The Elbert County tribune., 1905-11-16
ASSAILS MINERS
PRESIDENT eoMPERs CHARGES
MoYER WITH INoRATITUpE.
AMERICAN FEDERATION AID
Charges Managers With Misuse of
Money Contributed to Western
Federation of Miners.-Gompers
Wants an Accounting.


Wants an Accounting.
Pittsburg.-oid city hall was
crowded when President Samuel Com
pers called the American Federation
of Labor TO order for the opening of
the silver anniversary of the organiza-
ton. All the delegates representing
every state in the union. Canada and
other foreign countries were in their
seats and all available space outside
was utilized by visitors.
President Gompers presented his
annual report. which says of western
conditions:
''U'he Western Federation of Miners
has not alone been ungrateful to the
trade unions and the American Fed.
GRAFTON of Labor. but its officers have
taken the position of bitter hostility
toward us. From the then meager
funds the Boston convention. as an
expression of good will. appropriated
$1,000, and later, by authority of the
executive council, | drafted and issued
an appeal to all the trade unions
trade unionists and friends. through
out the country for financial assist
ance to be transmitted directly to
Secretary Moye-
"Our appeal for financial aid and
trade unionists were made for the
specific purpose and with the clear
understanding that they should be de-
voted particularly to the legal defense
of the rights of the men to test the
legal and constitutional questions in
volved, not only before the courts OF
Colorado. but, if necessary. the high
est tribunal of our country, the
United States Supreme Court. This
purpose was plainly stated in our APP
peal; that it was so regarded by the
officers of the Western Federation OF
Miners is clearly manifest by the edi-
torial in the miners official journal in
which our appeal was republished
with the caption. American Fedora
tion of Labor to the Rescue and
also by Mr. Meyers letter TO me of
October %. 1904, published on page
eighty-one of the official printed pro-
ceedings of our San Francisco con
vention.
up to this moment there is not
scintilla of evidence indicating the
fulfillment of the expressed intention
to carry any of the cases involved to
the higher tribunals.
American trade unionists and their
friends have reason to complain and
feel keenly disappointed that their
thousands of dollars have not only
failed to be used for the purpose for
which they were contributed (the i'm
portant questions involved left hang
ing in the balance), but as asserted
by many and not denied, that these
funds have been perverted from their
proper source and diverted TO 'financ-
ing a hostile movement, a move
ment having for its avowed purpose
the destruction of the trade unions,
the organizations and men which fur
nished the funds. In the light Of
what has transpired, the last sentence
quoted of Mr.. Meyers letter must ap-
pear TO all the purest irony. He says:
I think, however, that yourself and
colleagues will be satisfied with our
work before we are through
I'VE have the right TO insist that
the Western Federation of Miners
shall prosecute, and If necessary, ap-
peal the cases to the highest court OF
last resort, or give an accounting of
the disposition of the moneys CON
tributed.
From various sources complaints
reach us asserting and insinuating
that the funds received by the
Western Federation of Miners have
been perverted to other purposes than
lilaI IOr Wncn tney were contributed,
quite apart from the instance TO
which | have already referred.
SIN the interest of our fellow work
ers, because of the good name of or
ganized labor which is involved, and
still further. so that no injustice may
be done any organization, friendly or
otherwise, ! repeat, we have the right
TO insist upon an accounting.
I'VE have nothing but the most
friendly feeling for and interest in
the metalliferous miners and their
splendid manhood; we have nothing
but the kindest and most frateInal re-
gard for the welfare of their organiza-
tion, the Western Federation OF
Miners; but we have the right TO as
sert that those entrusted with its af-
fairs shall not render impotent or dis
member the metalliferous miners or
ganiZation, or make it odious to the
conscience of the union men of
America"