Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-11-21
GOMPERS UNDER FIRE
Shaffer's Fight Against Him BObs
Up in A F. OIL. Convention.
ECHO OF GREAT STEEL STRIKE

new OTleduSs NOV. 4os--bllueE luS- =
Odore Shaffer, president of the Anal
gamated Association, or Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, is destined to pass
under a cloud. The eclipse may be
temporary and the man who goes un-
der 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 present odds favor GOmpers. The
trouble which so suddenly came to a
point in the convention Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor yesterday is
an echo of the great steel strike
against the United States Steel COM
pany, which was fought and lost last
year by the Amalgamated Association
under the leadership of Shaffer. After
his association had been defeated
President Shaffer made serious
charges against President Gompers, as
well as John Mitchell, president Of the
United Mine Workers. and Frank Sar-
gent, of the Brotherhood Of Railway
Trainmen. He asserted that the or
CARNATIONS over which these men pre-
sided had. while listening to the Rd-
vice OF their leaders, refused to lend a /
helping hand to the Amalgamated /
Association and had even fought /
against it in the dark.
Part of the charges are as follows:
"As the strike went on the federation 1
gave not a cent. The flint glass
blowers, the window glass blowers,
the bottle blowers and the pottery
workers gave us help. l arranged for
Mr.. Gompers to meet Mr.. Morgan to
effect settlement. Mr. Morgan gave
up his vacation, went to New York
and waited for Mr. Gompers, who fail
er to appear, nor has he since ex-
planned why he neglected our inter
ests. Mr.. GOmpers urged me to hurry
from Pittsburg to New York to sign
the wage scale offered by the trust
through a committee of which Com.
pers and John Mitchell were mem
bers."
Delegate Sheridan yesterday offered
in the convention the following resi-
luton:
Whereas, President Shaffer, Of the
) Amalgamated Association. at their
last convention, held in Wheeling, w.
: Va, made charges against President
Gompers, of the American Federation
Of Labor. which impeached his fidelity
to the principles of unionism, there
fore be 1t
Resolved, That the federation ap-
. point a committee to investigate said
charges and report its findings to the
convention in order that the truth may
be known"
. Mr.. Gompers, addressing the con
:. vention, said: ut is quite immateria
= to me what course is pursued, my ONLY
request being that prompt action b.
taken on the resolution. do not wan
- this matter to drag"
- All eyes then turned on Mr.. Shaffer
= who stood at the foot of the platform
upon which Mr.. GOmpers sat. Hi
face was flushed and he spoke rapid
I. ly. 81 ask" he said, 81 urge, and, yes
- l demand the fullest investigation o
N these charges"
President MahOn. of the Street Car
mems Association, at once made a ms
4, ton, which was adopted, that tn
matter be referred to a special con
20 mittee of five. An amendment wa
= offered and accepted that the CONVEX
~ tion's committee consist Of five men
% bers, Mr.. Gompers to name two. M
q Shaffer two and the four a fifth.
~ Last night Mr.. Shaffer said he wa
at not aware of the fact that the resOll
a ton was to be introduced in the col
a. vention until the opening day, and thu
cd he protested against it, as he had I
alt. proofs with him by which to prove Ii
Inn charges.
III The special committee finally o
ne ganized this afternoon by seleC
ing F. A. Tangueray, Of the Tel
ed graphers, as the fifth member tt
res other members of the committee arr
lat Named by ME- Compensation
Moffatt, of the United Hatters, al
Edward A. Agard, of the Glass BOtt
Blowers Union. Mr. Shaffer named
NJ. Slayton, Of the Carpenters al
Joiners', and W. H. Haskins. Of 4
United Mine Workers of Ohio.
The committee spent the aft
noon in taking testimony, b
does not expect to be able to prese
p report before tomorrow. 1t
considered almost a fOregone conc
~, sion that the report will be in faV
of President Gompers.
)ed The salary Of President GOmpt
was increased from $2,100 per
a. mum to $4,000, and the salary OF
secretary from $1,000 to $1,000. 7
nc increases were voted only after 10
debate. The resolution presented
Delegate Berger, of Milwaukee, p
vided that they should be $4,000 a
81, 400 respectively. The committee
which the matter was referred repo
ed in favor of increasing the salary
the president to $1,000, and that of
81 secretary to $1,000.
The committee on the presiden
annual address presented its repo
BE and declared that 1t was opposed to
suggestion of the formation Of a
tional labor union. The convent
eoncurred with the committee in
sold cussing that portion Of the rep
dealing with the refusal of the c
Denters to grant charter to the c
penters OF Porto Rico, using langu
thought by man to be too severe,
pods a long debate ensued on = mo.'O I
strike out the Objectionable exp
sion suggesting that the Carpeni
come down to mother earth, WI
A' =, was finally eliminated.
Will Under a suspension Of the ru
was Delegate James O'Connell preser
be the fraternal delegates, Edwards
We a Arrandale, of Great Britain, with
/; but watches, and Delegate Kennedy,
so Canada, with diamond ring, as t
monials of esteem from the con
ton.
SWW A large number Of resolutions
AAA tanning to labels were submitted,
,;.,-. matters Of like importance were tr
80 acted, and at $50 O'Clock the con
'n0'l' ton adjourned until today.
new There is as yet no aYowed CO
price date for the presidency against
Gompers, but there is quite an
ment among the delegates who arr
posed to him, and they are cas-
about for a candidate. At pre-
IN their choice for the position
president is James Duncan, who
70 not said that he will run. The
RnmuaEM faeaiaA IN WaaB o a