Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1924, Page 6

DUNCAN ELECTION ' DECLARED AGREED Labor Heads Reported to Have Made Plans Dur- - ing August. Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. NEW YORK, December 13.—James Duncan of Quincy, Mass, for 30 years vice president of the Ameritan Fed-| eration of Labor, is, by an under- | standing reached by the leaders of that organization in Atlantic City Jast August scheduled to fill out the| unexpired term of Samuel Gompers. ‘The understanding, reached at al time when Mr. Gompers' condition ' was oritical, Is subject to change, but sentiment in the recent El Paso con- wention was for carrying it out. Duncan, if deslgnated, would serve wuntil the concluslon of the next an- | nual convention in Atlantic City next | October, the election under the laws | of the federation being held on the last day of the convention. i Who will be named? This is a question that will puzzle the lead- ors of the movement in the ensuing months. There i3 abundance of talk, but there are 50 many personal equa- tions involved that the winner prob- mbly will not be known much before the time for balloting arrives, with the chances most excellent that the| new president will be chosen from Aides Pay Tribute | To Gompers’ Work In Labor’s B,thf Tremendoutl:w Is Felt In Passing'of Noted A. F. of L. Leader. | By the Assoctated Prees. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind,, December 13. ‘In the 'death of Samuel Gompers the Amerjear’. labor :movement and the’ Amerfoan people :as well have suffered ‘a tremendfus loss” said Jame# M.\ Lynch, president of the International” Typographical Union. | “Thousands of 'us, too, feel the sorrow of losing a persona) 1 4. To every labor. movement, Sam: 2 powerful inspiration and a pillar-of-support. J.'W. Hayes, sedretary-treasursr of the TypokfaphicalUnion and presi- dent of the Union Label Trades De- partment of the American Federation of Labor, sald: “The labor movement wlill find it difficult to flll the vacancy left by the death of-Mr, Gompers. and his friends will find it Impossible to fill the void left In their hearts, The un- delfishness of his lifework will give Mr. Gompers a place in American his- tory beside such leaders as Franklin, Washington and Lincoln. CINCINNATI, Ohio, December 13.— Every effort was made by close friends of Samuel Gompers to dls- suade him from maeking the trip into among the 10 members of the execu- tlve council. , | These ten are Mr. Duncan and Vice | ¢ Presidents Frank Duffy, a carpenter | of Indianapolis; William een, a | miner, also of Indianapolis; Jacob| Fisher, barber, of Indianapelis; Mat- thew Woll, photo engraver, Chicago Thomas A Rickert, garment worker. Chicago; Martin F. Ryan, raflway | carman, Kansas City, and James Wil- | son, pattern maker, CincinnavX and | ‘Treasurer Daniel J. Tobin, teamster, | Indianapolis, and Secretary ¥iank Morrison, printer, Washingtor. D, C. | Others Are Mentioned John L. Lewis, the miner® chief,| ‘who opposed Mr. Gompers in Denver | four years ago; Maj. Georgo L. Berry, president of the pressmen. and W liam L. Hutcheson, chief of the car- enters, who have been mentioned | rrominently in discussions of the| Gompers succession are not expected o be candidates. Mr. Lewis Is defin- itely out of the race, Maj. Berry pre- | ters to remain with his pressmen and Hutcheson fcels compelled to remain with his people to carry out plans 10 which he is already committed. Of the council members the three most prominently mentioned for the presidency are Matthew Woll, who In recent years has taken many burdens from Mr. Gompers’ shoulders; Mr. Green and Mr. RickeM. Mr. Green Paso he would not accept presidency under any circum- stances. Mr. Woll, while not an an- nounced candidate, is in a receptive mood. Rickert says he does not want the position and will be under great Dressure from his own people to r main in his present position, The im- pression prevalls, however, that he ‘would respond to a draft. Woll Has Chance. In the judgment of the shrewder leaders, either Rickert orGreen could be elected if they sought the place. | These same leaders are of the opini: that Woll's chance—and in this his | closest friends agree —lies in the chance that a contest may develop among the more powerful unions that will compel a compromise choice in the person of some one from a small [ahor organization. In that évent it is figured he would be the logical man. The one thing certain to result from the contest is that the man | chosen will be a conservative, com- mitted to carrying on the policies fol- lowed by Mr. Gompers. However much the so-called radicals may pro- test, the conservatives will have the Votes necessary to elect. _ Under the laws of the Federation, Mr. Morrison, as secretary, aufomati- cally became president on the death ©of Mr. Gompers. As such he must call a meeting of the executive council Within 10 days for the purpose of fill- Mexico, according to James Wilson, ncinnati labor leader, who was with the dead president of the American Federation of Labor at the El Paso convention, CLEVELAND, Ohio, December 13.