The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-02-05
Inside Story of Gomper's Victory for
Presidency of Pan-American ,
Federation
BY Linn A. E. Gale.

Mexico City, Jan. II by MaiD. =
Samuel Gompers today won his last vie
tory in the PanAmerican Federation of
Labor.
t took almost superhuman efforts to
reelect him President of the Federation.
Next year it will be an impossibility. 1t
was almost impossible today.
The Latin American delegates who
outnumbered the Americans, were de.
termined not to have Gompers head the
Pan American organization again. Luis
\. Morones, the brilliant Young leader
of the Mexican Federation of Labor
and an avowed Socialist. was their
choice, and for time it appeared that
Morones would be almost unanimously
elected. The prize was in the hollow OF
his hand. GOmpers. seeing the over
whelming sentiment against him, de.
N'"iNh ht Nohlu Hpi dttfilt Ictltt(lou
James Lord, President of the Mining
Department of the 4. y. Of i. and an
eX-Socialist, who was looked on with
favor by some I.atin-American dclcgat.
es, and John Frey, editor of "The
Moulders Journal had declined nom.
nations. Morones had stated that
with his duties in the Mexican Fedora
ton and as head Of the govcrnmen.
munitions plant which employs 96Ot
men, he feared he could not do justice
to the leadership of the Pan American
| Federation, but had not Withdrawn anC
Delegate Carrazco of Guatemala, wht
nominated him, had refused to tax,
back the nomination.
! Gompers called on Secretary Canut,
a. Vargas to read the name of the on,
candidate, Morones. In moment NOR,
Morones would have Leen elected b,
acclamaton. Dan Tohin, Chester NJ
Wright. Frey and Lord sat with jaw
shut tight. They knew they We're help
less and that the representatives o
the rising rebel movement of Mexc
and Central South America could d
what they wanted.
! Convinced that the battle was owe
and that he must take his medicine a
gracefully as he could, Gompers deliver
| ed his Farewell speech. lie assured th
delegates that he would be freer {
serve PanAmerican labor as "A privat
| in the ranks than as official head. II
reminded Secretary Vargas that he ha
declined the nomination when mad
some time previous and that Morone
was, therefore, the only nominee left i
the field.
On the very Threshold of the secon
when his name would have been az
ccpted by viva voce vote, Morone
arose. Twice before he had said tina
he left the matter in the hands of til
Guatemala delegate who, of course
would not withdraw his name But no,
he said that he had already explainc
that he was unable to give the pos
tion the time ii should receive. an
that since Delegate CarrazcO had no
withdrawn the nomination, he must dc
cline TO run. lie added that he had ia,
received a message from President Oh
regon asking him 10 come to the Nation
al Palace mt once and would have {
leave the convention. 60 ask YOU to eX
cuse me for the afternoon he said
"and also ask the secretary in my al
sence To record me as voting for Samue
Gompers. -
Moroncs left the room and the lid
had tuned. Carra2co was non.plussct
He had been on his feet several time
insisting that the delegates did no
want GOmperS again aud that MorOne
was the man of the hour. There was N
other atin-American delegate of sui
ficicnt reputation gnd ability to pr'
pose. lie had made n stiff fight and h
knew that two.thiIds were with hin
but what could he do!
Delegate Gracilas of Mexico agai
suggested James Lord but Lord agai
refused and then nominated Gompcrs
second time.