The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-12
ORGANIZED LABOR
 |. HAS WE|GHTy LIST !. BEFORE|T TOSOLVE
One of the Most Serious Problems is Unemployed, Followed by the Open
 Shop Fight
By RALPH BARTON Special Correspondent of The Age-Heraid (CopyriKht, 192l,by The Age-Herald)

! organized labor, when it's convention begins here on Monday than have faced it in a decade. Unemployment estimated by competent authorities 70 run as high as five million in the United States; the open-shop move mett, locked upon by labor as de- signed to crush unionism; the rail- read problem, the attitude of the courts, and numerous subjects of less Importance will come before the dele gates. and upon their action will de- pend largely the chances for success of the American Fedssatlon of Labo . in the coming year.
 It Is fairly obvious that the poti- cies of the federation during the last year are going to somewhat severe 1 lv questioned. and there will be al- tacks to some extent personal on the | ,eadershis of Samuel Gompers. Tho aged leader os the A.nericaa labor movement will in all probabil- ity be forced to make concessions 70 the rising tide of progressiyism in lahors ranks, but he will retain his E:ip on the organization and the sc-calicd Gompers machine" will not suffer greatly.
 Lewis Not a Fnyorite At one time 1t appeared proba ble that President John l.. Lewis of the miners union would actively head a campaign to oust Mir. Gompers. with the idea that Mir. Lewis would be his successor. 1t was even reported that Mir. Lewis had consented to be- come a candidate, under certain con d l.. hnw- ever, profoundly popular with the rank and file of organized labor, for he was looked upon as no more pro- gressive than MT. Gompers, and be- cause of hts attitude on court de- cision, as contrasted with that of Mr Gompers, perhaps less willing to undertake responsibility for militant measures if they were necessary.
 MT. Lewis, moreover, has some op- position In his own organization GOT considerable faction of the minans favor Alexander Howat of Kansas, | for presidency of the union. It Is alleged that MT. Lewis has frowned upon proposals for nationalizing the mines, though many miners favor such a step. Some days ago estimates made by men prominent in llbor cir cles. and opposed 70 Mir. Gompe s, l indicated that the Lewis candidacy could at best muster not more than | one fourth of the votes of the con vention, and since that time the Lewis boom has practically disapp cared. Opposition Not Strong | There will be a rather bit 1T fight | on the floor against MT. Gompers. Presumably 1t will be led by those members of organized labor who feel l that MT. Gompers has not been suf- l ficisntiy active in behalf of Ireland. | William Hutchinson. of the carpen- ters. is also expected to be prominent in the opposition. The outcome Is to | some. extent, of course. a matter of the constitutional convention in 1901 He was a member of the committee on rules. on taxation and amend ments to the constitution and mis- cellaneous provisions.
 | Lieutenant Governor EF In November, 1902, he was elected 1 elected under the new constitution. In 1904 he became acting governor | for one year during the absence of Gov. William D. Jelks from the | state, he having temporarily retired on account of his health. l In August, 1876, he married Miss 1 Sue L.. Moore, a daughter of Judge James E. Moore of Franklin county. | Of this union one . son survives, pr. Modie E. Cunningham. She died in 1912 after a prolonged illness.
 In the fall of 1913 pr. Cunningham married Miss Annice Taylor and from this union two sons were born. Ben jamin Taylor and R. M. Cunning ham, Jr.
 | Masonic History | RuSeeH McWhorter CunniQRlan m was initiated in wetumpka lodge, l No. 39, of Wetumpka. on April 2s, | 1892; passed June 3, 1882, and | raised July 29, 1882. He demitted | from this lodge on May 23, 1885, to become a charter member and the first worshipful master of Florida lodge, No. 450, of Pratt City, serv- ing as master during the years 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888 and 1889. In the Grand Lodge of Alabama he was elected junior grand warden on December 5, 1894, was successively advanced and on December 5, 1901. was elected most worshipful grand master, being reelected on Decem- Der 4, 1901
 I Dr. Cunningham received the ca pitular degrees in Mineral City chap | ter Mo- i01 of Birmingham, as fol- lows: Mark master October g, 1884 I past master and most excellent mas ter, October 23. 1884, and Royal Arch November 27, 1884. He demitted from this chapter on April 13, 1893. to be- come a charter member and the first high priest of Pratt City chapter No. 10S, of Pratt City, and served as high priest during the years 1895 and 1894.
 He was anointed, consecrated and set apart to the holy order of high | priesthood on December 1, 1893, in the Council of Anointed High Priesti of the state of Alabama. . Grand Commander Dr. Cunningham received the il- lustrious order of the Red Cross in | Cyrene commandery, No. 10. of Bir- l mingham. on January 2, 1886, and the orders of the Temple and Malta | temple.
 | on February IS, 1Sss. He served this commandery as eminent com mander during the years 1891 and | 1892.
 In the grand commandery of Ala bama he was elected grand warden on May 10. 1893. was successively advanced and on May 10, 1900, was elected right eminent grand com mAnder.
 He was a member of Zamora tenn pie, A. A. O. N. NJ. S., of Birming- ham, and a past potentate of that
 He was a member of Birmingham consistory, Ancient and Accept d Scottish Rite. of Birmingham. hay ing received the thirty-second de- gree of that rite,
 pr. Cunningham was one of the most accomplished and dearly be- l loved Masons of this state and in hi. death the craft has sustained an ir- reparable loss.