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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1924)
Death of Gompers Launches Struggle for T^ahor Control Executive Council Must FJcrt Successor to Serve Until Convention Next Fall. Washington, Dec. 13—One of the stiffest and perhaps the bitterest, In ternal fights in history faced the American Federation of I.abor today tn selecting a successor to Samuel Clampers. L'nder the constitution of the fed eration. Frank Morrison, secretary, automatically succeeded to the presi dency, hut he must call a meeting of the executive council within six days to select a successor who shall serve until the next convention, to 1 be held In Atlantic City, next fall. ; The council must meet as soon as . possible after Morrison's rail. <iomi>ers had been president of the '■ American Federation of I.abor almost ■ continuously since Its founding. Of late years, bis power was so great ;that no serious attempts were ever ’ made to oust him. The last fight on him for the presidency was at. the Denver convention of the federation four years ago. Kmle All Storms. Several reasons have been assigned • why Gompers, despite his failing .health of late, successfully rode the mifirarous gathering storms that have 1 arisen at recent conventions to re "inove him. First and foremost is that the older members of the federation . felt that becuuse of Gompers' long -and faithful service lie should be al lowed to retain the helm until death, .even though he might have become so incapncitated physically that lie could " no longer do active work. This certainly was the cause that po fight was made on the veteran leader nt the recent El Paso convention. : There was at El Paso a strong mi nority that felt a younger and strong . rr man should be given the post. In thU group the proposal even was ad vanced that Gompers should be made e.ther president emeritus, or a new post of assistant to the president should be created in order to relieve Gompers of much of the routine of of fice. This never reached the conven tion floor because the older members intervened and pleaded that nothing be done to embarrass the “chief.” as he was known to associates. Barriers Down. With Gompera' death, the barriers are now all down. Literally, the woods are full of candidates to suc ceed him. Every member of thi executive council and every president of an In ternational union admittedly is in the field. Each will command strong sup port. a strength that may be difficult to divide or units with other resources in determining upon two or even three Candida tea The result, therefore, may lead to the most bitter of clashes. In the executive council itself the light may prove less aerlmlnous than If the contest were Immediately to come before the convention of the federation. These members are of the so-called "Gompers' machine" or administration. No one man ta the council eras closer to Gompers than Matthew Woll, a vice president and chief of the photo engravers' union. For the last two years, at least, WoH was re* garded in federation circles as "spokesman of the chief.’* It was Woll, rather than Gompers, to whom persons having business with the fed eration were referred. Friendship Handicap. But being so close to Gompers, Woll unquestionably will begin with a cer tain handicap, the men who opposed Gompera’ policies may unite against \ him. 'Frank Morrison, veteran secretary, also has a strong following, aa have Daniel Tobin, treasurer; William Green, secretary-treasurer of the United Mine Workers, and James Duncan, first vice president. Outside of the council, should the council decide to name a leader not In its membership, John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Work ers, and George Berry, president of the Printing Pressmen's union Worn as candidates with a great potential following. But even Lewis faces certain handi eape, first, he was beaten once by the Gompers' administration. Again, well defined rumors have It that , Yesterday’s Papers Told About the FIRE 1 • that destroyed a part of the office, but we will be OPEN i' again Monday morn ing, Dec. 18th, with ; everything in shape to t render first-class SERVICE Phone JA. 2872 McKenny Dentists 1324 Farnam S'. 1 :> Death Claims President of Federation of Labor Lewis may get the labor post in the Coolidge cabinet after March 4 . List Incomplete. This list of presidential possibili ties is by no means exhaustive. Any thing may happen, and federation leaders predicted today that almost everything will happen, once that the federation realises it is without the restraint of the hand which has guided it so long. But the selection of a new presi dent is not tlie only question over which a war is looming within the federation; even though immediate it is perhaps not the most important problem. There is the question of future policy. If a "Gompers man",is select ed president, the policies may he ex pected to remain unchanged mater ially for the present. Should a so called "anti-administration'* leader he named, a radical departure from ex isting policies may follow. Bailiff’s Daughter in Omaha on Way to New York Beth Stone, daughter of Frank Slone, bailiff in Judge Leslie's court, is visiting her parents before return ing to her home at New York. Miss Stone, who la known on the stage as the Stone of Stone and Lam bert, a singing and dancing act, has just completed a eireult on the Pa cific coast. She and her partner. Carl Lambert, will leave for the east Sat urday. Gompers Fair and Fearless r. W. McCullough of The Omaha Bee Knew Labor Leader Many Years. b> t. w. McCullough. (T. W. McCullough. chief editorial writ er for Thr Omaha Her, waa a cloae per ■onal friend of Samprl (loanpera anal onlj rerimtlr returned from