— Telegrams of sympathy on the death of Samuel Gompers, president ofythe American Federation of Labor, + were telegraphed to Frank Morrison, sec- retary of the Federation, by Willlam G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood of Rallroad Tralnmen, and Warren 8. Stone, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., December 13. —“America has lost a great patriot, a great humanitarian and an able ounselor,” sald Willlam Green, vice president of the American Federation of Labor and secretary-treasurer of the United Mine Werkers of America, today. SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Defember 18.— John L, Lewis, international president of the United Mine Workers of Amerl- cay pajd_ tribute -to -the memory of| Samuel Gampers here. “The passing of Samuel Gompers,” he said, “constitutes a distinct loss to the Natlon. He devoted a long life to the service of humanity, bringing real talents ,of leadership to the task. His life record of half a cetitury of effort may be read along the path- way of human progres: but gallant fight against the weak- nesses that eome with age and gen- eral disorders from which he had suf- fered for many months. Mr. Gompers was 73 years old. He died upon American soil, realizing his last hope. Since Saturday when the fatal ill- ness came upon him in Mexico City, where he had gone to atterd the con- vention of the Pan-American Feder- ation of Labor, Mr. Gompers' life was all but despaired of by labor leaders and friends who had accompanied him on this last trip of his career. Fighting death vallantly, but “with a greatly. weakened heart, due to the rigors of the Mexico trip and the higher altitude there, he was placed aboard a special train and rushed to the United States, arriving in_San Antonio last night. The ‘labor chieftain died surround- ed by his comrades, many of whom had fought beside him, shoulder to shoulder, for a generation in behalf of the economic principles he ex- pounded. Realised End Near. The end came in a hotel 11 hours after his arrival from Mexico City. His last words were spoken to his nurse about an hour before he died, Ing the vacan from among vice presidents equal in rank. Ordinarily the meeting to fill the vacancy would be held in Washing- ton. However, as all the council mem- hers will attend the funeral of Mr. Gompers in this city, it s possible that it will be held here Immediately after the funeral, to conserve the time of the leaders, who, because of the El Paso convention, have been absent from their desks for nearly a month. BODY OF GOMPERS LEAVES SAN ANTONIO, DUE HERE TUESDAY (Continued from First Page.) . — O Tt Fage) - goffin, which was flanked by banks of "l‘::ers and draped with the American Thousands Line Streets. As the hour approached for the Btart of the gortege to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Ralilroad station, streets along the line of march were roped off, while the city paused in Its frettul rush to cling for a hushed moment to the passing visitor. The city was reluctant to let him g0. The cosmopolitan, metropolis of the Alamo, with its soldiers, its sojourn- ers from all States, and its adopted sons from the land below .the bor- der, ceased thelr Saturday night diver- slons to give a many voiced adieu to a gallant gentleman. Two speclal coaches on a regular M. K. & T. traln waited at the depot for their noted passenger and the labor officlals who had been Mr, Gompers' official -council in life and ‘were now his chief mourners in death. The rear observation coach was made ready to receive the casket, while members of the labor group Were to occupy a sleéping car just ahead. Two beds were placed in the funeral car, near the casket for the labor officials who will act as the watch and guard on the journey. Plans were made to have at least two comrades of the late leader on watch at all times. Council to Form Escort. Members of the executive council of the federation have been sent toler graphic requests to board -the: train at points on the route mearest their homes so that the full council may escort the fallen president to 'his home in Washington: Sixteen stops are listed on the train’s itinerary as it goes to Wash- tngton. The first stop will be