Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-28
GOMPERS AND SHAFFER
Prospect of Lively Tilt Be-
tween the Leaders.
STEEL MEN DIVIDED
GoMPERS HAS ENTIRE SUPPORT
OF FEDERATION.
Great Interest Manifected in the Out
come of Controversy at
Wheeling.
STEEL MEN DIVIDED

WHEELING, W. Va. April 2s.-The
Amalgamated Association got down to real
business today. The wage committee fin
ished Saturday and was the first to report
this morning This will consume much
time. The convention goes over the report
in detail, discussing each feature. and even
If no opposition develops, il is a lengthy
procedure That there will be opposition.
however, goes without saying. The oppo-
nents of the new policy Of signing scales
will take advantage of this opportunity to
express their dsapproval Of the officers
tion. and this is where the minority report
of the wage committee will come I'm. The
report will probably take up the entire day.
There seems to be little doubt. however.
that the report will be indorsed by the con-
vention. President Shafrer seems to be in
control, and. unlike the result OF the fight
on contested seats, it will not be COM
promise.
The argument in favor Of the scales that
will be advanced to the convention will be
that the procedure was entirely constitu-
tional- 1t will be cited that the scales were
signed by the regularly authorized COM
mittee. and that the mill owners Were fully
Informed that the ratification Of the scales
depended upon action by the convention.
At the same time ii seems that the faith of
tiit conference committees Is BithEth 70 tHo
manufacturers that the scales Will be in
dorsed One reason for the advance sign
ing of the scales is that 1t removes poSsi-
hility of strife between the union and the
manufacturers for at least another year.
Shaffer-Gompers Controversy.
The imminence of another quarrel be-
tween the two foremost giants of labor,
Shaffer and Gompers. the first ntimation Of
which was published Saturday in Asso-
ciated Press dispatches. continued TO be the
topic of conversation among amalgamated
and other labor men yesterday.
More startling developments are expect
ed this week, and it is possible that the
matter may assume proportions that VIII
make it the sensation of the convention
and overshadow the regular business tran
sactions of the organization. That Com
pers will come here this week is now
thought to be certain. An answer TO
telegram of inquiry was received stating
that he had left the city, and that
thought he had gone to New York. Ma
tional Organizer Thomas Flynn. who was
here all day Friday and until o'clock
Saturday afternoon. will return today. IL
is understood that he will urge the neces-
sity of Gompers coming II the latter has
not already arrived before he gets back.
In the meantime the local Federati II
Labor leaders and the anti-Shaffer faction
are rallying around the Gompers' stanS rd.
before the amalgamation. II will probably
be the most exciting incident i'm the his
tory of the organization.
Flynn Denounced as Imprudent.
President Shafer's adherents not
mincng words in their denuncation of
Flynns coming. and Gompers action in
sending him here. They say Gompers had
no right to take unofficial newspaper re-
port of Shaffers address, and that Flynn is
imprudent in thinking he could get hear
ing
President Samuel GomperS Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor this afternoon de-
MED that there has been any renewal OF
the charge advanced several months ago by
President Shaffer of the Amalsamated As
So ciation of Steel and Iron Workers that
the American Federation of Labor and
resident Gompers had failed to assist the
association in its recent strike.
There is no charge" declared President
Gompers. The charge that was made 1
disproved long ago by the Amalgamated As
sociation's own documents. If any charge
should be made l am ready at any time II
go to West Virginia or anywhere else to
meet the accusers and effectualy disprove
it,