tin* Amrricaa Fen eration of labor convention at Kl Paao.l X -- My personal acquaintance with Samuel (Jumpers began far back In the paat, when he wa« yet working as a journeyman elgarmaker and I was active as a journeyman printer. It was a friendship from the first, that deepened as years went on. When I last saw him, only a few daya ago at El Paso, we both felt the sadness of what developed Into a final parting. Mr. (Jumpers was then a sick man He had given the last ounce of his physical strength to the convention, which had honored him with unani muus re-election as president of the .American Federation of Labor. He had been advised to abandon the trip to the. City of Mexico. To me he said he felt he must go. Even It he knew It would be his end, yet would he take the journey. That was the outstanding charac terietlc of the man. He thought of himself-last of all. No effort was too much If It were In the line of what he conceived to be his duty. He had gathered about him In the long course of his life many devoted, friends. Nonp of these more sincerely attached to him than Miss R. E. Lee Guard, who was more than a private secretaiy or guardian. Others, Giles. Roberts, Wright, served as secretaries, factotums, agents, stenographers. But it was Miss Guard who looked after details not only of his business, but his per sonal comfort. To get to Gompers. one had to get by Guard. The highest proof of his friendship was given me when he told Miss Guard that at any time I called, no matter what the cir cumstances, I was to be admitted. Without Fear. Sitting In 18 conventions of the American Federation of Labor as a delegate from the International Typo graphical union, serving as chairman or secretary of Its great policy com mittee, the committee on executive council's report, gave me ample op portunity to study the man and his method*. He was without fear and without guile. Once only did I try to get a line on his personal views. He then told me flatly- he wanted an ex pression from me to the convention, regardless of how It affected him. He got it. On two occasions I was called upon to oppose an amendment to the committee report, offered by Delegate Gompera, ami on both I carried my point, much to hla delight. Frequently we consulted, exchang ing views a a to matters that were pending, and aeldom found material difference In our ideas. One of the most accomplished of parliamentari ans, he was absolutely fair. Often a delegate, smarting under defeat or dis appointment at the outcome of a vote, questioned the acts of the chair. Never did one try It twice. At the Denver convention In 1908, when Gompers, Alltchell and Atorrlson were under sentence to jail by Judge Wright, In the Buck stove and range case, President Gompers asked unanimous consent to make a state ment to the convention. There was objection, and the statement was not made. The Interesting fa$t is that th# objection came from a representative of the Aletal Polishers union, on ac count of whose organization Gompers and the others were about to be pun ished. That was the most discourte ous act 1 ever saw in a convention of the American Federation of Labor. Always ‘‘Kept his Head.” Storm often swept over the body of the delegates. Discussions now and then become Intense, but Piesl dent Gompers never was known to lose bis cool control of the gathei ing. Obstreperous delegates now and then had to be sharply called to order, oc casionally reminded of what was due from them to one another and to the chair, but such rebukes were de livered with patience and fairness, and never In passion. Once, at the Philadelphia conven tion In 1914, I turned my back on a delegate who squght to heckle me while I was making the committee’s report. Gompers Void me It was the most superb gesture of contempt he had ever noted. The record shows that that report was adopted without amendment, although it took me the greater part of two days to get It in, and it was the subject of earnest de bate. Mahlon Barnes of the rlgarmakers' delegation was a socialist, and bitter ly opposed to Compere. Yet, at the Rochester convention In 1922, when ' Big Bill’’ Hayward assaulted Barnes in front of the convention hall, It was Gompers who sprsng to the rescue, although It was Jim Holland of New York who knocked Hsyward down and turned him over to the police. Hayward gave the Inquiring report ers a atory from the police station that Gompera and hla gang had tried to assassinate him. Withal, Gompers was modest. For many years he was the busiest man In America. Non* of hla friends but marveled at hla seeming Indifference to physical fatigue, his capacity for work, and his willingness to respond to v>ry demand made upon him. Hia capacity for social enjoyment was as great. How he ever fonud time to sleep I do not know. He met the greatest, and he met the humblest, and did not cringe before the one nor patronize the other. HI* character was many-sided, but crystal clear. A great gap, has been left by his going, one for which there Is no man ready. “.Tim” Duncan, first vice president of the American Federation of Labor, would be the logical man for the aucceaelon, were It not for the fact that he, too. Is a veteran and near to the age when he will feel like laying down the burdena he has borne so long. Matthew Woll, sixth vice president, a young man of great attainments, has been looked upon by some at the nun who might step into the shoes of Sam Compere. Outside of the executive council, the most probable succesor is John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers. Lewis has both capacity and ex perience. "BUI” Hutcheson of the carpenters may also figure, should a special convention be called to name the chief. Remember, though, that since 1881 only one other man ever