Evening star., 1923-10-30
Compers, "Radical'' of Old,
Hailed as Best In UniOnism

When the American Federation Of
Labor the other day reelected for the
thirty-ninth time the veteran Samuel
iompers to be its president the dele
gate did only what was expected of
them But it served to demonstrate
'onclusively, In the opinion of many
editors, that Gompers, hailed as a rad
tcal" and red" only a decade or so
ago, today in person represents that
stability and conservatism which is
the most compelling part of the
American labor movement.
II was Gompers who proved present
day labor unionism, as the Memphis
ews-Scimitar sees 1t, and TODAY he
has hold on the union workingmen
hat has not been approached since
he was first elevated to the head of
organized labor. He is a safe leader,
4 wise counselor and a good citizen.
IT is true that he Is for union labor
first. but in that he is not different
from other men. Every man that
amounts to anything places his voca-
ton. and the cause that he believes
IN above the things that other men
advocate. and no fault is to be found
with him for that reason" This YER
dict has the complete Endorsement of
the Louisville Post, which Is con-
vinced mo other American of this
generation could have rendered or
ganized labor the services he has
And Mr.. Gompers Is more than an
able man. He is a great citizen, a
great American. When he is gone
some of those who now abuse him will
wiring their hands and say that if
only organized labor could get an
other such leader as Samuel Gompers
everything would be all right" His
election must be accepted as lone of
our annual customs" says the Toledo
Blade. in recalling that every fede-
ration convention is invariably pre-
ceded by rumors that this time Sam
uel Gompers will be thrown out on
his neck. Tradition seems to dictate
both the rumors and the reelection.
Were either absent Americans would
know the world was changing. Some
day we are going to indulge in the
suspicion that Mr.. Gompers has some
rumors. They give a zestful interest
to an election which otherwise might
be perfunctory and dull
One of the reasons for the hold Mr..
Compers has on organized labor is that
''he has the bravery and common sense
to admit that he can be wrong" sug-
gests the New York Tribune, recalling
that at the convention the aged labor
leader admitted he "had revised his
whole theory Of peace and war and
now Is very favorable to national pre-
paredness." His followers recognize
this trait Of his character and the
result was the unanimous vote, show
ing that boring from within failed,
the Elmira Star-Gazette suggests,
and 1t feels that for the coming year
at least conservatism and firmness'
will be the program of the fedora
ton. "The proceedings" this paper
con ntinues, present positive proof OF
the fact that the one labor organi-
cation of supreme standing in this
country has not been shattered. or
GUS assault of radicalism that has
been directed against it," All OF
which emphasizes, the Waterloo
Tribune insists. that "once again
Samuel Gompers wins. Once again
feated. AS Samuel Gompers sees it,
his labor organization would be split
up over politics. The organization
would be wrecked IL II became a
labor party. So the American Fed
for one big country, not for 'one
big union"
"Mr Gompers for more than forty
years has been power In the labor
world" the Salt Lake City Deseret
News recalls. and "it was due largely
to his efforts that Industrial peace
was maintained while the war was
in progress, and in the council OF
, the allied powers in Great Britain
he was said to be a dominant per-
sonality. Altogether, the work and
spirit Of the Portland convention
gave evidence of determination to
pursue sane and conservative paths
in promoting the best interests OF
labor and making more effective it's
political influence" To which the
Albany TimkN Union adds there is