Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-21
Head of the A. F. of L. Replies
to Certain Charges.
OVATION FROM DELEGATES
Feature Of the Big Convention Down
at Jamestown.
MIR. BRANDENBURG'S DENIAL
Manufacturers Association Handled
Without Gloves-More Vigor-
GUS Talk Today.

NORFOLK, Va, November 21.-At the
opening Of today's session Of the American
Federation of Labor President Gompers,
with Vice President O'Connell in the
chair. arose to a question, of personal
privilege to reply to the denial sent out
from New York last night by Broughton
Brandenburg, who, declaring that he was
the man referred to by President Gompers
in the latter's charges of an attempt to
bribe Gompers, denied that he made any
such attempt to bribe. and also that he
had any connection with the National
Association of Manufacturers. President
Gompers said in part:
Il want to call your attention to the
fact that If Bfandenburg desired only to
consult me about a publication, why was
it necessary for him then to so persist
emily urge me to see him in private?
Why was 1t necessary for him to assume
a false name! Why so much secrecy?
Why was 1t necessary for him, in his
letter to me urging that 1 come at once
to New York, to use the language he did,
saying it was necessary for me to come
at once as Matters are coming to a
critical crisis!' Why could there have
been such critical crisis between two
men who had only passing acquaintance
II only public action was involved? If
there was no attempt to bribe. upon what
other basis did he hope that was going
to abandon my life's work."
Gompers Reiterates Charge.
"Alf the circumstances. link by link,
show Brandenburg came to me as a rep
resentative Of the National Manufacture
ers' Association. even disregarding the
statement that he himself told me directly
that he represented this association,
whose purpose was to attack. and de-
stroy and bribe the men of labor in order
to strike at the organizations thems elves.
why was it necessary for him to re-
assure me that he represented the Manu-
facturers' Association, coming to me with
warrants Issued and signed by the Cen
tional Manufacturer Association, the
marks Of the latter appearing in no less
than two instances on the warrants pre-
sented? The initials in one instance and
the full name of the Manufacturers As
soctation spelled out in the other. These
warrants were eight inches long and four
or five inches wide, such as are used in
ordinary business houses to safeguard
their money transactions
Immediately after my speech yester-
day I was informed by Delegate Jerome
Jones that about the time 1 told of hav-
ing received letters from Brandenburg
urging that I go to Edgeheld. S. c., for
a conference, Delegate Jones saw Mr.
al SicdVc, the PRESIDENT OF Cne Manu-
facturers' Association. and another man,
in close proximity to Edgefield. I am
willing to stand before delegates, the
rank and file of labor. and the general
public for them to judge the meaning of
this mans great secretiveness, the mys-
terry which he threw around the whole
affair. and the documents produced by
me. The key to 1t all Is that l de-
clined to act as he wanted me to act"
A great ovation to Mr.. Gompers fol-
lowed.
Gompers Defes His Enemies.
President Gompers yesterday afternoon
delivered the speech replying to the
charges brought against him by the Man
ufacturers' Association, which he had
been expected to make since the opening
Of the convention. The speech covered
forty pages of typewriter copy, and was
an expose" from the viewpoint of Presi-
dent Gompers ''of the National Associa-
ton Of Manufacturers and its ramiica-
President Gompers took up and an
swered in detail the charges brought
against him. and closed an impassioned
speech with these words:
"AlI that I now have to add is that
there is not scintilIa of truth in any
thing published or which can be published
by the National Association of Manufac-
turers or their hirelings which in any
way can reflect upon the integrity. the
morality or the honesty of myself, and
have the abiding faith they cannot be
SO of any member of the executive coun-
Gil of the American Federation of Labor
l defy our enemies to do their worst"
president Gompers was at times caustic,
and the speech. which consumed more
tnan an hour in delivery. was filled with
structures on the Manufacturers Associa-
ton and its alleged agents
President GomperS told of an alleged at
f0v, I~-t1 l.
New York. in October bya young man,
who he said declared that he represented
the National Manufacturers Association
and was prepared to offer him immunity
from all exposure and make him finan-
cially secure for the remainder of his
life If he would sign a certain paper and
otherwise aid in the exposure of the
other leaders in the American Federation
Of Labor, with the view to virtually de-
stroying the influence of organized la
bor.''
The paper, President Gompers said. was
to purport to have been signed when he
(Gompers) was i'll in 1895. This paper,
Mr.. Gompers said he had preserved and
While deathlike stiffness prevailed in the
convention President Gompers drew forth
the document and read it. Mr.. Gompers
during his recital of thealleged attempt
at bribery called upon different delegates
present who were with him at times in
interviews with the man to verify his
statements. This the delegates, rising in
their seats, did.
At the close Of President Gompers'
speech there was great demonstration,
even Victor l. Berger Of Milwaukee, the
socialist opponent Of Mr.. Gompers de
claring that although he had at the con-
vention bitterly opposed the reelection of
President Gompers he would be the one
this year to move to make his election
unanimous. with vote of confidence not
only to President Gompers. but to all the
officers of the American Federation of La
Dor. This" declared Mr.. Berger, ''is the
answer of the socialists to the Manufac-
turers' Association" A motion offered by
w. D. Ryan of Springfield, ILL.,, reporting
that the Illinois mine workers had voted
confidence in Gompers and denouncing the
Manufacturers Association received i'm
mediate consideration and was adopted
amid excitement.
Ordered Before Medical Board.
Lieut.. Col. George p Scriyen. Signal