The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-22
CALLED TRAITORS
TO LADOR'S CAUSE.
GoMPERs AND MITCHELL
HAD TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN
THE CONVENTION.

Leaders Were scored by Printed
slip Hecnuse They Had Dined
with President Eliot of Harvard
at nm sUnfair" IIouse--They Made
ImpnssiOned Replies I'm Their De-
Tense sociaIistic Resolutions
Provoked Exciting Debate.
San Francisco. Nov. 21.--To-day's
session of the Federation OF Labor was
most exciting.
During the heated debate which fol-
lowed the unexpected interjection Of the
question Of Socialism before the dele
gates. Samuel Gompers and John
Mitchell were charged with being trait
ors to the cause of labor.
These charges and bitter Soclalistic
debate which followed were caused by
the Introduction of the following reso-
luton by Delegate Victor Berger Of
Milwaukee,:
Whereas, the unprecedented con-
centration of wealth in the United
States, and the rapid development OF
the trusts In almost every branch OF
industry make II obvious that capital
ism will soon reach it's elimination
point and will have to make room for
another phase OF civilization: and
Whereas. it Is evident that this ma
tion is destined to take the lead in this
grand struggle for better conditions
and higher culture. therefore be IL
Resolved, that we hereby recon-
mend that all organizations affiliated
he Ta.f.<
to have their members study the e1oil-
omic conditions; to have lectures upon
these subjects In their lodge rooms,
homes and in meetings set apart for
this purpose, ana 10 10 every ytnang an
their power for the enlightenment and
intellectual Advancement OF the pr0ie-
tariat.y
vitups ration Began.
The Resolutions Committee reported
to the convention that 1t recommended
the adoption Of the measure with the
exception OF the clause following tho
first Whereas" A Socialist delegate
arose and asked why the particular
section should be expunged. This
opened the flood gates Of oratory and
vituperation.
Feeling ran so high that John Mitch
ell rose In the convention and said
that unless Delegate Victor Berger OF
ment. that he (MitchelD had been a
traitor to the workingrnen. he must
stand before the eyes of all present a
convicted liar. Then a motion was
made TO suspend the rules and allow
President Gompers and John Mitchell
an opportunity to defend themselves.
The trouble rose over a printed slip.
distributed to some delegates, which
charged Gompers and Mitchell with
ftft .fE -. a
University. The article in question
said the place at which the meal was
eaten was an unfair house. and that
President Eliot was the man who call
ed the "scab" a hero. II bore the
heading, Are they traitors?"
Gompers and Mitchell Reply.
The reply Of President Gompers was
bitter and imDassioned, and the feel
ing among the delegates was intense.
He admitted attending the dinner. but
denied every inference drawn therefrom
and declared that as long as he was
connected with the labor movement, he
would fight against the mixing of poll
/ tics with unionism.
Mr.. Mitchell defied any man to point
TO any act Of his which might be in
terpreted as against the interests OF
the working man.
By an overwhelming vote the dele
gates then passed the resolution as rec
commended by the committee and ex-
pressed their confidence IN Mitchell
and Gompers.
The Federation to-day took up the
annual report of President Gompers
and concurred In every recommendation
made by Mr.. Gompers.
A measure looking 10 Japanese ex-
clusion was unanimously favored by
the convention, after much discussion
by the Western delegates. The meas
ure provided for the exclusion OF Jap
anese on lines similar 10 the exclusion
Of Chinese. Not only did the convention
vote IN favor OF excluding these Mon
gollans from the mainland, but from
nXnlu lnalllar nnnann.lnn