Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-10-01
.lNAIS OWN BEHALF
PRESIDENT GoMPERs TEsTIFlEs
IN THE CONTEMPT PRocFro-
INGs At WASHINGTON
NE MAKES SERIOUS CHARGES
Declares That President Van cIeavs
Of Manufacturers Association A.
tempted BrIbery--Mr Van
cleave's Statement.

= .
Washington, Sept. 25sA-In IL by II
room in the building occupied by the
American Federation Of Labor In this
city, Samuel Gompers. president Of
the Federation, Thursday introduced
the name OF Former Secretary Taft
and made serious charges against ].
W Van Cleave, president Of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers.
The charges were made as a part OF
Mr.. Gompers' testimony in connection
with the proceedings against himself,
Vice President Mitchell and Secretary
Morrison Of the Federation on the
charge Of contempt in violating the In
junction decree of the supreme court
of the District OF Columbia, directing
them not to publish the Bucks Stove
and Range company of st. Louis, as
unfair" Mr.. Gompers was at the
time under cross examination at the
hands OF his attorney, Jackson H. Raj
ston. Mr. Ralston read the portion Of
Mr.. Taft's presidential nomination ac-
ceptance speech bearing on the anti
Injunction plank, and commenting
upon the extract, Mr.. Gompers said:
ut is substantially the basis of this
injunction suit and these contempt
proceedings under that injunction"
Mr.. Ralston: Il understand you
then 1t is in reliance upon Mr.. Taft's
decisions that you are here to-day"
Gompers: Justice Gould in his
opinion so asserts and he quotes from
injunctions issued by Judge Taft
while upon the bench.
Mr.. Ralson: Judge Taft's standing
in the matter then having the indorse-
ment of the National Association of
Mr.. Gompers: YES"
Mr.. Ralston asked Mr.. Gompers
whether there had been any general
effort to break down organized labor,
and he replied:
"Men have been suborned to spy on
their fellow laborers in shops, fac
tories and mines; to report the pro,
ceedings Of union meetings; to spy on
the personal conduct of workmen after
working hours, and to follow from
place to place labor leaders visiting
other cities than their homes. Money
has also been used to bride represen.
tative labor men TO cease their con-
nection with the labor organizations
and direct their activities to the Ma
.ional Manufacturers association.
they have not only been offered bribes
in money, but have been offered sub
stantial safeguards for the future"
After giving the details Of his own
pursuit by detectives, Mr.. Gompers
then told Of being approached in New |
York by man named Broughton |
Brandenburg Of New York, who, he
said, had attempted in 1907 to bride
him in the interest Of Mr.. Van Cleave.
Mr.. James W. Van Cleave, president
If the National Association Of Manu-
acturers, who came here Thursday to
lave conference with Daniel Daven-
port and James M. Baker, counsel for
he Bucks Stove & Range company OF
1t. Louis, late Thursday night gave
tut statement in reply to Samuel
Sompers In the contempt case, which
las been on hearing here for several
weeks. Mr.. Van Cleave said:
Il have never employed detectives
II intermediates to shadow Mr.. Com
,ers or any other official Of the Amer /
can Federation Of Labor. Neither
rave | ever offered him bride of any
lind, nor have / ever had any connec-
ion with the men he claims that
hadowed him and offered him bride.
Every reference made therein to me,
II action on my part, is false and
,elleve that Mr. Gompers knew 1t to
70 a lie when he made the state
nents. He seems to be trying to make
cheap martyr of himself. / never
ave and never will employ any meth
DIS that are not straight, square and
.bove board in my dealings with or
anlzed labor. make this statement
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