New-York tribune., 1920-11-07
Radical Labor Men
Display Power i'm
New Central Union
Test of Strength Shows l95
Votes to us for Con-
servativcs; Compers Sees
Serious Struggle Ahead

Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, pre-
sided at the first meeting of the newly
formed Central Trades and Labor Coun-
ell of Greater New York at Beethoven
Hall, Third Avenue and East Fourth
Street, yesterday. The new central
body is the one formed recently by the
mbination Of the central labor organ
izations of the respective boroughs
comprising the city. The mbination
between the radical and conservative
factions. Yesterdays meeting was de-
voted exclusively to nomination of of
ficers.
Mr.. Gompers greeted the new central
body in the name of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, and expressed the
hope that it's establishment would mark
new era of progress for the labor
movement of the State and City of New
York. In opening the meeting Mr.. Com
pers declared that the labor movement
of the United States "is facing an era
of hard struggle" and called upon "all
trade unionists" to rally around the
American Federation Of Labor
"Reaction has jumped into the sad
die, both politically and industrially,"
said Mr. Gompers, referring to the re-
suit of the Presidential election and
to what he declared was concerted
movement on the part of organized
capital 'to force the country wide es-
tablishment of the open shop"
Sees New Crisis for Labor
In, otfo or II
Of the new body to the various nom
inees Mr. Gompers made a dramatic
appeal to the candidates, exhorting
Them to rededicate themselves to the
cause Of trade unionism "ih this new
crisis confronting organized labor"
The progrcssives and conservatives
shared in the slate Of candidates,
although the radicals seemed to have a
slight ma ajority of the delegates in the
hall. No contests developed on any
point except on the recommendation
that amendments to the new body's
constitution be adopted by two-thirds
vote. The radicals objected to that and
succeeded in inserting q provision that
only a majority vote be required for
amendments.
officials Of the Central Federated
Union. regarded by the Gcmpers fac
ton as hotbed of radicalism. were
we'll represented in the nominations.
The nominations follow:
For presidents: Edward T. Hannah.
president of the Central Federated
Union, and John Sullivan, treasurer Of
the Genital Federated Union. Mr.. Han
nah was placed in nomination by Will
lam Kohn, chairman Of the Farmer
Labor party of Greater New York.
For vice president: William Kohn,
1
Union, and John Coughlin, president Of
the Central Labor Union Of Brooklyn.
Conservative for Secretary
For secretary. William Kehoe, OF the
international brotherhood of Tea ms sters
and leader Of the conservatives. ard
Ernest Bohm, secretary Of the Central
Federated Union.
For financial secretary, Arthur Hills
dorf, of the Cigarmnkers' Union and
an official Of the Central Federated
Union.
For treasurer, l. Erickson, Of the
Brooklyn Central Labor Union, and
William Holler, Of the Central FEEDER
ated Union.
Election of officers will take place
at the next meeting of the new body,
which will be held or the first Thurs
evening, at Beethoven Hall. Election
VIII be by secre. ballot
The relative strength of the radicals
AID conservatives yesterday was indi-
cated in the vote on constitutional
amendments, when the radicals carried
their point by vote of 1876 to ITS.
Election Of committees of the new
central body VIII follow the election
Of officers