South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-21
LABORLEADERS
FOR
BITTER FIGHT
Candidacy of Lewis Changes
Whole Aspect of Election
of Labor Chief.
BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT
Head of Mine Workers Claims
10000 Votes Will Probe
"Slush Fund.
BY Associated Press

BY Associated Press:
DENVER, June Supporters
of Samuel Corners and John Lewis.
president of the United Nine Work
ers. who Monday announced his can
didaCy Monday night were mar
shalling their forces for the contest
which viii decide whether the vet
eran labor leader shall be returned
10 the presidency Of the American
Federation of Labor
Both sides are making canvasse
Of the situation and already declare
they have mustered sufficient votes
10 win
The Gompers forces went into ac-
ton Immediately following the an
nOuncement by Lewis with a declara-
ton that the veteran labor chief
would be a candidate and had no in
tention Of Withdrawing from the
race.
To Avoid Politics.
Mr.. Gompers stated. however,
that It consider the position OF pres
ident OF the American Federation OF
Labor so exalted and so dignihed
would not stoop TO politics TO attain
It.
mo man in this convention or
out Of it can truthfully say. and I
do not believe he would untruth-
fully make such statement. that
discussed the presidency with him
or asked him for his vote"
Except for his brief announce
ment that he was a candidate. Mr..
Lewis. who heads the largest unior
IN the United States. declined 20
make any statement His support.
ters, however. We're active and
claimed that they had pledged more
than 10000 of the $4,000 votes In
the convention.
Although electioneerine on behaif
OF Lewis has been i'm progress here
for the last week. his announcement
came as a surprise to many Of the
delegates. any had believed that the
mine chief would formally withdraw
from the race instead OF being a cap
didate
Whole Aspect Changed
Labor leaders POINTED out Monday
night that the candidacy Of Lewis
would change the whole political
complexion" Of the convention. They
said there probably would be candi-
dates put into the field In opposition
20 the present members OF the exec
utive council Up 20 Monday night.
however, there had been no indica-
ton Of such a move.
Mr.. Lewis has established cam
paign headquarters az one or the
Il Hrerr
in hfs campaign by large force OF
mine workers officials from all sec
tions Of the country. Practically
all of his executive board members
are in the city working in his be-
half.
Reports that he would not be able
20 control the votes OF his own or
ganization We're denied Monday
night by his supporters. who an
nounced that the 4257 votes Of the
miners would be cast in favor OF
their leader.
To Back Lewis.
The Machinizts' union. the second
largest. and the Carpenters and
Joiners' union. the third largest
union in the federation. already
have swung their support 20 Lewis
Both Gomrers and Lewis sup
porters claim q majority % The del
egates from railroad organizations.
The candidacy Of Lewis is The
first serious organization that Mr.
GOmpers has had since 1898 when
he was defeated for reelection by
John Mcbride. mine worker.
Since that time he has been re-elect-
ed year after year hy almost a
unanimous vote.
Published reports that representa-
tives OF certain anti-Gompers inter
ests are operating among the dele
gates with a 100000 "slush fund
have created considerable excite
meut Attempts. however. % get the
convention 20 invest gate rhe mat
ter failed Monday on point ~
order. but II IS expected the action
for committee Of inquiry win be
taken Tuesday.
Anu-io5bying -.eg.z.a-iCn. farm
loans. endowment ~ industrial uni
verslties. establishment ~ labor
newspapers and "a search for what
was denominated "scuuder basis
for our social life as a whole" were
among the matters that came before
the session here Monday These va
r.ous subjects were discussed and
action taken while delegates 0f The
floor were considering the announce
ment n John T. Lewis as candidate
for the presidency of the fedora
ton.
To Prob. Waccs.