The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-12-18

ll6 was III a. CLAbAEdl NOLA0ftlOh S1Ah
might not live out the night. The old
man breathed heavier for a moment
but there was no other response.
Officials of the federation gathered
about the bedside. The strain of the
vigil was apparent on many Of them;
a few gave way to tears as it was ap-
parent their comrade of many years
was passing out.
When Mr.. Gompers took i'll in Mex
leo City few days ago, he expressed
the wish that if he was to die, he
wanted to pass away on American soil.
His physicians would not let him rise
from his sick bed to go to the train,
but had him taken on a stretcher and
placed him. on a special coach, the
stretcher being passed through win
dow. This was said to have given rise
to the report that he was dead, which
was sent out from some town in Mexl-
co along the route which Mr.. Gompers
car travelled going to Laredo, Texas.
Wanted to Die at Home.
His wish to reach his own country
before death should overtake him al
most was defeated, for he sank very
low on the journey up from Mexico
City.
| The complications which combined
| to end the career of the famous labor
leader have beset his aging body for
several years, according to his physi-
cions; but the final acute attack was
! brought on by a change of weather in
! Mexico City, which resulted in cold
and congestion of the lungs, and the
body worn by intense labor at the
recent American Federation of Labor
convention in Ell Paso, could offer lit
| tie resistance to the assault. His
mind and will however, resisted with
all their might and their determine
tion to live, if only few hours longer
enabled him to go to his final rest
/ in the country where laboring men
he has championed and defended
through a whole life time.
/ In his dying moa&ants, Mr.. Gompers
had an opportunity to witness the at
lection in which he was held by his
own people and the public as we'll. AS
/ his cot was being lowered from the
special car in the railroad yards here
yesterday, a great throng gathered to
have peek at the sick man.
Strickened at Ceremony.
According to C. N Idar, of San
Antonio, general organizer for the
| American Federation of Labor, Mr..
Gompers' final acute illness came fol-
lowing walk up a long fight of
steps to the Mexican national palace
to attend the inauguration of Presi-
dent Gales week ago last Tuesday.
When Gompers reached the last step
exhausted he exclaimed to his escort:
81 do not mind climbing the stairs,
but l do not want to climb the golden
stairs just yet"
Mr.. Gompers' death recalls the pass
ing in this city of another national
figure, Major General Frederick Funs-
ton, who died February 10, 1917.
General Funston, who returned from
Vera Cruz with the American expedi-
tionary forces in Mexico, in Septem-
Der, 1916, assumed command of what
was then the southern department in
the following December. After a
little more than two years service
apparently in good health, he dropped
dead in San Antonio hotel.
/ Gompers' body will lie in state at
the undertaking company parlors here
from 11:00 o'clock this morning until
it is taken to a train tonight for its
last journey east. Local labor leaders
will be named pail bearers to carry
the body to the station. A detail of
policemen will also serve as a guard
Of honor.
Mayor John w. Tobin of San An
tonic, has issued a proclamation call
ing upon the city to pay tribute to
the late labor leader.