The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-10-30
LABOR LEADERS
ASSA|L GCMPERS.
Resent His Attempt to "DeIiver"
Their Vote.
HIGH A. r. OF /. OFFICIALS.

First and Sixth Vice Presidents of the
Organization criticise Their Chief
For Promise to Hand Over Vote to
Bryan -- Gompers' Appeal Thrown
Under Table.
my purpose In coming to Washing
ton was to arrange with Mr.. Gompers
for perfect cooperation between the
organization under him and the or
ganiZation ut my disposal" That Is
what Chairman Mack of the Demo-
cratic committee said in August He
had arranged with Mr.. Gompers to de-
liver the labor vote.
But Mr.. Gompers has found 1t harder
to perform than 1t was to promise. His
activity In the interests Of Bryan and
his calm assumption that "the organi-
cation under him"-"his" would
vote as he tells 1t to have created dis
sension In the ranks Of labor.
Dissension Begins Early.
This dlssension began to show itself
almost Immediately after Mr.. Mack
and Mr.. Gompers had reached an
agreement about "their" organizations.
The first protest came from the West
eTn Federation of Miners. That fed
Grafton sent TO all labor unions cir
cular protesting against Mr.. GOmpers'
plan TO deliver" their votes.
"Gompers has heard" the circular
said. 'thc censure that has come from
all quarters and Is up in arms 10 rebel
against the intimations that have been
made by many who question the course
he has taken I'm an attempt 10 swing
the labor vote to the Democratic party
II IL apparent that Gompers has heard
the rumbling In the ranks Of organized
hbor. and men who are neither rene.
gades nor nutcasts In the movement
have voiced their sentiments In no un-
certain terms I'm opposition to the man
whose political declarations have
raised the suspicion that the American
Federation Of Labor II to he made an
annex Of the Democratic party in the
pending campaign"
Vice President Duncan.
Chief among those who object "a
Mr.. Gompers' assumption OF power "a
deliver the labor vote TO Bryan are
two high officials Of the federation
one Of them next I'm command 10 Com
pcrs himself. They are James Dun
can. first vice president 81 the Ameri
can Federation Of Labor. and Daniel
J. Keefe. sixth vice president.
Vice President Duncan. who Is presl
dent ~ the Granite Cutters union
says: The labor movement ~ our
G., Untry f. now. as heretofore. indie
pendent ~ PARTIES. The labor move
ment admonishes each organized work
81 10 cast his vote ou election day In
s;ri"t accordance With his conscience
rs to what would he the hest for the
VII, Ie people"
Vice President keefe.
vIre President kcrf". who Is mem
her ~ the fedcratlon's executive coun'
"a and president 81 the I.ongshorc
r.cn's union. expressly rcpudiates MIR
Gompcrs' bargain to deliver" the H.
b.r vote and says: The American
Federation ~ Labor Is not committed
10 any Political rarity. nor has any
candidate Ter president been indnrscd
by the executive council. Personally
nm golng to vote for William II
Taft because as secretary of war h,
did more Ia enforce laws IN favor al
organized labor than any ~ his prrde
ccsSors."
Mr. Gompcrs has undoubtedly SUI
cccd",i admirably IN one thing liz
has aTrontcd the conservative mem
hers ~ trades unions. who believe
:''"' each has n right 20 vote fer him
self and that cocr lun NJ any Kind
must not he exercised to influence any
mans vote.
Resolution Under Table.
This attitude was we'll demonstrated
15y the Hotel and Restaurant Mems un
In when Il substituted Il motion to tn
t'r Gompcr>' appeal for money fol
Esyan with con'rmptuouS resolution
+, throw II under the table" whicl
was done.
Three Union Presidents Fer Tsft.
!. l.. Lewis. rrc%ijcn; If IN" t'nlicl
" go WORKERS at America. takes direct
lz@ur With MIR t:nmprfS IN tin" Gut"s
tInn of commanding the unI"u lal"'i
utcr IN vUir for Err an l'rc>il"nt
Lewis. In tlrctlar to members ~ hIs
uul"n. says: The t'uitcd Mine Work
era ,ld not elect tie international rTra
ldrat Ia lnfurnce your political i'ref
errnc,s ar how you ,houlI cast ,oii
to,c an election day From what
kaow ~ orr mcmler$ l"u arr fui'i
competent IA decide far Yourselves how
tuu will vote ou election day.
James l.. Fcrncy. president ~ H.
r'rvntor CONSTRUCTORS National u'::"1
has declared for Taft
r. !. Dolnn. president At the Stcan
shovelc-s' urInn. has also declared fol
Mr.. Taft.
Printers President Protests.
Norman 4 NrI'hall. president ~ The