The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-21

pOllClcal actlOn or PRESIDENT GOmperS
and the executive council was approved.
Further, the report indorsed President
Gompers' suggestion that it would be
unwise and inexpedient to Let this DO
litical action lead to the formation of
a distinct labor party.
Right here it was that the socialists,
led by Victor L. Berger of Wisconsin,
made their assault. They wanted a la
Dor party and wanted it bad They had
been defeated in an attempt to force
the Federation of Labor to revert to
the old system of craft organization
as exemplifed by the Knights of La
himself had taken the floor. Far from
being discouraged by what proved to
be the skirmish preliminary to the main
battle, they renewed the attack and by
a clever manipulation of forces almost
won the day.
''Gompers' Policy a Failure.''
Delegate LAWN of Wilkesbarre, Pa,
was the first objecter. He declared
that the recent political efforts Of the
federation had been complete and
they might have been with proper man
agement. He was, however, in favor
Of political action along proper lines,
and concluded by saying:
"Our legislators are now in the
hands Of commercial parasites who die
tate at will laws for their own ag-
grandizement, making slaves of the
working people. It is well that we 90
into politics and adopt a platform upon
stand, wedding out the foes of labor
and purifying our legislative halls.'
One weak-spirited administration
man moved to defer action. This the
Gompers party would not stand for.
1t they were to have a battle for their
official lives; they wanted it at once. ID
Here, as forecast by T he Jour
l, the socialists made their attack
thru resolution No. l31. Instead Of
waiting for the resolutions committee
to report, they moved the adoption Of
their measure as part of the COM
mittee' g report.
Berger's First Play.
Delegate Berger was at once on his
feet, moving as an amendment to the
report resolution providing for the
creation of labor party "on class
lines.' Vice President Duncan ruled
the motion out of order, as the consti-
tuition Of the federation forbade it's
considering or in any way committing
itself to partizan politics, and the reso.
lutions in question contained the dictum
that the federation should follow
"partizan politics." An appeal was
made from the decision Of the chair but
owing to the excitement Of the moment
the socialists failed to- push it to a
vote and it was lost sight of.
Then began a gruelling attack led
& Ry Ds aboa cannon 20G hut shdated
President Gompers as he walked down
the aisle to confer with some of his
ieutenants on the floor. His words
were bitter and his arguments plausi-
BILE, and things began to look dark to
the advocates Of independent poll
tics.''
Counter Attack on Socialists.
At this stage Of conflict E. Gerry
Brown Of Brockton, Mass, countered
the attacks Of the socialists by MAX
ing forward movement and offering
the following resolutions as an amend
ment to the report: eve regard with
pleasure the recent political action of
the organized working men Of our
country and we recommend resistance
in the effort to organize an independ-
ent political force.''
"President Gompers has not dragged
the Federation into politics. said Mr..
Brown. "We went in ourselves. I
want this body to go on record as ap-
proving not only Of what has already
been done in the way Of concerted, but
independent political action, but also
as favoring and urging continued action
along the same lines. -
Chairman Foster, for the committee.
accepted Mr.. Browns amendment on
behalf Of the committee, and it there
upon became part Of the subject I'M
der discussion.
Meanwhile Tho soo;o1;.+o ,4..l -
helpless, as the concurrence of the com,
m1ttee exempted the Brown amendment
from attack on the floor. When this
was over they came on again in what
was their most impetuous, but their
last assault. Delegate Charles Dold
moved an amendment providing for a.
referendum of the entire question of
political activity to the constituent
bodies Of the Federation. :
Violence Seemed Imminent.
The debate was heated. At times
the arguments were little more than
personal recrinlination, and personal
violence seemed imminent. The dan
ger to the president and his policy did
not lie in the strength Of the socialists
themselves, but in large mass of in
f1ammable material which might be ig-
nited by their heat. .
just when the assault was at it's
height, Robert s. Maloney got the floor.
the socialists. Enemies to o 1ugen lei
labor he branded them; tIwould be
disrupters Of the federation.'' and
"F.wrangling gang of peanut politi-
clans. /" The speech was what was neod-
ed at the moment, and it's effect was
more overwhelming than the most stud
LED lee political or economic argument.
Those who had been Joining in the clam
or thru mere wantonness were BROUGHT
to their senses and the socialists them
selves were silenced by this return
fire of the missiles they had been firing
themselves. : :
At this psychological moment, when
the batteries of the enemy were
silenced, the heavy artillery Of the ad-