Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-31
CONFERENCE AT PARIS APPLIES
GAG RuLE.To HEAD OF AMER
icAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.
DISCUSS ONLY PROPOSALS
OF AFFILIATED SOCIETIES
Lively Debate Over Attitude Of Amer
lean Unionists in Failing to Affiliate
With international Organizations -
eompsrs and His Organization
Charged With lnsincerity.


trade unions conference this morning
adopted a motion to discuss only pro-
posals submitted by organizations af-
nliated with the conference. The prop
ositions made yesterday by Gompers
are thus shut out, Americans not being
affiliated with European unions.
There was lively debate over the
status Of the American Federation of
Labor. Gompers, placed on the defen-
sive, declared that the "unionistdc ten
denotes of Europe and America are
temperamentalty different. I have some
doubt y ..ether union is possible"
An Austrian delegate remarked:
"Some day the American workmen
will recognize the necessity Of joining
the international union"
Gompers replied that he would do
everything possible to secure effective
ro-operation.
American Labor Denounced.
Several European delegates bitterly
denounced what they claim to be the
equivocal attitude Of the American
Federation of Labor toward joining
the international movement and Com
pers energetically repelled the attack.
One obstacle in the way of affiliation,
he said, was the feeling of antagonism
existing in Europe toward American
trades unionism. Moreover, it was
feared, American workmen might be
compelled to subordinate their policies
to those of men knowing little about
American conditions. Said Gompers:
81 have no authority to pledge the af-
filiation Of the American federation.
but believe it will come in time"
Gompers' statement was received
coldly. Several delegates protested
and said that the impression had been
given that the Americans meant busi-
ness and had sent Gompers as an Off
bal delegate. Gon1pers was sarcastic
ally thanked for his opinions but was
told the trades congress did not need
them.
0ompers Makes Reply.
Gon1pers, singing under the rebuke,
said: II regret that you misconstrued
my remarks as an attack upon Eur
opean trades unionism. repeat we are
federation, but only so far as it pre-
. SERVES Lu0 kAlIcIlCdll SOlCSpLlOu Ol
unionism. If Europe does not want
usrit will be unfortunate. Nevertheless
we will continue to do everything pos
sible to attain the goal for which the
human race is struggling-interna-
tional fraternity and unity"
Hueber, Austrian, retorted that 1t
was seven years since the Americans
began talking about Joining the inter-
national confederation and it was time
decision was reached. "It now ap-
pears" he. continued, ''tllat Gompers
Is merely on q voyage of discovery"
The secretary ended the controversy
with the statement that Gompers was
only guest.
Newspapers devote much space to
the significance of Gompers' presence.
The Journal Debates points out that
the American Federation. Of Labor and
the French federation which did not
join the last two conferences, repre-
sent opposite conceptions, American
sentiment utterly opposing the building
OF unionism on a foundation of either
socialism. politics or revolution.