at Fort Worth tomorrow morning at 45 o'clock. From then on the stops order will be: . Denison, MeaAlister, Okla.; Muskoge¢, _Vinita, Parsons, Xans, Sedwila,/ Mo.; St. Louls, Vinoennes, Tnd,; Mitchell, Ind.; North Vernon, Cincinnati, Ohio; Midland City, Ohio; Parkersburg, W. Va; Granton, Cumberland, Md., and then ‘Washington. u’servh:el are to be held in Wash- ington and the body is to be taken to New York Wednesday morning, ‘where further services probably will be held ' and a funeral -oration preached by some one to be selected. Burial will be in Sleepy Hollow was a prayer for the American people and American institutions. Realising that he was losing the battle 50 stub. bornly fought, he turned to her and whispere: ‘Nurse, this is the end. God bless our American institutions, May they grow better day by day.” Shortly before he lapsed into the unconsciousness which presaged the end, President Gompers gave a few simple directions for his funeral and bade a few life-long friends.farewell FUNERAL PLANS MADE:. Arrangements for Rites in New York Announced. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 13.—Chap- lains of the Elks and the Masons and two rabbis will oficiate at the serv- ice of Samuel Gompers in the FElks' Club here next Thursday, Hugh Frayne, national organizer of .the American Federation of, Labor, an nounced tonight, in making public arrangements for the funeral of the president of the federation, who died in San_Antonio this morning. Acording to present plans, the body of the labor leader is scheduled to arrive here at the Pennsylvania stae tlon at 7 .o'clock Wednesday morn- ing.. The fumeral train will be met at the station by an honor commit- tee of fifty, representatives of ma- tional and local labor organizations. They will escort the body to the Elks’ Club where the dead Ilabor chief will lie in-state until 9 o'clock Thursday morning. Threo Services Planmed. Beginning at that time three serv. ices will be held in the lodgeroom of the Elks' Club, Mr. Gompers having been a member of the Washington lodge. First ‘will be the regular Hebrew funeral service, two leading rabbis, whose names are to’ be af- nounced later, ofiiating. * THis wil be.followed by the ritual of the Elks' lodge and then the Masonic rites. The cortege will then proceed by automobile to Slee Hollow Ceme- tery in Tarrytown, N. Y., where Mr. Gompers will sleep his last sleep not far from the grave of Andrew Car- negle, in1ifé one of his ditterest op- ponents, Burial services will bs tnder the same auspices as in the lodge room. . L ‘The plot in. Sleepy. Hollow. chosen because it was sald lhatz Gompers wished to be buried whers his second wife, who is a Gentil might also find a last resting place. The plot is near the Carnegie plot. Mr. Gompers' father and mother, his first wife and his daughter, Sadie, are buried in Washington Cemetery, Long Island. The plot in Washing- ton, an exclusively Jewish gcemetery, is full, however, said Moness, a close friend gl !lha labor chief, an- other reason why it was nece to fina & plot elsewhere, oY council of the Federation of Labbr. Names of the honorary pallbearers will be sn~ nounced later. * PR T R e e A Twenty-one years ago Miss Mary E. Dillon weat “to work for. the Brooklyn Borough Gas Company clerk at a wage of $8 a week: A few days since she was elected vice presi. dent and general manager of the o ‘which- is = §5,000,000 cor- By e et I oo LABOR AT CRISIS WITH PILOT DEAD Outlook, However, Bright for Continuance of Conserva- tive Policy. ‘What will be the fate of the Amer- ican Federation ‘of Labor with its organiger, ploneer, developer and leader for 43 years gone to take his place in history? Not only in labor circles, still unned by the news of the death of Samuel Gompers, even though it was half reluctantly expected, but also in the industrial, commercial and political worlds, each fleld vaguely bewlldered by the removal of organ- ized labor's outstanding figure, this question last night had already started to grow in importance. Allled with this question are two What will be the effect on in general, and what sort will\labor select under a new leader—one which tends toward rad- icallsm or a slower, progressively conservative one such as Gompers trod? Well informed labor leaders last night were considering these three points and dlscounting speculative and conjectural reports concerning the future. Labor Faces Orisis. Admittedly—though virtually &l are loath to admit it—the Federation of Labor faces a crisis. The crisis is not-for the immediate future. Samuel Gompers had guarded against that with the constitution of the Federa- tion of Labor. But it must come as surely as will