The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-18
.SHAFFER MUST SHOW
THAT HIS CHARGES AGAINST COM
PERS WE'RE TRUE.
ONE MAN OR THE OTHER
SEEMS DESTINED TO PASS UNDER
A CLOUD.

American Federation of Labor. in
Convention at New Orleans, Has a
Personal Matter to SettIe-COmmit-
tee Named TO Look Into It-ResOIu-
tons That Skaters Charges Be
PrObed Opposed by Some, but Both
Men Insisted Upon investigation.
What They Say.
New Orleans, Nov. 17.-Either Theo-
dore Shaffer, president of the Anal
gamated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers, or Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation of
Labor, seems destined to pass under a
cloud. 1t is a fight to the finish, and
at present the odds favor Gompers.
The trouble suddenly came to a
point in the convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor this morning,
as the echo of the great strike against
the United States Steel Company,
which was fought and lost last year
by the Amalgamated Association under
the leadership of Shaffer. After his
association had been defeated, Presi-
dent Shaffer did not hesitate to utter
charges of a serious nature against
President Gompers, as well as against
John Mitchell, president of the United
Mine Workers, and Frank Sargent of
the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men. He asserted that the organiza-
lions over which these men presided
had, while listening to the advice of
IN hpl
ing hand to the Amalgamated Assoc
citation, and had even fought against it
in the dark.
Charges Against GOmpers.
The charges were levelled against
Mr.. Gompers in particular. President
Gompers last fall made a reply. deny
ing that he had acted in bad faith
toward the Amalgamated Association.
There the matter slumbered until this
morning, when Delegate ]. p. Sheridan
of the Amalgamated Association, a
colleague of Mr.. Shaffer. rose and
offered a resolution relating to charges
against President Gompers.
Delegate Wilson. of the mine
workers, took the gavel, and Delegate
Sheridan read his resolution as fol-
lows:
Whereas President shaffer of the
Amalgamated Association of Steel
in Wheeling. w. Va, made charges
against President Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor. which
impeached his fidelity to the principles
of unionism. therefore. be it
RESOLVED, That the federation APP
point a commission to investigate said
charges and report finding to the con-
vention, in order that the truth may
be known"
Objections were offered to the ad-
mission of the resolutions, but both
President Gompers and President
Shaffer demanded the fullest investi-
cation of the charges.
Committee Will Investigate.
1t was finally decided by the con-
vention to name special investigation
committee of FIVE members, Mr..
Gompers to name two, Mr.. Shaffer
two, and these four to name a :lfth.
Mr. Gompers named as his represen-
tatives, John A. Moffitt of the United
Hatters, and Edgar A. Agard of the
Glass Bottle Blowers Association. Mr.
Shaffer named J. M. Slayton of the
Carpenters and Joiners, and w. II.
Haskins of the United Mine Workers
of Ohio.
The special committee did not ent or
upon it's work until evening. It was
announced that its work would not be
nnlShed during the nlSnt, ana PROD
ably not until late Tuesday.
The general opinion among the dele
gates is that Mr.. Shaffer is not in an
advantageous position.
What shaffer and Gompers Say.
81 only knew one hour before the
opening of the convention that the
resolution would be introduced" said
Mr.. Shaffer. ut looks to me as though
Mr.. Sheridan and Mr.. Gompers were
in collision, and by forcing me to
bring charges which they think ]
cannot substantiate, to discredit me
before the members Of the Anal
gamated Association, so that cannot
be reelected to the head of othat or
ganization."
Mr.. Gompers said:
"The charges cannot be upheld, be-
cause there is no truth in them. The
best years of my life have been given
to the cause of organized labor, and l
have never had a thought or performed
an action which was not intended for
its advancement. / welcome any in
vestigation. There has been no collusion
between Mr.. Sheridan and myself re-
garding the presentation of his reso-
luton. I knew 1t was coming and so
did Mr. Shaffer My hope is that the
special committee act promptly and
that it's report may follow closely upon
the charges"
Mr. Sheridan declined to discuss the
resolution at length, saying it spoke for
itself.
Il wish to deny, however" he said.
that l am acting for Mr.. Gompers.
am not an admirer of his, and if when
we elect a president, his is the only
name mentioned, / will not vote for