Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-21
Has Skirmish With Socialists
in A. F. /.
DEBATE AT CONVENTION
Trouble Over Adopting Initiative
and Referendum Principle in the
Election of Officers.

ATLANTA, Ga November .l-Prcsi-
dent Samuel Gompers and the socialists
engaged in the first skirnish Of the pres
ent convention of the American Fedora
ton of Labor YESTERDAY. The socialists
won their point, but Mr.. Gcmpers seized
the opportunity to express his opinion Of
socialists in general and certain of his
critics among them in particular.
The point involved was the adoption of
the initiative and referendum principle
in the election of officers, upon which the
law committee had reported adversely.
4 minority report presented by ii dissent
ms committeeman indorsinG the general
proposition in event an investigation by
the executive council proved 1t feasible
found numerous supporters III the con-
vention. and among them the socialists.
led by Joseph D. Cannon Of the Western
Federation of Miners.
Mr.. Cannon in speech in support of
the minority report aroused the ire Of
Mr.. Gompers when he mentioned an al
legged interview with the federation S
president at the time when the former
was endeavorins to organize Il labor
party In Arizona, quoting Mr.. Gompers
as saying they could get all they wanted
out of existing parties.
Denies Making Statement.
The inference was that Mr. Gonpers
was not ardently in favor of the demo-
cratic principle Of the initiative and ref
erendum. Mr.. Gompers denied he had
made any such statement and declared
what he probably did say was that he
was more concerned in the adoption OF
the initiative, referendum and recall in
the constitution of the proposed state
than he was In the success of the demo-
cratic, republican or socialist party
Mr.. Gompers said that Mr.. Cannons at
tack was on a par with that Of labor
paper reporter In Boston. who had gross
y. INSTRUCTED him. when I asked him
why he had printed such lying garbled
report, said Mr.. Gompers. "he replied
WE'LL you know, I am q socialist To
me that was sufficient answer
Mr.. Cannon made no reply to this stur
upon the socialists. but several others of
that party arose to the defense of their
principles
Vice President James Duncan defended
the committees report, arguing that the
referendum was not practicable for the
election Of the federation's officers. Sew
eral other delegates took the same atti-
tude. but twice the number favored the
principle and when a vote was reached
there was hardly dissenting voice raised
against substituting the minority for the
Is directed to make thorough, investiga-
ton of the matter and report on the prac-
tfcabllity of il at the next convention
which probably Will be held IN Rocheser,
n Y.
Attack on w. R. Hearst.
Earier in the day the convention pro-
ceedings We're enivcned by an attack on
William Randolph Hearst by Charles H.
Meyer, also Of the Western Fedora ton Of
Miners. Mr.. Meyer charged that Mr.
Hearst was an enemy Of organized labor
because he tolerated a lockout of union
men at the mines Of the Homestake Min
ing Company at Lead, s. D.. in which the
Hearst estate owns an interest Mr.
Hearst aims he has no interest in the
mines, said Mr. Meyer, but We know
that he and his mother are the beneficial
T1es of the Hearst estate"
James NJ. Lynch president of the IN
ternational Typographical Union. warmly
defended Mr.. Hearst, declaring that he
paid high wage scale to 800 union men
and ought not to be condemned without a
hearing. The whole matter was referred
to the executive committee for investiga-
ton.