come the annual con- vention of the American Foderativn of Labor, next October, when forges and factions of variegated beliefs will gather to elect a president. If there: wifl be any fight amons candidates to flll the chair left vacant by Gompers, it will be then. Uhruly elements of the organisation, hitherto held in check by the clear- thinking, quick-acting vigilance of the leader who has passed on, will combine for a drive to power. ~It will be the stfategic time for such a drive, and the hand of Gompers, experienced as none other, will not be there to direct the defense of the structure of organized labor- sgainst such at- tack. Plan to Get Test. On the other hand, the inner’ or- ganization bulit up within the Fed- eration of Labor by Mr. Gompers will have a, chance to demonstrate its. utility. the hand 6f a labor-atatesman in 80 wording the constitution of the or- ganization as to make the executive councll a dominant instrument in the moves of the federation. First of all, this council will elect & new president. Next, the council is made up of Gompers' friends and advisers from various different international unions. Then, 80 adroitly has the ar- rangement been made, there will be a breathing spell for this council to line up its defensive battlements be- fore the next convention. If an gs- sault is to be made, there will be time to prepare. The old guard of the federation will have ample time to gird itself to mest the onslaught. Discord Discounted. This is cited as the principal rea- son why dissension, strife and dls- cord in the coming special session of the executive council are discounted. ‘The men on that council—10 of them ~—were picked because of their ability for cool thinking on ticklish ques- tions. They are virtually all veterans from First Vice , President’ James Duncan, for 40 years thd supporter of President Gompers, to Matthew Woll, sixth vice president, compars- tively young in years but old in ex- perience. - With such & personnel as this on the exécutive councll, it is pointed out by labor leaders, exactly where there can be an entry of such diverse inter- ests as.could fan personal differences of opinion into a discordant blaze of opposition among factions cannot easily be explained. The members of the executive council being in accord with the policies hequeathed them by thelr departed chieftain, will, in ail probability, do everything possible to further such policies and the greatest obstacle they could place in the path of the machienry set in motion by Mr. Gompers during his 43 years of activity would be to allow dissension and strife to creep into the organiza- tion immedlately after his demise, it is further averred. Four in Race for Pest. Four members of the executive council continued to stand out prom- inently as possibilities for succession to the presidency of the federation— Third Vice President Willlam Green, of the United Mine Workers; First President James Duncan, from the Granite Cutters’ International Union; Fourth Vice President T. A. Rickert of the Garment Workers and Matthew Woll of the Liternational Photo En- gravers Union, Because of his close connection with Mr. Gompers the name of W. D, Ma- hon, president of the Amalgamated Assoclation of Street and Hlectric Railway Workers, last night crept into speculative discussions in labor circles, but it was freely admitted that his strength was an, unknown factor. The six members of the executive council of the federation not-above mentioned, are also admittedly po- tential as "dark-horse” candidates for the presidency. They are: Secretary Frank Morrison from the International ‘Typographical Unilon, now acting president; Treasurer L. J. Tobin from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Second Vice President Frank Duffy from the International ors; Vio Fischer from the Barbers’ Interna- tional Union; Martin F. Ryan, seventh vice president of the federation, from the: Brotherhood of Railway Carmen; and last, but not least as a potential candidate, Eighth Vice President James Wilton of the Pattern Makers International Union. This angle ‘being thus disposed of, there remains for consideration the effect of the death of Gompers on labor conditions generally as affect- ing businesa. Deubt Policy Changs. . Labor leaders point-out that the very breathing spell provided for in the comstitution of the Federation @a- sudden change in policy which might - result disastrously all along the line. Since a sweeping change from the present progressive conservatism. of labor to outright radicalism, or at the . mildest, - ultra-progressivism, 1s staved off until the October conven- tion, thers will in all probability be mo deviation