Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-24
UNIONS
To CONVENE
At BOSTON
CITY OF BEANS is SELECTED
AS NEXT PLACE OF HOLDING
ANNUAL LABOR C0NVEN-
TION-0FFICERS ELECTED.

OF the charges OF infideIity to the primer
Piles OF trades unionism said to have been
made by Theodore ]. Shaffer, president
of the Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers.
The report of the special committee
which conducted the investigation report
ed to that effect this morning before the
convention of the American Federation of
Labor. The report was not a whitewash.
The charges against Mr. Gompers fell as
fiat as a piece of dough dropped from the
clouds. The committee reported that
when Mr.. Shaffer appeared before it, he
had not at any time either IN writing or
otherwise, made any charges against Mr..
Gompers of infidelity to trade -unionism
nor did he desire to do so before the COM
mittee.
P. ]. Sheridan, who brought up in the
convention the resolution which resulted
in the investigation, was also present at
the hearing and was asked il it were
true that Mr.. Shaffer had made any
charges before the last convention of the
Iron, Steel and Tin Workers against Mr..
Gompers and he replied that he had. Mr..
Shanfer denied IL. Mr.. Sheridan Of
fered to read from the minutes of
the meeting at which the charges
were said by h i'm to have been made.
Mr.. Shaffer objected to this, because the
minutes were those of a secret meeting
and if read by Mr.. Sheridan, 1t would
involve him in trouble with his own or
ganization for divulging the inner work.
ings Of the convention.
The committee decided that the question
of veracity of Mr.. Shaffer and Mr.. Sher-
idan was something with which it had
nothing to do and there being no charges
against Mr.. Gompers. there was nothing
to do but return a finding to the effect
that Mr.. Gompers was completely exon
Grated. This was done.
For the time being at least all opposition
to the election Of President Gompers has
died out. 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 il likely
at the president time that there will be
rival candidate.
The federation then entered into an
animated debate. At times considerable.
feeling was shown on the resolution in
PRODUCED by Victor L. Berger, Of Mil
waukee, committing the convention to the
doctrines of socialism.
The committee on resolutions reported
as a similar committee had reported at
the Scranton convention OF last year that
the principles of the labor union move
ment contain all that is necessary for the
present time for the advancement Of the
working men OF the country. Delegate
Max Hayes offered a substitute for the
report OF the convention to the effect
that the federation advises the working
people to organize their economic and
political power to secure for labor the full
equivalent of it's toll and the overthrow
of the wage system and establishment of
an industrial cooperative democracy.
The substitute was ruled out OF order by
the chair as being a substitute for the
report of the committee which was SUBJ
stitute for the original resolution. Dele
gate Hayes then offered 1t as an amend
ment and Il was so admitted by the chair.
George Innis, of the freight handlers Of
New Orleans, informed the convention
that an injunction had been issued by
local court restraining his organization
from holding meetings and asked the adj
vice of the chairman. He was told by
President Gompers that If the members
OF the union were engaged in no unlawful
act to so ahead with their meeting.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov 22.--Application
of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners for the revocation of the char
ter of the Amalgamated Association Of
Wood Workers was the first thing called
up in the labor convention yesterday.
Wednesday night this matter was laid
over to see II the two organizations could
not agree to amalgamate.
President Kidd, of the woodworkers, an
nounced that unless the carpenters would
where woodworkers had gone on strike
and the carpenters had taken their places,
the matter must be fought out on the
floor Of the convention. A long debate was
about to open, when Treasurer Lennon,
who had the chair. declared that but one
speaker on each side would be allowed
to address the convention on the subject
Delegate Kidd, of the woodworkers, ap-
pealed from the decision of the chair.
The appeal was successful, and the de-
bate, which gave every indication OF being
long one, was in full swing.
Speaker followed speaker, one accusing
the carpenters and the next denying the
statements made and bringing charges
against the woodworkers. The arguments
consumed practically the entire morning.
Delegate Harkins finally moved the pre-
vious question. The vote was taken on
the sub offered on Wednesday by
Delegate Wilson that the dispute between
the organizations be referred to a COM
mission of five from each organization,
and an umpire to be mutually selected, the
commission to meet within six days. The
proposition Of Mr.. Wilson was adopted.
Upon motion Of Delegate Agard the cleo
ton of oficers was made a special order
for Saturday morning at 10 o'clock
REFUSED TO ENLARGE
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
NEW ONLE<AANOt NON. IA TeSOlu-
ton introduced by Delegate Berger to in
crease the members of the executive coun-
/ ell from nine to eleven was reported ad-
/ Yersely by the committee on law in the
! labor convention this morning. Delegate
| II. n. Randall. of Birmingham, Ala,
/ spoke strongly in favor Of charging the
/ number for the reason that the south
and southwest was not represented on
/ the board and he believed 1t was entitled
/ to IL. John p. Reese, of the mine workers
/ spoke in favor of the report. as did
/ Charles Sherman, OF Chicago, of the metal
, workers. The report Of the committee
was adopted.
The report of the grievance committee.
| which was unfinished last night, was then
taken up. II related to internal affairs
| OF local unions and for the most part it's
sections were approved without debate.
] The election of officers was the special
| program at 10 o'clock and it was prompt
\ ly taken up at that hour.
! NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 22.-President-
| Samuel Gompers.
| First Vice PresiGent-James Duncan.
Second Vice President-John Mitchell.
/ Third Vice President-James C'Connell.
Fourth Vice President-Max Morris.
| Fifth Vice President-Thomas l. Kidd.
Sixth Vice observation-disclosures A. Hayes.
Treasurer-John B. Lennon.
| Secretary-Frank Morrison.
! Fraternal delegates to the next labor
convention of Great Britain-Max S.
/ Hayes and Martin Lawler.