New-York tribune., 1919-08-27
Leader of Federation of
Labor Declines to Take
Stand ON Proposal of
Workers for Railroads
Returns to Fight
Radical Movement
Favors Fight ofActors and
Steel Men; Says Bolshe-
vik Wave Is ON Wane
By John ]. Leary, Jr.

Samuel Gompers returned from Eu-
rope yesterday to fight radicalsm in
the labor movement. More particular
ly he returned because of the attempt
to use the American Federation Of
Labor to jam through Congress the
Plumb plan in its present form,
whereby the operation and control Of
the railroads Of the country would be
turned over to the brother rhoods.
The first skirmish came yesterday
when, after brief interview with Mr.
Gompcrs, Glenn f. Plumb declared
Gompcrs had absolutely indorsed" the
scheme. This statement men close to
Mr.. Gompers declared to be without
warrant in fact" They said the most
Mr.. Plumb and Representative Ed
ward Heating, of Colorado, obtained
was a promise of early and careful
consideration of the scheme.
Speaking for himself to the report
ers, Mr.. Gompcrs declared he was not
prepared to discuss the matter public
ly, rcscrvng to himself the right to
X.
AS for the reason for his return
ahead of the time originally fixed, Mr..
Gompers was frank in saying that he
had cut his trip short because Of the
receipt of certain kilograms from
Washington. These kilograms were
sent Immediately the attempt was
made to force the Plumb plan through.
Clash Expected Tomorrow
The first real clash on the Plumb
plan is expected in Washington to-
morrow when the executive council of
the American federation of Labor
meets. According to we'll informed
members of the labor movement, but
one member of the council is known to
be definitely committed to the plan.
Men in Mr.. Gompers's confidence say
he is opposed to the Plumb plan be-
cause it is socialistic and unavoidable,
that it would, should it become law,
work to the disadvantage Of the coun-
try, but most of all to the working
classes, and that attempts to make it
appear that organized labor as a whole
is for the plan are, unless bloc ked,
sure to work to the injury Of the labor
movement.
These men point out that at no time
has the American Federation of Labor
indorscd either Mr.. Plumb or his plan
Mr.. Plumb, they said, was we'll received
in the Atlantic City convention Of the
federation when he spoke in advocacy
of his scheme, but that body, after
cheering Plumb, referred the plan to
at the same time branding it as some
thing in the formative stage. The
| council has not yet considered the
matter, these men said, and when it
view by the next convention of the
| federation.
Public Has Some Rights
With the claim Of the railroad
workers to voice in determining the
conditions under which they should
work, Mr.. Gompers is in solid accord.
|
opinion that the general public has
some rights in the matter, and that
however deserving the railroad men
may be they must not unduly profit
at the expense Of the great mass of
workers. who in the last analysis must
pay the bills.
Mr. Gompers, accompanied by Daniel
j. Tobin, vice e-president of the fedora
ton, and Guy II. Oyster, his secretary
arrived on the George Washington
shortly after noon and went at once
to the Hotel Continental. There he
was Immediately bcsct by labor prob
lens.
First he saw Mr.. Plumb.
He saw John Fitzpatrick and his as
sociates on the committee in charge
OF the efforts to unionize the steel
workers of the country, and approved
OF the movement.
He received delegation Of striking
actors, to whom he promised to give
every aid in bringing about all adjust
ment of their troubles with the pro-
ducing managers, later addressing a
mass meeting of the strikers.
He discussed his trip abroad with
reporters, declaring that Bolshevisnl
is on the wane in Russia and else.
where and that Germany remains "un-
repentant and still obessed with the
idea of dominating the world"
He declined, on the ground that he
J Continued on page four