on the part of labor's machiné from the tracks already well laid -and -blasted, unless the whole labor - movement, - forgetful ,of the ‘Gompers . influence," execute compl -“about-face” convention. This s not in labor circles. The predominant characteristic of American- labor, acoordiag to labor leaders who were in Washington last night, is comparative conservatism when considered -side by sifie .with labor otfinlll&lo&ll in other nations. in 38" ui?u‘-‘-mn*a-msru be Labor leaders point to| ' This photo, taken in 1884, shows, left to rigkt: John Burns and David Holmes, British labor leaders and dele- sates from the British Trades Unien Oongress te the American Federation of Labor Convention held at Deaver, laber talking over imtermatiomal ning of s great crganization of American labor. Gompers, “Dean of American Labor Chiefs,” Made Fight for Democracy Great Work Samuel Gompers, “dean of Ameri- oan labor leaders,” one of the found- ers—and almost continuously since 1881 its president—of the American Federation of Labor, which he saw grow from & coterie of small locals to a national organization, with a membership of more than 3,000,000, spent several of the later years of his life in fighting sutocracy abroad and radicalism in organized labor at home. Before the United States entered the world war he combated enemy influences active among the natlon's workers and, .by refusing to send delegates to peace conferences In Sweden and Switzerland, kept Amer- ican labor free fromr entangling ne- gotiations with pacifist organizations in countries which later became en: mies of the United States. More than 2 year before America took up arms Mr. Gompers pledged organized labor to support of national preparedness. When the resumption of unrestrict- ed submarine warfare by Germany early in 1917 brought the United States to the verge of war Mr. Gom- pers cabled the head of the German Federation of Trades Unions, urging that he use his influence to prevail upon his government to avoid a break with America. Three days after the United States declared war on Germahy he. an- nounced, for the federation, “full and unqualified support of the govern- ment® on the part of America’s work- ors, with the promise that leaders of labor would use thelr influence to prevent any attempt to take ad- vantage of the war emergency to press claims for changes in existing industrial conditions. He exerted his influence, through the heads of unions, in the settlement of a number of strikes In manufactories through- out the country engaged In war work, notably in the shipping industry. ‘Warns Russia Against Agitators. Following the abdication of Em- peror Nicholas of Russia, Mr. Gom- pers sent a message to the Council of Workmen and Soldiers’ Delegates at Petrograd, warning them against agitators, particularly those in the employ of Germany. In midsummer of 1917 Mr. Gompers formed and headed the American al- liance for labor and democracy, which marshaled the lal forces country for active support of the gov- ernment in the war. Coincidently he announced various “pexce councils” nized in the Uhited States as “mas! ng a nefarious propaganda of treachery in the name of democracy.” Later, speaking as he announced for American labor, Mr. Gompers de- clared that “so long as Germany is ruled by an autocrat, so long Ger- mans occupy one inch of French, Belgian or Serbian soll, it is useless to invite representatives of the work- ers of the United States to talk peace across a conference table.” Heagain pledged American- labor unreserved- 1y _to winning the war. r. Gompers was intimately con- nected with almost every great labor dispute in this country for thirty years and he headed the labor forces in_numerous strikes. In a career filled with persistent and vigorous efforts from his, fif- teenth year “to fmprove the condl tions of workers” Mr, Gompers be came & unique figureé in Americar publie lite. By the force of his elo quence and patriotism he won over the solld support of the American Federation of Labor for the. United States government in the war. The conflict ended, he went Paris, where he helped to orgami: the international labor congress. Five of its tenets were incorporated in the peace treaty. They weres. (1) Labor is not a com ty; (3) wn international eight-hour day; (3) a stan and adequate living w"e (4) equal pay for men and women for equal work; (5) prohibition of child labor. Leaderslitp Settles Settlement of & number of indus- trial disputes that threatened to or did reach nation-wide proportions was attributed to his wise leadérship, vocate of democracy. g The world-wide unrest, which fol- lowed the conclusion of the great war, did not spare American industry, Bolshevism early lifted its head. Ex- plaining _its menace, Mr. Gompers safd: “There has always been & radical element in the labor move- ment that has tried to destroy the very foroes which have protacted it all these years It is this element organizsed A Thess American bolsh 2 earned for labor countless enemies and hdve represented us in an um- °%In °the national Industrial confer- ence of ngn—nw.lvu-ol labor, caps ““‘.