Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-17
OLD FEUD REVIVED
Gompers-Shafer Trouble to
Be Investigated.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED
sHAFFER CHARGED BAD FAITH
OF A LIEUTENANT.
Quite Stir on the Floor of the Con-
vention of American Fedora
ton of Labor.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED

| NEW ORLEANS, November 1.-THE ole
| dispute between President Shaffer of the
Amalgamated Association of Steel Workers
| and President Gompers of the American
| Federation of Labor broke out afresh In
| the labor convention this morning, and
there is every prospect that on this occa-
sion the fight will be to a finish.
A resolution was adopted calling for an
investigation of the charges originally made
by Shaffer against Gompers. Both parties
announced that they courted the investiga-
ton, and it will be referred to a special
committee of five, two to be selected by
President Gompers, two by President Shat
fer and the four to choose the fifth. After
the adjournment President Shaffer asserted
with great emphasis:
Shaffer Charges Collusion.
THE entire thing Is a scheme to injure
me and to discredit me so that 1 cannot be
reelected. 1 had no part in the presenta-
tion of the resolution offered by Sheridan
and I believe that he and Gompers are in
collusion regarding it,"
When this statement was made to Mr..
Sheridan he denied that there was any CO.
operation between himself and President
Gompers. The latter said: Mr.. Shaffer
may be entirely correct when he says he
did not desire the introduction of the reso-
luton, but it is utterly false to say that 1
am in league with Sheridan or anybody
else in this matter"
After the investigation Of charges against
the president had been temporarily disposed
of President Gompers said to the Associated
Press:
There is nothing in my connection with
the labor movement that l wish concealed.
l have always acted with a single eye to
the best interests Of the laboring men of
the country. I welcome the investigation
in order that the matter may be finally dis
posed Of"
To Represent Gompers.
President Gompers announced that the
two members of the special committee rep
resenting his interests to be John A. Mof-
fat of the United Hatters and Edgar A
Agard of the Glass Bottle Blowers Union
Mr.. Shaffer said that he was not prepared
to announce his members of the committee.
A resolution that before any union shall
make demand for a change of wages or
conditions be referred to the central body
for action was reported adversely by the
committee on boycotts, and its action was
sustained by the convention.
For Suffrage in the District.
w. E. Kennedy, general organizer of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. has prepared a resolution which
he expects will raise something of con-
test upon the floor of the convention. 1t
is to the effect that the present local gov
ernment of the District of Columbia is an
tiquated, and that the residents of the Dis
trict should be allowed to vote. The reso-
luton is certain of opposition, as it is the
avowed policy Of the federation to refrain
from political matters.
There Is a strong probability that the ex-
ecutive council be enlarged from nine to
eleven members at the present convention,
and that one of the additional members will
be representative of the socialist wing Of
the labor unions.
The socialists claim that they control
nearly one-third of the votes cast in the
convention, and feel fairly confident of
getting one man into the board. There is
strong element opposed to the increase In
number and the socialists say they do not
expect to win without a fight, but they do
expect to have won that much when the
fight is over.
But two cities have SO far been mentioned
as the place for the next convention, Buff
falo and Milwaukee. The latter place
claims the better right, as it has been
candidate three times and on each occasion
has withdrawn in favor of the place in
which the convention is held.