The Minneapolis journal., 1906-11-21
HIS POLITICAL POLICY SCORES
TRIUMPH IN CONVENTION.
American Federation of Labor Endorses
It's President, Who Puts to Utter
Rout the Men Who Sought to Create
Labor Party in the Federation.

|
tacular struggle on the floor of the
convention yesterday afternoon, follow
ing the presentation of that part Of the
report of the committee on presidents
report which dealt with the action of
President Gompers and the executive
council in the late congressional cleo
tions. J. .
Printed statements to the contrary
Notwithstanding, the report of the COM
ldent Gompers had the appointment of
this committee himself and nobody in
touch with proceedings expected him
to commit the folly of naming men hos
tile to himself on the board which was
| to pass on his official acts during the
past year.
No Labor Party.
In the report read by Chairman
Frank K. Foster of Boston, the recent
political action of 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 po-
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 la
Dor party and wanted it bad. They had
been defeated in an attempt to force
the Federation of Labor to revert to
as exemplifed by the knights of La
bor, but only after President Gompers
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
clever manipulation of forces almost
won the day.
''Gompers' Policy a Failure.''
Delegate LAWN of Wilkesbarre, Pa,
was the first obiecter. He declared
that the recent political efforts of the
federation had been a complete and
ignominious failure compared to what
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 platform upon
which union and non-union men can
| stand, wedding out the foes of labor
and purifying our legislative halls -
man moved to defer action. This the
Gompers party would not stand for.
1t they were to have battle for their
official lives they wanted it at once
Here, as forecast by T he Jour
a i, the socialists made their attack
thru. resolution No. 131. Instead of
waiting for the resolutions committee
to report, they moved the adoption Of
their measure as part of the COM
mlttee 8 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 con class
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
vote and it was lost sight Of.
Then began a gruelling attack led
by Berger. "How about Littlefelda
How about Cannon9' he shouted at
President Gompers as he walked down
the aisle to confer with some of his
lieutenants on the floor. His words
were bitter. and his arguments plausi-
bic, and things began to look dark to
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 a forward movement and Offering
the following resolutions as an amend,
ment to the repOrt: tWe 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.o
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.. Brown 8 amendment on
behalf of the committee, and it there
upon became a part of the subject un-
der discussion.
Meanwhile the socialists stood by.
helpless, as the concurrence of the com
mlttee exempted the Brown amendments
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
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 recrin1ination, 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 a large mass of in
fammable material which might be ig-
nited by their heat =
Just when the assault was at its
height, Robert s. Maloney got the floor.
His address, tho short, was facer FOR
the socialists. Enemies to organized
Labor he branded them: rwouId- he
dlsrupters of the federation, - and
wran,gilng 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 political or u economic arpument
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 frinp
themselves. :
At this psychological moment, when
j#T,f No.