The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-30
war in THE: CAMP
Mcdonald Accuses Gompers Of
Being Drunk ut Seattle.
s<Liar" and ~Slanderero Are
Replies.

pofS, president OF the American Fed.
GRAFTON Of Labor. today was charged
with being "gloriously drunk" at the
Seattle convention of the federation.
The accusation was made by Duncan
Mcdonald Of Illinois. at tha convention
lea. During the prolonged cheers,
liar" "slanderer'' were hurled at Nc
Donald by Gompers who sat on the
platform. IT am glad Mr.. Gompers il
here 30 can say what want to-" said
Mcdonald. In beginning his reply to
the speech made yesterday by Gompers
Il said there were 'booxefighters' in
charge of the American Federation of
Labor and I'll prove It. At the Seattle
convention had q room with my wife
at hotel next to the room reserved
by the resolutions committee. The first
Saturday night we could not sleep for
the noise made by bunch Of 'drunks'
In the next room. appealed to the
clerk Of the hotel and the noise grew
louder; then I went down to the hotel
office and the night manager called
Jim Duncan on the phone and told him
they would have to get ont Of the room.
that they were disturbing all on the
floor: The noise grew flercer and I
finally knocked on the door Of the room
and wa. asked to come in and have a
drink. When the door was opened,
there sat Sam Gompers. at the head Of
the table, gloriously drunk with q bot
tie of booze in his hand"
The uproar caused by McDonald's
statement did not slabside for some
Gompess Makes Deudal.
Mr.. 0ompers den1hd AcDonald's
charge Of drunkenness. Ha declared the
statement 'nbellouo, unouthful vi
cious slaLderous and without any form
Of honor"
Mr.. Gompers left the hall to take q
train before Charles H Meyer. presi-
dent Of the Western Federation Of
Mines could speak Despite the state
ments of Mr. Gompers." asserted Meyer
Il firmly believe the assessment for
the Michigan strikers should have been
levied and that he failed to give
satisfActory explanation why It was not
done. I reiterate that II the strike
should fail 1t would be due to the fall
urc OF the executive cooncil Of the
an assessment"
Mcdonald charged Gompers with
maintaining a machine to perpetuate
himself AZ the head Of the federation
and with assisting the Democratic
party even against candidates of other
parties who are members Of labor or
ganizations. He rtdiculed the idea that
the union could not pay q two cent
assessment
If a union would. not meet the as
sessment.'' declared Mcdonald, IT
would rather they would get outside
the federation. II a two cent assess
ment can break up the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. then 1t IL a mighty
f1imsy institution"
Mcdonald charged that Gompers paid
his dues to a chamber Of commerce at
Washington out Of the funds Of the
federation.
aompers replied that In the chamber
OF commerce. information Of import
ance to tho labor interests was Inn
parted and that he had Joined at the
request OF the executive council.
Mr. 00mpers denied that he MAIN
taaned q machine to keep himself In
Office. and AZ an Illustration. said he
had two offers Of positions from the
governor Of . great state. one paying
$4,000 q year and the other $4,000,
but had refused both to continue in
the labor movement.
The labor movement u q part of
my life, he continued, 'and I'm going
to stick to it. You may drive me out
of ONCE but you can't drive me out
of the movement"
Mr.. Gompers reiterated his state
ment that to levy an assessment
would be disastrous to organized la
Dor and that 1t could not be collected
!. in time to benefit the copper strikers.