Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1908 — ACCUSED BY GOMPERS [ARTICLE]

ACCUSED BY GOMPERS

Labor Loader Charges Van Cleave* Head of the Manufacturers, with Bribery. HI WAS OFFERED A “LUMP SUM” He Sweats, to Betray the Federation of Labor and Unionism. Done by a Go-Between Named Brand* enburg—Also Brings Judge Taft Into the Big Injunction Case. Washington. Sept. 23.— 1 n a twelve by twelve room In the building oecu pled by the American Federation of Labor in this city Samuel Gompers, president of the Federation, Introduced the name of ex-Secretary Taft and made serious charges against W. J. Van Cleave, president of the National Association at Manufacturers. The charges were mnde as a part of Gompers’ testimony in connection with the contempt proceedings. Gompers was at the time under cross-examination at the hands of his attorney, Jackson H. Ralston. His reference to'Taft was substantially that the injunction in the Bucks case was based on opinions delivered by Taft from the bench. Charges Espionage and Bribery. It was in the shadowing and bril>ery matter? that Gompers sprung his sensation. The witness related his experience with detectives and others with thrilling detail. Approaching question i relative to personal espionage upo-i himself he replied: “Men have been suborned to spy on their fellow labor ers.ln shops, factories and mines." said he. ”tp report the proceedings of union meetings, to spy on the personal conduct of workmen after working hours, and to follow from place to place tabor leaders visiting other cities their homes.”

Meeting Arranged with Van Cleave. After •giving the details of Lis own pursuit by detectives, Gompers told of being approached in New York by a man named Bioughton Brandenburg, who. he said, had attempted hi 1907 to bribe him in the interest of Van Cleave. He stated that when Brandenburg first spoke to him, he was leaving the Victoria hotel, and tried to arrange a conference between Gompers and Van Cleave, but none was arranged at that time. Later, one was arranged to take place at New York. Brandenburg’s Proposition. When he met Brandenburg, however. Van Cleave was not present, and the former, after going to the telephone to call up Van Cleave, Bald the latter had left town. He showed Gompers. however, letter heads of the Manufacturers’ association and checks signed by Van Cleave made payable to Brandenburg, and then proceeded to propose that Gompers should turn traitor to the Federation. tell all its secrets and go in with the manufacturers against the unions, for which “I would be given a good lump sum,” said Gompers, who added that he told Brandenburg that he would consider bis proposition, but of course with no intention of accepting the same. , “Taken Care of for Life.” The proposition of Brandenburg, Gompers said, included an arrangement for Gompers to deliver lectures, anil provided that Gompers should be tak en care of for life; guaranteed $5,000 a year. Van Cleave to make up any deficit In that salary. Rradenburg said that the manufacturers’ organ, “American Industries,” bad prepared a roast for all the labor leaders, but If Gompers would sell himself he would be left out of the- roast. Gompers added that when the organ came out he was “roasted" to a turn.

VAN CLEAVE’S REJOINDER Says the W hole Story Is False, Including About the Espionage. Davenport said Gompers’ narration was “scandalous” and that he would move that it be stricken from the record as irrelevant, Gompers having said nothing of the matter while on the stand in the injunction proceedings. Van Cleave is in the city, having come here to have a conference with Daniel Davenport and James M. Baker, counsel for the Bucks Stove anil Range company, and he at once gave out a statement In reply, to Gompers. Van Cleave said; “I have never employed detectives, or Intermediaries to shadow Mr. Gompers or any other official of the American Federation of Labor. Neither have I ever offered him a bribe of any kind, nor have I ever had any connection with the men he claims that shadowed him and offered him a bribe. Every reference made therein to me or action on my part is false, and I believe that Mr ompers know It to be a lie when he made the statementts. He seem sto be trying to make a cheap martyr of himself. I never fapve and never will employ any methods that are not straight, square and above board In ray dealings with organized labor. I make this statement without •equivocation.” ?,■», St. Louis, Sept 25.—F. C. Schwedfman, secretary of President Van Cleave, says: “Not a secret meeting of the executive board of the National Manufacturers’ association has been bald that I have not attended. I can ■ay with fall authority that the charges' made in the testimony of M!r. Gompers 1 •re false.”