The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-09-01
MERELY AN AUDITOR
Mr.. GOmpers at International
Trades Union Congress.

Several European Delegates Denounc.
ed What They Claimed to Be the
Equivoeal Attitude Of the American
Federation Of Labor With Reference
to Joining the International Move
ment-Appeal to Unionists to Strive
For Abolition Of War.
Paris, Aug. 31.-Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
of Labor was the dramatic center OF
the first days session of the sixth in
ternational trades unions congress
when several European delegates bit
terly denounced what they claimed to
be the equivocal attitude of the Amer
lean federation with reference to join
ing the International movement.
Mr.. Gompers needed all his old-time
energy to repel the attack. He insist
ed that the problems and policies OF
American trades unionism were so In
termingled with American traditions
and ideas that Americans could i'll
spare the time to encounter the inhu-
encc of European leaders, where the
trades unionism tendencies were tenn
peramentally different.
Nevertheless, as an evidence that
the United States was anxious for in
ternational cooperation Mr.. Gompers
introduced a resolution proposing a
worldwide organization which would
defend the rights and interests of all
and create international fraternity and
solidarity"
Exact Status Of Mr. Gompers.
The clash came over the question of
the exact status of Mr.. Gompers and
the American Federation of Labor in
the conference. Mr.. Gompers eX.
planned that for the present he was
merely an auditor but was ready to
give his opinions. 1t had been the
aspiration of the American workmen
| to come into closer contact with the
labor movement in Europe as they
were profundly attached to the cause
of solidarity of labor. One obstacle In
| the way of afiliCation, he said, was the
feeling that antagonism existed in Eu-
rope towards American trades union.
ism. Moreover. ii was feared that
the American workmen might be COM
PEELED to subordinate their policies to
those of men knowing little or nothing
about American industrial conditions
and problems.
Personally" he continued, 81 have
no authority to pledge the affiliation Of
! the American Federation OF Labor but
| believe it will come in time"
Mr.. Gompers' statement was re-
ceived coldly. Several delegates jump
ed to their feet to protest. Hueber,
an Austrian delegate, vehemently char
acterized Mr. Gompers' explanation as
mockery. He, like the others, had
been under the impression that the
Americans meant business and that
Mr.. Gompers was the official delegate
from that country. Otherwise he
could not understand how the Ameri-
can resolutions happened to be printed
Ill Ine OlllCldl program.
eve thank you for your opinions"
he said polntedly, "but we do not need
them. Your policies may not permit
you to- come to us, but one day,
American workmen, you will realize
that your policies are erroneous and
you will see the necessity of Joining
the international confederation"
Mr.. Gompers' Reply.
Mr.. Gompers, stinging under the re.
buke but unflinchingly, arose to reply
81 regret" he exclaimed, that you
have misconstrued my remarks as an
attack upon European trades union
ism. | repeat we are sincerely desir.
Gus OF international federation but
only so far as it preserves the Ameri-
can conception of unionism. II Eu-
rope does not want us II will be un-
fortunate. Nevertheless We will con-
tinue to do everything possible to at
tain the goal for which the human race
is struggling-internat fraternity
and unity"
Hueber retorted that It was now sew
en- years since the Americans began
talking about joining the international
confederation and 1t was about time a
| decision was reached. ut now ap.
pears" he concluded, that Mr.. Comp.
ers Is merely on a voyage OF discov-
cry"
NJ. Legien, the international secre.
tary, ended the controversy with the
statement that Mr. Gompers was only
a guest but he hoped that that official
was convinced that the moment had
arrived for the American Federation
of Labor to join forces with their Eu-
ropean brethren. The regular bust
ness of the conference was then re.
sumed and resolutions were adopted In
sympathy with the strikers in Sweden
and Barcelona and for an appeal to
he unionists of the world to strive
for the abolition of war.