The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-13
STRIKES BACK.
President GOmpers of American
Federation Calls No Names
But Evidently Referred to Pres
ident Eliot of Harvard.
DEFENDS THE ORDER
From Attacks Recently Made by
the Cambridge Man.
Six Hundred Delegates Convene
at New Orleans.
DEFENDS THE ORDER

New Orleans. Nov. 13.-The twenty
second annual convention of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor met this
morning at 10:30 in Odd Fellows hall
with about 600 delegates present.
The visiting delegates were escorted
from the official headquarters by mem
bers of the local trades and labor as
sembly headed by Robert E. Lee, presi-
dent of the local organization and by
James Leonard, the federation organic
er for the state of louisiana
When the convention had been called
to order, President Lee of the New Or
leans organization, delivered an address
on behalf of the laboring man of New
Orleans to which Mr.. Gompers re-
sDonded.
with warm tribute to President Com
pers personally, declaring that the
members of the federation would fol-
low him to the end.
Mr.. Gompers declared in his reply
that he fully appreciated whatever was
said of him personally and thought he
could best show his appreciation by his
silence regarding it.
After touching on the scope and
bearing of the labor movement Presi-
/ dent Gompers declared that there was
great ignorance among so-called educa-
4 ted people regarding the aims and OBJ
| JectS or the organization.
4 mo man who has education" said
! he, and poses as strike breaker is
fit for the position he holds. COMPARED
1 to such a man Benedict Arnold was
martyr and Judas Iscariot a sainT''
Although no name was mentioned, it
was understood by the delegates that
reference was made to the head of one
| of the leading educational institutions of
4 the country and they applauded with
| vehemence. cheers were again called
forth " dafeI rod hat
man who acted the role of a strike
breaker was looking backward toward
barbarism and not toward the future.
A call was made for the report of the
committee on credentials and that body
not being entirely prepared considera Bile
delay resulted. The report declared that
! sixty-nine national organizations, nine
state orga nizations, fifty-ive central
bodies, fifty-four local and federal
bodies. and four fraternal. delegates had
/ reported and were entitled to repre-
/ sentatiOn. The total voting strength of
/ the bodies represented by the delegates
was about ten thousand.
1t was recommended that credentials
be denied to a number of delegates who
were opposed chiefly because of nom
| payment of dues. A protest against the
seating of the delegates of the Amalga-
( mated Association of Carpenters was
made by the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners. Upon motion
the contest was referred back to the
/ committee for further action.
James Duncan moved that a special
| committee be appointed to which all dis
putes between the branches of the
building trades should be referred, this
| committee to report to the convention
! This motion, which removed much of
the work incidental to the dispute be-
| tween the carpenters. from the floor of
the convention, was adopted.
A special committee also was appoint
ed to consider the differences between
/ the longshoremen and other organiza-
tions who claim the former are intrud-
ing upon their territory
! Upon motion of Delegate Duncan the
I convention adjourned to meet at p. nn
for which time the report of the Off
GERS of the organization was on the
programme.