The Washington times., 1924-12-13

federation, Frank Morrison, score
tary, automatically succeeded to
the presidency, but he must call a
meeting Of the executive council
within six days$to select successor
who shall serve until the next con-
vention. to be held in Atlantic City
next fall.
The council must meet as soon as
possible after Morrison's call.
Gompers had been president of
| the federation almost continuously
since its founding.
Only once was he not returned,
and that was for but one term. OF
late years, his power was so great
that no serious attempts ever were
made to Gust him.
Last Fight Was Futile.
The last fight on him for the
presidency was at the Denver con-
vention Of the federation four years
ago.
Then fusion of the United
Mine Workers with a handful Of
affiliated bodies put up John w.
Lewis, miners president. The ef-
fort was a failure. Since that
time. no one arose to challenge
Gompers' leadership.
Several reasons have been as
signed why Gompers, despite his
falling health Of late, successfully
rode the numerous gathering storms
that have arisen at recent conyen.
tons to remove MIN.
First and foremost Is that the
older members of the federation felt
that because of Gompers' long and
faithful service he should be al
lowed to retain the helm until
death, even though he might have
become so incapacitated physically
that he could no longer do active
work.
This certainly was the cause that
no fight was made on the veteran
leader at the recent Ell Paso con.
vention.
There was at FL Paso a strong
minority that felt q younger and
stronger man should be given the
post.
Saved by Older Men.
In this group the proposal even
was advanced that Gompers should
be made either president emeritus
or new post Of assistant to the
president should be created in order
to relieve Gompers OF much Of the
routine Of office.
This never reached the conven-
ton floor because the older mem.
bers interviewed and pleaded that
nothing be done to embarrass the
"chief," as affectionately he was
known to associates.
With Gompers' death the barriers
are now all down. Literally, the
woods are full Of candidates to sue.
coed him.
Every members of the executive
council and every president Of an
international union, admittedly, is
In the field. Each will command
strong support, a. strength that may
be difficult to divide or unite with
other forces in determining upon
two, or even three, candidates. The
result, therefore, may lead to the
most bitter Of clashes.
| In the executive council itself,
tn eight may prove less acrimoni-
Gus than were the contest i'm.
mediately to come before the con-
vention Of the federation.
These members are Of the So
called "Gompers' administration %
They held office because Gompers
wished them to, and they kept of.
flee largely because they agreed
with him on important questions.
l. President Coolidge today joined
hundreds Of others in official and
private life in Washington in ex.
pressing regret at the death of
Samuel Gompers. In a letter to
Gompers' widow, the President
said: NJ
ut Is with deep regret that have
heard OF your bereavement, and ]
want to express to you my deep
sympathy in your sorrow.
"Mr. Gompers' whole life was de-
voted to the interests Of organized
labor, until his name had become
almost synonymous with the cause
which he represented.
"As the founder and head of a
great organization, no man has had
a wider influence in the shaping
of the policy of the wage earners
Of the nation, and his loss will
long be felt by his associates, not
only at home. but abroad