LABOR: Broken Health

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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 Gompers or for others who have superseded the old leader in the real exercise of the Federation's power.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.