Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-25
DRAG POLITICS
INTO GOMPERS
COURT HEARING
HEAD OF A. F. OF L. BLAMES TAFT
FOR BEING CHARGED WITH
CONTEMPT.
VAN CLEAVE HELD AS TARGET.
Witness Declares Manufacturers Asso-
citation Eas Fought Roosevelt Over
Anti-IDjunction Law.
IS HOSTILE TO DEMOCRATS, TOO.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept. 24.-
National politics were injected into to-
days proceedings III the contempt case
against President Gompers and other
American Federation Of Labor officials
growing out of the alleged boycott of the
Bucks Stove and Range cOmpany's prod
ucts and the federatiOn's subsequent at
titude The eros seXamination of Presi-
dent Gompers was begun by Attorney
RalstOu, counsel for the federation. and
led into a lively collOquy in which the
National Manufacturers association, Of
which James W. Van Cleaye is presI-
dent. Mr.. Van Cieaves presence at the
Republican national convention ana
Judge Taft's attitude toward injunctons
were discussed. Mr.. RalstOn's questions
were in support of his theory of an or
Sanized effort to destroy organized Ia
Dor.
Mr.. Gompers said he had nothing to
20 with the circulation Of the Federation
list for January, 1908, as charged.
so far as you know" he was asked,
has there been any distribution Of the
we can't patroniZe list including the
Bucks Stove and Range company, since
December %, 1907, when the injunction
decree was issued"
Has Not Violated Order.
Mr. Gompers replied III the negative
and added that not since issuance of the
decree had he made any effort to have II
disObeyed.
Have you consciously violated the in
Junction." he was asked.
Il have not"
The fact that James w. Van Cleave
was connected with the suit against the
federation officials and with the Bucks
Stove and Range company, with the
Stove Founders association and with
the National Association of Manufac-
turers, Of the last Of which he is presi-
dent. was then brought out. The wit
ness was then asked:
rs this the same Mr.. Van Cleave the
one who recently attained prominence
by reason Of an attack on one Of the
presidential candidates?'
Mr.. GOmpers replied in the affirmative.
but before his words could be noted
Mr.. Davenport protested.
L object to the question as inmate
rial, irrelevant and impertinent and will
ask the court to strike it OUT he said.
Van Cleave at Chicago.
Mr.. Ralston led the witness to relate
the fact that there is decided conflict
between the National Manufacturers as
L .
Mr.. Gompers told of the fight made by
the Manufacturers association led by
Mr.. Van Cleave to prevent lebor legisla-
ton and he read contributions by Mr.
Van Cleave Ito American Industries,
the organ of that association in confirma-
ton of his statement. Mr.. Gompers also
told Of the appearance Of Mr.. Van
Cleave before the national Republican
convention at Chicago and said that his
purpose there was to prevent the lncor-
poratiOn of a labor plank in the Repub-
Gcan platform.
Mr.. Gompers said that it was in re-
Spouse to the appeal Of the manufac-
turers. headed by Mr.. Van CIeave, that
the labor plank had been thrown out.
DO you know the attitude of the
National Manufacturers association
towards the attitude of President Roose-
welt i'll favor of modification of the
anti-injunction law" asked Mr.. Ralston,
and Mr.. Gompers promptly announced:
1T is one of hostility"
Mr.. Davenport sought TO bring out the
fact that the federation also opposes the
Presidents position, but Mr.. Gompers
explained that the federation's antago-
nism was only to the method proposed
while thy association of manufacturers
opposed any change.
Calls Van Cleave Untruthful.
Mr. Van Cleave was quoting as having
said in the organ of his association that
there had been an effort in the interest
of labor to obtain criminal legislation, y
and Mr.. Gompers characterized the state
ment "as a willful perversion of truth
on the part of Mr.. Van Cleave."
What" asked Mr.. Ralston, lis the
attitude of the Manufacturers associa-
ton toward the injunction planks of the
two political partiesT'
Mr.. Gompers replied
The attitude of that association, as
represented by Mr.. Van CIeave, is hos
tile to the anti-injuction declarations on
the part Of the Democratic party at
Denver. and one of entire accord with
the declarations made by the Republican
party at Chicago"
Places Blame on Taft.
Mr. Ralston then quoted from Judge
Taft's speech in accepting the Republic
an nomination for the presidency.
rs it in reliance upon Judge Taft's
decisions that you are here today?"
1T is: Judge Gould quotes from Judge