The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-05
GOMPERS AND
WILSON TOSPEAK
IN STATE MAYBE
Democrats in Doubt About
Wisdom of Labor Boss
Activity.
MIGHT Do MUCH HARM
Everything Being Sacrific-
ed to the Cause of
Cornwell.
BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH

BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH
WASHINGTON. ID. C.. Oct. SIN
less present plans miscarry. President
Wilson is going to make a speech In
West Virginia. His side partner In
the deal to hook the labor vote, Sam
Gompers. is also going to invade West
Virginia along about a week after
next. II the plans miscarry as &c
Gompers. 1t will be because those who
are In charge OF the Democratic cam
paign In West Virginia will have de
cided that It is best to keep Gompers
out. They are massaging their minds
with that question now.
When and where Wilson will speak
In West Virginia Is yet to be deter
mined. II IL probably that he will
make q stop In the state when he Is
en- route to or on his way back cas-,
from Cincinnati, where he 10 billed
for the 26th. Unless he changes his
mind. and that is not at all improb
able In his case. an occasion will have
to be provided for him. as well as an
organization. which will, on the face
VI ~ O. ACootp SoAkOi Ii " ul6 dhhOuAC
ed purpose to address only "non-par
tisan" gatherings during the cam
paign.
1t is the understanding among
Democrats fro mthe state who are
in the city at the present time, that
II It is possible, the speech Of the
president will be booked for some
place In the First District, probably
at Wheeling. National Committee
man Watson, II Is the talk here. wants
the Presidents piece to be staged In
that district, and Representative
Nicely, who Is playing to the organic
ed labor element as earnestly, but as
quietly as possible, so as not to ruffie
considerable part OF the voting pop.
ulation in that district who do not
think that organized labor is every
thing. National Committeeman Wat
son and his business associates promi.
nently among them, Is as keen as 9
briar to have the Wilson speech pulled
of in the district where Democratic
prospect at the present time are re.
ported here to be none too fiattering.
AS to Gompers going into West Vir.
ginia that is tentative as yet. A feel.
er has been put out to ascertain II
Gompers would do more harm in West
Virginia than he might do good for
the Wilson ticket. Some there are who
figure that his presence on the stump
would be decidedly embarrassing to
National Committeeman Watson and
his candidate. Mr.. Cornwell. both 70
ing anything but enamored Of the
movement with which Gompers Is con.
nected. Their records are clear.cut in
opposition to organized labor. Mr.
watson. in his coal fields, and Mr.
Cornwell in his erstwhile capacity as
policy attorney for the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad company. II Is point
ed out. too, that the voters of West
Virginia are in the main conservative
as class and Gompers' extreme radi.
alism and one+mindedness on one
question is liable to have an effect
not desired by the party which is fea.
turing him on the stump this year
Also. 1t is referred to in connection
with Gompers' proposed stamping tour
Of the State that he made a number OF
speeches In Maine which gained votes
for the Republican ticket wherever
he spoke or his speeches were pub.
lished.
Another thing. it is claimed by some
that Gompers is not popular with or.
ganized labor In West Virginia: that
there he has long ago lost the conf.
dence OF not only many Of the leaders
In the movement. but also many OF the
more intelligent and politically per.
spicacious men in the ranks. They
long ago took Gompers' measure"
as one OF their leaders has expressed
II. and the same man added that
Gompers had only succeeded In hold.
ing the job he has as long as he has
because Of his fearful appeals not to
be thrown out in his old age which
have up till now had the effect as
planned on the sympathy OF the vot.
ing power In the organization.
The consent OF the Democratic Ma.
tional committee to stage a Wilson
speech in West Virginia was secured
ny the campaign managers In the
state upon their representing that Gov.
ernor Hughes was billed TO make a
days tour OF the state. and that Col.
onel Roosevelt would follow Hughes
soon thereafter. It was also repre-.
sented with great emphasis to the ma.
tional managers that Wilson has more
than a fighting chance to capture the
electoral votes Of the state. This rep
does not accord with the
opinion OF these gentlemen when pri.
vately expressed to friends. but they
had to make that argument strong.
What is behind It. Of course, is the
that speech from vii.
son in West Virginia will accrue to
the benefit Of Mr.. Watson's guberna.
torial candidate. Mr.. Cornwell. Every.
thing Is being turned to the accoun.
Of Cornwell, Is the understanding OF
the State colony Of politicians in the
Capital, even to getting the National
committee to stop the Wilson special
long .enOuEh in-Weat Vir0inios - GOT