The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-28
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ON OPPOSITION TO A. r. OF L.,
OFFIC GERS - FRANK j.
HAYES VS.. GOMPERS =
GREAT MINERS ORGANIZA-
TON.
Nv Peter Power

IL Gun De SLATER dS Certainty
that the official family in the
American Federation of Labor
will meet witty opposition at the
Toronto convention next month
when the time comes to name the
leaders for another term.
For a number of years the cleo
tion of officers has been permit
ted to go by default, SO far as OPP
posing the administration was con-
cerned, and with but few excep-
lions Gompers, Mitchell, Duncan
and other members. of the, execu-
tive council were chosen by unani-
nous vote. In all conventions
during the past decade the admin
istration has presented some DOM
mating issue, such as declarations
of war against ship subsidies, COM
lpulsory arbitration, government
by injunction, ETC., and the dele
gates were given to understand
in so many words that II they ran
counter to the issues and the Of
ficers the antagonistic employers
associations would interpret such
situation as an indication of in
ternal dissension and weakening
of the labor movement.
Thus last year Gompers, Mitch
ell and Secretary Morrison had
a jail sentence hanging over their
heads, and quite naturally won
the sympathies of the delegates.
This year the same sentence-pro-
nounced against them by Judge
Wright in the famous Bucks stove
case-still confronts those Off
Gals, and Gompers and his friends
are sure to make the most of 1t.
But the administrative officials
appeal to have almost entirely
alienated the radical element in
the A. F. of L., the latter claim
ing that the officials have fallen
too strongly under the spell of the
National Civic Federation, which
latter body. headed by August
Belmont, Andrew Carnegie, H. c..
Prick and others land of which
Gompers is vice president and
Mitchell a paid officiaD, has de-
clared war upon the socialists and
other radicals in the labor move
ment.
The electrical workers contro-
versy. which, on account of the
A. F. of L. executive council TAX
ing a stand with the minority fac
ton, has created turmoil through
out the country. will prove a
thorn in the side of the admins
tration.
Gompers' European tour and de-
nunciation of political action as
practiced in the older countries is
also meeting with the disfavor of
those who believe that the trusts
and corporations are becoming too
powerful to combat with the strike
and boycott and must be met with
the ballot. Gompers has always
been successful in the past in
heading off political action, but
many thousands of workers
throughout the country are becom-
ing more clamorous in their de-
mands that some forward move
ment be made to gain political
power.
First Vice President Duncan is
being bitterly attacked by the boot
and shoe workers, who charge
that he used the prestige of his
position to defend prominent
manufacturer hostile to, their Or
ganization, and aided in splitting
their union.
John Mitchell. second vice pres
ident,- has aroused the ire of many
of the miners because he is advo-
eating the establishment of trade
schools under the auspices of the
National Civic Federation instead
of under the control of the unions
affected. 1t is also claimed that he
is constitutionally ineligible to
represent the miners, being no
longer employed in the trade.
Treasurer John B. Lennon has a
fight for his official life as general
secretary of the tailors on at pres
ent, and some of the unionists en-
ployed in the liquor industry
would like to lift his scalp because
he espoused the cause of the pro-
hibitionists. Third Vice President
O'Connell is harassed by a split
in the machinists' union, of which
he is president, which is spread
ing through the country.
Among those discussed as a.
probable opponent of Gompers is
Frank j. Hayes, secretary-treas-
urer of the 10000 Illinois miners.
Hayes occupies responsible posi-
ton, as he handles half a million
dollars year and is an influential
factor IL determining wage scales
for the miners Of the entire coun
try. He is under 80, a speake
and organizer of exceptional abil