The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-22
WOUND UP WITH
BITTER DEBATE
GOmpers and Mitchell Charged
With Being Traitors.
BOTH MADE ABLE DEFENSE
EXCITING SCENES AT Fedora
TON CONVENTION.

|
q AN FRANCISCO. Nov 21.-Fr5m
y the standpoint of the unexpected
and sensational. today's session of
| the American Federation of Labor was
the most exciting one yet held. During
the heated debate which followed the
unexpected intersection of the question
of socialism before the delegates. Sam
uel Gompers and John Mitchell were
charged with being traitors to the
cause OF labor. These charges and the
bitter socialistic debate which followed
were caused by the introduction of the
! following resolution by Delegate Victor
Berger of Milwaukee.
Socialist Resolution.
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 it obvious that capital
/ ism viii soon reach its elimination
point and will have to make room for
another phase of civilization; and,
| Whereas, 1t is evident that this ma
| ton is destined to take the lead in this
/ grand struggle for better conditions
and higher culture; therefore be it,
Resolved, That we hereby recon-
| mend to all organizations affiliated
| with the American Federation OF La
/ Dor to have their members study the
| economic conditions, to have lectures
! upon these subjects in their lodge
rooms and at the meetings set apart
! for this purpose and to do everything
| in their power for the enlightenment
and Intellectual advancement of the
proletariat."
oratory and Vituperation.
The resolutions committee reported
to the convention that It recommended
the adoption of the measure with the
exception of. the clause following the
first whereas. A socialist delegate
arose and asked why the particular
section be expurgated. This opened
| the f1OOdgates of oratory and vitupera-
| ton and the battle was not over until
an hour and fifteen minutes after the
regular time for adjournment By an
overwhelming vote, the delegates then
passed the resolution as recommended
by the committee and expressed their
confidence in John Mitchell and Samuel
Gompers.
Max Hayes. who championed the So
cialistic doctrine in a speech so aroused
the galleries that they cheered him for
several minutes. This caused President
Gompers to threaten to clear the hall
of all visitors if demonstrations Of the
kind were repeated. The debate be-
speeches of the session were made dur
ing its course.
Given the Lie.
Ordinations and determinations flew
| thick and fast. Feeling ran so high
that John Mitchell rose in the conven-
ton and stated that unless Delegate
Victor Berger of Milwaukee was able
TO prove his statement that he Mitch
! elD had been a traitor to the working
! man. 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 arose over a printed slip
distributed to some delegates which
! charged Mr.. Gompers and Mr.. Mitchell
with dining with President Eliot Of
Harvard. The article in question said
the place at which the mean was eaten
was an unfair house, and that Presi-
dent Eliot was the man who called the
"scab' a hero. II bore the heading,
Are They Traitors?"
Gompers Was Bitter.
The reply of President Gompers was
the most bitter and impsssioned and
the feeling among the delegates was
tense. He admitted the attendance
upon the dinner, but denied every in
ference drawn therefrom and declared
that as long as he was connected with
the labor movement he would fight
against politics being mixed with
unonism,
Mr. Mitchell made a quiet address,
but was accorded the closest atten-
ton. He was loudly applauded when
he said that he defed any man to point
to any act of his which might be in
terpreted as against the interests of
the workingmen.
The fight between the Chicago Fed
Grafton of Labor and the national or
ganiZatiOn, brought about by the ques-
ton CT trade autonomy, was partially
settled by permitting Delegate William
Schardt, president of the Chicago Fed
Grafton Of Labor, to have a seat and
voice in the present convention and
directly President GOmpers TO go to
Chicago within thirty days and en-
deavor to settle the dispute existing be-
tween the two big organizations. If
this could not be effected it was the
sense of the convention that the Chica-
go body be permanently suspended
from the American Federation of La
Dor.
Eight-Hour Report.
| Another action of far-reaching i'm
portance was that taken on the report
of special committee On the demand
by the Typographical union for an
eight-hour day. The convention voted
unanimously to endorse the demand
and pledged itself to aid the movement
financially by levying an assessment
on each of the millions ef members II
such a course should become necessary
The Typographical union has set jan
uary, 1906, as the time when the eight
hour day will be demanded by their
| organization.
Niagara Falls, n. Y, and Fort Worth
Tex, invited the delegates to hold Their
next annual session in the respective
cities.