Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-16
Close Friends Felt That End
Was Near Even Before
the Democratic ConVen-
ton Strain Ceased

~@N'N''t
(By the Associated Press. 1.-The
death of Samuel Gompers, late presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, which occurred here at 4:10
a. M, today, had been felt to be near
for some time by his closest friends
and co-workers, according to an of
fetal statement issued tonight by
the publicity department of the fed
Grafton. For months the grand old
man." as they called him, had been
going on his nerve"
The statement, which gives 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 81 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
amazing recuperation' over the pc
riod of the American Federation. of
Labor convention and the Pan
American Federation Of Labor con-
Vention was but a triumphant inter
Jude. Those who knew him will al
ways be convinced that it was an al
most miraculous victory of will pow
er over failing flesh.
''The Democratic national conven
ton came and Mr.. Gompers, com
ing 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
l.. IL 10 I 11l oil
to the last word. lie watched the
convention from Brighton. There his
associates went to report to him.
There he summoned them after the
close of the convention and there
he told them that, in his opinion,
there was but one course to pursue
"a course long since known. 1t
was the Old fighting voice in a fee
Bile frame that called to the workers
to support La Toilette.
Incapacitated i'll August
'In August the American Fedora
ton of Labor executive council met
in Atlantic City. The sessions were
opened by Mr.. Gompers, but he was
unable to preside through the con-
clusion of the sessions. The meet
of the impending approach of death.
Few who saw Samuel Gompers
in those days expected that he
could keep the strength to go to Eel
Paso for the annual convention of
the American Federation Of Labor.
Then on November 9, came the
departure from Washington for the
Ions trip to Eel Paso and Mexico
City. There he seemed no i'll effects
from his railroad journey to the
border city. And the Samuel Comp
crs who stood on the platform at
Eel paso was a remarkable Samuel
Gompers.
"He was not the stalWart figure
of Old but he was nevertheless a
fighting figure, but in his hotel
after the days session there was
Il different picture There was a
different picture even during the
noon recesses. There was a picture
of a man gone tired to the point of
exhaustion, man grayed with the
last pallor of fading life, a man
fighting with magnificent courage
to so through with a last big as
signment-by fighting at the cost
of life itself.
convention wore on. That is.
strength seemed on the increase to
those who saw him in public. Many
hoped he would abandon his plans
to go to Mexico City, but few ever
knew how the aged heart was de-
termined to undertake that journey.
1t represented the browning event
of years of valiant effort The
o. Y1ip Of inc. Il
tyranny i'm Mexico had caught the
ear of Samuel Corners and his
strong arm was enlisted in that
cause. The peaceful Inauguration
of a president elected by the work
Samuel Gompers as it appealed to
few other men.
His Great Triumph
He had wrought with all his
strength for that achievement. He
had a year previous in Juarez,
made the opening speech of the
campaign that took Gales to the
Gompers made his last pilgrimage
which he had heITed to mould.
at no time up TO last Saturday.
Just a week aso-did Mr.. Gompers
spare himself. He witnessed the in
auguration of President Gales. sit
ting in a blazing tropical mountain
sun. He was applauded in volume
second only to the president him
self. He went to the national palace
TO presidential reception. Here he
pinned an A. F. of L. convention
badge on the president, while a
labor man pinned a Mexico labor
badge by its side. These are the
next decorations,'- he told General
Gales.
"On December 5 the convention
Of the American and the Pan
American Federation of Labor was
opened
..-Ch-n-c M. he r--nnL- ir,oI11ai-,-