Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-22
MITCHELL ACCUSES
Saws 'tPacked" J Meetinq
Forced Him Out Of Job.
STATEMENT TO A. F. OF /.
Convention Then Decides Gompers
and Others May Remain on Civic
Federation Beard.

ATLANTA. Ca. November 22.-John
Mitchell told the convention Of the Amer1-
can Federation Of Labor today that 1t
| was q packed" convention of the United
Mine Workers at Columbus, Ohio. last
spring that compelled him to give up his
Observation-Disclosures Job with the National
Civic Federation. He declared that at
the proper time he would furnish proofs
that delegates bearing fraudulent Gre
dentialS were sent there to destroy him
| at a time when he was bound hand and
foot" in the Supreme Court Of the United
States. defending himself against the
enemies Of organized labor.
It was the same convention that adopt
ed . resolution calling upon all officers
and members of organized labor identified
with the Civic Federation to resign from
that body, and directing its delegates to
the present convention to urge the in
dorsement of the resolution.
After day Of stormy debate. during
which the socialists rallied to the support
OF the mine workers delegation, the con-
vention refused its indol sement by a vote
of II, $40 to 1850. AS a result, Pres mt
Gompers and fourteen other labor leaders
will continue as members of the executive
board Of the Civic Federation.
Denied by Mr.. Lewis.
Thomas L. Lewis. who was president
Of the mine workers at the time Of the
Columbus convention. tried in vain to OBJ
tain the floor to answer Mr.. Mitchell
charges. Failing In this he a.er male
the following statement to the Associated
Press:
The charge made by Mr. Mitchell that
the last International convention Of the
United Mine Workers was packed is alb
Solutely untrue and he will be lequired
at the next convention to prove his state
ments or be branded as conveying to the
American Federation of Labor informa-
ton that is incorrect. The resolution con-
demn.ng the Civic Federation came from
the Illinois. the anthracite and Iowa min
ing districts and was inspired by the bit
those districts against mine owners whJ
are members Of the National Civic Fed
Grafton"
President Gompers bitterly assailed the
socialists in q speech in defense OF the
Civic Federation.
There is nothing we can do to please
the socialist party he exclaimed, "un-
less we go over body, boots and breeches
to that party. Then they will remain
quiet as long as we remain subordinate
passing this resolution they would offer
something else. anything to antagonize
the trade movement as militant force
Of this country.
Assails the Socialists.
Their idea is that the whole nation
should be brought to a state of poverty
and then by some cataclysm they would
come into their own and take charge OF
society.
IF the theory Of the socialists is right
then the work of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor Is a waste Of time and
ought to be abandoned. I am going to
stick to the trade union movement, nc
than any other, institution on earth.
owe it SO much. 1t has given me 80
much opportunity to be helpful to others. .
Delegate Duncan Mcdonald Of the
mine workers opened the fight with an
assault upon the Civic Federation when
the resolutions committee reported ad.
versely on the miners resolution. He
declared he never had heard Of that or.
gantzatton doing any good for organized
labor 1t was means adopted by men
like Carnegie and Belmont, he said, to
''chloroform" the labor movement and
b. ing It's leaders within their power.
Mr.. Lewis related several instances in
which the federation had been instru-
mental In settling strikes to he adj
vantage Of the men. President Hayes Of
the glass blowers. President Lynch Of the
International Typographical Union and
President Malone Of the street car union
also testified to instances: n wn I
federation had brought employer and en-
ploye together.
Backs Mitchell Charge.
John H. Walker. candidate for the presi-
dency of the United Mine Workers, sup
ported Mr.. -Mitchelrs charge that the
last convention was packed. He de-
clared that $4,000 had been put up by
coal operators to bring into the conven-
ton delegates with fraudulent credentials
for the purpose of driving Mr.. Mitchell
out of the union. Mr.. Lewis declared
later that Mr.. Walker also would be
forced to prove his statements.
Max Hayes, the Cleveland socialist lead
err, attacked the Civic Federation on gen.
eral principles, declaring that capital and
labor had no interests in common.
roll call was demanded on the resolu-
ton by Mr.. Mcdonald. The mine work.
ers supported it solidly. including Mr..
Mitchell and Mr.. Walker, who thus
proved themselves faithful to their in
structions.