Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-30
ILLINOIS DELEGATE DECLARES
PRESIDENT OF FEDERATIoh
WAS "GLoRiousLY DRUNK"
DUNCAN MCDONALD REPLIES
TO DEFENCE OF LABOR HEADS
Alleges That Resolutions Committee
Held Midnight RsvsI in Hote! to tho
Disgust Of Other Guests = Saw
"Sam' Gompers Seated at Head Of
Tahis, Drunk.

Indianapolis, Jan. 20.-That Samuel
Gonpers. president OF the American
Federation of Labor, was 'gloriousy
drunk" at the Seattle convention was
the charge made by Duncan Mcdonald.
of Illinois, at the convention OF the
United Mine Workers Of American to-
day. During the long cheering, liar
and "slanderer' were hurled at Nc
Donald by Gompers, who sat on the
platform.
Il am glad Mr.. Gompers is here so
can say what want TO-" said Nc
Donald. in beginning his reply to a
speech made yesterday by Mr.. Com
pers. Il said there were boczc fighters
in charge Of the American federation
Of Labor and 1 will prove ii. At the
Seattle convention had a room with
my wife at the hotel next 10 the room
reserved by the .fssolutions committee.
The first Saturday night we could not
sleep for the noise made by q bunch
of drunks In the next room. / applied
to the clerk of the hotel but the noise
grew louder. Then. l went TO the 81
flee and the night manager called Jim
Duncan on the phone and told that
they would have to get oui ot the room.
that they were disturbing ali the fioor.
Gompsrs in Midnight RevsI.
y The noise grew nerce and l finally
knocked on the door Of the room and
was asked to come In and have a drink.
When the door was opened there sat
Sam Gompers at the head o; the table.
gloriously drunk. with bottle Of booze
In his hand" ~
9 The statement threw the convention
into an uproar and 1t was some time
before order was restored. While the
confusion was at its height Gompers
called Mcdonald a liar and q slanderer.
Aseysr, Takes up Attack. s,,
& Mr.. Gompejss fal1Qwe Macdonald and
denied absolutely The ,havge Of drunk
enness. .4s declsredrsthe statement
.tlibslous, untruthful. vicious, SANDER
GUS and without any form OF honor"
Mr.. Gompers left the hall 20 take a
train before Charles H. Meyer. prest-
dent Of the Western Federation OF
Miners. could speak.
Despite the statement of Mr.. Com
pers." asserted Meyer, II firmly be-
lieve that the assessment for the Mich
reiterate that if the strike should
fail 1T will be due to the failure OF the
executive council of1tffe American Fed
Grafton of Labor to levy an assess
ment."
Alleges Gompers Maintains Machine.
Mcdonald charged Gompers with
mainta lining a machine 20 perpetuate
himself at the head of the federation
and that he Is assisting the democratic
party even at a sacrifice of men Of
other parties who are union men.
IF the union could not meet the pro-
posed cent assessment" said Nc
Donald in reply to Gcmper. why. I
would rather they would get outside
the federation. II 2-cant assessment
can break up the American Federation
OF Labor then it is a mighty flimsy in
stitution.''
He charged Gompers with being a
member Of a chamber of commerce at
Washington and that he paid his dues
from union funds.
Gompers replied that in the cha Ilber
news Of Importance to union labor was
impaired. He denied that he MAIN
tained machine to keep himself in
office and said he had two positiors7 Of
fered him from the governor Of u
great state. one paying ss,ocO year
and the other paying $4,000 year,
but had refused both to continue in
the labor movement.
General DenieI by Gompers.
&"The labor movement is part of my
life" he continued, land l am go
ing to stick to 1t. You may drive me
cut of office but you can't drive me out
OF my movement"
Mr.. Gompers reiterated his statement
that to levy an assessment would be
disastrous to labor and 1t could not be