Evening star., 1924-12-12
GOMPERS RALLIES
CROSSING BORDER
/ |TOENTER HOSPITAL
Labor Leader Takes Nour-
ishment and Chats With
| Several Acquaintances.
GOES TO SAN ANTONIO
TO WIN BACK STRENGTH
Trouble Now Described as Bron-
chial Affection-Lower Alti-
tude Held Beneficial.
by the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LAREDO, Tex, December 12.-Sam-
Ocl Gompers, president of the Amer
3can Federation of Labor, arrived at
the American border here at 1880
this morning in a critical condition
suffering from bronchial infection.
He is being rushed through to San
Antonio this morning, and will be
ralken to the ST. Anthony Hotel there
this afternoon.
His physicians said his life would
be in danger unless the aged leader
shortly.
Mr.. Gompers was able to sit up on
the side of his bed and take slight
Dourishment as his train left Laredo
for San Antonio today. In addition to
the milk he was also given cup of tea.
Sank Low Yesterday.
He sank low yesterday on the trip
from Mexico City, where he had been
attending the Pan-American Labor
Federation meeting, but with re-
markable vitality rallied last night,
and this morning was noticeably i'm
proved
A room in a Laredo hospital had
been reserved for him by United
States customs officials, but his i'm
provement was such that it was be-
lieved safe to take him on to San
Antonio.
Mr.. Gompers' train was met on the
Mexican side by DR.. Nat King, United
States Health Service, and other
American officials. Mexican govern
were aboard, as well as many mem
bers of the Gompers party who had
accompanied the leader to the Mexi-
can capital.
Customs Rules Waived.
President Gales of Mexico had
wired to Felix Salinas, chief of the
Mexican immigration service at Nuevo
Laredo, across the Rio Grande from
Laredo. instructing him to see that
Mr.. .Gompers and his party were given
every courtesy. -s--- -,
The coach in which Mr.. Gompers
was lying was taken from the train
and brought Immediately to the
American side without the usual Gus
toms formalities.
Mr.. Gompers' condition is described
as a bronchial trouble, complicated
by a recurrence of his illness of some
months ago. 1t has not been definite
1y diagnosed, his physician said, and
whether there was evidence of pneu-
monia he was not prepared to say.
The federation officials with the
party We're up all last night wiring
kilograms to the United States on
their chiefs condition. but few of the
messages went through, it was said
Reports of MIR. Gompers' death caused
a flood of messages to pour into
Laredo yesterday and last night and
the Gompers' train was beseged by
anxious labor officials and friends
when it arrived on the American side.
Pulse Reported Normal.
An official medical statement issued
shortly after the trains arrival said
that the patients respiration was "a
and his pulse normal at Z am
No one, except his physician and his
secretary, Mr.. Giles, was permitted
to see Mr.. Gompers on his train. He
lay in his berth, apparently resting
quietly, doing occasionally into brief
sleep.
Mr.. Giles wired to San Antonio to
nave 10 rooms ready in a hotel there
for Mr.. Gompers and party. The first
plans were to take the patient to the
hotel, but these arrangements may be
changed en- route and it is possible he
arrival in San Antonio
The high altitude of Mexico City
afected the aged man to some extent.
his physician said, and it was be-
lieved that he would improve as he
neared the lower atmosphere of
Texas.
His kidneys had been bothered bv
change Of drinking water. and it was
thought return to the water he was
accustomed to drinking might bring
some improvement in this regard.
Despite his advanced age, the pa
TENTS ability to battle for his life
was said to be remarkable.
Patient Remains Cheerful,
During the long journey up from
Mexico City he remained cheerful.
slept as much as possible, but took
little nouriShment. Efforts of his
physicians and followers were direct
ed toward keeping him quiet and con-
serving his strength, which was far
spent on the trip.
Mr.. Gompers was said to have re-
peate3ly expressed the wish that If
he was to die he hoped the end would
come on American soil. The train.
however, took it's usual cource. ar
irving in Nuevo Laredo an hour late
and no effort was made to speed the
journey.
There was no occurrence on the
trip which should have given rise to
the erroneous reports of Mr.. Com
pers' death, his secretary said. While
he was admittedly low, and his ply
sician said his condition was serious,
no hint that the end was near was
permitted to escape from his coach.
Talks on Reaching u. 8.
Mr.. Gompers' condition improved
slightly as he reached the American
side and his <cheerfulness was more
perceptible. He was permitted to con-
verse with some members of his party.
He was compelled to forego a break
fast prepared especially for him by
a Chinese cook he brought from Mex
leo City.
Labor leaders of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor in New York were
requested by his secretary to come to
San Antonio to be with their leader,
and apparently his counselors were
preparing to keep Mr.. Gompers in
San Antonio until his condition def
hitely improves.
The stricken leader of many hard
labor battles passed a few jokes to
his friends from his train sick bed
and appeared to be the most composed
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