Evening star., 1924-12-14
STAYED !
DEATHF0R MONTHS.
Battle for Life Hegan in
/. Summer, But Rigorous
Work Was Fatal.
By the Associated Press.

by the ASSOCIATED Press.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. December Ia
The death of Samuel Gompers, late
president OF the American Federation
of Labor which occurred here early
today. had been felt to be near for
some time by his closest friends and
CO workers, according to an ofiicial
statement issued tonight by the pub
lfcity department of the Federation.
For months the grand old man." as
they called him, had been going on
his nerve" a
The statement which gives a pic
ture Of Mr.. Gompers' last illness and
his last labor battles from the stand
point of his own companions in the
Federation, follows in part:
1T was on May 27 that President
Gompers was taken from his office
In Washington to a hospital room in
New York. 1t was really then that
the fatal illness began. His amasin G
recuperation over the period Of the
American Federation of Labor con-
vention and the Pan-American FEEDER
alton Of Labor convention was but q
triumphant interlude. Those who
know him will always be convinced
that 1t was an almost miraculous vic
tory of will power over falling flesh.
Failed Mt Convention.
"At the Democratic national con-
vention Mr.. Gompers, coming in from
Brighton, stood on his feet and talked
for nearly an hour. When he had
finished he seemed scarcely to know
his friends, but his talk had been
clear and concise to the last word.
He watched the convention from
Brighton. There his associates went
20 report to him. There he sum-
moned them after the close of the
convention and there he told them
hat, in his opinion, there was but
one course to pursue-a course long
since known. 1t was the old, fighting
5oice in feeble frame that called to
he workers to support La Toilette.
I'm August the American Fedora
ion of Labor executive council met In
Atlantic City. The sessions were
opened by Mr.. Gompers, but he was
unable to preside through the conclu-
sion of the sessions. The meetings
were overcast with the gloom Of the
impending approach of death.
Few who saw Samuel Gompers in
hose days expected that he could find
he strength to go to Ell Paso for the
annual convention of the American
Federation Of Labor.
stood Trip Well.
Then, on November 9, came the de-
,arture from Washington for the long
rip to Ell Paso and Mexico City.
There seemed no i'll effects from the
-ailroad journey to the border city.
And the Samuel Gompers who stood
IN the platform at Ell Paso was a re-
narkable Samuel Gompers. He was
lot the stalwart figure of old, but he
vas, nevertheless, the fighting figure.
9ut in his hotel room, after the days
'ession, there was no different pic
ure. There was q different picture
ven during the noon recesses.
There was a picture of a man gone
ired to the point of exhaustion, a
nan grayed with the last pallor of
aiding life, a man fighting with mag
lificent courage to go through with
last big assignment-but fighting at
he cost of life itself.
Strength Increased.
strength seemed to come as the
convention wore on. That is. strength
;eemed on the increase to those whA
,aw him in public. Many hoped he
would abandon his plans to go to
Iexico City, but few ever knew how
he aged heart was determined to un-
,ertake that journey. 1t represented
he crowning event of years Of VAL
ant effort.
The earliest murmurs of revolt
- =
he ear of Samuel Gompers and his
trong arm was enlisted in that cause.
rhe peaceful Inauguration of a presi-
lent elected by the working people OF
Mexico appealed to Samuel Gompers
IS IL, appealed to few other men. He
,ad wrought with all his strength for
hat achievement. He had, a year
PREVIOUS, In Juarez, made the opening
speech OF the campaign that took
H.
20 Samuel Gompers made his last pill
yrimaKe to the shrine of a new free
iom which he had helped to mold.
"At no time up to last Saturday.
Just a week ago--did Mr.. Gompers
pare himself He witnessed the in
euguration of President Gales, sitting
n a blazing tropical mountain sun
Ie was applauded in volume second
,nly to the president himself. He
vent to the national palace to a re-
,sption. Hero he pinned an A. r.
If, L. convention badge on the presi-
lent while q Mexican labor man
| sides On December 3 the convention
of tho Pan-American Federation Of
Labor opened.
Throughout the week, including
Friday, Mr.. Gompers presided over
he sessions. This he did in unheated
,alls and with almost constant
Obstacles to overcome.
Called for Vol.
Friday night, after Mr.. Gompers
snew that he would attend no fur
her sessions of the convention, he
sent for Vice President Woll and
,sked him to deliver a final message
% the representatives of labor gath
red there. 1t was a message OF
1ope-a message to carary on and
inally to plant the banner Of human
| freedom high and firmly on the PIN
| nacle. :r ~
More than once Mr.. Gompers had
said to his friends that he wanted
% die on the job That, in fact, Ia
| what happened. He spent his last
lays in hard work. There was no
complaining. No holding back. ~.
"He was irked by the efforts OF
his nurse and his friends to check
his expenditure of energy. And finally
lie was irked at his own inability to
20 further. He neither wanted to
| stop work nor to die. But finally
Saturday came and there was nc
| ;oing on.
There was disagreement as tc
| whether the attempt to bring him
| Tome should be postponed or under:
| AIKEN at once. He settled that Ques-
/ ton himself. Take me home was his
| own verdict