The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-18
American Federation President Pit
ted Against the President of the
AmaIgamated Association.
ECHO OF GREAT STEEL STRIKE
GOMPERs ACCUSED OF REFUSING TO
HELP HIS FELLOw-LEADER.
shaffer's Secret Circular Read-W. B.
Wilson in the Chair-SpeciaI COM
mittee of investigation.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 17.-Either Theo-
dore Shaffer, president of the Amalgamat-
ed Association of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers., or Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor, is
destined to pass under a cloud. The
eclipse may be temporary, and the man
who goes under may emerge at some
other time, but an eclipse there will be
for one or the other. 1t is a fight to the
finish, and at present odds favor Gompers.
The trouble which so suddenly came to
a point in the convention Of the American
Federation of Labor this morning is ar
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 Shat
fer. After his association had been de-
feated. President Shaffer did not hesitate
to utter charges of a serious nature
against President Gompers. as we'll as
against John Mitchell, president of the
United Mine Workers, and Frank Sargent,
OF the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
He asserted that the organizations over
which these men presided, while listening
TO the advice of their leaders, refused to
leDQ a nelplnS manu- u lie AIndlSdIldleu
Association, and had even fought against
it in the dark. The charges were lev
eled against Mr.. Gompers in particular,
and the following extracts from the Sc
cret circular issued by President Shaffer
show more specifically their scope and
nature.
SHAFFER'S SECRET CIRCULAR.
In this circular President Shaffer says:
when we had almost completed arrange
ments with representatives Of the Ameri-
can Tin Plate Company for scale rates
and conditions we were in good condition
to win without their help, but looked for
aid from other labor bodies, some of which
were pledged. and to the general public,
but especially relied up the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, which body we have been
affiliated with ever since its inception and
toward which we have never failed TO con-
tribute. Even during our own strike We
contributed to the machinists' union a tax
levied by the American Federation of La
Dor. AS the strike went on the American
Federation of Labor gave us not a cent.
The Flint Glass Blowers, the Window
Glass Blowers. the Bottle Blowers and
the Pottery Workers unions gave us help.
Perceiving that lack of money, loss of pub
lie approval, assertions by hundreds of our
own people and neglect of other organized
bodies would make ii impossible to gain a
decisive victory, we endeavored to save
what We could.
81 arranged for Mr.. Gompers to meet Mr..
Morgan to effect a settlement. Mr.. Morgan
gave up his vacation, went to New York
and waited for Mr.. Gompers, who failed
to appear; nor has ne since explained why
urged me TO hurry from Pittsburg to New
York and sign the wage scale offered by the
trust through a committee of which Comp
did they want your president to go down
to New York? Mr.. Gompers said TO me:
The president of the steel workers. as an
Individual, recommends that you take a
stand for the proposition you have made.
L have done the same and would do so
again.
ences for the object of calling out the
miners and railroad men on strike to help
us. They assured US they were willing to
come In thousands, but they had not been
called. The trust was more sure with
other organized labor bodies against us.
Our people finally became discouraged and
ordered a settlement. We saved the wage
scale and the Amalgamated Association"
WILSON CALLED TO THE CHAIR.
This circular came to the notice of Presi-
dent Gompers last fall, and he made a
reply denying that he had acted in bad
faith toward the Amalgamated Associa-
ton. There the matter slumbered until
this morning. The convention was drag
ging along slowly. there being but few
A0RoAS W A1POtk anu Oil u
journment was imminent. Delegate ]. p.
Sheridan, of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton, a colleague of Mr.. Shaffer, rose and
said: II have here a resolution, and as the
time for the introduction of resolutions has
passed, L ask the unanimous consent of the
convention for its admission. / intended
to offer it on Saturday. but one Of the par
ties most interested. was not here, and i
could not do il. He has arrived, and / now
ask for its admission. 1t relates to charges
against President Gompers.'
A hush fell upon the convention. and
President Gompers. rising slowly, said: Il
wish Delegate Wilson. of the Mine Work.
Mr.. Wilson took the gavel and asked
"Are there any objections to the resolu-
tions?"
81 object" said Delegate Agard. of the
Glass Bottle Blowers, unless the conven-
ton is first informed of the scope and ma
ture of the resolutions
at will be read" said the chairman
before the question of its admission is
put" and Delegate Sheridan read as fol.
whereas, President Shaffer. of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron. Stee
and Tin Workers, at their last convention
against President Gompers. of the Amer.
lean Federation OF Labor. which i'm
peaches his fidelity to the principles OF
Resolved. That the federation appoint g
committee to investigate said charges anC
report finding TO the convention, in order
that the truth may be known"
II object" shouted a delegate at the fal
end OF the hall.
Instantly President Gompers was on hi.
feet and Mr.. Shaffer started toward the
front Of the platform, both intent on Sc
curing the withdrawal Of the objection
Mr.. Gompers spoke first. saying: 81 hop,
my friend will withdraw his objection
"All right, / withdraw IT," was the reply
Then. facing the convention. Mr.. Gomper.
said: 1T is quite immaterial to me whaI
course is pursued. my only request beine
that prompt action be taken on the reso
luton. Its contents, in a few minutes
will be spread broadcast throughout tn,
country. / don't want this matter to drag
All eyes then turned on Mr.. Shaffer
whose tall form was erect at the foot OF IN,
platform upon which Mr.. Gompers sat
His face was flushed. and he spoke rap
idly.
'I ask" he said. "I urge, and. yes. I de
mand the fullest investigation of thes,
charges
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
President Mahon. of the Street Car Men,
Association. at once made a motion tina
the matter be referred TO a special com
mittee OF five. Vice President Duncan of
fered an amendment. which was accepte,
by Delegate Mahon. providing for the ap
pointment OF a committee of five members
Mr.. GonIpers to name two. Mr.. Shafer two
and the fou: a fifth. This motion wa.
adopted by the convention, and Mr.. Conn
ers named as his representatives John A
Motif, Of the United Hatters, and Edgal