Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-01
Plan 0US1 GDNP[RS
Labor Federation President
Not In Favor With Some
Organizations
MITCHELL MAY OPPOSE HIM
Mine Workers May Put Their Leader
Forward for Gompers' Position =
Opposition to Hold Meeting in Chi
caao-conservative Policy Has Made
the President Enemies.

Chicago, Aug. Lied by mine work.
ers and the 'longshoremen labor Unions
are reported to have formed combina-
ton to prevent the reelection of sam
uel Gompers as president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, which he has
guided successfully for twenty-one
years.
During the next few weeks Chicago
will be the Mecca of leaders fighting
the present leader. James Duncan, Sec
rotary of the granite cutters, viii be
asked to take the field against him.
Duncan will arrive soon.
Friends of Gompers say President
John Mitchell is opposed to him. Pres
ident D. ]. Keefe. of the 'fongshoremen,
lis also mentioned as an adversary.
The mine workers. iron workers and
|'iongshoremen have rallied to their
support the brewery workers, with 36,-
600 men; the carpenters, with more
than 100000: and the bottle blowers,
with 10000. The consery alive policy of
Gompers is said to have made enemies
for him.
The change in the presidency would
|revolutionize the federation. The ten
dency of forcing all organizations in the
same industry to join one central union
would receive an impetus, making in
|dustrialism the policy of the federation,
say believers in that idea.
Labor leaders refused to discuss the
move against Gompers yesterday, but
acknowledged they had heard of it.
ut Is common talk" said President
w. Mahon, of the street car men.
Il have heard of 1t, too" said Secre-
tary Thomas l. Kidd, of the woodwork
ers. but as l am member of the ex-
ecutive council of the federation the
opponents of Mr.. Gompers do not come
TO me-
Il do not care to give my position
In matter of this kind" said President
w. G. Schardt, of the Chicago Fedora
ton of Labor. II do not deny that the
movement is under way"
The conferences next week probably
will occur as soon as the labor leaders
supporting the move reach the city. 1t
is reasonable that they will attempt to
maintain secrecy, but will make arr
engagements to conduct a systematic
campaign.
President Mitchell announced Thurs
day that members in Arkansas, Kan
sas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. have re-
eeived wage increases aggregatinE
more than $2,000,o00 a year.
The 10000 workers in the new dis
trict have gained from to IL cents a
ton, and II per cent for day mining.
They will fix their wage scale by the
the union and operators at Indianapolis,
Ind.
Before leaving for Niagara Falls
Thursday night President Albert
Young, of the teamsters' union, coupl-
ed both Mitchell and Keefe with the
campaign against Gompers. He de-
clared also that the teamsters ex-
pected to affiliate with the federation
next week and will join in the fight
against the president.
at is our intention to put Gompers
where he can no longer dictate the
policy of the American labor move
ment," said Young. 1--WE have formed
a compact with the miners and long
shoremen.
1.-The teamsters are in a peculiar po-
sition. The organization is not aftiliat-
ed with the federation, but when we
become affiliated with the team driv-
ers' union next week, we shall be.
Should the amalgamation fail, we shall
aid the other unions on the outside"