Evening star., 1924-12-14
.G0MPERS' V|G0R
SEEN IN EL PASO
Veteran Overcome by Emo.
ton, But Handled Con-
vention Firmly.
By the Associa ted Press.

Dy tife AS5ociateU FfcSs.
CHICAGO. December 13.-Samuel
Gompers eudeavored to give to his final
convention of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor at Ell Paso, Tex. last
month the same type of militant, for
ward-looking leadership he had Of
fered in the councils Of the organiza-
tion for more than 40 years.
He refused to give ear to the adnno-
nitions Of his colleagues that he con-
serve his energy, and on several oc-'
casions became impatient with those
who sought to guard him against the
discomforts and Inconvenience of the
program.
In Chair Eight Days.
He was 10 the chair when the con-
vention was called to order on No
vember II and he ended the meeting
on November 25.
There being no other business be-
fore the convention, / do now, in ac-
cordance with the unanimous vote of
the delegates, declare the forty
fourth annual convention of the
American Federation Of Labor ad-
journed sine die" he said. He pound
ed the table with the gavel with
greater vigor than at any time dur
Ing the business sessions.
Tossing the gavel to a far corner of
the table with an air of triumph and
an audible sigh Of relaxation. he sank
to his chair, apparently momentarily
exhausted by the conflicting emotions
Of the experience. He sat motionless
for perhaps a fun minute, watching
with unseeing eyes the departure of
his lifelong associates. Tears welled
to his eyes, and on his lips there was
the slightest suggestion OF a smile
Delegates and friends eager to con-
graduate him upon his reelection and
the success Of the convention, soon
crowded the stage. Cnwittingly they
formed a closely knit circle about
the speakers chair. where Gompers
relaxed in the glorious oblivion of
pleasant recollectfons. The friends
stood back awaiting his first move.
Conq1ers Emotion.
Gompers arose, wiped the tears away,
laughed aloud and passed q pleasantly
on the so,emnity OF the gathering. An
assistant brought him a glass Of water.
and in a few seconds, the tremor
vanished from his hands and arms, he
was the center OF the hand shaking,
laughing and fun-making crowd.
Il have but one aim, one ambition
in my life" Gompers said from the
chair the day before the convention
service to'my fellow men, Nothing SO
exalts the soul Of man as service to
ones fellows"
On another occasion, Gompers in
terrupted the debate to tell q funny
story about an Irish friend in Wash
ington who used to call him on the
phone on confidential matters and
speak German, much to the amusement
of my Irish friends"
'"They would hear Kelly sputtering
at a tremendous pace and they all
thought it was Gaelic" his story con-
cluded. -.s-
Despite his wish to make no con.
cessions to his advanced age, Gompers
was persuaded several times to re-
linquish the chair to one Of the vice
presidents and 20 to his hotel to nap
for an hour or two. ..
"On the trip Of the American dele
gates across the Rio Grapde to Jaures,
for a joint meeting with the Mexican
Federation of Labor convention on
November 1s. President Gompers
resolute1y insisted upon entering the
Mexican city on foot. as the Mexican
leaders had marched to Ell Paso the
day before. He firmly declined to
motor to the Tivoli Gardens in Jaurez,
choosing instead to ride to the Mexi-
In the city street car and then to get
into the procession, under the wexi-
can and American flags, to the Tivoli.
Last Of Early Chiefs. 49,.
Mr.. Gompers alluded to his long
service in the federation in his for
NAL address to the convention In
pleading for continued adherence to
the principle of. voluntary action in
labor policy, he reminded the con-
vention he spoke as 1.-The only dele
gate to that first Pittsburgh conven-
| ton Gin 1sS1} who has stayed with
the problems of our movement through
| to the present hour"
'Thus, President Gompers was the
only person in the convention who
frankly gave utterance to his thoughts
on the overshadowing consideration
in the assemblage. namely the state
Of Mr.. Gompers' health"
At another point, Gompers. said in
his annual message:
Events of recent months have
made me keenly aware that the time
Is not far distant when must lay
down my trust for others to carry
| forward.
"when one comes to close grips
| with the eternal things, there comes