Topic 43
 MAKING PEACE WITH GOMPERS

ALL the world knows that soon after the East St.  Louis race riots, Colonel Roosevelt and Samuel Gompers all but came to blows on the stage of Carnegie Hall, New York.  Few, however, knew that at the time of Roosevelt's death he and Gompers were friends.

They shook hands, so to speak, on the question of Americanism, Colonel Roosevelt making the advances.

The peacemaking came about in this way.  Gompers, at the American Federation of Labor Convention of 1917 in Buffalo, faced the fight of his life with pro-Germans and pacifists within the labor movement who hoped to put the Federation on record as opposing the War and the national programme for prosecuting it to a successful finish.  Days before the convention met, "S.O.S." calls were flashing to all who might help hold the fort.  Among those who responded, it will be recalled, was President Wilson, but even after his visit, the situation was tense up to the moment the convention adjourned.

More than that, adjournment left all hands with a realizing sense that, however emphatic the defeat of the anti-war group had been, it was still an element of great potential danger, and that the situation was anything but pleasant from the standpoint of one hundred per cent Americanism.  This I sought to make clear in a long report I submitted to Colonel Roosevelt at his request, accompanying it with an oral explanation.

"Gompers," I told the Colonel, "has his back to the wall.  He may need help, and need it badly, at any time."
"But," said he, "he has been playing Wilson's game."

" I know that," I replied, " but just now he's playing our game, the one hundred per cent American game.  And he may need help."

"What can I do to help?" he asked.

"Not a thing now," I replied, "but the time may come later when you can help."

"Very well.  Does Gompers know you were to take this matter up with me? Have you discussed this matter with him?"

I replied that I had not.

"There was nothing I could say," I replied, "and no occasion for me to say anything, anyway."

"All right," said the Colonel.  "As you say, Gompers is playing a straight American game.  In that he should have every help.  I do not take back any word I have ever said about him, and I don't care whether he takes back anything he has said about me or not.  We can agree and do agree on Americanism.

"Now, you go to him and say to him for me that if there is anything I can say or do to help him in this fight, to let me know, and I will do it.  Make it clear to him that you have told me the kind of fight that is being made on him because of his Americanism, and say to him that whatever differences we may have had in the past or may have in the future, I am with him in this fight.  It won't embarrass you to do that?"
"Not at all," said I.  "It is what I expected."

"All right, go ahead.  Now, make it clear to Gompers that it is not going to be necessary for him to come to me or to write to me.  You can see where that might be impossible, might embarrass him.  If he wishes to come, all right, let him come; but if he prefers, let him send any message he wishes through you or somebody else we both know and I will attend to the matter."
It was ten days before I had an opportunity to deliver my message to Gompers.  When I did deliver it, he was as pleased a man as I have ever seen.

"Did Mr.  Roosevelt really say that?" he interrupted, when I had given him but part of the message.  "He certainly did," I replied.  "Furthermore, when you want him, write direct if you wish, or, if you prefer, send for me and I will arrange a meeting.  If that is not advisable, send some one else the Colonel knows, or you may, if you wish, send any message through me.  These are the Colonel's instructions — he wants you to feel free to call on him for any help he may be able to give."

"That certainly is very fine of the old man," said Gompers.  "You may go to him and tell him for me that I thank him from the bottom of my heart, that I do appreciate his offer and why it is made and that I shall not forget his offer if the occasion requires.  Is it all right to tell this to Perham?"

Perham (H.  B.), a vice-president of the A.  F.  of L.  and chief of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, was standing near.  I saw no reason why he and others in Gompers's confidence should not be told, and said so.

"The men on whom you rely to help you make your fight should know," I said.  "The Colonel said nothing about secrecy, and would, I think, prefer that they should know."

"Henry," called Gompers to Perham, "this young man has just given me a most pleasing message.  Colonel Roosevelt offers any help he may be able to give in fighting these scoundrels; we're to call on him any time.  Is n't that fine?" Perham, slow of speech, agreed that it was, adding:

"But why should n't he? — you are both in the same fight."

"Yes, Henry," said Gompers, "but you must remember Roosevelt and I have not been very friendly.  You must know that men — and I include the big ones — do not always do exactly what they should do."

So ended the Gompers Roosevelt feud — if feud it could be called.