The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-08-31
Labor Leader Attacked at
Paris Conference for Sup
posed Attitude Toward In
ternational Unionism.
MAKES EXPLANATION, BUT
DELEGATES REFUSE 1T
Exact Status of GOnperS and
American Federation Is the
Cause of Clash at the Inter-
national Labor Conference.
DEFENDS HIMSELF WELL
n ARTS, Aug. 80, - Samuel Com
L pers, president of the American

AhA4O, mug o. - OdInuOI UOAl-
L pers, president Of the American
Federation of Labor, was the dra-
matte center of the first days session
of the sixth International Trades
Union congress, when several Euro
pean delegates bitterly denounced
what they claimed to be the equivocal
attitude of the American Federation
of Labor with reference to joining the
international movement.
Mr.. GompeTs in reply insisted that
the problems and policies of Ameri-
can trades unionism were so inter-
mingled with American traditions
and ideas that Americans could i'll
spare the time to encounter the in
fluence of European leaders where
the trades uniOnism tendencies were
temperamentally different.
Nevertheless, as an evidence that the
United States was anxious for interna-
tionaI cooperation, Mr.. Gompers intro
duced a proposal favOring worldwide
organization which would defend the
rights and interests of all and create
international fraternity and solidarity"
The clash came over the question Of
the exact status of Mr.. Gompers and the
federation in the conference. Mr.. Com
pers' statement was received COldly.
Several delegates jumped to their feet
to protest. HeubeT, an Austrian dele
gate, vehemently characterized Mr.
Gompers' explanation as mockery.
Gompers is Criticised.
I'VE thank you for your opinions" he
said pointedly, "but we do not need
them. Your policies may not permit you
to come to US, but one day, American
workmen, you viii realize that your pol
icies are erroneous and you will see the
necessity Of joining the International
Confederation"
Mr.. GOmpers singing under the re-
buke, arose to reply. I regret" he ex-
claimed that you have misconstrued
my remarks as an attack upon Euro
pean trades uniOnism. 1 repeat, we sin
cerely desire international federation,
but only so far as it preserves the Amer
lean conception of unionism. If Europe
does not want US, il will be unfortu-
nate. Nevertheless, we will continue to
do everything possible to attain the goal
for which the human race is struggling
international fraternity and unity"
Heuber retOrted that it was seven
years since the Americans began talk
ing about joining the International Con-
federation, and it was about time a de-
cisiOn was reached.
Controversy Reviewed.
NJ. Lem, the international secretary,
reviewed the controversy with the state
ment that Mr.. Gompers was only a
guest, but he hoped that that official
was convinced that the moment had ar
rived for the American Federation of
Labor TO join forces with their Euro
pean brethren.
The regular business of the conference
was then resumed, and resolutions were
adopted in sympathy with the strikers
in Sweden and Barcelona and for an
appeal to the uniOnists of the world to
strive for the abolition of war.
The newspapers devote much space to
the International congress and the sig
nificance of the presence Of Mr.. Com
peTs.
The Journal des de Bats points out
that the American Federation of Labor
and the French General Federation of
Labor, which did not join in the last
two conferences, represent opposing
conceptions Of trades unionism.
Mr.. GOmpers, representing the Amer
lean sentiment" the paper says, is ut
terly opposed to the building up of
uniOnism on a foundation of socialism,
politics or open revolution. Instead, his
work lies in the direction Of developing
the real interests of the workmen and
solving the problem of labor and cap