Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-23
Pres. Gompers Reelected by
American Federation Of Labor.
Socialistic Candidate and Socialism
Turned Down, 1854 to 1884.
Well. Deserved Tribute to Gompers by
Well. Meaning Men.

end the convention was unable to COM
plete it's business.
It will have to convene on Monday
although 1t has already spent two
weeks in considering the various mat
ters affecting the interests Of the organ
ization.
Yesterdays session was devoted al
most wholly to the election of officers
while in the evening matters of trade
jurisdiction, some OF which were re-
garded as the most important phases
of the entire session of the convention
were considered.
Pres. Samuel Gompers was reelected
as head of the organization by an over
whelming vote over his opponent, Ernst
Kreft Of the Typographical Union OF
Philadelphia. Pres. Gompers received
1854 votes to 1874 for Kreft. 1t was
expected that the Socialists, who had
put Delegate Kreft forward, would
have made a motion to make the cleo
tiOn Of Pres. GOmpers unanimous, but
they did not do so.
That Pres. Gompers received some
hundreds of votes which at other times
during the progress of the convention
have been classed as Socialist was ap-
parent when the next fight for a place
on the ticket took place.
After the vote was announced Pres.
Compers was introduced by Martin P.
Higgins, who was in the chair and he
was greeted with great applause
Pres, Samuel Gompers.
First vice pres. James Duncan.
Second vice pres, John Mitchell.
Third vice pres, James O'Connell.
Fourth vice pres. Max Morris.
Fifth vice pres, Thomas l., Kidd.
Sixth vice pres, Denis A. Hayes.
Seventh vice pres. Daniel j. Keefe.
Eighth vice pres, William J. Spencer.
Treas, John B. Lennon. :sA -
Sec. Frank Morrison.
Delegate to Great Britain w. D.
Ryan. 81
Delegate to Great Britain, Dennis d,
Driscoll
Delegate to Canada, John H. Rich
ards. s.se
The convention then proceeded to
select city for the holding Of the next
convention. Five cities were proposed,
San Francisco. st. Louis, Indianapolis,
Chicago and Milwaukee. The city re-
ceiving the highest number Of votes
was to be the place selected, and San
Francisco won by an overwhelming
Majsrisy. a-l~ %a4~ e. ~
while the secretaries were>totaling the
votes John Wesley Hutchinson Of Lynn
the old-tme singer for abolition and the
8-hour day. sang the song of labor and
was literally applauded.
The evening session began at 7.4O. The
question of a quorum was raised at once
and on a count it was discovered tina!
only 172 delegates were present, n less
than required for a quorum. On request
the delegate who had raised the question
of quorum withdrew it, and the conven
ton proceeded to business.
After considerable sparring the quorum
question was taken up again temporarily
and the secretary moved that the law
committee change the rule governing a
y quorum. so that the convention hereafte.
sIhays do business with a NUMBER smaller
sst66n hall, Of the whole number of dele.
gates THIS mntier was carried with onl,
few dissenting votes.
Pres. GdmpeE ffen personally counted
the delegates otlad 95s present-fou:
more than peiPf1 -
At this point IN Snmlttee on laws re.
one-fourth. Deiesats Kemperr Of Cincin
natl spoke strongly against the proposed
vote.
John Mitchell said the delegates were
tired and he proposed that recess be
taken till Monday morning. His motion
was opposed by First Vice President
Duncan, and in the interest of harmony
Mr.. Mitchell withdrew it.
The first business question taken up was
that of jurisdiction between the Allict
Metal Mechanics and the Brotherhood OF
Blacksmths as to which should have tn,
blacksmiths' helpers affiliated with them
Both bodies wanted the helpers. BY 81 I,
7S 1t was voted that the executive council
might reopen the case. An hour and
half was consumed in the discussion O
this question
The next topic was the brotherhood o
Painters and Decorators claim for juris
dtction over the carriage painters TIL,
Carriage and Wagon Workers disputed
the justice of this The committee OF
grievances recommended that the Paint
ers and Decorators have jurisdiction Thi
recommendation was adopted on viv;
voCe vote.
The next question was whether the diff
ferences of the Brockton Central Labo
Union ard the Bakers Union on the ques
ton Of union label and non-union labe
yeast should be referred to the executiv
council for speedy action.
1t was stated that the Brockton Contra
Labor Union has unseated the delegate
against the label of the A. f. of L., an,
the committee recommended that the ex
ecutive council take action to protect an,
further discrimination against the label o
the "A. F. of l.. 1t was denied that Their
was discrimination.
Delegate D. ID. Driscoll wanted the ques
ton referred and not debated at length
on the floor of the convention.
Delegate Emil Schaerer of the Baker,
and Confectionery Workers. claimed tn,
unseating of the delegates in question
was entirely unealled for and he wantet
n nd fsy,rx t11@
of the matter.
1t was voted that they be so reinstatet
temporarily. and the whole question wa.
referred to the executive council
The delegates then took recess unit
tomorrow morning. The convention will
probably finish Its deliberations some
time tomorrow. but there is no certaint,
that this will be possible. Many of the
delegates have been obliged to leave fol
home. but there will be a large enough
attendance, tomorrow. to transact bust
ness In representative manner.
Boston. Nov. 22.-After two weeks of &C