The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-20
BRIBERY CHARGE
HEARD BY COURT
State Federation of Labor Lis.
tens to Testimony in keII.
ington.Rogan Contest

For nearly nine hours yesterday the ex-
ecutive board of the state Federation Of
Labor sat as a court and jury in the
Kellington-Rogan controversy and about
10 o'clock adjourned for refreshments and
an opportunity to consider the evidence.
A. E. Kellington, president of the Trades
and Labor assembly of Minneapolis, sec
rotary of the international organization Of
flour millworkers, charged that on the eve
of his departure for San Francisco as del
egate to the national convention Of the
American Federation of Labor, John Ro-
gan, business agent of the Minneapolis
plumbers organization came to his house
and offered him a bride of $1,000 if, as
delegate to the convention Wellington
would use his influence to have the boy
colt on the WaShburn- Crosby Milling COM
panyS products removed.
Charge Was Denied
Rogan insisted he did no such thing
end the matter had been the subject of so
much acrimonious discussion among the
members of organized labor in Minneapolis
that it was determined to have a thorough
investigation by the state board, and five
members were in session at Alexander S
hall yesterday.
The men who We're the judges and jury
were Chairman Thomas Van Lear and i.
+. Jordan of Minneapolis; L. +. Thomas
and c. W. Douglas of St Paul and M. o.
Saltz of Winona. The proceedings were
conducted with legal formality and each
Kellington, the accuser, was represent
ed by John Durker; G.. 3. Howley, preSi-
dent of the Building Trades council and
Rogan was defended by John O'Donnell
ex-labor. commissioner; Hugh Jennings
and Michael E. Nearly, president OF the
state fedora ton.
The examination developed there was
considerable feeling between Wellington
and ROgan and the case simmered itself
down to question Of veracity between
two men.
Rogan admitted going to Kellington's
house on the night of Nov. when KEEL
lington started for San Francisco. KEEL
lington says he made tender of money to
him, but Rogan explains his visit-the
first and last he ever paid to the house
by saying he called to enlist his influence
in the settlement of the trouble between
the national organization of steam filters
and plumbers.
The conference was continued at sa-
loon on Third street and there were no
witnesses. Three members OF KEELING
tons family who were at the station to
speed him on his way to the coast say
ed a bride of $1,000 if he would have the
boycott lifted. AT that time they say he
refused to name the man.
Charges Are Repeated
1t was brought out that early last
month Wellington made the statement
publicly and repeated II in Rogan's pres
ence. 1t was alleged that his reasons for
doing so We're that the state board of
which Rogan was member had adopted
resolution asking the national council
to investigate the Washburn Crosby boy
colt and to determine whether 1t should
have the sanction of Organization.
Kellington asserted he considered this
resolution or request as detrimental to
the interests of the order he represented"
and held Rogan responsible for IT. This
was denied by other members of the
board.
On Feb. 6. 1905, there was an alteration
In Kellington's office and it was
claimed by Kellington that in the pres
ence of witnesses Rogan denied he had
ever visited his house. Other witnesses
were not positive regarding the CONVERSE
tion.
There was a little breeze when Mr.
ODonnell called p, F. Jordan one of the
members of the state board and a member
or the court, to testify as to what occurred
at the meeting in Kellington's Office, for
Jordan was present. Chairman Van Lear
sustained an objection on the part of
kellington's representatives TO permitting
a member OF the court to testify and the
defense did not make an appeal
Dozens OF witnesses were heard, but
none other than Wellington and Rogan
could testify as to the interview at KEEL
lington's house and here their stories were
Numerically opposed to each other.
Unlike attorneys at law, the solicitors
Tor the two men We're so tired out after
the long session that they did not hesitate
TO rest their cases without argument and
the members of the court and stenogra-
pher left the hall for refreshments and for
the purpose Of discussing the evidence
after dining.
given TO the case the attendance at the
hearing was much less than had been ex-
pected, but the hall was well filed at
times.