Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-27
LABOR LEADER RETURNS TO
UNITED STATES ON REQUEST
OF WASHINGTON.
DENIES HE HAS APPROVED
t PLUME CONTROL PLAN
oompers Jumps Into Work I'm
nediateiy Upon Landing - De-
nounees Bolshevists as Outlaws
Against Whom All Good Men Should
Turn-u-ses Steel Workers 10 Delay

New York, Aug. 21.--Within an hour
after his arrival from Europe samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation Of Labor. was hard ut WORK
trying to straighten the tangled skeih
of labor disturbances in which the Uni
ted States is enmeshed.
Without waiting even to dine he did
three things;
l.-Discussed the railway SITUATION
with Glenn T., Plumb. father OF tho
Plumb plan" and counsel for the
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
2-Conferred for half an hour with
John Fitzpatrick, president or the
Chicago Federation of Labor and hea'
of the subcommittee of the national
committee for organizing iron ana
steel workers. Z. J. Evans, of Chi
cago, participated in the conference.
3-Granted an audience TO news
paper men in which he outlined the
situation abroad from the political
as we'll as the labor angle.
Plumb Claims Approval.
The author of the Plumb PLAN
who had been at the pier in Hoboken
TO meet Mr.. Gompers, came down
from the latter's room in the Hotel
Continental while newspaper men
were waiting to interview the labor
leader.
Mr.. Plumb said Mr.. Gompers had
made a statement in favor of his plan
for handling the railway situation.
He had told the men that Mr.. Com
pers had always been and still was
in favor of the Plumb plan"
Does that mean Mr.. Gompers IS
for your plan" aueried reporters.
"Absolutely!" replied Mr.. Plumb.
Denial From Gompers.
In his talk with the newspaper
men a short time later Mr.. Gompers
declined to discuss the Plumb plan"
at all. He might do it later, he said.
Later at the request of reporters.
friend Of Mr.. Gompers called his at
tention to the statement made oy
Plumb.
The federation head let it be plain
" understood that Plumb's statement
was absolutely unauthorized.
IF I had expressed my approval
in such a decided manner l should
not have avoided discussing 1T with
you boys" he told reporters.
Neither Mr.. Gompers nor Mr.. F1tz-
patrick would discuss what trans
pired at their conference. Mr.. Com
pers said he had arranged to meet
Mr.. Fitzpatrick and other members
of the subcommittee today, when the
steel situation will be thoroughly gone
over. Mr. Fitzpatrick has rooms at
the same hotel as Mr.. Gompers. a"@
It was limited Gompers had advised
| the Chicago labor man to delay FUR
! Their action on the proposed Calling
of q general strike that would tie up
the steel industry until Gompers had
had an opportunity to become thor
| oughly acquainted with the situa-
| ton.
| Called Home by Washington
| Mr.. Gompers said his return from
Europe was fastened by the receipt
Of cablegrams from Washington ad-
vising him Of the seriousness OF the
labor situation here.
| He had not had time to read the
| statement issued by President Wilson
and let it be plainly evidenced he in
tended to steer away from a discus
| sion Of labor disturbances here until
he had familiarized himself with con-
!! ditions.
| 1t was shortly before noon when
Mr.. GomperS debarked from the
| Washington. He was the first man
over the gangplank of the transport
and was greeted by his son.
"How's MOTHER" he asked, refer
ring to his wife, who has been very
i'll for some time.
| Brigadier General McManus greeted
Mr.. Gompers on the pier and asked II
he could be of any assistance. Ma1ol
| General Shanks, commanding the por
Of embarkation, also met Mr.. Gompers
and shook hands with him.
Calls Bolshevists Outlaws.
! According to officers on the ship
Mr.. Gompers enjoyed the voyage home
and was not sick He addressed q
Masonic meeting of officers on the
transport. and in his speech branded
the bolshevists as OUTLAWS against
whom the hands of all good men are
turned"