held the office of president of the American Federation of Labor, and he for only one year, and that was 30 years ago. Then you can under stand how much It was Samuel Gompers' personality that sustained the organization and brought It to Its high development. It will not die because he has gone, but his firm hand at the wheel will be sorely missed. GOMPERS SERVICE IN OMAHA PLANNED A committee to draft resolutions on the death of Samuel Gompers, late president of the American Federation of I^bor, was appointed at a meeting of the Omaha Central Labor union executive committee Saturday. Services In memory of the veteran labor leader will not be discussed be fore the regular meeting Friday, ac cording to Tom Wilson, vice president of the StEte Federation of Labor. “The Omaha labor organization probably will wait for the announce ment of the national program In honor of Gompers," declared Wilson. "I believe there will be ceremonies In his honor hwe." Poincare 111. Paris, Dec. 13.—Raymond Poincare, former premier of France, Is suffer ing from grippe, physicians an nounced today. Hie condition Is not serious. ?! T. L. COMBS | ij! JEWELRY STORE | »;! Since 1S88 J? Our Price#* Are Never | !•• Above Our Qualities 4 .j Always “Esrlleat With th« Latest” !jf jl* 305 5. 16th St. At Farnam f/ PHOENIX f Silk Under Garments ' : The Gift Most Appreciated by Women I ; Women who wear silken under-garments Have I learned “the distinct” satisfaction of tailoring and wear given them in PHOENIX UNDER GARMENTS. And so let us suggest that if you are pondering the question of. “what to give” your wife, mother, sister or daughter, that you come here where all of PHOENIX PRODUCTS • * are shown in a wide assortment and where cour ' teous salesfolk appreciate the importance of gift satisfaction. * # p Bloomers, all silk, $3.95 and $4.15 f Vests, all silk, $2.50 I»RAY tor Women Where Everything of VllOENIX Fame Is Sold * rp p, 1509 Famam IWO Mores: 1908 Famam ■■ . . 4 i labor Chieftain Begins Last Trip Body of Samuel Gompers to Lie in State at National Capitol. <('ontlnuril From Par* On*.) the federation who are not here and to Airs. Gompers at Washington. Gompers went to Mexico City w'lth a delegation of representatives of the American Federation of I.abor fol lowing his re-election as president of the federation at the convention In El Paso, Tex. He attended the Inauguration of President Calles of Mexico and Insist ed on attending a bull fight after wards, though he was experiencing trouble with his breathing In the rarl fled altitude of the Mexican capital and was so weak he had to be sup ported by friends as he left the arena. He lay 111 for three days In ho tel room before the homeward trip was undertaken. During this time, lie was re-elected president of the Pan-American labor unions. ’ Gompers' personal physicians coun spied against hla making the trip by train, advising that he wait until ar rangements could be made for an air plane trip to the United States and the lower altitude which It was hoped would relieve his condition. But he Insisted and was carried on a stretcher aboard the Laredo ex press Wednesday night. After reach ing the lower altitude nearing the border, he gained In strength and hla attendants were hopeful of hla re covery when he was brought to San Antonio and taken to a hotel yester day afternoon. It had been hoped that after a few days* rest he could continue the trip to hla home In New York. Samuel Gompers was born In Eng land, January 27, 1860. He was a cigar maker by trade, and a pioneer advocate of the rights of organized labor, becoming Interested In the trades union Idea when he was but 14. He was one of the founders of the American Federation of Labor in 188# and served continuously as Its presi dent except for one term, that In 1885. He helped develop the Cigar Mak ers’ International union In 1887 and served continuously as an officer of that organization. He was editor of the American Federatlonist and au thor of several pamphlets on labor lussttons and the trades union Biot* ment. * His unceasing activty as a labc» iiamplon brought him national *n4 nternatlonal repute. He was a mem ber of the advisory committee of the rouncll of national defense In the war rears and representative of the A. P. jf Jj. at the peace conference In I’aris ^ n 191S and 1919. At the peace com ;ress he was elected president of the nternatlonal commission on labor eglelation. He also served on several national ndustrlal commissions during the *4 ministrations of President Wilson, President Harding and Prssldsnt Cool Idge. Washington, Dec. 1*.—President Coolldge sent the following message today to Mrs. Samuel GomperB: "It Is with great regret that I hav* heard of your bereavement and 1 want to express to you my deep sympathy In your sorrow. Mr. Comp els, whole life was devoted to the interests of organized labor, until hie name had become almost synonymoua with the cause which he represented. As the founder and head of a great organization, no man has had a wider Influence In the shaping of the policy of the wage earners of the nation and his loss will long be felt by his assoc! itee, not only at home but abroad RracticalGift Things | Christ mas Gtvrag| We have specials in every department. "J Come in and look at our hundreds of fjfit ft practical gift things. Shop more between v — (w ten and four. We can take better care nr * Jr£ TOOL CHESTS What every boy wants and ought to have—a t Tool Chest. All sired sets, at prices to suit everyone. A small set, ;r:.si.58 Many sets with Stanley Tools; fJQ ELECTRIC URN $16.49 Think of it This heavy copper, nickel - plated. Electric Urn, in the fancy paneled loving cup style. Rochester make. Eight-up sixe. 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