The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-24
TROUBLE IN GOMPERS COUNCIL.
Federation Leaders Not in Harmony With
His Campaign Methods.

WAsHINGToN, Sept. 23.-Samuel Gompers,
president Of the Federation of Labor, is
very much annoyed over the publication
Of reports that the recent meeting Of the
executive council Of the organization in
stead Of being a owe feast was more in the
nature of a Kilkenny cat affair. 1t was
developed at the session of the council
that the conservative leaders Of the Fedora
ton Of Labor are not in harmony with Mr..
Gompers or his campaign methods, and
the impression prevails here that he is
serving his last term as president of the
federation.
Despite the fact that all statements in
dicating trouble between President Com
pers and Vice-Presidents Mitchell and Dun
can at the meeting Of the executive council
bring forth n denials from these
men. II is known here that the councils
sessions last week were the ~liveliest in the
history of the body and that they intensi-
fed the factional feeling that has existed
in the federation for many months. A
labor union leader who is in touch with
the situation said:
although John Mitchell has given his
promise that he will go on the stump against
labor's enemies and appear on several
occasions with Gompers, it is we'll known
that John MitchelI's flesh is willing but
his spirit is weak. He not only disap-
proves Of the Gompers campaign but
believes that a mistake has been made in
arraying the federation against the Re
publican party, especially az that party
has made President Roosevelt the issue.
Mr.. Mitchell has a high regard for the
President
Mr.. Mitchell told a friend while in Wash
s-wAzn NhnN h. haA No. a-tn-W.. - -
on The stump this year. He did not ex-
plain why, merely saying hat he would
make no political addresses. Since the
executive council adjourned last week the
announcement has been made that Mr..
Mitchell will speak in a number Of Penn
sylvan districts. If this is true it means
that labor leaders here have prevailed
upon Mr.. Mitchell to change his mind as
70 his intentions in the campaign.
President James l.. Feeney Of the local
a week or 50 ago with the intention Of TAN
ing up with President Roosevelt the grew
ances OF his organization against Public
Printer SGllings, has returned. Mr.. Feeney
did not &c to Oyster Bay. Instead he
saw Chairman james S.. Sherman of the
Republican Congressional COMMITTEES about
the alleged -unbearable conditions" in the
bindery of the Government Printing Office.
i did not go over to Oyster Bay to see
President Roos ,velt," said Mr.. Feeney,
No my hOcINtoN VIII WI. SnoTInAn was q
most satisfactory one, and he promised
to take up the matter with the President.
As a matter Of fact, Mr.. Sherman sent
for me to come over 10 New York about
the bookbinders' troubles in the printery.
He was somewhat annoyed by the pub
licity the newspapers had given the matter,
as the opponents TO the Republican party
in Maine and elsewhere had beer uSing It
in the campaign.
4 did not go to New York to make a
knock against Mr.. Stillings, but for the
purpose Of getting simple Justice for u
boys. All We wan is fair play and we
will do the right thing toward the Gov
eminent .