The New York herald., 1921-06-18
LEWIS HESITATES
TO OPPOSE GOMPERS
Opens Headquarters in
Denver. but Is Silent on
His Candidacy.
BOOMERS ARE ACTIVE
BOOMERS ARE ACTIVE
Mine Workers Split-Vir-
ginia Rushes Support to
Present Executive.
BATTLE ON UNION LABEL
Federation Rejects Ante Room
Examination Of Clothing
Of Male Delegates.

DENVER, June 17.-Tnterest in whether
John Lewis. president of the United
Mine Workers, would oppose Samuel
Gompers for reelection as head of the
American Federation of Labor con-
tnued at high pitch to-day.
Lewis continued to maintain silence,
but it was learned that he had estab-
liched headquarters at hotel, where
representatives of the Mine Workers
from all sections of the country We're
gathering. Practically all the eXecu-
tive board members of the organiza-
tion were reported TO be in the city.
Lewis boomers were active through
out the day canvass;ng the delegations,
but owing TO the secrecy 1t was i'm
possible TO get any accurate estimate
on the probable voting strength that
had been mustered by the Mine Work
ers forces
That the mine workers delegation
is split on the candidacy of Lewis was
learned tonight when Frank Earring
ton president of the Illinois district, an
nounced that he would not support
Lewis He also declared that two other
delegates were against Lewis and wou,l
cast their votes against him If he de-
cided to run.
Virginia for Gompers.
An interesting sidelight on the possible
election contest developed with the ar
rival of U. b Clinedinst of Newport
News. representing the Virginia State
Federation Of Labor. He said re had
been sent here by his federation to cast
its single vote for Gompers.
The Virginia Federation. Clinedinst
said originally decided not TO send a
delegate because Of the expense. when
newspaper reports reached the organ
ization's officials that Gompers might
be opposed" he said, they instructed
me to reach Denver as quickly as pos
sible with the lone vote OF Virginia.
The federation also received mes
sage from the Washington, ID. C., Cen
tral Labor Council urging the re-elec-
ton of Gompers as a reply to the out
side influences that are attempting 10
disrupt the labor movement and en-
deavoring to undermine and destroy
It's leaders.
Efforts to unseat all male delegates
who did not wear a union label on each
article of wearing apparel were de-
feated by an overwhelming vote to-day
In the annual convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor
The debate on the proposal was long
and stormy. Members of the union
label committee contended that such a
resolution could not be enforced, as the
Federation was "A voluntary organlza-
tions Delegates of the Tailors Union
argued for an ante-room examination.
where delegates would be inspected be-
fore they could enter the convention
hall.
Charles y. Nelson, secretary OF the
Central Labor Union of Kansas City.
Mo. urged label inspection, declaring
labor leaders themselves did not pay
sufficient attention TO the label move
ment
"If non-union garments were removed
from delegates there wouldn't be enough
barrels in town to clothe them in de-
cency," John j. Manning. secretary Of
the Union Label League, declared.
President Sweeney of the tailors
union declared label inspection "imprac-
tlcal and opposed to fundamental rights
Of man to do as he chooses"