The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-20
The Federation President Is Com
pletely Exhonerated of the
Charges Against Him.
The Convention To-day. Enters On
an Extended Debate on
Socialism.
The Committee on Resolutions Re-
ports Against the Berger
Resolutions.

New Orleans. La, Nov. 20.-President
Gompers has been completely eXonerated
Of the charges of infidelity to the prlncl-
ples of trades unionism made by Theodore
J. Shaffer. president Of the Amalgamated
Association Of Iron, Steel and Tin Work
xrs. The special committee reported this
morning to the convention of the Amer
fcan Federation. The charges fell fiat.
The committee reported that when Mr..
&haffer appeared he declared that he had
BOT at any time, either in writing or
otherwise, made any charges against Mr..
Gompers of infideity to trades uniOnism
nor did he desire to do so before the COM
mission.
P j. Sheridan. who offered the resolu-
tion which resulted in the investigation.
was asked If it was true Mr.. Shaffer had
made any charges before the last con-
pention Of the iron. steel and tin workers
against Mr.. Gompers and he replied that
he had.
Mr.. Shaffer denied it.
Mr.. Sheridan offered to read the min
utes Of the meeting.
Mr.. Shaffer objected because the min
if read by Mr.. Sheridan it would involve
him in trouble with his own organiza
ton.
The convention decided that the ques-
ton Of veracity between Mr.. Shaffer and
Mr.. Sheridan was something with which
charges against Mr.. Gompers there was
nothing to do but return a finding that
Mr.. Gompers was completely exonerated.
Socialism Again.
The convention then entered upon an
extended debate in which at times consid
cradle feeling was shown, on the reSolu-
tions introduced by Victor L. Berger Of
Milwaukee. committing the federation to
the doctrines Of socialism. The commit
tee on resolutions reported, as a similar
committee had reported at the Scranton
convention Of last year, that the principles
of the trades union movement contain all
that is necessary at the present time for
the advancement of the working men Of
the country.
Delegate Max Hayes offered an amend
ment to the effect that the federation adj
wise the working people to organize their
economic and political power to secure
for labor the full equivalent of its toll and
The overthrow of the wage system and es-
sablishing an industrial, cooperative
democracy.
Delegate Hayes took the floor in defense
of his amendment as did Berger. Ward,
Brewer and Sherman. In opposition and in
favor of the report Of the committee were
Delegates D. A. Hayes, Vice President
Duncan, Lewis Duffy. and others. . !
Delegate Wilson proposed to amend the
amendment by striking out the words
and the overthrowal Of the wage system
and establishing an Industrial co-opera-
tive democracy -' & *
Delegate Hayes declared this acceptable
to him. but no action was taken and the
debat proceeded.
80 George Innes. Of the freight handlers of
New Orleans. informed the convention
that an injunction had been issued by a.
local court restraining his organiza ton
from holding meetings and asked the ad-
vice of the chairman. He was told by
President baf fLo
the union were engaged in no unlawful act
to go ahead with their meetings.
An adjournment was taken at noon nm
Till 2 with the socialistic debate in prog
ress.
No Opposition to Gompers.
For the time being all opposition to the
election Of President Gompers has died
out. Since the refusal Of James Lynch
of the typographical union, to run, no fur
Their effort has ben made to secure a can
didate nor Is it likely at the present time
that there will be rival candidate.