The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-18
Feels Control of Labor Fedora
ton Weakening Now.
Lays His Reelection Before
Meeting Executive Council.
IRISH NOW HIS OPPONENTS
Claim Votes Enough to Over
throw Administration Issue.
Aged Leader May Not Again Be
Candidate.

Montreal. June 1S.-President Sam
uel Gompers at noon today called
secret meeting of the executive coun-
Gil of the American Federation of La
Dor in annual convention here.
Gompers. it was learned, planned to
lay before the council the question of
whether ne should run for reelection
as president.
Members of the council were under
stood to be unanimous for Gompers to
accept reelection.
Gompers is facing a second critical
issue threatening his power.
He was Overwhelmingly defeated in
yesterdays session when the fedora
ton voted for government ownership
of the railroads. The committee on
international relations was scheduled
to make its report today, which will
call upon the convention to demand
that the United States senate ratify
the league without reservations.
May Not Be Candidate.
This Is in accordance with Presi-
dent Gompers's position. The Irish
sympathizers. supported by other Gle
ments, however, are determined to
prevent this action on the ground the
covenant cannot be approved by or
ganized labor so long as it denies the
Irish people the right of self determi-
to overthrow the administration re-
port
Whether Mr.. Gompers will be a can
didate for reelection for the thirty
ninth time will be known when the
election of officers is started this
afternoon. His supporters declare he
will, be reelected.
Carry Demands to Frisco.
Endorsement of government owner
ship of railroads and democrat tic
operation" will be demanded of the
Democratic platform at San Francisco
by two million organized railroad
workers, President Heberling of the
Switchmen's union announced here to-
day.
Heberling is one of the leaders of
the railroad group which yesterday
forced endorsement of government
ownership from the annual conyen-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor here over the protest of Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers.
The action of the railroad group in
putting their program up to the DEM
ocratic platform committee virtually
means asking the Democratic party to
endorse the Plumb plan for a tri-par-
tite control of railroad operation by
the public, government and workers
BACKED as we are by the American
Federation of Labor. as a result of the
overwhelming majority it gave our
plan yesterday, it is difficult to mag
inc that the Democratic party can
deny u.s." said President Heberling.
Bryan Pledges Support.
William J. Bryan has pledged his
support to the plan, Heberling said
Heberling added that should the
Democrats refuse endorsement, assist
ance will be sought from the labor
party, which is scheduled to hold its
nominating convention in Chicago.
July u.
Organized labor of the United States
now is rapidly plunging into militant
policy of active participation in poll
tics it is strongly indicated at this
convention. The trend is all towards
party affiliation as opposed to the
nonpartisan particiation advocated by
President Gompers.
Election of officers. scheduled for
$50 p. m, is the most important work
to be undertaken by the convention
today. Reelection of Gompers by ac-
clamation seemed certain.