Evening star., 1924-12-13

however. is In state which has no
nrm basis in fact, although supported
by logic. II is safe to say that or
ganized labor is not as dazed, how
ever. as it would have been had the
death occurred when not expected.
The recent Illness of President
Gompers had the effect of causing
labor leaders TO look to their struc-
ture-provisions for the safe con-
duct of the organization across that
period Of uncertainty enduring be-
tween the death and the filling OF
the vacancy.
The American Federation of La
boris controlling elements, taken by
employment classification, consists in
the typographical trade, represented
by Secretary Morrison: transporta-
tion, represented by Treasurer Daniel
]. Tobin Of the Teamsters' Interna-
tfonal Union, and Martin F. Ryan,
the seventh vice president, from the
railway carmen; the metal trades,
as represented by Eighth Vice Pres
tdent James Wilson. from the pattern
makers; building trades. represented
by Second Vice President Hugh Duff
OF the carpenters, and miscellHneous
trades, such as the miners, the bar
bers, OF which Jacob Fischer. III.
fifth vice president, is the represent
tive, and the photo-engraVers
These are the constituent element
controlling the Federations peliciea
from now on, and the general belle.
Is that the policies are so firmly i'm
planted In the organization that 10
root them out would be to disrupt
the organization itself.
The death of Samuel Gompers, after
his condition had shown improvement.
came as an almost unbearable shock
to his subordinates and associates here
in the American Federation of Labor.
Miss r. Lee Guard, Mr.. Gompers'
secretary for rs years, had been on
watch in his Washington offices for
several days, but she had been conf
dent of the outcome Of his fight for
life. The first report OF the death of
the labor leader came to her from the
Associated Press. but she was called
shortly afterward from San Antonio
by long-distance telephone and the
news repeated by members of the
Gompers party who were on the spot.
A false report of Mr. Gompers' death,
which was circulated widely and pub
lished In some newspapers on Thurs
day, had started a flood of messages
Of coincidence coming into the fedora
tion Offices Today their numbers were
multiplied many times. augmented by
cablegrams from notable figures
abroad with whom his long activity
in international affairs had made him
acquainted.
To the men and women identified
with the Federation IL has appeared
impossible to think of carrying on
except under the leadership of their
long thine chief. His 43 years of
service had not only made him the
commanding figure Of the Federation,
but had stamped the imprint of his
personality on every detail of Its
functioning.
Even Mr.. Gompers' repeated at
tacks Of illness during recent years
did not serve to destroy this atmos-
phere, and his followers appeared
to look upon him as the perpetual
chief spokesman Of organized labor,
Mathew Woll had taken some share
OF the burden Of appearing in public
from the shoulders OF the chief, but
to the last, as was evidenced by his
trip to Mexico and by his investiga-
tiop just previous into Panama Canal
Zone labor AFFAIRS, Mr. Gompers HIM
self remained the directing power of :.
the organization. ~
He himself recognized. however,
that termination Of his career was
almost In sight. Five years ago he
began work upon his autobiography
and At intervals OF leisure pursued
the task assiduously. It was prxc-
tically complete when he left for the,
Ei PaSO convention 60