In the past 70 years, there have been 13 Presidents of the U.S., six rulers of Britain, five Popes, 54 Premiers of France but only three presidents of the American Federation of Labor.* The third, William Green, died last week at 82.
In 1924, when A.F.L. Founder Samuel Gompers died, aged 74, after 38 years in the federation's presidency, his heir-expectant was Matthew Woll of the Engravers' Union. But wing-collared Matt Woll was too hidebound a craft unionist for John L. Lewis, then as now president of the United Mine Workers. Lewis knew...
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