‘hl ton o m"ch..fl 'l‘;‘ :*& on. L "Prégident Wilson to find Previously he had attended world labor parleys in London, Paris and Anisterdam. His Jmpress on Legislation. He was father of much legislation, both state and national, designed to relieve and protect the workingman. In recent years a large part of his time was “spent before legislative committess suggesting, supporting and framing labor legislation. Prior to his founding the natfonal labor organization In 1881, the labor movement was In the hands of com- paratively small, individual untons, in the various states, working with- out much real co-operation. By form- ing the federation, he welded the en- tire movement Into a nation-wide, compact unit which grew to be a power in the political, commercial and Industrial life of the country. At the annual session of the American Federation of Labor at El Paso, Tex., in November, 1924, Mr. Gompers was elected president for the forty-third time. That session was followed by a Joint meeting of the American Federa- tion of Labor and the Mexican Federa- tion of Labor, of sessions of the Pan- American Federation of Labor and the Inauguration of President Calles of Mexico, which officlals of all three or- ganizations attended, at Mexico City. While at the Mexican capital Mr. Gompers was stricken with a recurrence of the ailment that had kept him more or less an invalid for some years. Com- plicated by a slight cold and aggravated by the high altitude, the aged labor leader was unable to attend the clos- ing ceremonies of the Inguguration, Outspoken in his views on public questions, Mr. Gompers made many bitter critics as well as stanch sup- porters. He charged Geérman labor with having helped precipitate the world struggle, blamed prohibition rest” in the United States, urged a labor union of the two Americas, denounced a United States senatoriai investigation of Mexico as “Prussianism,” supported the league of nations indorsed De Valera and “recognized” the Irish republic, as- sailed the open-shop platform of ‘the United States Chamber of Commerce, demanded t Aslatics be kept out of the United States, pleaded for the release of all political and war-time prisoners including Debs, opposed the estabitshment by the Washington ad- ministration of a Denartmen* of Wa! fare, praised President Harding's world ‘disarmament efforts and ap- proved America’s pian to aid famine- stricken Russia. - Personal 1aft, Wison, Coolidge. He was often called consultation with them in settlement of a number of industrial disputes. During the last campaign Mr. Gompers supported Senator La Fol- lette for President. The American Federation, through its executive council and non-partisan campalgn committee, indorsed the candidacy of the La Follette-Wheeler ticket. Mr. Gompers was always firm in his at- titude, however, that organized labor, and the American Federation in par- tiqular, should maintain & mnon- partimn attitude, supporting policies and candidates favorabls to the cause of labor, but not seeking to estab- lish a'labor party, such &s that in England. Mr. Gompers' bellef wa. that organized labor could work to greatest advantage by supporting Its friends fn the various'politioal partie: without itself setting up & party or- ganization. ‘Net Active in Campaign. Owing to his health, ‘Mr. Gompers ‘was not able to take an aetive part in the-¢éampalgning last ‘Summer and Fall. But he issued on federation first declared-for La Fol- lette Mr. Gompers was drawn into controversy with forther Secretary ot Labor ‘ who was’ in the cabjnet during the Wilson adminis tration. Mr. Wilson insisted that the Democratic nominee, John W. Davis, had proved himself a friend of laber, and that the federatfon should sup- port him rather than Senator La Fol- lette. But Mr Gompers insisted that the record of La Follette was such a5 to warrant the support of or- ganized Iabor ahd that Mr. Davis' connestions were mot . favorable ‘to labop. Among 'the’ laws Gompers: framed, upported or originated were: ' The eight-hour lsw for government em- loyes; the various state laws fixing labor:’ laws estadli lnfi La- dx as the workingmen's holiday pensa- ‘workingnien's dom| he law limiting the. use of injunotions in labor disputes; the