Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1921-05-06
HOT CONTEST
FOR LEADERSHIP
OF A. F. OF |.
LAURENCE ToDD

o = 4
.u-.s53ISsTON fNn. Bur l-Ra-
nat samuel Gompers viii retire
a.-. sss presidency Of tie American
rssarafion Of Labor Il Denver IN June.
-. -sHpled with the report thar john
sis president Of tie United Nine
sg,rkers Of America. vii come 10 the
5..,safion with enough votes TO insure
an succession % Gosapers place.
ms rlnors reflect rather the IN
z.;,sss 81 both the friends and foes
,I's presant head Of the Federation.
-, any established taet as 10 Mr.
'sss... '-'. latsntions or Mr.. Lewis
s.-..nsfb Lewis controls the vote of the
- workers delegation. which viii
:. sneprh ID turn the scales IN real
..,,tesf between the two great wings OF
HE movement
VIM II. Johnston, president Oh the
i.,srnational Association OF Machin-
80 who Is the recognized leader or
- o,nosifion. viii be in Europe this
...-,g5ar and his name viii not be pre-
tel FOR the presidency The ten rail
- lsbor organizations affiliated With
t6e Federation have at present no can
sjdate They have, however, pro
ram That program is The advance
,aeDt Of the principle OF government
ownership and democratic operation OF
.s,lroads. endorsed by a vote OF $4,000
: soon AT the Montreal convention last
.ssr They feel keenly the policy OF
~ compers and his friends in the ex-
.s,ti,e council of the Federation In ig-
eorfne ar definitely blocking this prin-
NH, IN all their official activities since
me Montreal resolution was passed.
Under these conditions the railroad
mon will stand together at Denver Tor
ANYTHING that will guarantee to them
a loval enforcement of the railroad res
ointion John Lewis has not been per
sonals friendly TO public ownership,
hut his organization has always been
an advocate of that principle, and cast
i,s vnte for it at Montreal Secretary
Green of the Mine Workers made
brilliant speech for II on the conven-
,ion floor. AS between Lewis-if he
decides TO run and Gompers, the rail-
road group may be expected TO thro"
It's strength to Lewis.
On the other hand, Gompers is show
ing no disposition to quit. His recent
marriage has not been followed by the
announcement of retirement which was
predieted of II. On the contrary, he
nromises to take charge of the publ
rity END OF the new attempt to organ
lie the steel workers-to the extent or
issuing statements in answer TO those
which Gary may make. He is conduct
ing his anti-Soeialist and anti-Russiau
pr0Daeanda with all his old time vigor,
cd in,
in favor of personal affiliation with the
National Civic Federation.
In general. the Gompers camp seems
to include a majority of the building
trades. majority or the miscellaneous
trades, such as the United Hatters, Cf-
garmakers, United Garment workers,
Teamsters, Glass Workers, etc, while
the prospective LEWIS element includes,
besides the United NINE Workers, the
railroad crafts, the maritime trades,
numerous miscellaneous crafts in the
food and marketing industries, and
minority of the building trades. The
printing. trades will, in the event OF
such a contest, be about equally dl-
yided, unless present conditions are
radically changed by the vents OF the
coming six weeks.
From Indianapolis, the headquarters
of the Mine Workers, the Carpenters,
the Transfers, the Typographical IN
ion and other big members OF the Fed
Grafton, comes the report that friends
of Mr.. G0mpers intimate that he Will
be ready TO retire gracefully, in order
that the struggle that has now come
upon the labor forces from the side OF
the organized financial and trading In
terests of the nation shall be led by a
younger and more vigorous man. 1T Is
limited that the aged president of the
Federation will not go into the race
against Lewis If the Carpenters, who
are second in number to the Mine
Workers, agree that change is desir-
able. In that event the Indianapolis
leaders may agree upon candidates for
the executive council TO replace three
or four Of the newer men now serving
in that body.
II was at Denver, many years ago,
mat Mr.. Gompers met his only defeat
Tor the leadership of the Federation.
Mcbride OF the Metal Miners was elect
ed that year. Once more he faces Den
yer and a miner, and his associates
wonder how he win come through