The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-10-03
TO DEFEAT
SAMUEL C0MPERS
Usual Pre-convention Talk Is Again
In Circulation.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
TO BE INCREASED.
Brickiayers May Affiliate Before the
Boston Convention. Two Sa!aried
Members Of Executive Board
to Settle Troubles.

Boston, Oct, 1st.--While the conven-
ton of the American Federation Of
Labor is five weeks off, there is the
usual talk which takes place previous
to every annual Convention predicting
the defeat Of Samuel Gompers for The
presidency of The American Federation
,cs:iIr is
evident from It1e fact that All of the
strong leaders Ill, the. labor NOV cement
favor Mr.. :Gompers.,: The Cigarmakers'
Journal. in its September issue comes
to the support OF Mr.. Gompers, as fol-
lows: :
MIR. Gompers needs no defence at
our hands nor at the hands Of anyone
else among the intelligent loyal trade
unionists of this country. He has erect
ed. a monument as the result of his
ife's work from which is reflected on
all sides his record Of unselfish devotion
to the cause Of organized labor. His
matchless ability, unselfish devotion,
fidelity, honesty and acknowledged
executive ability is we'll known to ev-
erybody and needs no comment at our
hands. Under his leadership the FEEDER
alton has grown to it's present unprec-
time has the labor movement grown to
such magnitude as that enjoyed by the
general labor movement Of our time
and day. This being true, why is the
cry for a change raised now? Do some
think the movement is growing too
fast? Mr.. Gompers is just now at his
best intellectually; he has knowledge
of the movement that is of great value
to the cause Of organized labor which
is valuable asset such as no business
concern on earth would think OF part
ing with. Why should weep
The settlement of several trade dis
putes will come before the convention,
and will no doubt cause much trouble.
A movement is under consideration
by the officers of some of the interna-
tional unions to increase the number
of members on the executive council of
the American Federation Of Labor
from nine to eleven. The subject will
be brought up at the coming conven-
ton in Boston. At the present time
the building trades industry, which is
one of the most important as well as
one of the best organized, has no rep
resentation on the executive council.
James Duncan, first vice president, is a
granite cutter. and closest to the build
ing trades, but his trade is looked upon
as a. material rather than g. building
trade. Should the bricklayers affiliate
before the convention, as is expected,
Thomas r. Preece, Of Chicago, national
organizer for the bricklayers, is talked
of for a place in the executive council.
A plan to have two members of the
executive council on a permanent sal
airy is also being discussed. It Is be-
lieved by some of the leaders that 1t
this plan was adopted a number OF
Jurisdictional fights between unions
might be averted, az with two officials
travelling around the country at all
times, personals investigations could be
made and quick decisions rendered.
As matters now stand, the entire time
almost OF the members of the executive
council at the quarterly meetings Is
taken up with listening to witnesses on
j,1risdictional squabbles. -