Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-21
MINERS HEAD
CANDIDATE FOR
C0MPERS' JOB
Present Leader Is to
Keep His Hat in
Ring
Seaman's Union President Calls
on Convention to Fight Ship
ping Boards Open Shop Pol
icy-Delegates Vote to Aid
Fired Federal Employees in
Getting Hearing

Denver, Colo, June 20.-Supporters
of Samuel Gompers and John L.
Lewis. president Of the United Mine
Workers, who announced today his
candidacy for president of the Am
erican Federation of Labor, were
marshalling their forces tonight for
the contest which will decide whether
the veteran labor leader shall be re-
turned to the leadership of organized
labor.
Both sides are making canvass of
the situation and already declare they
have mustered sufficient votes to win.
The Gompers forces went into ac-
ton Immediately after the announce
ment by Lewis, with a declaration
that the veteran labor chief would
be candidate and had no intention
OF withdrawing from the race.
Mr.. Gompers stated, however, that
Il consider the position of president
OF the American Federation of Labor
so exalted and dignified, would not
Except for his brief announcement
that he was a candidate Mr.. Lewis
who heads the largest union in the
United States, declined to make any
statement. His supporters, however,
were active and claimed that they
had pledged more than twenty thou
sand of the thirty-eight thousand
two hundred and ninety-four votes in
the convention.
Although electioneering on behalf
of Lewis has been in progress here
for the last week, his announcement
came as a surprise to many dele
gates. Manv had believed that the
miners chief would formally with
draw from the race
Labor leaders pointed out tonight
that the candidacy of Lewis would
change the whole political complex
ion" of the convention. They said
that the responsibility would be can
didates put into the field in opposition
to the present membership of the ex-
ecutive council
Mr. Lewis has established a cam
paign headquarters at one of the
downtown hotels and is being aided
in his campaign by large force of
mine workers officials from al sec
tons of the country.
Reports that he would not be able
to control the votes of his own organ
ization were denied tonight by his
supporters, who announced that the
votes of the miners would be cast in
favor of their leader
The Machinists union, the second
largest. and the Carpenters and
Joiners union, the third largest I'M
ion in the federation, already have
swung their support to Lewis.
Both Gompers and Lewis support
ers claim a majority of the delegates
from railroad organizations.
The candidacy of Lewis is the first
serious opposition that President
Gompers has had since 1894 when he
was defeated for reelection by John
Mcbride. a mine worker.
Published reports that representa-
tives of certain anti Gompers inter-
ests were operating among the dele
gates with 100000 "slush
fund" created considerable excite
ment. Attempts, however, to get
the convention to investigate the
matter failed today.
Declaring that the United States
Shipping board had established the
open shop, Andrew Furuseth, presi-
dent of the International Seamen's
union, today asked the convention
to support the seamen in their fight
against the policy.
The resolution submitted declares
that the board is hiding behind a
smoke screen of union hate and is
torpedoing the merchant marine
and seapower of the United States"
A resolution was adopted instruct
ing the executive council to cooper
ate with organizations Of federal en-
ployes to obtain the right of appeal
from the decisions of officials in
volving demotion or dismissal.
The resolution said that at present
there was no recourse for the de-
noted or dismissed employees.
The executive council was in
structed by the convention to exert
its efforts to get Congress to pass
LEGISLATION establishing in the de-
partment of commerce II bureau on
building construction and housing
problems.