The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-09-25
Declares Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION Tempted Him
TO DESERT LAB0R'S CAUSE
It's President Is Accused--Latter Also
Employed Detectives 10 Shadow
Him, Federation Chief Testifes,
in Big Conspiracy.

Washington, Sept. 25.--That he had
not only been followed by detectives
but had been offered large bride to
desert the cause OF labor, connecting
with that charge the name Of President
James w. Van Cleaye of the National
association Of Manufacturers, was the
sensational declaration made by Sam
uel Gompers, of the American Fedora
ton of Labor yesterday, in the con-
tempt proceedings against him and
OTTER federation officials before Exam
liner Harper. The statement was made
during the REORGANIZATION of Mr..
GOmpers by Attorney Ralston. Mr..
Gompers related the particulars OF =
persistent effort TO have himself foi'
lowed. which he said had occurred IN
Washington in the latter part of the
summer of 1907, and had continued for
several days. He said he had been fol-
lowed day and night for some time.
Finally Mr.. Gompers said; Il recogniz-
ed him and he me as member OF the
Masonic fraternity. He then told me
that he would desist from pursuing me
and admitted that he was a detective,
saving that Mr.. Van Cleave had EN-
ployed him to dog me-"
The REORGANIZATION then bore up
on the question of bribery.
slave YOU Mr.. Ralston asked.
"ever been approached by emssaries OF
MIR. Van Cleave who wanted TO bride
your"
Eyes" responded Mr.. Gompers.
''When and wheref" asked Mr. Raj.
ston. In reply, Mr.. Gompers entered
upon long narrative, the purport OF
which was that in the latter part OF
| the summer of 1907. while on business
IN New York he had been accosted by
a man who gave the name of Branden'
burg and claimed acquaintance with
him. who told him after they had sew
eral meetings that he had been sent
by Mr. Van Cleaye TO offer him money
TO desert the cause Of labor and betray
its secrets. promising him guarantee
Of OF an income Of $500 OF $4,000
year for the remainder of his life.
National politics were injected int
Yesterdays proceedings in the contempt
case against President Gompers ant
other American Federation Of labo
officials, growing ont Of the alleged boy
colt Of the Bucks Store Range com
many products and the Federation,
SUBSEQUENT attitude The cross-exami
, nation of resident Gompers was begul
by Attorney Ralston, counsel for tn
Federation and led into lively colloqu,
in which the National Manufacturer
association of which James W. Va
: Cleaye. is president MIR Van Cleave'
: resence at the Republican Nationa
: convention and w. H. Taft's attitud
toward iniunetions were discussed. MI
, Ralston's questions were in support Q
his theory of an organized effort 7
destroy organized labor. Mr. Gomper
said he had nothing to do with the chi
: cnlation Of the Federationist for JAM
: airy. 1908, as charged.
+ Have YOU consciously violated tn
$ iniunctionl" he was asked. Il hay
4 not"
Mr.. Gompers told Of the appearance
: Of Mr.. Van Cleave before the Nations
Y Republican convention at Chicago an
said that his purpose there was to PR
7 vent the Incorporation Of a labor plan
b nithe Republican platform.
t ~Do YOU know the attitude OF II
o National Manufacturers associatio
!. towards the attitude of Presdef
\ Roosevelt in favor of modification
the anti-iniunction law" asked N
Ralston. and Mr.. Gompers prompt
announced. at is one of hostility"
Mr.. Davenport. for the Bucks Sto'
company. sought to bring out the "a,
n that the federation also opposes Il
Y PRESIDENTS position, but Mr.. Gompe
explained that the federaton's antag
!, nism was only to the method propose
y while the association of manufacture
Y opposed every change. Mr.. Ralstt
cnoted from Mr.. Taft's speech in a
d cepting the Republican nomination +
q the presidency.
ii "Is IL in reliance upon Judge TAFT
4 decisions that yon are here today?"
is. Judge Gould quotes from Jud
Taft's opinions in his injunction q
cree"
The witness said that Mr.. Van Clea
lad undertaken to raise fund of s
D. 100000 with which to destroy organic
II labor. notwithstanding Mr. Van Clea
had haid it was for educational pt
noses. Mr.. Ralston read number
~ circulars from the National BE
le colt association. and Mr.. Gompers 50
b. that organization had been active
iniuring the cause of trades unionis
or The fact was developed that Mr.. ia
a enport il member of the Anti BE
!