The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-06-06
A. +. |. PRESIDENT
|. is DENOUNCED AT
MEETING OF Irish
Padraic n. Pearse Council, F.
o. I. F., Passes Resolution
condemning Leader.

Thomas p. O'Dea- a member of
Local 133, Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners. one of the organizations
which has been the backbone of the
present administration in the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor, at a meet
ing of the Padraic H Pcarse branch
Of the Friends of Irish Freedom, last
night condemned Samuel Gompers.
president Of the federation.
Gompers should be removed for the
good of the labor movement in this
country, Mr.. O'Dea said, because he
does not represent the aspirations of
the organization and has blocked
those independent men who oppose
him or doubted the infallibility of his
Judgment.
Gompers is facing q hard tight TO
be reelected president of the fedora
tion at it's convention in Denver this
month, ODea said. His henchmen
are now working harder than they
ever have before to keep their chief
in ofnce-and incidentally them
selves. II Gompers is elected. he
said, the Action will do much to dis
integrate the labor movement In this
country because his election does not
represent the majority will. but only
his ability to defeat the majority by
reason of his position and advantage
as president OF the Federation.
TIMES Is PRAISED.
o'Dea praised the action of The
Washington Times editorials in CIV
ing publicity to the stand Of Gompers
on the Irish question. and said
that The Times from the outset,
when IL was started by an organiza-
tion of laboring men. to the present
time, had always upheld the ideals
of labor for freedom of men whether
they were working for labor or for
the cause of nation as a whole.
The labor men of this country
should be proud of their work in
starting such a paper as The Times"
he said, and the same high ideals that
inspired the men who started the
paper still exist under the direction
of william Randolph Hearst, who has
always demonstrated his high regard
for laboring men and has been their
champion for years
OFFERS RESOLUTION.
ODes introduced aresolution. which
was passed unanimously, asking the
American Federation of Labor to con-
slider the Irish question. Such a reso-
luton was passed by the last convention
of the A. f. of l., but was disregard
ed by Mr.. Gompers. The resolution
follows:
Whereas. the convention of the
American Federation of Labor held
at Atlantic City. N. j., in 1919 de-
clared in no uncertain terms, with
out a dissenting voice. for the
recognition of the Irish Republic;
and
Whereas, the American Fedora
ton OF Labor will again meet in
Denver, Col, during the month OF
June, 1921; and
Whereas the Padraic H Pearse
branch of the Friends of Irish Free
dom is anxious that the American
Federation of Labor redeclare It's
position on INSTRUMENTATION for
ireland at the Denver convention;
now, therefore. be IT
Resolved, further, that a copy
of these resolutions be sent to the
president of the convention, with
request that he refer the same to
the resolutions committee for con-
sideration and action, and that IL
report said resolution to the con-
yention for its approval
GONPERs Is FLAyED.
r. Edward Mitchell. president OF
the branch, also fayed the president
OF the American Federation OF Labor
for his attitude on the Irish ques-
tion. He said that Gompers was using
his influence to oppose a nation that
was striving for the very things for
which this country fought.
The Rev. James A. Geary, professor
of Gaelic at Catholic University.
spoke against any alliance with Great
Britain and said that the Friends OF
Irish Freedom was organized with
this as one of its objects. Father
Geary gave a history of the Friends Of
Irish Freedom and said that its
growth in this country was respon-
sible for the great reception to Presi-
dent deValera in this country, for
great part of the relief collection. and
for the sale of the greater part of
the bond Issue for the Irish cause,