Evening star., 1921-07-06
Editorial Digest
Gompers Triumphant.

Gompers Triumphant.
Editorial comment on the election
| of Samuel Gompers to serve his for
tieth term as president of the Amert-
| can Federation Of Labor Is largely a
eulogy Of the veteran labor leader.
Interpreting the fight that was made
against him as one of extreme radi-
calisnl against the old and tried poll
cies of the federation. most editorial
writers agree that the Gompers VIC
tory Is, as the Rock Island ull) Argus
(democratic) calls it. "a triumph of
conservatism" which the Louisville
Post Gndependent) thinks is zone of
, the most important events sof the
year" and which, the Charlotte, IN.
c. News (democratic) holds. may
we'll call out widespread felicitation
not merely to labor as a body. but to
the country at large.
Other writer's who do not regard
John L. Lewis of the United Mine
Workers. Mr.. Gompers' opponent. as
a radical, are no less pleased with his
defeat. basing their satisfaction on
the old principle that 1t would be bad
judgment ito swap horses in mid
stream" when economic currents are
SO confused and conflicting as at pres
ent.
President Gompers' victory by two
to-one vote in the convention may be
taken. the Buffalo News (republican)
says. "as emphatic reputation of the
radicals and all their works." and.
the Jersey City Journal independently
circles" While to the Albany Knick-
erbocker Press (republican the vote
is largely a personal vindication."
the Manchester Union independent
republican, considers 1t "extraordi-
narily far from the fact to regard the
result as merely another evidence Of
the individual prestige Of President
Samuel Gompers."
Great as is the personal tribute"
the Baltimore Sun independent demo-
cratic) feels that the vote for "the old
pilot is still more suggestive "as an
Endorsement and reaffirmation of his
policies" and in supporting the con-
servatism which Mr.. Gompers repre-
sents." the convention voted "emphat-
ically against even the appearance Of
which "the federation remains" says
the Minneapolis Journal independent
fepublican). what Mr.. Gompers. more
! than any other man. has made it-a
sound American organization"
The Columbia IS c. State demo
cratic) fnds no reason for believing
that "Mr. Lewis. the opposing candi-
date. is 4 bad or a dangerous man. or
that he would have misused powers
that inhere In the federation" but
the defeat of Mr. Gompers would
have been at this time of doubtful
and for the country" While there
was a radical element in the opposi-
ton. Lewis himself" declares the
Duluth Herald independently lis no
radical"
The Lynchburg (va.) News demo
10 SO nj
in as thorough accord with the cham
pions OF extreme political and class
ismS in the labor world as many have
thought: nevertheless. his candidacy
was largely fathered and supported
by radical groups. Lewis might
headed executive the Baltimore
American (republican suggests. but
"he would have entered the situation
as an unknown quantity. and un-
known quantities in the present reor-
ganixation Of economic affairs is just
from labor's standpoint" as well, the
Port Huron (Mich) Times-Herald tn-
dependent) thinks his election would
have been a mighty serious mistake"
Disinclination to change had much
influence in securing Mr.. Gompers'
| reelection. in the opinion OF the
Christian Science Monitor (Boston.
independently.
The fact that delegates should
have gone to Denver intent upon a
change in policy and in leadership.
only to shift to Gompers on election
day" indicates to the Cleveland Plain
Dealer independent democratic) AN
admission on their part that the diffi-
culties which labor has to face at
the present period can more properly
be intrusted to skilled and ex-
perienced leader than to any 'one
else"
But President Gompers' reelection.
as the New York Call (socialistic?
sees 1t. does not carry any special
Significance" and the victory OF his
conservatism, the Minnesota Star
(Minne apolis, independently thinks. "is
more apparent than real" because his
personal popularity and power" were
largely responsible for the result.
His retirement, Sure to come within
q few years." will bring about. the
Star predicts. IAN alignment within
the federation more consistent with
the actual trend Of economic 1udg-
ment on the part Of the workers"
The Rocky Mountain News (Denver.
independently. too. feels that . senti-
ment rewarding him FOR services
rendered. more than for a1vices ex-
pected Of him." prevailed to con.
siderable extent. since many felt
wholly in touch with the unions At.
hliated with the federation 1t would
he heartless to turn him out after so
many years in harness" This feel
ing IL reflected in the st. Louis Post
Dispatch GndependenD. which de-
clares that "he has earned the dis
tinction" Of "voluntary retigement."