The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-08
DAVIS LABOR ]. RECORD CLEAR
 SAYS WILSON
Never Voted UnfavOrably To Unions, Secretary
 Tells Gornpers
LETTERS. BRING
 FIGHT INTO OPEN
Retort From Trade Lead CT Expected, Provoking
 Continuous Barrage
By THOMAS L. STOKES. (Leased Wire to The Age-HeraId.l

(Leased Wire to The Age-HeraId.l
 WASHINGTON, Aug. T. iThe lines have been drawn by democrats and independents flor a heated battle over the labor vote in the doubtful states where organized work Eers are numerous and cast a heavy ballot. The democrats must capture some of these states if they expect to beat Coolidge, and the labor vote is one of the decisive factors, as far as their chances are concerned.
 There are five doubtful" states where a large labor vote lis polled-New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The total electoral vote in these states is 113, which is destined, perhaps, to be the margin of victory. The swing of the labor vote will count strongly as far as demo- cratic hopes go. Republicans | do not figure on it in their plans and estimates.
 Both democrats and independents have seen the significance of the swing of the labor vote, in the doubtful states particularly. Each has thrown down the gage of battle to the other. That ia the real meaning of the cor. l.xespaalianee between Samuel G8mpers, I president of the American Federation of Labor, and William B. Wilson, sec retary of labor under President Will son, which brought into the open the fight which was simmering under' the surface.
 Wilson Answers GOmpesA.
 This is not the last of the warfare of words Wilson has answered the letter of Gompers, which criticized the record of Davis, in another letter, made public here Thursday night by the democratic national committee, dated August 2, is expected to bring forth retort from the other side, pro- voking continuous barrage during the campaign.
 Stating that there is no difference between him and Gompers on the gem eral policies of the American Fedora tion of Labor, Wilson says that "the point upon which we have not yet had a meeting of minds is as to where the credits are due in carrying out the policies that we both believe in"
 "So far as Senator La FOlIette's la- bOr record, dealing with domestic affairs, is concerned, he is entitled to clean bill of health at the hands of the American labor movement, but as you point out in your own statement that does not apply to his attitude on foreign relations" Wilson wrote.
 'SThe record maintained by the Amer ican Federation of Labor shows that during Mir. Davis congressional career he never voted in a single instance un- tavorably to labor. Consequently I have felt that he also was entitled to clean bill Of health in the matter of domestic policies and as his attitude concerning foreign relations is in ac- cord with that of the American Fed eration of Labor. Mir. Davis is en- titled to the endorsement of labor on that question also" Challenges History.
 "0f- ten measures advocated by the American Federation of Labor when it iEaugurated it's present political Hey in 1908, five were secured by demo- cratic congresses, two through the ac- ton of a democratic house of repre- sentatives, and one by a republican congress-" Wilson said. He declared that he challenged ''the history of the world to ppoduce an equal labor achievement" with what was accom- plisked by the democrats in the 6Sd, 9th, and Goth congresses, and said that labor enumerated among it's vic tories 30 measures passed by the 62nd congress when the house was demo- cratic.
 Wilson said he is not "unmindfuP of the part played by Senator La Fol lette in the enactment of the se0man's bill, but said that the same bill had been whipped into shape by Congress- man Alexander, Hardy and himself, and had passed both houses, during the sixty-secOnd Congress, but was given  pocket veto by President Taft.
 He reiterated his previous claim that Davis had taken a part in framing the Clayton antitrust law. In answer to Gompers' statement that a commission had settled the impending railway strike in 1917, Wilson said this was true, but that the commission made little head way until it leaked out on Saturday that the supreme court was going to hand down decision on Monday sus- taining the cOnstitutionality of the eight-hOur law, which Davis had defend ed before the highest tribunal.
 Democrats Choose Wilson
 Wilson, as a result of his activity, has been chosen by the democrats as their champion of Davis as far as the labor vote is concerned Formerly in- ternatiOnal secretary of the United Mine Workers, and long prominent in the labor movement, he is regarded as an ideal man to lead in this phase of the campaign.
 In each of the five doubtful" states listed the fight will be hard, perhaps bitter. In addition to these, the influ- ence of the labor vote, combined with the farmer vote, is expected to react. on the other hand, against the repub- licans in two of their strongholds, Penn sylvania and Illiois, where the, La