Evening star., 1919-08-28
GOMPERS RETURNS
IOSTEM RADICALS
May Halt Move to Put Labor
Behind the Plumb
= Plan.
"A. f. L. COUNCIL MEETS

Return to Washington early this
morning of Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor. according to close personal
friends of Mr.. Gompers and to officials
of the federation. was to permit the
head of the organization to assume
personal direction OF a campaign in
opposition to radicalism in the ma
tional labor movement.
Mr.. Gompers, who reached New
York from Europe Tuesday, hurried
at once to this clay, arriving here in
time to open and preside at the fall
session of the executive council of the
federation this morning.
Would Head OF Radicals.
Those in close touch with Mr.. Com
pers stated today that the important
matter that caused the head of the
federation to cut short his stay
abroad and hasten back to Washing
ton was to head off the movement
purposing to use the American Fed
Grafton of Labor in the effort to force
through Congress the Plumb plan for
government acquisition of the rail-
roads Of the country. and turning the
roads over to be controlled and op-
Grated by the hailroad brotherhoods.
When he landed in New York yes
terday Mr.. Gompers frankly stated he
had returned from Europe much
sooner than he had expected, and that
his sudden return was due to the re-
ceipt of cable messages that made it
imperative for him to get back and
act in close personal touch with the
members of the executive council.
Declines to Discuss Plumb Plan.
While he did not specifically deny
or repudiate an interview recently
cabled from Paris, in which he was
quoted as giving his unqualified in
dorsement to the Plumb plan of rail-
road ownership, control and opera
ton, Mr.. Gompers declared he was not
as yet prepared to discuss the matter
choose the time and place for speak
ing on the subject. This, his person
al friends asserted. was equivalent to
a reputation of the alleged Paris in
terview.
Leaders of the national labor move
ecutive councils of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. say that the records
.. of the American Federation of Labor
will show that at no time has the
American Federation of Labor in
dorsed Mr.. Plumb or his plan to dis
pose of the question of ownership
and operation of the railroad systems
of the country. 1t is pointed out by
these men, who assert that the record
is behind their statements, that while
Mr.. Plumb was cordially received at
the recent Atlantic City convention of
the American Federation of Labor
when he presented his plan for han,
ding the railroad question and when
he spoke on that subject, the conyen-
tion referred the matter to the ex-
ecutive council for consideration, de-
claring the plan a formative one
that must have full investigate bv
the executive council
That body has not met since the ad-
journment Of the Atlantic City con-
vention, the opening of the annual
being the first time since the con-
vention that it has been called to-
gether. Since the executive council
has taken no action on the Plumb
plan, friends of President Gompers
point out, it would be ridiculous TO
say that Mr.. Gompers. president OF
the American Federation Of Labor
tive council Of that body. had given
official and public Endorsement Of the
plan. Before the matter could have
the official Endorsement Of the ma
national labor movement, after the ex-
ecutive council has passed upon the
matter, it would have to go back to
Continued on Second PaSe.)