The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-21
Comes Within 400 of Committing the
Organization to Industrial CO.
Operative Democracy.
MINERS WITH SOCIALIST
ON AN AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
DELEGATE w. ID. WILSON.
ExOneratiOn of President GOmpers Of
the Charges of Infdelity to Trade
Union Principles.

NEW ORLEANS Nov. 2O.-The Socialists
came within 400 votes of securing control
of the convention of the American Fedora
ton of Labor to-day. The struggle lasted
almost the entire day and a number oil
able speeches were made on both sides,
notably those of ID. A. Hayes, James Dun
can and President Gompers, against the
Socialists, and Victor Berger, Max Hayes
and w. b. Wilson, of the United Mine
Workers, in behalf of the resolution. In
troduced by Delegate Berger and amended
by Delegate Wilson in a manner acceptable
to Berger. The debate lasted until o'clock
in the evening, when a roll call showed
4744 votes against the amendment of Mr..
Wilson and 1874 in favor Of it. The miners
voted solidly in favor of the amendment.
No business was transacted in the con-
vention during the day other than that of
the debate and the report of the committee
which investigated the Gompers-Shaffer
trouble. President Gompers was exonerated
of the charges of infidelity to the principles
Of trades unions, said to have been made
by the president of the Amalgamated As
ISOLATION of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers.
The special committee which has conducted
the investigation reported to that effect
Gompers fell as fiat as a piece of dough
dropped from the clouds. 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.
p. j. Sheridan, who brought up in the
convention the resolution which resulted in
the investigation, was also present at the
hearing and was asked If it was true that
Mr. Shaffer had made any charges before
the last convention 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 10 have been made. Mr.. SHAFT
fer objected to this because the minutes
were those of secret meeting, and if read
by Mr.. Sheridan it would involve him in
trouble with his own organization for di-
vulging the inner workings of the conven-
ton. The committee decided that the ques-
ton of veracity between Mr.. Shaffer and
Mr.. Sheridan was something with which it
had nothing to do, and, there being no
charges against Mr.. Gompers, there was
nothing to do but return finding to the
effect that Mr.. Gompers was completely
exonerated. This was done, and the report
was adopted by the convention.
The convention then entered upon an ex-
tended debate in which at times consider
able feeling was shown on the resolutions
introduced By Victor l.. Berger, of Milwau-
kee, committing the convention to the doc
trines of socialism. The committee on reso-
lutiohs reported a similar committee had
reported at the Scranton convention of
last year that the principles of the trades
union movement contain all that Is neces-
sary at the present time for the advance
ment CT the workingmen of the country.
Delegate Max Hayes offered substitute
for the report of the committee to the eff
feet that the Federation advise the work
ing people to organize their economic and
political power to secure for labor the full
equivalent of its toll and the overthrow of
the wage system and establishing an in
dustrial cooperative democracy. The sub
stitute was ruled out of order by the chair
as being substitute for the report of the
committee, which was substitute for the
original resolution. Delegate Hayes then
offered 1t as an amendment and II was SO
admitted by the chair.
Delegate Wilson proposed to amend the
amendment by striking out the words and
the overthrowal of the wage system and
establishing an industrial cooperative de-
mocracy."
Delegate Hayes declared this acceptable
to him, but no action was taken and the
debate proceeded.
From 2 O'Clock in the afternoon until
$40 o'clock the debate went on, President
Gompers being the last speaker: He urged
the union men to adhere closely to union
principles declaring that their success is
greater than 1t would be If they followed
| any other decision than that under which
| they were organized. A motion made by
Delegate c. H. Barter to lay the matter
| on the table was lost A roll call was de-
| manded, the vote being on the adoption of
| the Wilson amendment to the Berger reso-
| luton. 1t was lost by vote of 4,7A to
4,3A.