The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-06-24
A,F. or |. AGAIN
ELECTS COMPERS
Selected President Thirty-Ninth
Time at Annual Convention
in Montreal.
ONE NEGATIVE VOTE CAST
Refusing TO Heed Veteran Leaders
Plea That $4,000 Year Is Ample,
the Convention Raised His
Salary to $4,000.

Montreal, June 21.-Samuel Com
pers, veteran president Of the Ameri-
run Federation of Labor was re-elect
I'd for the thlrty-nlnth time by the con
,entlon here.
GOmpers nomination by George W.
Perkins Of the Cigar Makers union
was the signal for prolonged ovation
by the delegates, who stood ana
cheered for several minutes. James
Duncan of Seattle is recorded as cast
Ing the only negative vote.
Gompers faced critical issue
threatening his power when the con
venton came to consideration of It's
position regarding the League OF Ma
lions,
He was Overwhelmingly defeated IN
Thursdays session when the fedora
ton voted for government ownership
Of the railroads.
The committee on international re-
latIons is ready to make It's report
which will cali on the convention to de
mand that the United States senate
ratlfy the league without reservations.
This is IN accordance with President
Gompers' position.
The Irish sympathIzers, supported
by other elements, are determined to
prevent this action on the grounds that
the covenant cannot be approved by
organized labor as long ms il denies the
Irish people the right of sclf-determi-
nation.
Refusing to heed Gompers' plea that
$4,000 n year is ample, the convention
raised the salary of the president to
$4,000 a year.
The federation authorized nation
wide campaign to organize all the tel
phone operators. State declarations,
city central bodies and volunteer or
ganizers are to take the field at once
in the campaign.
The convention declared lts action
was necessary because Of the "oppres-
sive anti-Iahor policy Of the Bell Tele-
phone company and It's associated com
panicS'
ReconSldering its action of Thurs
day In amending It's constitution to IN
crense the executive council from II
10 - members, the convention rejected
the amendment by vote Of 23,097 70
1884. This action prevents the cleo
tlon of four additional vice presidents
The fourth Sunday In May Of each
wear was designated as ahors Me-
mortal day, on which labor throughout
the country will pay tribute to the
memory of its dead. The churches will
be asked TO cooperate in the observ-
ance Of Labor Sunday preceding Labor
dny IN September
The national steel organizing cam
paign headquarters Mt Pittsburgh will
not be abandoned. While the activities
OF the headquarters staff will be limit
ed until a new national committee is
organized IT will keep up propaganda
among the steel workers.
Montreal, June 1S 49, Government
ownership, with democratic operation
Of American railroads. was lndorsed
by the American Federation of Labor
convention here after a bitter fight.
At It's last session the federation
called upon congress to curb prOfteer.
Ing, approved the Irish republic" and
requested withdrawal OF armed forces
from Ireland
The federation instructed the execu-
tive council to call conference Of all
the interested international unions"
and Immediately start Il new organlz-
Ing campaign In the steel industry.
The work Of the national steel workers
organizing committee In organizing
800 500 steel workers was approved.
W d. Mahon, president Of the Street
Car Mems union, who was charged by
Detroit labor unions with being dis
loyal TO labor because his adult chill
dren were stockholders in uonunion
TN shop, was unanimously cxonerated
by the federation