Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-31
CLASH IN TRADES CONGRESS-
Gompers' Statement Of Position Of
Americans Colby Received.
SHARP WORDS FROM AUSTRIAN
Delegnte-says IL l. Time for western
Men to Reach Decision on
International Move
ment.

- ~ hHa-2AAAAANA SbAAAHtA9 hANeA~
dent OF the American Federation of Labor
was the dramatic center Of the first days
session Of the sixth International Trades
Union congress-, when several European
delegates bitterly denounced what hey
CLAIMED to be the equivocal attitude Of the
American Federation with reference to join
ing the international movement. Mr..
Gompers needed all his old time energy to
repel the attack. He insisted that the
problems and policies Of American trades
unionism were so lntermingled with Ameri-
can traditions and Ideas that Americans
could III spare the time to encounter the
influence Of European leaders where the
trades unionism tendencies were tempera-
mentally different.
Nevertheless as an evidence that the
United States was anxious for international
cooperation, Mr.. Gompers introduced a
proposal ~favorinE world wide organization
which would defend the right and inter-
ests of all and create I~nternationa solid
%iarity."
GOmpers Explains Position.
The clash came over the question Of the
exact status of Mr.. Gompers and the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor In the conference.
Mr.. Gompers explained that for the pres
ent he was merely In auditor, but was
ready to give his opinions. He said 1t has
been the aspiration Of the American work.
men to come into closer contact with the
labor movement In Europe, as they were
profoundly attached to the cause Of solid
arlty Of abor. One obstacle in the way
Of affiliation, he said, was the feeling hat
antagonism existed in Europe towards
American trades unionisIn. Moreover, II
was feared that the American wormen
might be compelled to subordinate their
| A,Tt.t.- - 49, - - -z--4- MAJ -
nothing about American Industrial eondi-
tions and problems.
Personally he continued. II rave no
authority TO pledge the affiliation Of the
American Federation of Labor, but I be-
lieve II will come in time"
Statement Received COIdly.
Mr.. Gompers' statement was received
colby. Several delegates jumped to their
feet TO protest. Hueber, an Austrian dele
gate, characterized Mr.. Gompers' explana-
ton as mockery. He, like the others, had
been under the impression that the Ameri-
cans meant business and that Mr.. Gompers
was the official delegate from that coun-
try. Otherwise he could not understand
how the American resolutions happened
to be printed in the official program.
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 will realize that your policies are err
roneous and you will see the necessity
I of joining the international Confedera-
ton"
GOmpers Answers Hueber.
Mr.. Gompers, singing undep the rebuke,
but unflinching, arose to reply. Il re-
greet" he exclaimed, that you have mis-
construed my remarks as an attempt upon
European trades unionlsm. / repeat, we
are sincerely DESTROYS of international fed
Grafton, but only so far as it preserves the
American conception of \unionism. II
Europe does not want us 1t will be unfor-
tunate. Nevertheless, we will continue to
do everything possible to attain the goal
for what the human race is struggling
international Federation and unity"
Hueber retorted that It was now seven
years since the Americans began talking
about Joining the international confedera-
ton and it was about time a decision was
reached. 1T now appears" he concluded,
that Mr.. Gompers is merely on a voyage
Of discovery"
M. Legion. the I~nternational secretary,
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 European 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.
Comment of French Press.
The newspapers devote much space to the
I~nternational congress and the significance
of the presence of Mr.. Gompers. The
Journal Des Debats points out that the
American Federation Of Labor and the
French General Federation Of Labor,
which did not join in the last two con-
ferenees, represent opposing conceptions Of
trades unionism. Mr.. Gompers, represent
ing the American sentiment. is utterly OPP
posed 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 capital.
IIN1IEAnHA AVAIN nAnyR AnAI