The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-21
GOMPERS IS CLEAR.
Charges Against The Labor Leader
Proved 10 Be UnfOunded
WAS A PERSONAL AFFAIR.
The Federation of Labor Found No
Cause for Charges,
AGAINST SOCIALIST DOCTRINE.
The Convention Voted Down Seven Per.
tinent Resolutions.
FACTIONS WILL MAKE A COMPROMISE.
The Opposition to Gompers Is Fading
Away and There is No Doubt
He VIII Be Reelected.
Especial 70 the Post !,

New Orleans, November 20.-The storm
clouds rolled by and the white dove OF
peace lowered over the convention OF thu
American Federation Of Labor today The
action Of the convention yesterday in or
dering the differences between the Broth
erhood OF Carpenters and Joners and the
Amalgamated Association OF Carpenters set
tied by arbitration removed n bone OF CON
tention and the delegates were dlsposed 10
forget their past troubles when they met
today,
The features Of today's session were the
vindicatiou OF President Gompers nv the
special committee appointed TO lnvesti-
gate the charges made against him by
Delegate Sheridan Of New Castle. Pa. and
the defeat Of seven resolutions offered by
socialist delegates. The Gouipers investi.
eating committee reported that the charges
In the Sheridan resolution had been thor
oughly investigated and absolutely no evil
dence had been introduced witch could be
construed as impeaching the unonism Of
President GompeTs. The committee report
ed that President shafIer OF the Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers positively refused 10
make any charges against Gompers Inn
pugning HIS unionsm and also denied that
he had ever done so. Shaffer In his state
nlent TO the committee admitted that anent
the disputes growing ont Of the settlement
OF the steel strike OF his union In 1901 he
had called Gompers a liar and Gompers
had retorted calling him liar. The com
mlttee declared that the evidence left the
onus Of the charges on the shoulders OF
Delegate Sheridan OF New Castle. who in,
troduced the resolution TO investigate Com
pers. The committee found that the evil
dence showed that the difficulties between
shaffer and Gompers were entirely per
sonal were Of very small moment and had
nothing whatever TO do with unionism.
A long debate followed. which finally end
ed by the adoption Of the report by
unanimous vote.
SOCIALIST IDEAS REJECTED.
The debate over the seven resolutions
offered by socialist delegates consumed the
remainder Of the session President Com
pers left the chair and mnde long
speech In opposition 10 the resolutions He
vigorously assailed the doctrines Of the So
cnllsts and appealed to the convention
to place the stamp OF It's dlsapproval on
socialistic doctrines. The vote resulted in
the defeat of the resolutions by a small
majority.
The delegates representing the rival car,
penters' organizations held several confer.
ences during the day and renorted that
they are making good progress toward a
compromise. The opposition to Gompers
is melting away and II looks like he will
be reelected without serious trouble.
LITTLE BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
No business was transacted IN the con.
ventIon during the day other than that OF
debate and the report Of the committee
which investigated the Gompers.shaner
trouble.
President Gompers was completely exon
Grated Of the charges Of inhdelity TO the
principles Of trades unionism. The special
committee which has conducted the In
vestigatlon reported TO that effect this
morning before the convention.
The report was not a whtewash. The
charges against Mr.. Gompers fell as dat
as a piece OF dough dropped from the
clouds. The committee reported that
when Mr. shafer appeared before It be
declared that he had not at any time in
writing or otherwise made any charges
against Mr.. Gompers OF inhdelity to trades |
unionsm. nor did he desire to do so before
the committee.
For the time being at least all opposition
TO the election OF Mr.. Gompers has died |
ont Since the refusal OF James Lynch OF
the Typographical union to run for the |
Office no further effort has been made to
secure a candidate. nor IS II likely that |
there will be a rival candidate.
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