The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-19
G0MPERS HOLDS
HIS MEN IN LINE.
Small Chance For Beating the
Federation President.
CANDIDATES ARE LACKING
EFFORT TO BOOM DUNCAN FOR
THE LEADERSHIP.

n EW ORLEANS, NOV. l8.-The sal
IN airy of the president Of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor was to-
day increased from 81 100 per annum
to $4,000, and the salary of the secre-
tary from $500 to $500.
The increases were voted after a long
debate. in which fully thirty delegates
participated. The original resolution,
presented by Delegate Berger of Mil
waukee, provided that they should be
$4,000 and 81. 400 respectively. The COM
mittee to which the matter was re-
ferred reported in favor of increasing
the salary of the president to $1,000 and
that Of the secretary to 81, 100, but the
report of the committee was voted
down and the salaries were increased
to the amount stated.
A feature OF the debate was the at
tempt of the socialists in the conven-
ion to fix the presidents salary at
$4,000, though they subsequently, on
motion of Max Hayes of Cleveland,
presented the resolution which fixed the
salary at $4,000.
Delegate Berger, speaking in behalf
OF the socialistic element which is op-
posed to the policy of the present ad-
ministration of the organization, al
though II has no particular objection
to either President Gompers or Secre-
tary Morrisons as individuals, urged
the resolution for a $4,000 salary, say
ing:
Berger Was Frank
This is not personal measure.
say frankly that If the socialists had
the power in this convention they
would turn out Gompers, MorrisOns
and the entire executive board and
elect socialists, in order to carry out
IN,
Federation of Labor. But the social
lists are fair, and they believe that
labor organizations should not exploit
their officers and employees. On the
contrary, labor organizations ought to
pay the best wages. Our treasury per-
Tnits it, and our organization, com
prising nearly one and half million
workers, ought to pay a fair salary"
The special committee having before
II the dispute between President Com
pers and President Shaffer of the
Amalgamated Association finally or
ganized this afternoon by selecting Lee
A. Tanquary of the telegraphers as the
fifth member.
II spent the entire afternoon in TAX
ing testimony, but does not expect to
be able to present a report before
Thursday morning. 1t is CONSIDERED
almost a foregone conclusion that the
report will be in favor of President
Gompers.
The committee on the presidents an
nual address presented its annual re-
mort and declared that it was opposed
to his suggestion of the formation Of
a national labor union. The conYen-
ton concurred with the committee.
In discussing the part of the report
concerning the refusal of the carpen-
tters to grant a charter TO the car tIItlla
ters of Porto Rico, in which language
thought by many to be too severe was
used. a long debate ensued on mo-
ton to strike out the Objectionable ex-
preston suggesting that the carpen-
ters come down to Mother Earth,
which was finally eliminated from the
report.
Rules Suspended.
The rules of the convention were then
suspended, and acting for the conven-
ton. Delegate James O'Connell pre-
sented to the fraternaI delegates, Ed
wards and Arrandale of Great Britain,
gold watches, and to Delegate Ken
nedy of Canada a diamond ring as
testimonials of esteem from the con-
ventiOn.
The committee on the report OF the
secretary reported that his recommen-
iation that bodies must have charters
for one year before they are entitled
to strike benefits be amended to six
months.
The committee on organizations made
a favorable report on the following
resolutions and the convention con-
Cured:
To organize into unions as far as
possible the 1900 employees of the bu-
reau Of printing and engraving in
Washington, D. c.
To bring about a reconciliation be-
tween the Team Drivers international
association and the National Team
sters' union Each organization agrees
to accept the finding of a committee OF
nine, three members of which are to
be selected by each organization from
its own membership, each three to Sc
iect one member from among the dele
gates to the present convention and
President GOmpeTs to present one mem
Der as a delegate to the convention
Each commission is to meet within
sixty days
The executive council reported un-
favorably upon the report of the
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join
ers asking for the revocation of the
charter of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Carpenters, on the ground that
the charges were not sustained. The
convention concurred in the recommen-
dation. At. 80 o'clock the convention
adjourned until tomorrow morning.
There is as yet no avowed candidate
for the presidency against Mr.. Com
pers. but there is quite an element
among the delegates who are opposed
to him, AMI they are casting about fol
a candidate. At present their choice
for the pos itiOn is Vice President James
Duncan. who has not, however, sale
that he win run. The anti-GOmper:
faction will make a strong effort t
induce him TO make the race. 1t Is
admitted, however, even by those whC
are opposed to Mr.. Gompers that there
is small chance for beating him.