The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-08
LABOR HATING
DONKEYS ASK
COMPERS' AID
Don Chain Backs Davis;
Why Not Sam?


MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, New
York, July 1.-THE long and desperate
deadlock at the democratic national
convention is causing some of the
candidates to bid for the support of
Samuel Gompers and the executive
council of the American Federation
of Labor.
The A. F. of L. hierarchy, which
saw its platform suggestions thrown
into the waste basket, is now being
called to by the candidates who need
every bit of support, no matter how
little it amounts to. Dark horses flesh
is being pressed against Sans palate
in the hope that he will find tasty
piece which he can recommend to
such voters as he is able to influence.
Sam Has Strong Stomach
None of the candidates are at all
embarrassed in asking the old gentle
man to accept their unsavory offer
ings. 1t is we'll understood that Sam
and his associates have strong stom-
achs. This has just been again de-
monstrated in the July issue of the
American Federationist assailing the
Third Party idea. This attack was
published since, and in spite Of the re-
! lection of the A. F. of L. demands by
both old parties.
Prominent among the applicants for
Gompers' endorsement is John W.
Davis, nominally Of West Virginia but
actually of Wall Street-Morgan's
counsel. Davis comes to Gompers
fresh from Don Chain, gunman sher-
iff of Logan county, West Virginia,
commander Of an army of Baldwin
Feltz murderers of union men and
enthusiastic rooter for Davis.
Davis Was Coronado Counsel
Davis, now generally known as the
Morgan attorney, was counsel for the
Bache-Denham company in the fam
Gus Coronado case. He sought to re-
cover millions from the miners union
after an Arkansas strike and fought
the case before the Supreme Court
when the union appealed. Davis has
served as attorney for coal operators
against union men in other important
cases.
To hide this record the Davis
managers talk vaguely about some
votes favorable to labor in the house
of representatives and about alleged
aid to Mother Jones and Debs.
The opinion is general that Gompers
will endorse Davis if he is nominated
in spite of his leading connection with
anti-labor cases. The excuse for. Da--
Wis former record would be that he
fought labor only as a paid attorney
and not necessarily from conviction.
Arkansas Labor Lynchlne
Another dark horse who suddenly
finds that the A. F. Of L. may have
some oats that will steam up his can
didacy is Senator Joe T. Robinson of
Arkansas. Robinson's managers are
confiding to Gompers' agents some
of the private opinions favorable to
unionism which Robinson is alleged
to hold.
Nothing is said about Robinson's
failure to protest against the lynching
of a railroad shopman during the
strike nor against the astonishing
action of the Governor of Arkansas
in parolling two shopmen strikers on
condition that their union officially
call off the walkout during which they
were arrested--tho these actions took
place whiting the last year. Nor has
the question of Robinson's silence dur
ing the terrible Elaine county Negro
massacre Of 1919 been raised. This
however, is not surprising. Gompers
is not interested in Negro rights.
agreement" Committee Meets
The A. F. of L. executive councils
influence is being most eagerly sought
during the critical sessions of the con-
ference committee, appointed Satur-
day with instructions to get an agree
ment for candidate over the week
end. Davis and Robinson, among
other candidates, have representatives
in this committee and the claims Of
their .favorites are being eagerly
pressed. 1t is believed that the labor
officialdom's support would be useful
argument to present, in view OF the
official labor support which is being
lost to the democratic party thrp the
Cleveland endorsement of LaFollette
and the rank and file loss thru the
class Farmer-Labor Party.