The sun., 1919-06-22
REFLECT GOMPERS
BY UNANIMOUS VOTE
Federation Delegates Insist on
Raising Salary Of Labor
Chief.
REDS ROUTED IN TEST
Resolution Urges Wilson to
Remove Burleson In In
terests of Freedom.
REDS ROUTED IN TEST

delegates to the thirty-ninth annual con-
vention Of tho oruanisaron. Despite his
vigorous protests. labor showed its great
appreciation Of his leadership by rais-
ing his salary from $500 70 $4,000
year after the most remarkable demon
stration OF the convention. This fol-
lowed a dramatic address By the Little
Napoleon"
The chief feature OF the annual elso-
tons, aside from the affection demon
strated by tho delegates for Mr.. Com
GERS, was the defeat visited upon the
radicals In the only test they made OF
their strength during tho day. They
threw their weight behind Thomas
Sweeney, head Of the Taiiors Intsrna-
tional Union, for slxth vice-president In
opposition to Thomas A. Rickert of Chi
oago. and called for q roll call vote.
The count showed Riokert q victor by
1920 to 1881. II was the most de-
oisive defeat suffered by the "Rsds~ IN
the twenty years they have been an
deavoring to split labors ranks.
Other officers elected included First
vice-president, James Duncan, Boston |;
second. Joseph valentine. Cincinnati |;
third. Frank DUFFY, Indianapolis fourth.
William Green, Indianapolis: NTH. Will
far, u. Mahon. Detroit, sixth, jacob
. Fischer. indianapolis; seventh, Mathew
Vol. Chicago: treasurer. Daniel J. To-
bin, Boston secretary. Frank Morrison |;
, fraternal delegates to the British Trade
Congress, william l. Hutchinson, In
dianapolis. and John J. Hines. Boston |;
fraternal delegate to the Canadian La
Dor Congress. Samuel Griggs. Indianapo-
lts. Fraternal delegates to the Am
sterdam and Pan-American Labor con-
crosses. who will be headed by Mr..
GomperS are to be selected by the ex-
ecutive council
Gompers Fights Increase.
The resolutions brought In the report
Of the committee on laws to the conven-
. ton. called for an increase In the sal
. airy of the president and Secretary Nor
rison. the latter from $1,000 to $500.
. were passed with delegate" Gompers
voting against his own increase. In his
plea for the retention of the old salary
! he said:
while was abroad my salary was
an embarrassment to me. Enemies OF
labor pointed me out and declared
was not the representative OF the work.
ing people of America. but rather the
m!llionaires. II was really q handicap
TO my work for labor and to increase
II to $4,000 win only increase the en-
barrassment. don't want to be re-
gnrded in the last years Of my life as
q money seeker or q hoarder. Ny APP
peal TO you Is made in all sincerity. I
have SUFFICIENT for my needs and that of
my wife. Please let II remain as II is"
! Treasurer Tobin, chairman Of tho COM
+ mittee on law. in response declared !:
. II hope and trust that you will adopt
the committees recommendation We
very carefully considered the matte-
from all standpoints and bsiievs It 10
only just and right that the increass
J be granted. We regarded what the Of
nee of the presidency Of the American
Federation Of Labor represents In reach
ing our decision
Tho only vote recorded against the
raises, in addition TO that Of Mr.. Com
pers against her own. was those Of Jim
Duncan. the radical leader. Tho chair.
however. called the vote unanimous.
Duncan was the only delegate TO vote
against Mr.. Gomperss reelection.
The convention took another shot at
Postma ster-0enerai Burle8on during the
afternoon In endorsing the report of the
committee on education. OF which
Charles b Stillman was the reporting
secretary. A resolution presented by the
presidents of the Photo Engravers Union,
typographical Union, Printing Pressmen
and Assistants unions. Stsreotypers and
Dlectrotypers Union and the Brother
hood OF Boolobinders on tho subject was
passed without q dissenting vote.
In reference to Mr.. Burleson's rule the
resolution read:
THAT this convention OF the American
Federation OF Labor again expresses It's
cisappoval OF the zone rate method OF
charging for the delivery OF second class
mail and It petitions Congress TO annul
this obnoxious legislation enacted under
NJ Nd
that II requests q thorough investigation
Of the entire postal service and postal
rates, and pending such Investigation
that all FORMER rates DO reestablished
therefore be u further
Resolved, That this convention petit
ton tho President OF these United States
in the interests OF the many thousands
OF public employees and in the interest
OF the public dependent upon an EN-
Client postal service to ssiect as a new
Postmaster-Gensral a man sympathetic
TO the original intent and purposes of
this great service and one who is in
harmony with the newer conception of
the rights Of labor and the rights OF a
free people % eloQuently expressed by
the President on % many occasions"
Organizers Get Moro Pay.
In order 20 meet additional expenses
Incurred In raiatnB tho daily wage and
expense allowances of organizers
amounting to an annual aggregate OF
close TO $4,000 the convention approved
the suggestion of the committee on laws
that the per capita tax on all members
OF intsrnationais be raised. Treasurer
Totin refused boost in salary from
$500 to $500.
In completing its report the commit
tee on education recommended that the
executive couAstl DO authorized TO con-
tinue Its efforts for the creation OF
public employment agencies with Fed
eral. State and municipal management.
and investigation of the school system
IN the promotion OF an characterization
programme 1t recommended that II
the school systems did not show sym
patty for the latter idea that the CEN
trial labor bodies bring about the estab-
hshment of the adult classes themselves.
The committee deprecated the fact
that in the enactment Of the child labor
law. tho constitutionality OF which a
now being tested In the Supreme Cour,
tho enforcement clause transfers the
authority from the Department of
Labor 10 the Treasury Department and
asked that the executive council en-
snent back in the Department OF Labor,
~where II logically belongs"
Reorganization of both the lower ana
upper ella ssss was suggested In the school
system % that subjects OF use would be
taught b. the children Of working people
should circumstances take them out of
school at any time. The committee rec
commended that English DO the basic Ian
RuaRejin both public md nriyate arhonIa