Evening star., 1909-08-31
.SNEERS At G0MPERS
Doesn't Need His Opinions,
Austrian Delegate Declares.
DEGREES AMERICAN STAND
Acrimonious Debate at Trades
Unions Congress.
OPPOSING POLICIES OF LABOR
Workingmen of This Country OPP
Grating on Different Lines From
Those in Europe.

PARIS August 31-Samuel Gompers
president of the American Federation of
La bor was the dramatic center of the
first days session OF the Sixth Inter
national Trades Unions Congress. when
several European delegates bitterly de-
nounced what they claimed to be the
equivocal attitude of the American fed
Grafton with reference to joining the in
ternational movement Mr.. Gompers
needed all his old-tme energy to repel
the attack. He insisted that the prob
lens and policies of American trades
unionism were so intermingled with
American traditions and ideas that
Americans could ill spare the time to
encounter the influence of European
leaders. where the trades unionism ten
dencies were temperamentally different.
Nevertheless, as an evidence that the
United States was anxious for interna-
tiOnal cooperation. Mr.. GomperS intro
duced proposal favoring world wide
organization which would defend the
| rights and interests of all and create
international fraternity and solidarity.
Status of 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 explained that
for the present he was merely audi
tor, but was ready to give his opinions
1t had been the aspiration of the Ameri-
can workmen to come into closer con-
tact with the labor movement in Eu-
rope, as they were profoundly attached
to the cause of solidarity of labor. One
obstacle in the way of affiliation. he
| existed in Europe toward American
trades unionism. Moreover, it was
| feared that the American workmen might
be compelled to subordinate their poll
| cies to those of men knowing little or
| nothing about American industrial con-
dtions and problems.
personally" he continued, II have no
| authority to pledge the affiliation of the
American Federation of Labor, but | be-
| leve it will come in time"
Mr.. GOmpers' statement was received
co!dly.
Delegate Replies With Sheer.
| Several delegates jumped to their feet
| to protest. Hueber, an Austrian dele
gate, vehemently characterized Mr..
| Gompers' explanation mockery. He,
| like the others. had been under the i'm
preston that the Americans meant busi-
| ness, and that Mr.. Gompers was the
official delegate from that country. 9th
erwise he could not understand how the
| American resolutions happened to be
printed in the official program.
We 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 erroneous and you will see
the necessity of joining the international
confederation
buke. but unfiinching, arose to reply. Il
| regret he exclaimed, that you have
| misconstrued my remarks as an attack
upon European trades unionism. | re-
peat, are sincerely desirous of inter-
| national federation. but only SO far as
| it preserves the American conception of
| unionsm. If Europe does not want us
| it will be unfortunate. Nevertheless, we
| attain the goal for which the human
| race is struggling-the International fra
| ternity and unity
Hueber retorted that it was now seven
years since the Americans began talking
about joining the International Confed-
| Grafton and it was about time decision
was reached. 1T now appears" he con-
cluded that Mr.. Gompers is merely on
a voyage of discovery"
NJ. Legien, the international secretary,
ended the controversy with the state
ment that Mr.. Gompers was only a guest,
but .he hoped that that official was con-
vinced that the moment had arrived for
the American Federation of Labor to join
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.
Gompers' Proposition Ignored.
The controversy between the interna-
tonal conference and Samuel Comp ers
| entered upon another chapter today when
| the conference, on motion made by
| Belgian delegate, voted to discuss only
the proposals submitted by organizations
affiliated with the conference. The propo
| sitions made yesterday by Mr.. Gompers
| are thus shut out as the American Fed
| Grafton of Labor is not affiliated with the
European unions, and Mr.. Gompers Will
| not be able to argue their adoption.
Two Opposing Policies.
| The newspapers devote much space to
| the international congress and the sig
nficance of the presence of Mr.. Comp
ers 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
| conferences, represent opposing cOncep-
tions of trades unionism. Mr.. Gompers,
| representing the American sentiment, is
| utterly opposed to the building up of un-
ionism on a foundation of socialism, poll
tics or open revolution; instead. his work
lies in the direction of developing the
| real interests of the workmen and solving
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