cution as combinations in festraint of trade, and the law regulating punish- T direorty, Tesponaibls for- the g 90 P e for. - lalatton _ whioh oreated .the Depari- m section of th ayton act -was. od. . to meet conditions which arose -through the .of Gompers, John oon' I & BAsreTRaTE . with Samuel Gompers (right) at the time Mr. Gompers was almost at the begin- Daniel Thew Wright of the Supreme Court of the Distriot of Columbia sen- tenced the three labor leaders to jail for violation of an injunction prohib. iting the federation from boycotting the Buck’s Stove and Range Company of St. Louis. An appea! carried to the Supreme Court set aside the oconvic- tion on technical grounds; and new contempt proceedings were Instituted. Another conviction and sentence in the lowr courts were set aside by the Supreme Court on the ground that the statute of limitation had expired before the second proceedings were begun. Foe of Injunctions. During the seven years this case was in litigation, Gompers exerted his influence to reform injunction and contempt procedure. Court decisions holding that trade unions could fot be prosecuted as combinatior® in re- straint of trade under the Sherman anti-trust law prompted him to coupleswith these reforms a demand for a specific exemption from anti- trust prosecutions for labor organ- izations. All these were incorporated in the Clayton revision of the anti- trust laws. Throughout the twenty years of anti-trust agitation which - followed the enactment of the Sherman anti- trust law, Mr. Gompers was active in urging legislation and litigation against the big combinations of cap- ital which had grown up in the in- dustrial world. He conducted a cam- aign against.the United States Steel ‘orporation which culminated in an exhaustive Investigation of that con- cern by a committee of the House of Representatives. In his long administration of the American _Federation of Labor Mr. Gompers was constantly called upon to avert threatened schisms in . the organization, and to bring together factional elements which developed from time to time. By his efforts compromise after compromise was ef- fected, and the unity of the federa- tion ‘was maintained. Throughout he was a stanch advocate of the “trade union” system of labor organ- isation as opposed to-the “industrial unien” system, and his efforts snd those of his foilowers developed the American labor movement along the lines of the former plan. Ha was constantly called upon by unions af- fliated with the federation to act as arbitrator and mediator in labor dls- putes, and he probably settled by his individual efforts more strikes than sny other man in labor history, Born in London in 1830, Samuel Gompers was born in Lon- don, England, January 21, 181 His father was a cigar maker and Samuel was the eldest of eight children. His mother was & woman of excellent edu- cation and through her Influence he was led to study, notwithstanding the fact that at the age of ten he began o help his father support the family. He went to school from his sixth to his tenth year and was then ap- prenticed to & shoemaker. This trade was not to his liking, however, and he learned the trade of his father d while working as a clgar maker tended evening school for - four years. . He came to the United States when he was thirteen years old and worked #s & clgar maker in New York city. In 1864 he first became 1dentified with the labor movement when he helped organize the Cigar Makers' Interna- tional Union. He served as secretary and president of the union for six years and under Ris management it became a large and successful or- ganization. He also edited the local paper of the cigar makers' union, , th “Picket" during that time. Tt wi connection with _th: b- . office were declined P Gompers at different times in his career. He refused to run for the state:senate in New York, although cftered both republican and -demo- oratic nominations. He declined -a republican nomination for Congress. Gov. Hill of New York offered him a place on the state board of arbitra- tion and ‘President McKinley tend ered him an appointment on the In- dustrial' Commission, but he d both. He was active in the ll} Uon for s treaty between the United States and Great Britain _whish :‘fllld provide for the arbitration of 68, 2 " In 1891 imnldd.‘!