Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-18
GOMPERS IS BEATEN
ON RAILROAD ISSUE
BYPLUMB PLAN MEN
Government Ownership Endorsed
by A. F. of L. After Bitter De-
bate in Convention.
LABOR HEAD MAY RETIRE;
OPPOSES RAISE IN SALARY

Montreal Que. June 1S.-Advocates
of the Plumb Plan today forced through
the convention of the American Fedora
tion of Labor n resolution calling Tor
Government ownership and democratic
operation of the railroad systems and
necessary inland Waterways The vote
was %. .05S to s, 34S. with $40 vote not
cast.
The railroad unions, which now con-
stitute % per cent of the Federation, also
scored later in tho day when the Executive
Council was increased from II 10 10 oY
creating four additional Vice Presidents.
To this there was only nominal opposition
In the makeup of the convention 1t
seems likely four -ailroad men will be
selc .ted-Nles ,rs Joseph A. Franklin
of the Boilermakers. James 7. Noonan
Of the Electrical Workers. William H.
Johnson Of the MaChinsts and Martin
RYAN Of the Railway Commission.
these four are elected the Executive
Council will stand nine to six for ma
t,ansIization Of industry. Secretary
Frank Morrison and William Green
now on the board, having so voted To-
day Previously the only advocate oi
tho Plumb Plan on the board was MT
Morrison.
DEFEAT FOR GoMrERs.
There is q possibility that John f1tE-
pafrick. who led the steel strikers. may
rcpIacc ono of the above named. mere
is also n movement To elect some rcprc-
scntatves Of the needle trades, hut u
seems to lack Roadway.
Prior to the taking Of the vote on the
railroad resolution President Gompers
sought 10 pull its teeth by asking the dis
sentcrs on the Resolutions Committee
which had proposed il il the resolution
meant approval of Plumb plan. Two
III tho three declared II did not mean
approval Of the plan The third declared
fhc question 10 be unfair, but SAID the
railroad men approved tho Plumb plan
Mr.. Gompers, following tho answers
to his question TO tho railroad men. de-
clarcd the issue was Government owner
Shlp versus private ownership. Despite
this declaration. the record shovsa defeat
for Gompcrs. Not onlv did he speak
against hc resolution. hut as delegate
voted against IT.
In tho dol at and after the meeting
re rcscrtatl,Cs of the railroad unions
and those allied for them, said that until
something better than the Plumb Plan
j presented thcv will he for It and the
vote TODAY must hc 50 considered. On
th, other hand conservatives declare that
on the record the radicals cannot gC
before the Congress or tho country and
declare the Federation favors tho Plumt
Plan. The fact, however. IS that dis
guise IL as they may. the vote this morn
ing represents an Endorsement OF The
Plumb ideas.
USE OF NAME PLUMB ABANDONED.
IL also records success of the radical.
nlan, following discovery that the
Plumb Plan would be rejected by Tho
country and the labor movement, to gc'
results by abandoning use Of the namC
of Plumb but using propaganda machin
cry of the Plumb Plan League under tn
name of railroad unions.
Virtually every delegate was in hrs sra
when the debate was resumed yesterday
Most Of tho railroad mon had been in
caucus or lining up votes during the night
Most Of the opposition had quit earl
satisfied that the hest they could do was &
get forma disclaimers that tho adoption
Of the minority report OF tho resolution
committee be interpreted as an lndoTse
ment Of the Plumb Plan.
Frank Morrison opened for the railroad
men declaring that whatever tribulatIon
might follow a change IN railroad opera
ton the railroad workers would profit
They arc. he said. tho men inter
CStcd ana tneN ASK 10 ne piafF3I
q aposition where they can work under bet
ter conditions.
Sustaining his position, MIR. Morrison
cIt,d declarations Of earlier convention
for Government ownership.
Charles J. MacGowan, of the Boiler
max ers followed with the declaration tina
while those forming the resolution had en-
dorsed the Plumb Plan, they did not ask
th Federation to indorse it.
eff YOU can present a better plan, h'
said. ''we will accept it
Under the present law, he declared