an
plication for pension is made. The resolu-
ton was unfavorably reported. Mr.. Berger
made an urgent appeal for the passage OF
the resolution.
Delegate Charles Sherman. of the United
Metal Workers, also asked the passage of
the resolution, saying that the wage-Work-
ers of the country had as much right to a
pension when they were worn out in the
harness as any man who was directly en-
ployed in its service. when we ask the
government for anything" he said, 1--WE
must remember that we are asking our
selves, for we are the government" Great
applause greeted Mr.. ShermanS address at
frequent intervals.
James y. Lennon opposed the resolution
because of the increased taxation II would
bring and declared that the workingmen
wanted no charity. If they must have old
age pensions II should come from the trades
unions and not from the government
A large number OF resolutions pertaining
to labels and matters of like Importance
were transacted, and at $50 the convention
adjourned until morning at o'clock.
There is as yet no avowed candidate for
the presidency against Mr.. Gompers, but
there is quite an element among the dele
gates who are opposed to him and they are
casting about for candidate. At present
their choice for the position is Vice Presi-
dent James Duncan. who has not however
said that he will run. The anti-Gompers
faction will make a strong effort TO induce
him to make the race 1t is admitted how
ever, even by those who are opposed to
Mr.. Gompers, that there Is small chance for
beating him.