New-York tribune., 1907-11-21
GOMPERS SAYS BRIBERY
Charges attempt an 4n$7cer'ng
Manufacturers association.

Norfolk. Va. Nov 2o-President Gompers in the
course Of an hours speech in the convention Of the
American Federation Labor this afternoon re-
piied 10 the charges brought against him by the
National Association Of Manufacturers He closed
with these words:
There is not a scntlla Of truth in anything pub
Nshed which can be published pE me - tit
Aesocia tion of Manufacturers its hirelings Whlch
a,tH III amy gr 6s Sonesy Of mEsef and have the abid
ing that they cannot be 50 OF any Inelnpt ~
OF Labor. defy our enemies to do their worst
Then Nr. Gompers told of an alleged attempt TO
hribe him NJ the Hotel Victoria. New YORK IN
October nv a young newspaper man giving ms
name rs Charles BTandenburg. The latter Pr@si-
dent Gompers said. had declared that he represent
Cd the National Manufacturers Association ana
was prepared offer him immunity from All eA-
rosll~e and make him financially secure for the
remainder Of his life If he would sign certain
raper and otherwise aid I'm the exposure of the
other lea ders of the American Federation of Labor
with view to virtually destroying the influence Of
organized labor.
10 have been signed when he (GOmpers) was Ill IN
1885. This paper M Gompers said. lie had pre-
served and he then drew forth what he said was
the original document and read it.
Mr.. Gompers called upon different delegates who,
he said were with him at interviews with Branden-
burg to verify his statements. This the delegates,
rising in their seats. did
At the close Of President Gompers's speech there
was a great demonstration Victor l. Berger.
Of Milwaukee. the sociaIistic opponent of Mr..
Compers declaring that he would move TO make
his reelection unanimous. with a vote Of conf
dence only him hut TO all the officers Of the
American Federation of Labor
A motion offered by ". y. Ryan. Of Springfield.
III reporting that the Illinois mine workers had
voted confidence in Mr.. Gompers and denouncing
the Manufacturers Association received imme-
diate consideration and was adopted enthusiastic
cally.
After long consideration of the fight over juris-
diction between the International Longshoremen
and the international Seamen. the federation adopt
ed a resolution providing that the loneshoremen
shall be known by the federation only the In
ternational Longshoremen's Association. with the
remainder Of the name Marine and Transport
Workers adopted by the longshoremen. omitted.
Many locals Of various trades in New York af1li-
ated with unrecognized bodies directed 10 aff
tate at once with the Brooklyn Central Labor
Union.
The convention recommended, in view Of the or
ganization of employers association and 'cti-
gems alliances that no employers of labor be ad-
mitted TO membership in any city, state, national
or international union
Brougfton Brandenburg president of the Ma
tional Institute Of Immigration and magazine
writer. said last night that he the
ferred 10 by Mr. Gompers when the latter. the
American Federation of Labor convention in Nor
folk yesterday, declared that Charles Branden-
burg newspaper man, attempted brbe him
TO take part in exposure Of other federation
leaders In dictated statement MI Brandenburg
emphaticaIly denied that he had attempted bribe
Mr. GOnpers He also stated that he had
nection with the National Manufacturers Associs-
tion, and that his dealings with Mr. Gompers we're
solely in the interests Of a publication which he
represented He himself, he said, had been the in
tended victim Of plot that failed. He declared
that Mr. Gompers's statement was effort to
forestan the effect of what he knew was about to
be published. His statement in part, follows:
I have been collecting for a magazine data on the
SondleII OF me American Federation of Labor by
officers since its organization The material has
lion when It is disclosed. Mr.. Gompers has made
effort to foresta this For months and my
men have been tracked by spies. and Mr.. Gompers
felt sure that had suffciency of material to
make serious case
The statement continues that a man visited Mr.
BranGe u17;irg IT the Hotel Victoria where he
stopping, and attempted to buy him off. The offer
he declined, he says. as he had declined other
koners Of similar nature since he began his in
/vestigations." The caller SAID ne was open to a
counter proposition. This man, Mr. Brandenburg
says. offered to assist him in the work he was
doing The statement continues:
told him l was about 10 leave for the South
and that would communicate with him
] had anything to say. Various communications
Mr.. Gompers came 10 New York 10 meet me. We
] am not connected in any way with the National
Manufactures Association but his proposition
the parties who are principally interested. James
". Na leave. president of the Manufacturers
Association in the city at that time. at the
Waldorf, but did not know it. While Mr.. Com
peTs and were conducting discussions and / was
endeavoring get legal counsel my in the
Hotel Victoria found that there plot laid
for Sunday. the 9th This trap I success
fully evaded, and called all negotiations with Nir
(iompers off before the matter was put be
fore The officers Of the Manufacturers Association
Mr. Goniper5 wished 70 know what ! had secured
in the way Of material in the South, and in order
mislead him I gave him "A fictitious typeWTit-
ten page. incomplete and unsigned. This is the
paper which ne has read dramatically. l
friend labor unionisn and want TO the mem
hers Of honest labor IN the control of honest lead
Mr.. Ciompers has foOlishly pTecipitated a
storm on the heads Of himself and his friends. /
shall have more 10 say tomorrow