New-York tribune., 1921-06-21
Charge of ''Slush FUND.-
of $l0O, 900 and Loom.
ing Up of Opposition
Ticket Stir Convention
Labor Chief Scores
Hearst's Methods
Shipping Board Is Called
Foe Of American Sea-
men by Sailors Leader

DENVER, juno 2O-John, L. Lewis
president Of the United Mine Workers
to-day announced his candidacy for the
presidency of the American Federation
OF Labor. In q formal statement is.
sued just after the convention recessed
this morning he said he was a candi-
date for the Office held by Samuel
Gompers for thirty-nine years
Mr.. Gompers is a candidate for re.
election, and one of the most hotly
contested battles ever waged for the
presidency Of the Federation is fore.
cast. Forces in control now insist they
have sufficient votes to reelect Mr.
Gompers. Supporters of Mr.. Lewis as
sert majority of the convention votes
have been pledged to him.
Aroused by report that enemies OF
Mr. Gompers had planted 100000 in
the convention in an effort to dis
lodge him from his office, John F.
Lcheney, delegate of the Trades As
sembly of Wyoming, attempted at to-
days session to introduce n resolution
after the motion for adjournment had
been heard creating a committee to in
vtstigate the report.
Resolution Ruled Out
The resolution was ruled ont fol-
lowing a call for a point of order by
}. ?. Williams, delegate of the Rail
road Telegraphers' Union, who had
introduced the motion for adjourn
ment. Mr.. Leheney made an emphatic
appeal, declaring that he did not be-
lieve that delegates to the convention
would taint themselves with money to
influence their votes. His motion that
q committee be appointed to inves-
tlgate the charge was readily seconded
A second motion followed that it be
laid on the table. At this point Mr.
Williams raised his point of order
The point CT order is we'll taken
doomed Mr.. Gompers. and asked for 6
vote. on the adjournment motion. II
carried
Mr. Leheney said he would introduce
his resolution later.
President Gompers and Mr.. Lewis
met in the lobby of the Albany Hotel
after the convention recessed. Thev
shook hands and then passed on. Later
Mr.. Gompers issued this statement:
ut has been stated in the Hearst
newspapers and by the Hearst press
service that in the event there is
opposition to me for the presidency OF
the American Federation of Labor
will decline to be candidate and will
withdraw. That statement is absolutely
false
my course will not be determined
by what any other individual or grou1
may do. 1t has been notorious that
the Hearst newspapers and news serv-
ices have misrepresented the work Of
the American Federation of Labor ano
of its officers, and have published ma.
liciously and persistently false reports
in relation to them.
Inaccurate Reports
"The delegates to the convention will
determine who shall be their officers
and if they see fit to reelect the presi-
dent they will have an opportunity te
DO so, as my name will go before the
convention and it will not be with
drawn.
"The Hearst newspapers and press
services seem to find it impossible tc
report with an appreciable degree OF
accuracy the work of this convention
although others do not seem to be un-
DER any such handicap. This can only
be because the Hearst interests are, for
some reason which they do not care to
state, determined TO disrupt the Amer
ican Federation of Labor and to de-
stroy its chosen leaders. 1t is my firm
conviction that the Federation will
know how to, deal with this situation
and have entire confidence in its wis
dom.
"ln any event, the Hearst interests
cannot dictate my course. That can be
done only by labor"
After the announcement of Mr.
Lewis's candidacy President Gompers
said:
"All of my life has been givea to the
labor movement. / have no interests
OF any character in anything else. In
forty-one years | have been enabled
through my connection with labor tc
acquire certain amount of informa-
ton. If this information is raluable
to the American Federation of Labor i,
is at their disposal whenever they
want it. | have talked to no man in
this convention concerning my candi-
dacy or supposed candidacy for this
presidency. / consider the position OF
president of the American Federation
of Labor SO exalted and so dignified ]
would not stoop to politics to attain
il No man in this convention or out
of it can truthfully say, and | do not
believe he would untruthfully make
such "a tatement, that | discussed the
Continued on rage fye)