, 1921-06-22
Gompers and Lewis
Both Confident of
Election

DENVER, June 21.-Cam-
paigners for both John L.
Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers. and Samuel
Gompers, candidate for the
presidency, were working at
top speed today when the sessions Of
he nnual convention OF the American
Federation of Labor were resumed.
Supporters OF the candidates were
busy throughout the night and cositer.
ences were held that are reported 70
Lave changed considerably the lineup
OF both sides in the contest.
Both candidates expressed them.
selves as confident of victory. each
declaring that he had been pledged
sufficient votes to. win.
No accurate estimate could he made
OF the votes that each would probably
receive.
Official announcement Of the deci.
sion OF the representatives of the rail.
road workers vas awaited with inter.
est, as both the Gompers and. Lewis
supporters claimed a majority Of these
organizations.
The electrical workers and the Inter
national Ladies' Garment Workers
were also claimed by both candidates.
Lewis supporters today added tho
Amalgamsted Association Of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers. the Mine. Mil
and Sme1ter Workers. and the Railway
Carmen. n nearly t5e SIM votes
Or state and centraiS bodies to their
lists. which already includes the ma.
chinists' union. the Mine Workers.
ana the Carpenters and Joiners'
union-the three largest in the fedora.
lion. with a combined voting strength
OF 1o.5i4.
Neither, candidate issued a statement
but Lewis said that during the day
he probably would outline his pro-
gram and the platform on which he
will wage his campaign.
The election, the labor leaders said.
would be made a special order OF bust
mes for next Friday afternoon.
The most important issue to come
before the convention today was the
Irish question on which the resolu-
tons committee was ready to report.
This committee. it was understood
would report unfavorably the resolu-
ton calling for a boycott of British
made goods. and would urge the con
vention to adopt the resolution express
ing sympathy for the Irish cause and
urging recognition of the Irish repub-
lie by the United States.
The group of Irish sympathizers sup
porting the boycott announced that
they would attempt to have the con-
vention repudiate the committee and
adopt their resolution. which. they de-
clared. was drafted by a high official
of the Irish republic"
They made public a telegram from
Harry Boland. secretary to Eamonn De
Valera, provisional president Of the
Irish republic" which said nothing
but a water-tight boycott car restrain
Britain's denominations in Ireland"
On the other hand the Irish sympa-
thizers. headed by Peter Brady OF New
York. were prephared to vote against
the boycott Inc support the other reso-
|~Iltion. which they submitted n which
dc scribed alleged abuses in Ireland by
Great Britain. and in nine numbered
sections, reaffirmed the action Of the
Montreal convention in demanding rec
ognition of the Irish republic. 1t also
demanded withdrawal of British troops
from Ireland. urged United States Of
ficials to demand from Great Britain
interest and loan due now, n pro
posed a campaign to secure the trial
and punishment of British regular and
auxiliary forces If found guilty OF al
legged atrocities in Ireland.