Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1920 — MAY RETIRE FROM A. F. OF L. [ARTICLE]

MAY RETIRE FROM A. F. OF L.

PRESIDENT COMPERS OUT OF HARMONY, WILL VOTE ON GOV'T OWNERSHIP. Montreal, June 17.—The American Federation of Labor’s indorsement today of government ownership of railroads at its annual convention here was said by labor leaders tonight to have been the first genuine defeat Samuel Gompers has suffered in years. The final vote was 29,059 for government ownership, and 8,849 against. . The decisiye vote, it is reported, prompted the labor chief to state before the convention that he “was not quite sure” he would be a candidate for re-election. Mr. Gompers fought hard against the convention’s action, saying it was a step toward the “enslavement of the workers as government employes,” who, he said, had been denied many political and economic rights under the- past administrations. He received only mild applause. The United Mine Workers and the powerful railroad organizations combined against Gompers, supported by the machinists and the metal trades. The carpenters and the building trades section stood by Gompers. Council la Embarrassed. By the vote the executive council, whose members supported Mr. Gompers, must take steps to bring about government ownership or resign, it was stated. Supporters of Mr. Gompers said tonight that they would urge him to stand for re-election for the thirtyninth time. Despite the protest of Mr. Gompers, the convention increased his salary as president from SIO,OOO to $12,000 a year. In making an apSeal not to give him an increase Er. Gompers said that SIO,OOO is all sufficient for a man in the ordinary ~ modes of life to satisfy him and his needs.” The salary of Secretary Frank Morrison was increased from $7,500 to SIO,OOO a year. Organizers wages were increased from S4B .to S6O .per week and their traveling allowance from $6 to $8 per day. This was declared necessary owing to the high cost of living. The convention called upon Congress to enact “necessary legislation to establish the United States employment service as a permanent bureau in the Department of Labor with ample appropriations.’ . The federation adopted a decision that the “rights of free speech and free press and assembly are inalienable ones and are beyond the power of any judge, legislative body or administration official to qualify, modify, abrogate or suspend.