‘uu the nltlongl conference hel , Bara. toga, N, Y., to discuss ways and ‘means to" meet ‘the - conditions in_ the - United States growing O;t of the Spanish: r of tge_committes that . presented go yiews of that confercnca to Presi: dent McKinley. . : ‘Alifed ' With Ctvie Federntion. Nothwithstanding -earnest tion by a substantial pare o union labor .element, r. Gomj the addition to Fed- of Labor he remaindd an the Cigar Mak San Antonio to St. Leuls over _the Missouri, Kinsas & Teras. Lenve San Antonio 11 pum. Sat- Nrday; arrive at Fert Worth, @, Monday; srrive St. Louls, 7130 a.m. Monday. St. Louls to Washington over the Baltimere & Ohfe: asti, ».m. Monday;. arrive Midiand City, Okio, 10148 p.m. Monday; arrive Parkersburg, ‘W. Va., 3140 a.m. Tuesday; leave Parkersburg, 3145 a. m. Tues- day; arrive Graftoms, W. Va. 1055 am, Tuesday; arrive Washingten, 345 p.ax. Tuesday. POPE AIDS STORM RELIEF. Correspondence of The Assoctated Press. MANILA, November 1é—Pope Pius X1 has cabled 130,000 lire to the Ro- | man Catholo dlocese here to be used for the benefit of those who suftered from the recent typhoon in Northern Luson, especfally in the Cagayan val- ley. ‘The typhoon, which oocurred during the first week {n-October, blew down thousands of small nipa houses along the Cagayan River and the floods de- Approximately 60 ed. tective order of Elks and the Home Club, He was author of numerous small pamphlets in the nature of tracts on labor questions, wrote a book on the world labor. movement and edited the “American Federationist,” the official organ of the American Federation. ‘hroughout his career, Mr. Gompers refused to become identified with any political party, taking the position that he could be of more service to the cause of labor by holding himself aloof from identification with any single political organization. Mr. Gompers was twice married. His first wife, Sophia Julian, of New York, died in 1919, shortly after the celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary. = They had three sons and a daughter. in France, died during the war. On April 15, 1921, the labor leader, then seventy-one years old, married Mrs Gertrude G. Neuscheler, thirty- ght years old, a music teache: The latter, a purse | London Papers Reserved In Comment on Passing of * Labor Chief. BY the Astociated Press, PARIS, December 13~The death of Samuel Gompers is given prominent at- tention in the French newspapers. The cfficial organ of the French Labor Fed- Le Peupl often call France,” says: “Labor has lost a great chief. Mr. Gompers dies upon his return from an errand of peace in Mexioo aft- er an entire life devoted to the welfare and prosperity of the laboring man.” The Intransigeant says: “Mr. Gom- pers, always a stanch friend of Franoce during the war, gave another proof ef his friendship at the time of the 0008~ pation of the Ruhr. His death removes one of the greatest American figures from the active field.” Le Soir eays: “Mr. Gompers repre- sented the moderate tendencles labor. Besides being & labor chief Le also was distinguished as an author of works on labor conditions.” LONDON COMMENT SCARCE. SR Largely Devoted to Personal Char- acter of Gompers. By the Aseociated Press. LONDON, December 13.—Sketches dwelling on the personal cheracteristics | of Samuel Gompers appear in the Lon { don newspapers, but thus far there is little comment. All admit the strong and forceful personality and striking individual traits of the dead leader and draw a contrast between the labor lead erships of the New and the Old World. The Standard remarks that Mr. Gompers ruled his followers with a rod of iron, but it was a sane autocracy, for whenever they showed signs of drift- Ing into bolshevism, or even socialism, he put his foot down. “That,” adds the Standard, “is large- ly why trade unlonism in America hae never been a political movement. Gom pers would not allow it." } Cltes Breaks Abroad. | The Evening News similarly com | ments on the fact that Samuel Gompe; | regarded socialism as a disruptive move. ment, and therefore several times broke | away from European labor organiza- | tions, because he belfeved they tended | overmuch to socialiem or bolshevism. | ‘The Sunday Observer says that his | moderation and practical judgment "lve him far-reaching influence. He | was, in the view of the Observer, largels | responsible for “the fallure of the | anarchistic . W. W. to gain ascendency |in the American labor world. | Most of the papers dwell on Mr. Gom- pers' influence in bringing Americar workers to ‘ whole-hearted support of the late war and his general opposition bor becom!: political movem USEFUL XMAS GIFTS Second Floor Electric Household Appliances Electrie P Universal Eleetfic doagin $15.00 Iron White Cross Electric ‘Waflle Irom erco- Iator, S—cup aize; with mfeked Iron with alumianum Without Hair Dryer, $8 solid brasss clamps every- where or stand. $3.75 plated, 8-1b, sine $3.75 comeoee. FIREPLACE GOODS - m=| Andirons, from $2.75 up Firesets, from $5.00 up Rail Fenders, $10 up Coal Grates, $4.00 up