The Washington herald., 1917-11-25
CoMpERSNINs
ANOTHER TERM.
ASA.F.L.HEAD
James O'Connell, Of This
City, Named Second
Vice President.

Buffalo. N. Y, Nov. A-Samuel
Gompers was today reelected presi-
dent Of the American Federation Of
Labor with but two dissenting votes.
There was no opposing candidate. Mt.
G6mpefs has been the leader Not ths
Federation for thirty-nve years.
There was one upset in the election
OF the other oricers. John B. Lennon,
Of Bloomington, III, was defeated for
reelection as treasurer By Daniel J.
Tobin. of indianapolis. head Of the
teamsters' union. The vote was 1S,sSS
to 9,oD. Mr.. Lennon had been treas
urer for twenty-eight years. In thai
time he acted as arbitrator In Disputes
between unions, and objections te his
rulings defeated him, as the mine
workers, carpenters. machinists and
other powerful unions combined their
strength for Tobin.
The other officers reelected are
First vice president, James Duncan,
Quincy, Mass; second vice president
gAlllE5 ~ gOuhCls VI
d. c.; third vice president. Joseph +,
Valentine. Of Cincinnati. Ohio; fourth
vice president. John r. Alpine, Of Chi
cago; hfth vice president, II. B. Per
ham, Of ST. Louis; sixth vice president
Frank Duffy, Of Indianapolis. Ind
seventh vice president, william Green
Of indianapolis, Ind; eighth vice presi'
dent. W. D. Mahon. OF Detroit, Mich
Secretary. Frank Morrison, OF Wash
inEton. d. c.
Gompers Accepts offIee.
In accepting once, Mr. Gompers
Il am with those who are fightins
for freedom and democracy. In thi.
great crucial time in the worlds his
tory men cannot take sides.
mo man can be neutral In the world
war. Our country has allied itseli
with others fighting the German auto.
cracy. Until the objects Of the wal
have been achieved no self-respecting
lfbsrty-loving man can hope fol-
peace"
Mr.. Gompers was asked in convcn.
ton today to interpret President VII.
sons attitude toward wage rates wher
the eight-hour law is suspended Al
a member OF the Council of National
Defense. Mr.. Gompsrs explained:
When the eight-hour law n sus.
pended in any particular basic indus
try. the eight-hour day shall prevail
and all work performed after eighl
hours shall be compensated at not less
than timC and one-half TO all work
ers."
Labor Shortage Denied.
New trials for Warren K Billings
and Thomas ]. Mooney. convicted oi
murder for their alleged part In the
San Francisco bomb-throwing. were
demanded at the closing session oi
the convention.
The resolution struck out any claim
of innocence for Mooney and Bill.
lings, and based ita appeal for new
triaB on the ground that II none ar,
granted. the greater part Of the coun,
try will believe. with bitterness tina
Moehey and Billihgs were convicted
Through the Testimony OF witnesse,
who were pefjuFers or who lent them,
selves to perjury in the hope Of re
ward"
The last important report was thai
from the special committee appoint.
ed to cooperate with the United
states government. This report de
elared that the reports constantly
spread of a labor shortage in thi,
country are false and further hfnted
that under the cloak Of patriotism
and the excuse that men have beer
drained by the army and navy, EN-.
ployers are depriving men Of work
10 replace them with women and
children at lower rates.