Evening journal., 1908-09-25
BRIBERY PLOT,
SAYS GOMPERS
Federation Head Said He Was
Asked to Betray LabOr'S
Cause
VAN CLEAVE ENTERS DENIAL

WASHINGTON, Sept 25.-whne being
cross-examined before Examiner Harper
in the Federation Of Labor contempt case
Samuel Gompers. president Of the federa-
ton, reiterated the sensational statement
that he had been followed by detectives
and added that a large bsibe had been
offered to him to desert the cause Of labor.
Mr.. Gompers in making the charge con-
nected with Il tae nauie os Prc1ideu;
James W. Van Cleave ~ ths National As
sociation OF Manufactures
Attorney Ralston. employed for the de.
fense in the contempt proceedings. was
cross-examining Mr.. Gompers. He led Up
step by step to the details Of his having
been followed by detectives. which Mr.
Gompers declared was for the purpose
of carrying TO President Van Cleavs such
information as might reflect on Gompers'
course in matters pertaining to organized
labor
Mr.. Gompers described at length tire
many times he was. as he said. shadowed
by detectives during the summer Of 1907
and how when he turned on one Of tho
men the man admitted thst he had been
employed by Mr.. Van Cleave to dog the
footsteps OF tn federation president.
The cross-examination chen bore on tho
question of bribery. Mr.. Gompers said that
while in New York on business the latter
part of the summer of 1917 he was ac-
costed by a man giving tho name OF
Brandenburg, who claimed 10 know him.
After the two had met several times.
Mr.. Gompers declared, Brandcmburg told
him that he had been sent by Mr.. Van
Cleave to offer him money TO desert tho
cause Of labor and betray its secret
President Gompers declared that
Brandenburg had proposed to him, in
the name of Van Cleave. guarantee Of
an income of $1,000 or $4,000 a year for
the remainder of his lifo if he would
accede to the terms Of che president of
the National Manufacturers Associa.
tion. Gompers said he did not decline
the proposition because he sought tn
lead Brandenberg on. but that he had
Immediately told the entire story to
his fellow officers of the Federation OF
Labor
When Mr.. Gompers had concluded his
narrative and Attorney Ralston said
that he had no more questions TO ask.
Attorney Daniel Davenport, represent
ing NJ. Van Cleave and the Bucks
Stove and Range Company in the con-
tempt PROCEEDINGS. characterized tho
statement as "scandalous." He addci
that he would move IN court to have
the statement stricken from the
records.
In the course of his testimony Mr..
Gompers declared that a systematic
effort had been begun 10 destroy or
ganized labor. Ny Van Cleave, he said,
had undertaken to raise a fund OF
81 .500,0 900 with that end in view.
The testimony before the examiner
IN the contempt case continues to cover
wide field. Attorneys on both sides
have charged the other side with un-
necessary questioning.
Nancleave Denios Charge.
In emphatic language. James w. Van
cleave. president of the National As
sociation of Manufacturers denied that
he had ever been party to an attempt
20 bribe President Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor, as
charged by that official in his testimony
In the contempt case yesterday.
Il have never employed detectives
or Intermediates TO shadow Mr.. Com
pers or any other official of the Amer
ican Federation Of Labor. said Mr.
I VanCleave. Neither have l Offered
him a bribe of any kind. nor have
ever had any connection with the mel
he claims shadowed him, and offered
| him a bribe
Every reference made therein TO me
or to action on my part is false, and
believe that Mr.. Gompers knew IL tC
be a lie when he made the statements
Il never have and never will en-
ploy any methods that are not straight
square, and above board in my deal
ings with organized labor. made this
statement without eauivocauon."