The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-18

fine for the introduction Of resolutions
| has passed ask the unanimous consent
| of the convention for its admission.
intended to offer it on Saturday, but enc
| of the persons most interested was not
here and could not do 1t. He has ar
rived and l now ask for its admission
II relates to charges against President
Gompers."
hush fell upon the convention and
President Gompers rising slowly, SAID:
Wilson Called to Chair.
II wish Delegate Wilson OF the Mine
Workers, to take the chair.
Mr.. Wilson took the gavel and asked:
"Are there any objections to the resolu-
tiors?'
II object" said Delegate Agard, OF the
Glass Bottle Blowers, unless the conven-
ton is first informed of the ccope and
nature of the resolutions.
cit will be read" said the chairman,
"before the question of it's admission Is
put" and Delegate Sheridan read as fol-
lows:
Whereas, President Shaffer OF the
Amalgamated Association of Iron. Steel
and Tin Workers, at their last convention
held in Wheeling w. Va, made charges
against President Gompers of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, which impeach-
ed his fidelity to the principles of union
Ism, therefore be 1t
Resolved, That the Federation appoint
a committee to investigate said charges
and report it's findings to the convention
In order that the truth may be known.
81 object" shouted a delegate at the
far end OF the hall.
Instantly President Gompers was on his
feet and MFR. Shaffer started toward the
front of the platform, both intent on
securing the withdrawal Of the objection.
Mr.. Gompers spoke first, saying:
IT hope my friend will withdraw his
objection"
"AI right. I withdraw it," was the re-
play.
Then facing the convention Mr.. Com
pers said:
ut is quite immaterial to me what
course Is pursued. my only request being
that prompt action be taken on the resoiu-
zion. Its contents, in few minutes, Will
be spread broadcast through the coun-
try. I don't want this matter to drag.
Shaffer Urges Action.
All eyes then turned. on Mr.. Shaffer,
whose tall form was erect at the foot OF
the platform upon which Mr.. Gompers
sat. His face was flushed and he spoke
rapidly.
1T ask" he said 81 urge and yes,
VIC hhibSSS
charges"
President Mahon of the Street Car Mems
| Associate at once made a motion that
the matter be referred to a special COM
mittee of five.
| Yice-President Duncan offered an
/ amendment which was accepted by Dele
| gate Mahon, that of the five members,
| Mr.. Gompers name two. Mr.. Shaffer two
| and the four a fifth. This motion was
| adopted by the convention and Mr. Com
| pers named as his representatives John
| A. Moff1tt of the United Hatters and
Edgar A. Agard of the Glass Bottle Blow
ers' Association. Mr.. Shaffer later named
J. NJ Slayton Of the carpenters and join.
| ers, and W. H. Haskins of the United
| Mine Workers of Ohio. ~. ....-.-.
| When the COMMITTEES met In the even
ing,( but three members were present
| and after waiting for some time, II was
decided not to appoint the fifth member
or attempt any work until tomorrow.
The general opinion among the dele
gates is that Mr.. Shaffer is not In an
advantageous position. The investigator
came upon him as a surprise. he having
no knowledge of the matter until just
before the convention opened. Whatever
proof of his charges he may have else
| where. he has, by his own admission
| none with him. His only reliance to up
! hold the burden of proof which is on MIN
| is his personally narrative Of the great
| steel strike of 1901. He said late this al
| ternoon:
| "I was taken wholly unaware in this
| matter. I had not discussed the charges
which l made before the last convention
of our union. the United Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers. at Wheeling w. va, with
! Delegate Sheridan. / only knew one hour
before the opening of the convention that
| the resolution would be introduced.
| Shaffer Suspects Collusicn.
| "It looks to me as though Mr.. Sheri-
dan and Mr. Gompers were in collusion
| and by forcing me to bring charges
which they think 1 cannot substautiate to
| discredit me before the members OF the
| Amalgamated Association. so that l can
| not be reelected to the head or that or
| ganization. Then. too. ! tried to prevent
| the election of Mr.. Sheridan as a deie'
! gate to this convention, and that may
have something to do with the case.
"The charges made against Gompers
were included in little pamphlet whicf
7 sent out after the settlement OF the stee
| strike In 1901 I claimed that we were en-
titled to the aid of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor and inasmuch as we dls
not get It. charges were made that Presl
dent Gompers had acted in manner un
| friendly to the cause of organized laoor
II am confident that the members
our organization are too loyal to be draw
away by any such proceedings as this
and 1 am not worried about the matter II
the least"
Mr. Gompers said:
THE charges cannot be upheld becaus
there is no truth in them.
The best years Of my life have beel
given to the cause of organized labor. ar'
have never had thought or performe'
an action which was not intended for II
advancement. welcome any investiga
ton. There has been no collision be
tween Mr.. Sheridan and myself regard
ing the presentation of his resolution.
knew II was coming and so did Mr.. Shat
fer. My hope is that the special commit
tee will act promptly, that its repor
NAV follow closely upon the charges
Mr.. Sheridan declined to discuss tn
resolution at length, saying that 1t spok
for itself.
81 wish to deny, however" he said
that l am acting with Mr.. Gompers.
am not an admlrer of his, and If. whe
we elect a President. his is the only nam
mentioned, I will not vote for him.
When asked If Mr.. Shaffer's construc
ton of the motives actuating the intro
duction Of the resolution was correct, NJ
| cbaridap would only saw ut was not tT