The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-26
STEAOFAST AND
TRUE TO LABOR
Efforts of Paid Spies to Cor
rupt Samuel Gompers
Proved a Failure.
CR0SS-EXAMINATlON ENDS
FEDERATION PRESIDENT STOOD
THE ORDEAL WELL.
CR0SS-ExAMINATl0N ENDS

washington, Sept. 25.-Todays devel-
opments in the labor contempt hearing
Drought out charges that President
Gompers was importuned 10 sign
an apostasy TO labor, making him say
ne confessed 1.-The error of his way in
ms then serious illness, that the Man.
ufacturers' association sought financial
support in the case and with the pro-
ceedlng being purposely postponed I'M
I'll after the national Democratic con-
Vention was designed TO impoverish
the labor federation officials
Mr.. Gompers resumed his narrative
concerning the efforts to bride him. He
SAID, that Brandenburg came to him as
an emissary from President Van
Cleave of the Manufacturers associa-
ton. assumed the nan-l of Edgefeld
though Gompers called him Bran
denburg. Gompers said Brandenburg
sought to obtain his (Gompers') sigma
ture to an article of apostasy in the
nature of a thanatopsis, which Edge
held" had prepared, purporting to have
been written by Gompers when SUD-
posedly about TO die i'm 1895. The wit
ness read the document, saying he
procured II from Brandenburg, deter
mining to retain it. even at the risk
of his life"
Cross-examination Concluded.
The cross examination of Mr. Com
pers was concluded before Examiner
Harper of the District of Columbia SUI
preme court today. He had a sharp
colloquy with Attorney Davenport. de-
nouncing one of the latter's questions
as impertinent." He said IN his state
ment that he considered the present
proceeding as one intended to rob him
or the right of free speech and that
he did not believe that this could be
done by a court decision. He denied
any intention TO treat the court any
otherwise than courteousIy.
Attorney Ralston. for the federation.
made a statement concerning the pur-
pose of his examination. which was,
he said. TO make manifest to the
court that there is a conspiracy to de-
stroy organized labor
letter from Edgefield. dated Sept.
rs 1907, was read. II gave the mans
address as Il Irving Place, New York.
and urged an appointment.
Lawyers After Money.
Mr.. Ralston asked M. Gompers if he
had noticed that the attorneys in this
case and other anti-labor proceedings
had sought financial support for their
efforts.
MI. Gompers, replying affirmatiVely
said that in all such cases the attor-
neys had sent out begging letters.
What would you expect in case YOU
should be found guilty in this proceed
ing?'
The same effort TO obtain aid from
Mr.. DaVenport's Anti-Boycott associa-
tom
MIR. Gonlpers believed the present
proceedings. postponed until after the
Democrats convention, though he
tried 20 expedite il, is really "a drag
net to procure facts as a basis for fur
Their litigation in the future designed
10 so impoverish the officials that they
Will be at the tender mercies of their
enemies"
Conspiracy Against Unionism.
He declared that the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers. the Anti
Boycott association and the Citizens
Alliance were all engaged in a constant
effort to destroy trades unionism by
furnishing striks-breakers and spies on
union men and unions. and number
of letters were read from detective
agencies in which they announced their
preparedness to supply men for these
purposes.
Ralston then made his statement re-
garding the purpose OF his line of in
quiry, and Mr.. Davenport promptly
gave notice that he would ask to have
the matter stricken out OF the record as
irrelevant.
Mr.. Gompers declared that a bureau
of ,he NatiCnal Association OF Manu-
facturers maintained in Chicago had
kept a blacklist of union men for many
years.
Have they ever keen indicted on ac-
count of this course?" asked Mr.. Raj
ston.
Not that l know Of"
Letter of Van CleaVe.
ar Ralston Introduced a number of
letters TO show that the manufacture
ers' association and kindred associa-
TORS have urgently opposed an eight