The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-06-04
CON|PERS
LISTED AS
IRISH FOE
Rossa 2. Downing Says Labor
Chief Disobsys Mandates and
Should Be Ousted.

Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation Of Labor. has
always been counted against the Irish
cause. according to Rosa F. Down
ing, State president of the Ameri-
can Association for the Recognition
Of the Irish Republic. and one of the
foremost advocates Of the Irish cause
in the United States.
READY TO GUST HIM.
But. while the head of the Federa-
ton has been listed as an enemy OF
the Irish cause.--she rass and file
Of the American Federation of La bor
has been considered friendly to the
aims and struggles of the Irish peo-
pie, Downing says.
The Federation at it's conyention
in Montreal last year and at Atlantic
City the year before, endorsed the
Irish movement and authorized the
officers of the federation TO lend a
helping hand. Downing says:
Through the influence of Gompers
and his powerful political machine,
the wishes OF the convention have
not been fulfilled. at least as far
as we have been able to ascertain.
The attitude Of Mr.. Gompers on the
Irish question has been watched by
the friends of the Irish cause in this
country and many believe that despite
his powerful machine. the prepond-
erence of members of Irish descent
and of Irish sentiment In the organi-
xation, will either force him to
change his mind on the question or
they will oust him.
''Gompers has always shown pro-
British attitude on all questions in
this country that had to do with the
Irish.
The organization of which / am
State president, has a membership
of more than 100000 throughout the
United States, and in washington
alone IL has a membership In eyccss
OF 5000. In the large industrial cer-
ters OF the country, which are the
foundation of the American Fedora
tion of Labor, the organization is
very strong and the attitude nf Mr..
Gompers in defying the mandates OF
the convention for two years win not
be tolerated.
MEET TO DISCUSS GoMPERs.
The meeting OF the Padriac II. Pearss
Council, A. A. /. r., which is one OF
the largest councils OF the Irish re-
public advocates in Washington, will
meet tomorrow evening at Gonzaga
Hall, North Capitol and / streets
northwest and discuss the attitude of
Gompers on the Irish question.
The four other councils in WASH
inston will also discuss Gompers at
their meetings during the week and
resolutions probably will be passed
asking Gompers just what he has
/ done to fulfil the promises which the
federation convention has made for
two successive years, and what his
object is in blocking the Irish aues-
tion on the councils of the American
Federation OF Labor.
Many of the union labor men in
Washington. who have profesed sem
timents In favor of the recognition
of the recognition OF the Irish Be-
public, but who for private reasons
did not want to appear In public
as opposing the head of the fedora
tion, said that Gompers probably
would raise the cry of hyphenatss
at the convention when he was called to
task for not carrying out the Irish
sentiment resolution of the conven-
tion, or would again raise his battle
cry OF bolshevism, which he has
used with such telling effect at the
last two conventions on those who
opposed him.