The New York herald., 1921-06-24

mad aLIdcheu MIN because he ndu Ne-
clined to be chained to his mad chariot
for the Presidency of the United States
and because he had tried 70 "see to It
that Mexico shall go undisturbed and
not be overrun by American forces"
Defining his stand on the irish ques-
tion. Mr.. Gompers declared he had car
ried out every declaration of the feder-
alton extending sympathy and aid TO
the Irish Republic.
THE only real charge against me is,
and plead guilty to it, that have not
freed Ireland he said.
II challenge any man TO show / have
been faithless TO any declaration made
by the American Federation of Labor
or that I have been false. faithless or
negligent TO any of its directions.
when the American Federation of
Labor declared that certain policies be
pursued even If they drove me to tail /
did not falter in the fight or in the faith. "
Mr.. Gompers asked the delegates not
10 misunderstand his remarks as play
for votes" adding:
Il wouldn't stoop to ask men to vote
or support me in any position. In this
position as representative and spoKes-
man, or at least spokesman for part of
the American Federation of Labor.
must be able to hold up my head and
say to any man yes or no.
mo organization has received any
special favors or support, not even my
own, In preference over any other
organization | have tried to do my
full duty without regard to the con-
sequence to myself, and with impair
TALLY.
The labor leader declared Mr.. Hearst
had conducted a campaign against him
through his newspapers and publications
,Isl l.,o
respectable trade unionist to say some
thing against me without success"
In declaring that he had declined to
support Mr.. Hearst for the Presidency
Mr.. Gompers said:
He tried to chain me to his chariot
for the Presidency. and to speak the
language of the street I could not see
him." and frankly told him So"
The labor leader declared he would
do all In his power to prevent Mr.. Hearst
from having the United States and its
military forces go into Mexico and
plant our flag there and never take it
down"
Speech Arouses Cheers.
Referring to his former reply to al
legged attacks made by Hearst upon him
and upon his associates, who were of
When he questioned our loyalty or
the right to speak for American labor
because he said that we were not born
here / answered him by saying some
thing like this: I am willing that the
Government of the United States or
the people of the United States shall
decide between you and me as to who
was more loyal to the Republic of the
United States in its greatest hour of
danger"
Many times during his address Mr.
Gompers was compelled to pause until
the demonstrations of delegates had
subsided. He was cheered repeatedly
and many times delegates arose from
their seats to lead the ovation.
M. ]. MCGUIRE Of San Francisco, in
asking Mr.. Gompers to make known his
attitude on the Irish question, said:
Prior to this convention a number
Of people in this country not connected
with the labor movement and the Irish
movement were willing to take up the
labor movement and the Irish move
ment, not for the benefit OF either
movement.
Some of them came TO this conven-
tion-on somebody's payroll. / believe
not for the benefit of Ireland but for
the benefit of some other kind of man
that they might gain propaganda for
their own ends.
II have waited MIR. Chairman. for
you to make statement Up to the
present that statement has not been
made. and i'm behalf of millions of Irish
people in this country. l will ask you
now--and not with any thought, am
arising at this time to create votes for
the president of the American Fedora
tion of Labor-but | ask you.to clear up
this matter in the minds of number Of
people who have no respect for this
labor movement"
With the unanimous consent OF the
convention Mr.. Gompers outlined his ac-
tivities in behalf of Ireland and launched
forth on his attack on Mr.. Hearst.