Great Falls tribune., 1921-06-21

Lewis. He declined to make a
President GomDers announced that
he will be candidate for reelection.
| in the following statement:
The delegates to the convention
will determine who shall be their
officers and if they see fit to re-elect
their president they will have the
opportunity My name was to 20 be-
fore the convention and it will not be
withdrawn.
1T has been stated in the Hearst
newspapers and by the Hearst press
service continued Mr.. Gompers
statement, that in the event there is
opposition to me for the presidency of
the American Federation of Labor. /
will decline to be a candidate and will
withdraw.
Oefies Hearst Interests.
That statement is absolutely false.
My course will not be determined by
what any individual or group may do.
The Hearst interests cannot dictate my
course. That can be done only by
labor. My life has been given to the
service of the wage earners of our
country. 1t remains at their command.
II have given my life to the labor
movement and have always held that
the office is too exalted to attempt to
entrench myself by any political man
euvers. | have no other aspiration in
life and have no interests in anything,
public office, business or financial ad-
vantage, no political or civic position
The American Federation of Labor
has given me the opportunity to ac-
quire some information, some expert
ence-.it is theirs to do with as they
see fit
Gompers Stands Pat.
Il am not engaged ia any political
maneuvers and it shall be my endeavor
to see that every subject brought up
before the convention shall on its
merits be decided by the contention
There is not a delegate or anyone
here that can say truthfully, and I do
not think they would say anything
otherwise. that | have directly or in
directly said anything up to this time
about the election of the president Of
the American Federation Of Labor
Before the convention adjourned its
morning session a motion was made
to appoint a committee to investigate
published reports that certain anti
Gompers interests were operating
among the delegates with hundred
thousand dollar 'slush fund.-" to pre-
vent President Gompers' reelection.
One Of Its Founders.
Mr.. Gompers. who was one Of the
founders of the federation in 1881, has
served as its president for the past
30 years, with the exception Of ere
term. In Denver in 1894 he was de-
feated for reelection by John Nc
Bride. a mine worker.
While the action of Lewis was not
unexpected there was a furry Of ex
citement among the delegates as the
report spread about the convention
floor. Several delegations immediate
ly went into conference to determine
whether they would support the min
ers' head or President GomDers.
Lewis, as head of the miners organi-
ZatIon-the largest union in the United
States-commands 4257 votes in his
own organization alone.
The United Brotherhood Of Carpen-
ters and joiners, the second largest
union. has also announced it's intention
to support him. Lewis adherents also
claim the support of the railroad or
CARNATIONS. The International Asso-
citation of Machinists came to the CON
vention instructed not to vote for
Gompers.
Seamen Ask Aid.
Declaring that the United States
shipping board had established the
''open shop" Andrew Furuseth. presi-
dent Of the international Seamen's
union asked the convention to support
the seamen in their fight against this
policy.
The resolution. which was submitted
by the seamen's leader and referred to
committee, declared that the shipping
board was hiding behind a smoke
screen Of union hate and is torpadning
the merchant marine and sea power of |
the United States"
A resolution was adopted instructing
the executive council to cooperate
with organizations of federal employees
to obtain the right Of appeal from de-
cisions of officials involving demotion
or dismissal.
The resolution says that at present
there is no recourse for the denoted
or dismissed employe.
The executive council was instructed
BY the convention to exert it's efforts
to get congress to pass legislation
in the department of COM
merce a bureau on building construc-
ton and housing problems.
Are MarshaIIing Forces.
Supporters of Gompers and Of Lewis
are marshalling their forces for the
contest which will decide whether the
veteran labor leader shall be returned
% the presidency Of the American
Federation Of labor Roth sides oro
making a canvass Of the situation and
already declare they have mustered
sufficient votes to win.
Labor leaders point out that the
'andidacy Of Lewis will change the
whole political complexion" of the
They said that there