The Washington times., 1924-12-13
POST
BY At.
RULES
Continued from First Page,

@ his subordinatea. grouped about
his bed, bowed in grief.
Two nurses. Miss M. III. May, Of
New York and Miss Marie Johnston
o. San Antonio, were in the room.
Official announcement of Com.
pers' death came from Chester /.
Wright, press representative of the
American Federation of Labor five
minutes after the veteran had
passed away.
Wright In announcing the death
simply said: ''The chief has gone. :"
Stern, purposeful men with gray
hair, :. in wrinkled business suits,
cried unashamed. The men-who
dead leader in the interests OF labor
spoke hardly q word.
Women Of the party sobbed.
Shortly after the death was an
rounced, kilograms were dispatched
to General p. Gales, president Of
Mexico, whose inauguration Com
pers was attending when stricken.
Messages were sent to all members
of the executive board Of the Fed
Grafton who, are not here and to
Mrs. Gompers at Washington.
At 5 o'clock members Of the
executive staff met in the rooms Of
Frank Morrison, secretary, who
announced that an official state
ment would be made following the
conference.
Funeral arrangement details are
being held up pending advices from
the widow.
It was the irony Of fate that the
things which counted most in the
labor chiefs life should figure with
AnotIn ne Aa~A EIia
arrival at the International Great
Northern station was occasioned by
q labor dispute, something which
had become commonplace to him.
This time he lay pale and help
less, too i'll to decide; but his
assistants decided quickly for him.
Two ambulances were at the
train to meet him on account of a
conflict in orders. One was owned
by a firm whose head 10 q director
Of the local open shop association.
The other was driven by q union
chauffeur and 1t carried Mr.. Comp
ers to the place Of his death.
Gompers went to Mexico City
with delegation Of representatives
Of the American Federation Of La
Dor following his reelection as
president at the Federation conven-
uon IN Iii EASos Tex
Stricken at Bull Fight.
He attended the Inauguration of
President Gales Of Mexico, and in
sisted on attending q BUN fight
afterwards, though he was expert.
encing trouble with his breathing in
the rarified altitude Of the Mexican
capital and was so weak he had to
be supported by friends as he left
the arena
He lay i'll for three days in his
hotel room before the homeward
trip was undertaken. During this
time, he was reelected president Of
the Pan-American Labor Union.
Gompers personal physicians
counseled against his making the
trip by train, advising that he wait
until arrangements could be made
States and the lower altitude which
it was hoped would relieve his con-
dition.
But he insisted and was carried
on a stretcher aboard the Laredo
express Wednesday night.
After reaching the lower alti-
tude nearing the American bor-
der, he gained in strength, and his
attendants We're hopeful of his re-
covery when he was brought to
San Antonio and taken to hotel
yesterday afternoon. 1t was
thought that after a few days. rest
he could continue the trip to his
home in Washington.
Samuel Gompers was born in
England, January 81, 1850. He was
q cigar maker by trade, and a pio-
neer advocate of the rights Of or
ganized labor, becoming interested
in the trades union idea when he
was but fourteen.
He was one of the founders Of
the American Federation of Labor
In 1885 and served continually as it's
president except for one term, that
in 1895.
He helped develop the cigar
makers international union in 1887
and served continuously as an Off.
Ger of that organization. He was
editor Of the American Federationist
and author of several pamphlets on
labor questions and the trades union
movement.
His unceasing activity as a labor
champion brought him national and
international repute. He was q mem
Der Of the advisory committee of The
Council Of National Defense In the
WAT years anu IOPICOSIlIttL1NS Oh LuS
American Federation of Labor at the
peace conference in Paris during
1918 and 1919. During the peace
conference he was elected president
Of the International Commission on
Labor Legislation.
He also served on several national
Industrial commissions during the
administrations Of Presidents Will
son, Harding and President Coolidge.
Death PhOned Here.
A telephone call at 4:S0 o'clock
this morning to the home Of Mr..
Gompers and to his private secre-
tary, was the first word received
here Of the veteran labor leader.
Samuel Gompers, jr., chief clerk
of the Department OF Labor, son
Of the federation president, is ex-
pected to arrange some time today
for funeral services.
Further advices from San An
tonic are awaited here before going
ahead with arrangements.
Bitter Fight Looming
To Fill Post Long