Nome industrial worker., 1908-10-20
SIM0NS ANSWERS
 c0MPERS

Certain definite charges were made by Samuel Gompers against Eugene V. Debs, presidential candidate of tine socialist party. These charges were published in the American Fedora tionist" for September. No proof ac- companied them. None ever will be presented, for the charges are abso- lutely false. The only thing which they prove is the character of Com pers.
 Two principal allegations are made in this attack upon Debs.
 Gompers' First Charge.
 Mir. Gompers: says "He (Debs) or ganized the American Railway Union and became it's president in rivalry to the organization whose official he still was. He worked and plated for the destruction of the organization of which he was a responsible official" The Truth of the Matter The truth is that when F. V. Debs decided to form the A. R. U. he went before the convention of the Brother hood of Locomotive Bremen and after explaining his plans to them rendered his resignation as secretary treasurer and editor of the official organ, which positions he mad held for thirteen years. During this time there had never been a candidate nominated or Ia vote cast against him. The con- vention unanimously refused to accept his resignation, although it's members thoroughly understood that he was about to undertake the organization of the A. R. U. On the contrary they unanimously reelected him. But ne felt that he should not hold the office and again rendered his resignation, in- sisting upon its accetance. When the convention saw that he was determin- ed to resign 1t voted unanimously to give him $2,00O with which to take a vacation. A check for that amount was handed to him, but he refused to accept it and the check remains un- cashed to this day.
 Furthermore, within the last year a special official invitation to renew his membership has been extended by the ho of ES l,o in his possession an official invitation from the governing body of that or- ganization asking inn to become the official guest of the B. of L. F. at its next grand lodge meeting. The men who have extended this invitation do not agree with him politically, and would not do these things did they consider him traitor to their organ ization.
 Campers Second Charge MT. Gompers says of the A. R. U. strike of S194: When a large number of men in the American Railway Union responded to MT. Debs call to strike, and many became blacklisted and vic- timiezd, he advocated and finally se- cured the abandonment of the Amer ican Railway Union, and thus left lis men high and dry without the slightest organized protection
 The Tiuth of .he Matter.
 Had this statement been made by an official of the citizens alliance it might be possible to lead ignorance as an excuse. It is but a variation of the frequent charge of the enemies of or ganized labor that strikes are called by union officials. But MT. Gompers cannot plead ignorance. He was in an official position during that strike and played part which he will not care to have recalled. Therefore, he will not dare to deny that when he penned that statement he knew that Debs opposed that strike to the very last and that it was nf1ally decided up- on by a unanimous vote of the whole governing body of the organization. Far from deserting the men, Debs stayed and fought with them even while president elected by the poli- Etical party for which Mir. Gompers is now asking the support of organized labor sent Federal troops to shoot down the strikers. MT. Gompers was at the head of greatl abor organiza- tion at that time. Let him explain what assistance he gave in this hour of desperate need, when Eugene V. Debs stood fighting for the men who had trusted him until he was impris- oned and his organization disrupted and destroyed. Today thousands of those old A. R. U. men are fighting and working for the success of the so- cialist party. Their action speaks louder than any words as to whether lDehs betraveA them in ti1eir ho,,r of