The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-17
ALL EYES ON GoMPERs.
He Is Expected to Do Something To-
ward Ending the Strike.

Chicago. May 17.=Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, was the central fig
ure in the teamsters' strike situation
today His presence in Chicago was
regarded as offering hope of peace,
but the cry of the strikers was still for
arbitration, which the employers had
resolutely refused as to the Garment
Workers in whose behalf the team
sters quit work six weeks ago.
Mr.. GompePs met the labor leaders
today in his rooms at the Briggs
house. Just before going into the
conference he said:
'I am not in position to say what
will or will not be done. I will say,
however, that have no intention of
interfering unless I am commission
ed by President Shea and his col
leagues to do So"
That President Gompers came to
Chicago at the solicitation of both the
business men and the teamsters Off
ciaIs to act in the capacity of peace
maker was the statement of the ma
tionaI labor chief himself today. MY
mission to Chicago" he said sis to
try to help in bringing about an ad-
justment of the strike. came here at
the solicitation of one of the Chicago
newspapers which sent me through its
Washington correspondent ten days
ago q telegram setting forth that the
strike IN Chicago was very keen. 1
was urged to come and use my influ-
ence to restore peace. The telegram
stated that I enjoyed the confidence of
both sides, the employers as well as
the unions. I placed the telegram in
the hands Of Mr.. Shea, and the result
was that several kilograms were sent
back and forth between Mr.. Shea and
myself and on Monday last we had a
long talk over the long distance tele-
phone. Mr.. Shea expressed the belief
/ that I might be helpful in bringing
about an adjustment of the strike and
so came"
Signed by Newspaper Man.
Mr.. Gompers said that the telegram
referred to as coming from newspa-
per was signed by John c. Eastman of
the Chicago Journal.
Il wish to say" he said, that the
suggestion set forth in the dispatch
was supplemented by a few prominent
/ business men who also believed that I
could be helpful in settling the diff
culties. I am not here to call the
strike off or on. 7 am not in charge
/ of the strike and do not expect to be.
I am here to be helpful if I can. The
+ Subway strike in New York was called
/ contrary to the national union law.
The Chicago strike, the national Off
GERS inform me, is regular in every
way. 7 would not say that it has been
conducted well or otherwise"
Mr.. Gompers declined to say VIII eth
/ er he would seek a conference with
the Employers association and de-
/ clfned to discuss this phase of the
situation in any way. When asked if
he would seek a conference with At
torney Levy Mayer. representing the
/ Employers association, Mr.. Gompers
/ declined to reply.
Delegates of the Socialist party of
/ Chicago have adopted resolutions ex-
/ pressing sympathy for the Garment
/ Workers, and commencing the sympa-
thetic strike of the teamsters to aid
I the Garment Workers, IN preventing
the return in all its hideousness of the
sweatshop and its whole train OF
/ evils" The resolutions also urge
workers not to forget at future cleo
tions to place men in power who will
Administer all affairs in their in
] terest'