The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-10-16
Labor Leader Will Probably Be
Able to Resume Place in In
dustrial Conference, 1t Was
Announced.
ILLNESS DUE TO MONTHS
OF UNREMITTING WORK
Industrial Conference Tempo
rarily Breaks Tense Situation
by Deferring Action on Steel
Strike Intervention Proposal.

| Washington, Oct. 15-President
Gompers of the American Federation
Of Labor. confined to his bed at home
here OF temporary nervous exhaustion
is reported better tonight. Physicians
said he would probably be able to re-
sumo his place in industrial confer
ence.
Those who heard Mr.. Gompers' i'm
passionated address in the conference
yesterday realized he was laboring un-
der a tremendous nervous strain and
the announcement of his illness did
not come as a surprise to his associ-
ate5 in the labor group.
/ Frank Morrison, secretary OF the
American Federation of Labor. was
elected chairman of the labor group
in the conference today to act for
Mr. Gompers.
Labor leaders said If Mr.. Gompers'
n illness proved so serious as to make 1t
II possible for him to discharge the
n duties of president of the federation
for any considerable time, the execu-
IKE council of the federation would
De called to elct a temporary success
|Iur II was said James Duncan, first
Ivice- president of the federation. prob
ably would be designated to act.
II The Industrial conference, by a rsi-
H ling vote at the morning session adopt
II ed a resolution by Harry A. Wheeler.
III chairman of the capital group, ex-
|Ipressing the conferences hope for
Ispeedy recovery of the labor leader.
II Mr.. Gompers' illness results, labor
leaders said, from months of unre-
Emitting work at home and abroad in
connection with the peace treaty, the
International labor congress at Am
sterdam and the steel strike.
The veteran labor leader was strick-
en- when he reached his home last
night after delivering an attack in the
Industrial conference on the United
States steel corporation for it's refusal
10 deal with the steel strike commit
lee His friends recalled that the day
vas the first anniversary of the death
Of his daughter and they said this
act probably aggravated his condi-
ion.
announcement of Mr.. G m er s.
reakdown was made by his secre-
ary when the national industrial con-
arence convened today. He issued
he following statement:
Mr. Gompers returned home from
tie Industrial conference last evening
y to bed. His physician Dr. Henry
Parker was called in to see him. He
found Mr. Gompers in a state of nerv-
Gus exhaustion with temperature of
l01. The doctor said that it would be
absolutely necessary for Mr.. Gompers
70 remain in bed"
Despite declarations by the en-
p'oyers group that they never would
approve Intervention in the steel
strike and insistent demands by the
same group that labor arbitration be
disposed of definitely, the national in
alstrial conference, voting as an as
sembly today. deferred action on the
abor plan pending an effort by the
central committee to agree on ques-
lon Of collective bargaining.
The central committee OF fifteen
as directed to have report ready
Wen conference reconvenes at 2:3o
onorrow but It struck a snag this
''ernoon in attempting to define "col-
ective bargaining' and made but lit
0e headway.
resident Wilson will not sanction
s1!ournment Of the national industrial
'0nierence here until it has exhausted
'eFy possible means of finding So
-!on OF the present industrial situa-
oh white house officials said today.
oespite his illness. the president
as understood to have been inform
% The tense situation in the confer
resulting from the controversy
Labor's proposal for arbitration
me steel strike. He waas said TO
- nat this should not endanger the
'Inate success of the conference