Broken Health

Last week the able correspondent, Clinton W. Gilbert, penned these words:

"When Samuel Gompers made a report to the Executive Council of his Federation of Labor in favor of indorsing LaFollette and Wheeler he ceased to be the leading figure in the American labor movement, or, rather, by his own act he recognized that that leadership had passed from him to. others. He was trailing after Johnston of the Machinists, Stone of the Engineers' Brotherhood, Hillman of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers and several others who were quicker than he had been to see how the bloc tendency in American politics suited the purposes of organized Labor. It was they --not Gompers--who had made Labor the factor it was in the Congressional election of 1922. And they carried the bulk of organized Labor along with them when the bloc put up its candidate for President this year. Gompers had little choice but to follow. The significance of it is that the American labor movement has entered upon a new phase and that Gompers' day is past. He is old, broken in health and his power will not long survive the passing of leadership into other hands."

Whether Mr. Gompers' health is the all-powerful factor in the situation is a question. The venerable leader, it is true, has not been well for some time and is at present far from well. Instead of Mr. Gompers frequently appearing before newspaper men as formerly, now there usually appears another who may speak for Mr. Gompers or for others who have superseded the old leader in the real exercise of the Federation's power. In his few appearances before the press the fact of his illness, his unsteady step, an unwonted hesitation of manner were evident.

But whether or not Mr. Gompers is still the power of the Labor movement, he is still its figurehead. To him last week were credited the words of the Federation, in what may be railed a posthumous account of a controversy. This related to an attempt by John W. Davis to secure the endorsement of the Federation or at least to forestall the endorsement of LaFollette and Wheeler. Needless to say, the effort was unsuccessful.

William B. Wilson, a member of the Democratic National Committee, one-time member of the Executive Board of the United Mine Workers and one-time Secretary of Labor, wrote to Mr. Gompers on Mr. Davis's behalf. He declared that Mr. Davis deserved Labor's support because:

1) As a lawyer in West Virginia, he had volunteered to defend miners arrested during strike troubles:

2) As a member of Congress, he had written several sections of the Clayton Anti-Trust Law;

3) As Solicitor General, he had successfully defended the Adamson 8-Hour-Day-Law for the railways, thus preventing a strike.

In conclusion, Mr. Wilson suggested that the Executive Council of the Federation, or some representative of the Council, go to Clarksburg, W. Va., and hear Mr. Davis's speech of acceptance before endorsing any candidate.

Mr. Gompers replied to Mr. Wilson after the Council had endorsed Messrs. LaFollette and Wheeler, and had opposed both Republican and Democratic tickets and platforms. He did not reply to Mr. Wilson's first point. Of the second (in regard to the Clayton Act) he wrote: "We are likewise fully informed as to all who rendered valuable services in that legislation. We must dissent from the conclusions related by you." In reply to the third point, he said: "It was the machinery of the movement, and not the Supreme Court and Mr. Davis, which prevented the strike." As for the request to visit Clarksburg before coming to a decision, Mr. Gompers felt that it was "utterly impossible and inconceivable."

Incidentally, in this letter Mr. Gompers let it be known that he had received in July a request for a personal conference with Mr. Davis, but that, after several exchanges of letters, other matters had prevented the meeting.

To all this Mr. Wilson replied with another letter, reviewing Mr. Davis's labor record at even greater length and saying:

So far as Senator LaFollette's labor record dealing with domestic affairs is concerned, he is entitled to a clean bill of health at the hands of the American labor movement, but, as you point out in your own statement, that does not apply to his attitude on foreign relations.

The record maintained by the American Federation of Labor shows that during Mr. Davis's Congressional career he never voted in a single instance unfavorably to Labor. Consequently, I have felt that he also was entitled to a clean bill of health in the matter of domestic policies; and, as his attitude concerning foreign relations is in accord with that of the American Federation of Labor, Mi. Davis is entitled to the endorsement of Labor on that question also.

To this Mr. Gompers again replied, elaborating on his 'denial that Mr. Davis should receive credit for points 2) and 3). He closed by giving Mr. LaFollette another boost:

"As for international policies, should such good fortune come to the American people as the election of Robert M. LaFollette to the Presidency, . have as much confidence in him as in any other candidate for the Presidency to grasp the situation in establishing and maintaining international good-will."

Doubtless the clear partisanship of the Federation for LaFollette and Wheeler came as rather an unpleasant surprise to Mr. Davis. The Federation had labelled Davis as "unacceptable" and had let it go at that. The Federation, to make it clear that it was not playing favorites between Republicans and Democrats, had attacked General Dawes for his "consistent anti-union activity." Said the organization, through its spokesman (not Mr. Gompers but its Vice President, Matthew Woll*) : "General Dawes has said that Samuel Gompers and other Trade Union officials are more concerned about the right of Union men to assault and murder peaceful citizens than about upholding the law of the land. No one has made a more vicious and unwarranted declaration than that."

Nevertheless, by its firm endorsement of LaFollette, by its equally firm repudiation of Davis and Bryan as well as of Coolidge and Dawes, it has joined one political party more forcefully and more fully than it has ever 'done in the past. This stand presages the retirement from the foreground of Samuel Gompers, who for years has fought to keep the Federation out of politics. Formally, the Federation maintains its usual stand. Formally, Samuel Gompers retains his leadership. Actually

*Matthew Woll, President of the International Photo-Engravers' Union, is an .intimate of Mr. Gompers. As a lawyer, he has been closely associated with every major litigation of the A. F. of L. in recent years. Smooth shaven, thick-haired, round-faced, Woll J-- a fluent talker.