The Washington times., 1921-06-20
A.F.L.HEAD
LIKELY To
OUTRIGHT
IS RUMOR
Miners Chief Has Votes Enough
Pledged to Win, Reports
Indicate.

DENVER, Colo, June 20.---
John L. Lewis, president Of tho
United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea, today officially announced
his candidacy for president Of
the American Federation of La
Dor.
II have decided to permit my
name to be presented to the
convention as candidate for
the office Of president Of the
American Federation of Labor"
Lewis said.
RUnoB GoMPERs MAY RETIRE.
This announcement is interpreted
by Lewis supporters as meaning thai
the miners head has sufficient votes
pledged to assure his election.
There are rumors that Samuel Com
pers will announce his retirement
The most important development -
open Acknowledgement by men close
to Gompers that a big campaign Is on
to elect the miners head. and consid-
cradle worry Is being caused in the
Gompers camp as a result. Hitherto.
they have considered the Lewis talk
mere poppycock."
of the hotel Hobbies where the dele
gates to the convention gather. Ie
has crowded even the Irish question
into the background.
Charges and eountercknrRes nIIea
the air. The one most frequently
heard II that publicity rcpresepts-
uves, whose salaries are paid out of
funds In the federation. have fpau-
enced or ATTEMPTED to Influence news
rnper correspondents to suppress
news about the movement to oust
Gompcrs md to nurse along rumors
that IL In "hot air. emanatinx from
outside sources.
Today, Gompers boosters are claim
ing that IL the election was held at
once, the veteran labor leader would
win by majority of 5000 votes.
No important measures now befors
the resolutions committee will como
before the convention today, accord
ing to James Duncan, it's chairman.
IRISH RESOLUTIONS UP.
Hearings will be held by the COM
mittee during the day on the Irish
resolutions and the measure intro
duced by the railroad unions demand
ing q program of legislative action
applying the principle OF Government
ownership and democratic control of
the railroads to all the basic indus
tries.
The Irish tight waxes hotter as a
result of the action OF the majority
of the original sisners OF the resolu-
tion providing for a boycott on an
British-made goods in petitioning the
resolutions committee for pernission
to withdraw II. The nine or ten DEL
egates whose names remain on the
resolution declare II cannot be with
drawn and have served notice that
they will demand it's submission to
the convention and a roll call vote.
IRISH SPLIT wIDENs
The split between the two, factions
OF Irish sympathizers in the conven-
tion widened when the majority of
the signers of the boycott resolution
announced their request for permis-
sion to withdraw the declaration.
The remaining supporters OF the
resolution issued a statement assert
ing they were acting in accordance
with the wish of Eamon de Valera.
Another group opposing the boy
colt and urging the adoption OF a
less drastic resolution, made public
a telegram from Harry Boland of
New York, secretary to de vaIerx-
which repudiated tse claim OF the
boycott supporters that their declA-
ration was the official resolution
of the Irish Republic"
II would like to say that I have
not in any way interfered or at
tempted to interfere in the delibera-
tions of the American Federation of
Labor" said Mr.. Boland's telegram.
which was In reply to a question
from fourteen international union
officials as to whether the heyeoo
A.