The New York herald., 1921-06-13
FOES OF COMPERS
keep UNDER COVER
A. +. of L. Convention Opens
To-day With No Outward
Fight on Leader.
TO OPPOSE OPEN SHOP
Labor Delegates Also Face
Problem Of 5000, Un-
employed Workers.
IRISH QUESTION Is UP
One Faction Demands That
Harding Immediately Rec
ognize the Republic.
IRISH QUESTION Is UP

DENVER, June 1.-The forty-first
annual convention of the American
Federation OF Labor. which opens to-
morrow will be a gathering for the
promotion and development of Amer
lean welfare and freedom, Samuel
Gompers, president OF the Federation
declared in a statement tonight.
THIS convention. the veteran labor
leader said, would mark milestone in
our national progress" would deal
with the great postwar issues con-
fronting organized labor. which are to-
day in the balance at the crucial mo-
ment, where the die must be cast one
way or the other"
More than 500 delegates from the
United States and Canada were assem-
bled for the meeting. which will prob
ably continue two weeks. J. H. Thomas.
president of the Railway Workers Union
of England, was here to represent as a
fraternal delegate the workers OF Great
Britain in the British Trade Union Con-
gress.
Despite many reports that Gompers
and his administration would be opposed
for reelection, up to tonight there had
movement. While John l.. Lewis. pres
ident of the United Mine Workers
doomed as a candidate for the presi-
dency by the anti-Gompe-s forces, de-
cllned TO make any statement. 1t was
understood he would not oppose the
LABOR chief.
Machinists Oppose Gompers.
The delegates to the machinists
union cannot vote for Gompers as they
are instructed by the convention Of their
International Organization not to vote
for any officer who is an active or
honorary member of the National Civic
Federation" They. however. have not
announced any intentions of putting a
candidate in the field.
The machinists delegates also are In
structed to vote for the passage of
resolution providing for the election Of
the officials and members of the execu-
tive council of the federation by 3 gen.
eral referendum vote OF all organized
workers of the country. They also want
the federation reorganized along indus
trlal lines instead or craft Ines-mak-
ing 1t a great Industrial congress
Leaders OF railroad organizations and
several other unions. 1t was learned,
were planning to hold conference to
decide whether they would put a candi-
date in the field for a vice-president.
Last year these organizations attempted
to get this representation on the fed
eration's executive council. but failed
The major issues before the convention
as outlined by President Gompers to-
night include:
THE condition of Unemployment. OF
which estimates run as high as 100000
workers.
The un-American movement to crush
labor and blast its spirit through what
is called, with miserable disregard for
the truth, the open shop movement
THE railroad problem. involving the
nations chief means of transportation.
"The immigration problem. with Its
vital bearing on American standards OF
living and of citizenship.
''rhe problem OF Russian affairs. the
cancer that is eating at the vltals OF
world civilization.
THE problem of how best to meet
conditions brought about by court de-
cisions, a problem unhappily not de-
creasing I'm importance and for that rca-
son demanding more than usual atten-
tion.