The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-21
4. +. Of |. TIES
To OLD SYSTEM
OF LABOR UNION
Socialist Movement Meets
Defeat on Roll-Call By
10, 923 to 5,929
VOTES COME AFTER
BATTLE ON FLOOR
Delegates in Rochester Con
vention Have Many Sharp
Passages and Compers
Is Assailed

ROCHESTER,. n. Y, Nov. 2o.-Ths
American Federation Of Labor will
continue to conduct IL affairs as q
trades autonomy organization. This
was decided by delegate roll call
vote today, after hours OF discussion
of proposed change to ''industriaiism
where practical" The federation sys-
tenn was upheld by 1929 votes against
$3.50.
Tho brewing antagonism toward the
Socialist activities and political by
plays at this convention famed up sew
erai times today. President Gompers
has been personally attacked. and il
effective way. Startling revelations
and Developments are expected by
those who are here purely as trades
unfonists. They are in goodIy ma
5ority. Several brisk exchanges took
place today tamsins the <aelaatss .ss...,y
The discussion u industrialism a. a
practical system OF trades union or
saniza ticn occupied the days proceed
ings Every member OK the United
Mine Workers. which brought the mat
ter before the delegation by inssFue-
tis,ts. URGED IT'S adoption. "ss So - 80
The iesue. AS presented was not a
demand for a declaration In favor OF
straigh,- Laced organization Of unions
NV industries The proposition hroug hi
forward by Secretary John Walker, of
the education COMMITTEES. In n minority
report, declares in substance:
issue Presented.
That one Organization shall hold ju-
r;s.strtion over the workers In one in
f,nx,ry where prarticaL and chat where
! ms 'o,fty az TIA men actuarfy In
yolssd believe such organization 10 be
i,nnra..,fcai they shall federata In .
danartnaut.
The Socialists pollcd their vote for
the measure.
The discussion had not proceeded
Hong before speakers began to de-
uounca the nj opposition IA an issue of
propagandisfs. Delegates known to
b.. Socialists arose in randi procession
IL, deny this. They declared at was
strictly a trades union measure. but
none OF them talked against II. Dele
gate Duncan McIrnald. OF the miners.
pointed out the fact that the twelve
hundred delegates Ia n mine workers
convention. representing the rank and
Me instructed that the subject should
hs brought h4re.-
John Mitchell pleaded with the dele
gates "a act upon the question AZ the
experiences in each az their organixa-
tions warranted. He said he not only
suuparted the matter because he wgs
SO instructed. hut because he believed
tha, more consideration should be
given 10 matchmaking the organixa-
tion of men employed in one Industry.
HI, poi.,tet, out the growth and strength
OF the United Mine Workers, Ameri-
cas- greatest labor union. which holds
jurisdiction over every man employed
around q mine.
Men in Coal Mines.
Delegate Walker showed that twen-
ty-seyen classes Of men are employed
around coal mines, and that over four
teen craft organizations claimed iuAis-
siiction among them before the miners
took them in.
4 serious situation was created
when Delegate Egan, of the Typo
graphical union. said:
Il am trying to bring out this point.
Th.. people who try to force us into
adopting industrialism are outside Of
our labor movement. They have been
thu Representatives az free love and
Fietcherism.. /.
Ss Tne convention WAS immGdiat0fv in
great Disorder. Falling to obtain
recognition, from his place In the Mine
Workers delegation. John Walker
strobe across the floor to a position
Immediately facing the speaker. and
declared that. Now, 20 ahead and
say It again. will sit right here
close" ana he dropped into one OF
the seats among the Typographical
union delegates.
President Gompers stopped all PRO-
ceedings and would not call the con-
ventiori To tha rules until he had com
peeled Delegate Walker to return 10
his place anor~ the Mine Workers.
Tssss ~ IN II .ss..sss .4.. s...4f5. .fssr.
Acterixed the proposition as ..bunk.
Daniel Tobin, president OF the IN.
ternational brotherhood OF Teamsters.
spoke vehemently against the adop-
ton OF the report He declared the
proposed change from the present
form Of the trades autonomy 10 the