Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-22
LABOR and SOCIALISM
Heated Debate Developed Out
Of the Resolutions Intro
duced at Convention
SEVERE ATTACK ON eoMPERs
Bitter Charges are Made Against the
Labor Leader and Mitchell is Also
scored-The Lie Passed and Trouble
I ed-Misoellaneous News OF
che Day.

+ San Francisco, Nov. 22.-Monday s
session of the American Federation of
Labor was the most exciting held
During the heated debate which fol-
lowed the unexpected intersection Of
the question of socialism before the
delegates, Samuel Gompers and John
Mitchell were charged with being
traitors to the cause of labor. Those
charges and the bitter socialstic de-
bate which followed We're caused by
the Introduction of the following reso-
dlution by Delegate Victor Berger, Of
Milwaukee,:
Whereas, The unprecedented con-
federation of wealth in the United
States and the rapid development OF
industry make it obvious that capital
ism will soon reach it's elimination
point, and will have to make room
for another phase Of civilizations; 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 American Federation of Labor
to have their members study economic
conditions; to have lectures upon these
subjects in their lodge rooms, homes
and In meetings set apart for this pur
pose, and to do everything in their pow
er for the establishment Of the prole-
tariat."
The resolution committee reported
to the convention that 1t 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 should be expurgated This
opened the floodgates of oratory and
vituperation, and the battle was not
over until an hour and fifteen min
utes after the regular time for adj
journment. BY an overwhelming vote
the delegates then passed the resolu-
tons as recommended by the commits
tee, and expressed their confidence in
John Mitchell and Samuel Gompers
Max Hayes. who championed the
socialistic doctrine, in a speech so
reused the galleries that they cheered
him for several minutes. This caused
President Gompers to threaten to clear
the hall of all visitors IL demonstra-
tons Of the kind were repeated. The
debate became warmer, and some of
the best speeches of the session were
made during its course. EXAMINATIONS
and recriminations flew thick and fast.
Feeling ran SO high that John Mitchell
rose in the convention and stated that
unless Delegate Victor Berger of Mil
waukee was able to prove his state
ments that he (MitchelD had been
traitor to the working man. he must
stand before the eyes of all present
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
ever printed slip distributed to some
delegates which charged Mr.. Gompers
and Mr.. Mitchell with dining with
President Eliot OF Harvard. The ar
ticle in question said the place at
which the rleal was eaten was an UNI
fair house, and that President Eliot
u
here. 1t bore the heading: Are they
traltors?'
The reply of IRE sjdent Gompers was
most bitter and impassioned. and
the feeling among the delegates was
tense. He admitted the attendance up
or the dinner, Tut denied every nter-
cnce drawn tke,et"om, and declared
that as long as lie was connected with
In 1c1, u
against politics being mixed with UNI
ionisn,.
Mitchell kskos an Address.
Mr.. Mitchell made a quiet address,
but was accorded the closest atten-
tton. He was loudly applauded when
he said that he defied any man to point
to any act of his which might be in
terpreted as against the interests Of the
working men.
The fight between the Chicago FEEDER
alton of Labor and the national or
ganization brought about by the cues
ton of 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 d.
recting President Gompers to go to
Chicago within thirty days and en-
deavor to settle the dispute existing
between the two big organizations.
Another action of far reaching i'm
portance was that taken on the right
of special committee on the demand
by the Typographical union for an
eight-hour day. The convention voted
to indorse the demand
and pledged itself to aid the movement
by levying an assessment on
each of the members if such course |
should become necessary. The Typo
graphical union has set January, 1906.
as the time when the eight-hour day |
will be demanded by their organization. |