Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-18
.GREENN0WL LOOMS
FORA.E. OF |. CHIEF
Sentiment for Duncan on
Wdne in Face of Fear of
- Later Results.
BY DAN RING,
Staff CorreSpOndent of The Star.


NEW YORK, December 1S.-Labor
leaders today turned to face the task
of selecting one from their ranks to
sit in the chair left vacant by the
death of Samuel Gompers, the grand
old man of labor.
As the leaders checked up on the
prospective possibilities for the presi-
dency of the American Federation of
Labor the name of William Green,
miner and a vice president of the
federation, stood out in the most
prominent relief. overshadowing the
names of all others. An eleventh
hour veer in estimates of strength,
occasioned by quick gain in sup
port, produced this result.
Late yesterday the arrival of nu-
merous friends of Green, not least
among them being John l.. Lewis,
president of the United Mine Work
ers of America, OF which organization
Green has been secretary for more
than a decade. caused those specu-
lating On the probable choice OF the
executive council tomorrow at the
meeting for the selection of a presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor 20 switch and revise their .esti-
mates.
Others Falling Back.
Up until that time the names of
James Duncan, first vice president of
the federation. a veteran 70 labor for
40 years, and of Matthew Vol. sixth
vice rpesdent, were considered in the
fore rank o: the prospectives for the
honor of filling the vacant chair left
by Gompers.
Then, in some uneXplainable way,
@he name of Green became more and
more often mentioned Wien it be-
came known that none of the candi-
dates believed that a call to duty
should be refused, no matter to whom
1t should fall and that Green's friends
considered the safety Of the American
Federation of Labor to depend upon
selection of a man with a record for
constructive progressivlsm," Green's
name took on an added significance.
When it was still later realized
that the almost traditional coalition
In the executive council of the bar
bers, carpenters and miners, each OF
whom held one vote in representa-
tives on the council. still held good
the name of Green began to outshine
either of the others.
Sentiment For Duncan.
In the end it came down to the
question as to whether cool hard
common sense" should supersede, or
succumb to sentiment. The senti-
mental attachment was represented
by Jim Duncan, wheel-horse of la
Dor these four decades, friend and
supporter of the departed chieftain,
widely travelled and widely expe-
rtenced in labor and collateral sub
fot
Green represented the other side of
the question. Then a second question
cropped out-should man be placed
In the position who was without as
surance that the convention next Fall
would ratify the choice OF the exec
utive council? 1t was. reluctantly
admitted even by friends of Duncan
that 1t vas intensely problematic if
he could carry the convention at all
Then, would not his election for the
sake of a sentimental attachment and
purely for the purpose of allowing
him to round out a long, career as a
labor leader with the highest honor
organized labor could bestow, simply
pave the way for future chaos? This
question had much to do with the
change in complexion of things.
Six Votes Held Sure.
Near mtdnig ht last night 1t was
predicted that a majority of six of
the ten members OF the executive
council were already convinced that
Green was the logical choice. Some
of the Duncan strength was checked
on the list for Green. This over
Swallowed VOL.
No matter what happens in this
respect, however, it can be set down
as virtually certain that the selection
of one before the other will engender
nc feud. Matt VOL will work just
as hard for Bill Green as he has in
the past and vice versa. They are
both mon of similar characteristics.
Green is slower on judging things and
more deliberate in acting, if anything,
than VOL. Neither drink intoxicants.
Both have records that speak louder
for them than mere words can speak.
Each have the ability, it is conceded,
to make the office of president of the
American Federation of Labor re-
spected on all sides. Both are broad.
Both are progressive. Yet, neither