The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-17
GOMPERS BEATEN
ON GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP PLAN
By Overwhelming Vote Plumb
Resolution Is Adopted.
Rail Union Wins Montreal Bat
tie 29,O59 to s,349.
PUTS UNIONS AGAINST U. S.
Federation Chief Warns Dele
gates of Consequences.
Cites Acts of Cleveland and
Roosevelt to Show Results.
Rail Union Wins Montreal Bat
tie 29,O59 to s,349.
PUTS UNIONS AGAINST U. S,

IlUOSCNtlI W OAAOh
Montreal Junee 17.-GOvernment
ownership with democratic operation
of American railroads was endorsed
today by the American Federation of
Labor convention here after a bitter
fight.
Roll call showed that government
ownership was endorsed by a. vote of
29.O59 to S.349.
The language of the resolution was
the language Of the Plumb Plan
league, altho the league was not spe-
officially mentioned
President Samuel Gompers took the
floor al the American Federation OF
Labor convention here today to warn
against endorsement of government
ownership and operation of railroads.
Cites Cleveland and T. r.
Gompers cited acts of Presidents
Cleveland, Roosevelt and TAFT to snow
that government employees are prohlb-
tied from exercising many poltlcaI
and industrial rights.
IAN railroad workers will become
government employees said Gompers.
IF this convention endorses govern
ment ownership and government oper-
alton of the railroads and If the gov
ernment is persuaded to follow the en-
dorsement of this convention.
NO man is more loyal to the United
States than I. and yet l would not
give it more power over the citizenship
of America than it now has.
Gompers took the floor only after
il seemed certain the convention was
willing to put the American Federa-
ton of Labor on record for govern
-l1ent ownership and operation of the
railroads provided in the Plumb plan.
Gompers received no applause at
the conclusion of his speech. Cries
for a vote filled the hall. Enthusiasm
for government ownership seemed as
The vote was 29,059 to s,s49. 1t
came at the end of a two-day battle,
the bitterest which has torn organized
labor in years.
The result was a simple defeat of
Samuel Gompers, veteran president OF
the federation. 1t is regarded as the
only real setback Gompers has re-
ceived in years.
Cheers shook the convention hall
when the vote was announced.
Gompers Fought 1t.
Miners and railroad workers COM
bined to bring about Gompers's de-
feat Gompers fought hard to kill the
resolution, personally taking the floor
Just before the vote. He received no
applause.
Gompers warned that under gov
ernuent ownership two million rail-
road workers would become govern
Tnent employees. Government employees,
ne declared. were deprived of many
political and economic rights under
Presidents Cleveland, Taft and Roose-
Welt Among those who fought Com
pers were Secretary Morrison; Secre-
tary Green Of the miners; President
William + Johnston of the 1nterna-
tioral Machinists' union and Delegate
Franklin of the boilermakers' union.
The Gompers faction early in the
fight raised the cry of Specialization
of American industry" They made 1t
clear they favored government con-
troll but were opposed to government
ownership.
The Resolution Passed.
The resolution as passed by the con-
vention read:
Whereas. the organization representative
by delegates endorsing this resolution and
several others. have been and are now do
ing everything possible to educate the
American people to the seriousness of the
railroad situation. and for adopting some
thing for the perfecting the country's
transportation systems in order to pro-
vide more adequate and cheaper trans
portation. and TO eliminate the sinister in
fluence Of railroad corporations from our
national life.
international question, IT is also a social
question. and 1t is far more than ques-
tion of dividends to stockholders or the
wages Of employees: II Is a question that
involves every industrial activity of the
nation:
tinued operation of the railroads under the
provision Of the transportation of 1920
neClects all these questions and makes
their solution impossible and further be-
lieve that the provisions of this act pro-
vidinE for a subsidy and the utilization
OF public funds by. private individuals Is n
betrayal Of the public interest and is sub
verslve Of the traditions Of our country
. and.
Nominations have after careful delibera-
Hons and by instructions of their respec-
tive memberships, adopted and advo-
eating a plan providing for government
ownership and democratic operation Of the
railroad properties. therefore he 1t,
Resolved. that the fOrtieth annual con-
vention of the American Federation Of
Labor go on record as endorsing the move
ment 10 bring about a return of the sys-
tens Of transportation to government own
ership and democratic operation. and be 1t
further.
"Rcsolved. that the executive council
members he and are hereby instructed to
use every effort to have the transporta-
enacted providing for government neces-
sary inland waterways"
Word Ownership Restored.
The resolution as passed is practi-
cally Identical with its language as
originally introduced by Delegate
Franklin of the Boilermakers; Presi-
dent Johnston of the Machinists and
many others OF the railroad group
When the resolution was reported
yesterday afternoon by the resolutions
committee. it had been amended to
read government control instead of
government ownership. President
Gompers controls the ma jority of the
committee.
Delegate Franklin brought in a mi
nority report restoring the government
ownership clause to the original reso-
luton. Others who signed the minor