, 1921-06-24
LEWIS BASES APPEAL FOR ELECTION
ON GOVERNMENT Rail OWNERSHIP
Nation~ alization of
Mines Also Urged
By Candidate

DENVER, June 23.-Gov-
ernment ownership of the rail-
roads and naturalization of
the country's mines are the
John l.. Lewis expects to win
two major issues OF which
the presidency OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, II was learned today.
On the other hand. President Samuci
Gompers raj striving for reelection
upon his reco-d of the past Al years
as a leader in the American labor
movement.
In his first public statement as to
his platform. Mr.. Lewis. president of
tho United Mine Workers. said:
81 stand for government ownership
of tho railroads. naturalization OF the
mines and other progressive iegisia-
ton that will give the workers and
h toiiers OF America the freedom and
justice in industry they deserve.
Il stand for health insurance. old
age pensions and unemployment In
surance-ali progressive measures for
the relief to the working masses. The
enactment OF laws covering these sub
jects would give to the workers ade-
quntc protection and rcward them for
the service they have rendered in
dustry.
Mr.. Lewis aid that he had taken
no definite stand on the subject of
relations with European trades union
movements. adding
II believe, however, that some log
ical proposition can be worked out by
which the American labor movement
can again be affiliated with the In
~ternafionai Federation OF Trades
Unions. or course. the autonomy OF
the American organization must be
fully guaranteed. VI
I'm n event. I do not believe we
should los contact with h Eu-
ropean organization"
AL my policies" he continued.
will be formulated on a sane and n
~structivc basis and be designed to
meet and adequately dispose OF h
great issues that today confront or
Snnized labor"
While President Gompers issued no
statement, supporters speaking in his
behalf. declared hat Ibis record in
the American labor movement during
the past Al years would re-elect him
to the presidency"
This made the issues between the
two candidates clear. as President
Gompers has already gon on record
against government ownership. un-
employment insurance. health insur-
ance. and other similar proposed legis.
lative measures.
supporters OF both candidates con-
tinued their campaigns at TOT speed to-
day. carrying their elec%tioneering to
the floor of the convention. where
they went from group to group of
delegates soliciting their support.
Little change, however, was shown in
the lineups for the candidates.
The Lewis boomers mad public a
telegram SEM by John Hessler. presi-
dent. and William Mitch. secretary of
the Indiana district. United Mine
Workers. to Frank Harrington, presi-
dent of the Illinois district. Robert
Harlan, president of the Washington
district. and Alexander Howatt, presi-
dent of the Kansas district, urging
them to vote for the miners leader.
All three OF these district mine leaders
are delegates to the convention and are
opposed to Lewis.
The telegram said that the executive
board of the Indiana district had held
a meeting to canvass the situation and
convinced that the great mass
of Indiana miners overwhelmingly IA
yored a change in the presidency Of
the American Federation of Labor"
MOrp-than 200 resolutions from local
miners unions in all section of the
approving the candidacy Of
the miners chief, have been received
at the Lewis campaign headquarters,
it was stated
The railroad organizations up to to-
had not decided which candidate
they would support. II they reach
agreement. labor leaders said, their
vote probably would decide the cleo
ton.
with tine railroad and the Irish
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