Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
TOO POOR TO BR|BE.
Gompers Gives Denial to
Charge of Brandenburg.
TIME AND MEANS BOTH BAR
Identifies Accuser as Same Man in
Cleveland Letter Forgery Scandal.
URGED TO VISIT EDGEFIELD
Witness Furnishes Communication
Telling Him of Good Reasons
to Take a Vacation.
URGED TO VISIT EDGEFIELD

On his recross-examination in contempt
proceedings against him. Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation Of
Labor. was questioned yesterday by Attor-
ney Ralston concerning a statement made
in New York by Broughton Brandenbuurg
to the effect that Gompers had made an
effort to bride him, instead of his trying
to bride Gompers.
Il did not try to bride him." said Comp
ers. 1T was a physical impossibility
both to time and means"
He also said. in response to another
question, that the Brandenburg who had
sought to bride him in the interest of
Mr.. Van Cleave was in the language of
Ralston, 1.-The same man who is charged
in certain New York newspapers of this
morning by the executor Of the estate of
the late Grover Cleveland with having
manufactured letter from that gentle
man, and which had been used as an at
tack upon Bryan and an Endorsement OF
Taft"
"Brandenburg Same Man."
He is the same person." said Gompers,
replying to Ralston's question.
Gompers again asserted that Branden-
burg had first accosted him and had first
sought an interview with him.
He introduced the following from Bran
denburg as confrmatory of his testimony:
referring to the incompleted conversa-
ton with the gentleman at the Victoria,
he begs to say, in passing through Wash
ington that reasons Of the utmost expedi
ency, which cannot be discussed here,
exist for your coming alone for a day or
two of recreation to Edgefleld, S. c.,
where this gentleman, alone. will expect
your arrival at some time within the next
ten days.
Again he begs to say that nothing you
could possibly do would have more sat
isfactory result for all concerned. The
hunting and fishing in that vicinity are
fine
Counsel Davenport objected to all this
testimony as irrelevant, and gave notice
that he would ask to have it stricken
out.
Previous to recross-examination Daven-
port sought to get Gompers to acknowl
edge that Van Cleave's manner toward
him was SO unfriend1y as to have put
him on his guard in his dealings with
Brandenburg as indicating that Van
Cleave did not desire to meet him. ut
the witness did not yield the point.
He said Brandenburg told him Van
Cleave was brusque. He declared that
even yet he believed Brandenburg had
represented Van Cleave, and said that so
great was his indignation toward Bran
denburg he would have attacked him
physically if he had not been so anxious
to obtain from him absolute assurance
that Brandenburg represented Van
Cleave.
Representative of Van Cleave.
81 hadn't then any Doubt haven't
now any doubt-that Brandenburg repre-
scented Van Cleave. I simply wanted to
cinch the matter
In another connection Gompers said he
had sought and still desired to reach a
harmonious agreement and adjustment
with Van Cleave and the Bucks Stove
and Range Company.
Il have no malice toward any man liv-
ing not seven my bitterest enemy he
said, "and In this controversy all l nave
said or done has been in the interest of
labor and with the end in view of bring
ing the Bucks company to see the wis
dom of adjusting its differences with the
labor organizations"
He said he did say he would not
buy the products Of the company whose
complaint of boycott started this proceed
ing or articles produced by a certain hat
manufacturer.
And l now repeat that I will not buy
either until the manufacturers of those
articles come to an agreement with labor.
But in so saying l have no desire to in
jure them
In concluding his redirect examination
Gompers reiterated his determination to
exercise the right of freedom of speech
and a free press.
mo injunction" he said. can abridge
or curtail that right
Ralston then began the recross-cxam
ness was excused and the hearing indefi-
nitely suspended.