The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-25
Van CIeave's Connections.

The fact that James w Van Cleave
was connected with the suit against the
federation officials, and with the Buck
Stove and Range company, with the Stove
Founders association and with the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers of
the last of which he is president was
then brought out. The witness was then
asked:
rs the same Mr.. Van Cleave, the one
who recently attained prominence by rea-
son of an attack on one of the presiden-
tial candidates.?
Mr.. Gompers replied in the affirmative,
but before his words could be noted Mr..
Davenport protested.
Il object to the question as immaterial.
irrelevant and impertinent and will ask
the court to strike it out" he said.
Mr.. Ralston led the witness to relate
the fact that there is a decided conflict
between the National Manufacturers as
ISOLATION and the Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Gompers told of the fight made by
the Manufacturers association, led by Mr..
Van Cleave, to prevent labor Legislation,
and he read contributions by Mr. Van
Cleave to American Industries. the organ
of that association In confirmation of
his statement Mr.. Gompers also told of
the appearance of Mr.. Van Cleave be-
fore the national republican convention
at Chicago, and said that his purpose
there was to prevent the Incorporation Of
a labor plank in the republican plat
form.
Mr.. Gompers said that it was in re-
Spouse to the appeal of the manufactur-
ers, by Mr.. Van Cleave, that the labor
plank had been thrown out.
Hostility of Association.
do you know the attitude of the Ma
tional Manufacturers association towards
the attitude of President Roosevelt in
favor of modification of the ani-injunc-
ton 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 opposed the
Presidents position. but Mr.. Gompers
explained that the federations antagonism
Was only TO the method proposed, while
the association of manufacturers opposed
any change.
Mr. Van Cleave was quoted as having
said in the organ of his association that
there had been an effort lin the interest
of labor to obtain criminal Legislation? %
and Mr.. Gompers characterized the state
ment "as a willful perversion of truth
on the part of Mr.. Van Cleave."
What" asked Mr.. Ralston, as the
attitude of the Manufacturers associa-
ton toward the injunction planks of the
two political parties?'
Mr.. Gompers replied:
1.-The attitude of that Nassocia ton, as
represented by Mr.. Van Cleave is hos
tile to the anti-injunction declarations on
the part of the democratic party 81 Dem
yer and one of entire accord with the
declarations made by the republican
party a. Chicago"
Mr.. Ralston then quoted from Judge
Taft's speech in accepting the republican
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
Taft's opinions in his injunction decree"
The witness declared that a systematic
effort had been inaugurated to destroy
organized labor. lie said that Mr. Van
Cleave had undertaken TO raise fund Of
81 100000, which was with that end in
view, Notwithstanding Mr.. Van Cleave
had said it was for educational pur-
poses.