The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-26
LelUis, Likely To Succeed Gompexs
Solves Big Problems EIlith Song
NpLANAPoLIsl dayI 20. .

hSDIANAPoLIs Nay 2s. -
Whistling and singing and walking
and working.
BY these simple methods has
John L. Lewis. president Of the
United Nine WORKERS OF America,
risen from humble begtnningssto o
position OF great tnfluence ~
Many expect that the mantle Of
Sam Gompers VIII fall upon Lewis
when the present head Of the A. =.
Of l.. decides toretire! ,
Attending the public schools in
q small town snIoWa and then toll.
ing tn the mines alongside his faith.
or Is mot particularly an auspicious
beginning Tor . man who expects
10 be called ON toSmatch his intelli:
gence with men who have had
every opportunity
The First thing he did was TO sup.
plement his public school education
with intensive study on specialized
subjects, particularly economics.
Then he travelled extensively
through western and southwestern
states. working in coal and metalli.
ferrous mines hut at the same time
taking another intensive course in
lhe university Of experience.
Since then he has gone whistling
and singing through many prob,
lens. He Is now only al years old.
In November 1913, representa-
ilves of the coal miners at Indian
tpolis conferred for 20 hours with:
out CESSATION They faced a man.
datory order from the government
to cancel the general strike with.
In 70 hours!
Winter approaching, the coal
supply small and conditions ideal
Tor O strike.
But after the long grinding SEES.
sion, Lewis made this announce
ment: n.
Gentlemen We WIN obey
the mandate ots the conrt We
do SO under protest. We are
Americans! We cannot fight
our government
1t was an annonncemen OF few
words, but Il undoubtedly had much
10 do with the comfort OF a great
nation. 4
Often while debate ragged ~ and
ragged is the word- inside the ses-
sion room Lewis walked priskly up
md down the corridor his eyes cast
downward Now and then he would
throw back his head, like boy
emerging from swimming pool,
thus shalstng back into place the
mass of sandy hair which falls down
over his forehead.
II was noticed that Lewis was
not al any time laboring under any
excitement He was greatly con.
corned, he was working hard, but
was perfectly cool.
Men long associated with Lewis
say that NE never loses his balance,
no matter how great the proyoca-t
ton.
He turns out an amazing lot OF
work. It IS not uncommon for him
20 spend the entire day at his office
meeting and talking to callers and
then turn his attention to routine
office work until the small hours Of
The morning
When tets oncentrating on some
problem he walks the floor and
Whistles OF sings. Often he huns
some old tune familiar to him in
the mines.
Lewis has fine sense Of humor,
He tells 4 story with great effect,
but he has no use for off.color
stories He knows the same sense
Of discrimination in his reading,
which IS confined to serious sub.
lects. Shakespeare is a fayorite.
Another Lewis characteristic is
that he Is always open to convic.
tiou. But the man who changes his
mind must have an argument to
present because It is one OF his
notices fully to inform himself on
any subject before he announces a
decision n. !, Y
His only INVERSION says a
friend. Is the thigh Jump, ,and this
he enjoys occasionally at odd mo.
ments around the office. II desk
or a chair offers Itself srs a target
for a high i1mpShe Immediately be-