The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-01-31
SAID GOMPERS WAS
"GLORIOUSLY DRUNK"
During Prolonged Cheers,
liar, +" "Slanderer," Were
Hurled at Duncan Nc
Donald Who Said He Was
Glad Gompers Was On
Hand To Hear His Charge
By ASSOCIATED PRESS.

indianapolis. Ind, Jan. 30-The
charge that Samuel Gompers. prcsl-
dent Of the An1eric can Federation of
Labor was "glortously drunk" at the
Seattle convention of The Federation
was made by Duncan Mcdonald Of
Illinois, at the convention of the
United Mine Workers of America to-
day. During the prolonged cheers,
liars" ISLANDERS were hurled at Nc
Donald in beginning his reply 10 the
platform.
q am glad Mr.. Gonpers is here so
7 can say What I want to- sad Nc
Donald IN beginning his reply to the
speech made yesterday Oy Mr.. Com
pers. 7 said there were 5ooze-fghters
in charge of the American Federation
OF labor, and I'll prove it.
AT the Seattle convention. had q
room with my wife at a hotel next
TO the room reserved by the resoIu-
tiou committee. The first Saturday
night we could not sleep for the noise
made by q bunch of drunks in the
next room.
4 appealed to the clerk OF the no
tel and the noise grew louder. Then
l went down to the hotel office and
the night manager called jim Duncan
t,Eye TO g.satf4 SIR q ar iIleg5 81. EaaE2, That
The noise grew fierce and 1 finally
knocked on the door of the room ana
was asked to come IN and have
drink. When the door was opened
there sat Sam Gompers a. the head Of
the table gloriously drunk, with bot
tie of books in his hand
The statement threw the convention
before order was restored. While the
confusion was at its height Gompers
called Mcdonald q liar and q, Sian
derer.
Mcdonald charged Gompers with be-
ing a member Of a chamber Of COM
merce at Washington, ana that he
paid his dues out of the funds of the
federation.
Gompers replied that in the chamber
of commerce information OF import
ance to the labor movement was i'm
parted and that he was a, member at
the request of the executive council.
DENIES ALLEGATION.
Mr.. Gompers followed Mr.. Mcdonald
and denied absolutely the charge OF
drunkenness. He declared the state
ment ''libellous. untruthful, vicious,
slanderous and without any form OF
honor
Mr.. Gompers left the hall to take
train before Charles H. Meyer, presi-
dent of the Western Federation OF
Miners, could speak.
Despite the statements Of Mr.
Gompers," asserted Meyer. "I trmly
believe that the assessment for the
AIicFfgan strikers would have been
levied and that he failed to give
satisfactory explanation why it was
not done
Mcdonald charged CIompers with
maintaining q machine TO perpetuate
himself as the head of the federation
and of assisting the democratic party
even against candidates of other par
ties who are members of labor or
ganizations. He ridicuIed the idea that
the unions could not pay a 2-ccnt
assessment.
GAVE NOTICE OF REPLY.
Charles H Meyer, president Of the
Western Federation Of Miners and
Duncan W. Myers. secretary of the
state miners organization of Illinois
early today IN the conven-
tion of the United Mine Workers OF
America that they would reply to the
denial late yesterday by Samuel Com
pers. president OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, of charges that the
Federation had failed TO do its full
duty to aid the Michigan copper
strikers and the organization is re-
dictionary and controlled by booze
lighters
Mr.. Gompers declared that the
American Federation OF Labor has
done and viii do all in its power TO
bring the copper strike TO a successful
termination, except levy an assess
ment and that that is an impossI Ibility.
OF the eleven members of the execu-
tive council OF the federation, he as
serted, eight do not use liquor at all.
two are very moderate drinkers and
that he himself takes a glass Of beer
only when the days work is faffsaed.
The Federation president declared that
II an assessment We're to be levied It
would disrupt the organization for the