The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-09-26

Washington, Sept. 2 ,.-Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, in the labor contempt
hearing here testified that he and 9th
Ier labor leaders had been frequently
followed by detectives employed by
James w. Van Cleave, president OF
the National Manufacturers associa-
ton. He also said that all emissary
of Van Cleave named Bcodenburg had
offered him bride at a meeting in
New York to desert the cause Of labor
and put the manufacturers associa-
tion in possession of it's secrets.
National politics were injected into
the hearing when the cross-examina-
ticn Of Mr.. Gompers was begun by
ATTORNEY Ralston, counsel for the fed
Grafton. The fact that James w. Van
Cleave was connected with the suit
against the federation officials and
with the Buck Stove and Range COM
,pany, with the Stove Founders asso-
citation and with the National Associa-
tion of Manufacturers, of the last of
which he is president, was then
brought out. The witness was then
asked:
lis this the same Mr.. Van Cleave
who recently attained prominence by
reason of an attack on one of the pres
idept1al candidates."
Mr.. Gompers replied in the afirma-
tive, but before his words could be
noted Mr. Davenport protested.
Il object to the question as inmate
rial, Irrelevant and impairment and
wiz ask the court to strike it out" he
said.
Mr.. Ralston led the witness to re-
late the fact that there is a decided
|e0nflict between the National Manu-
faeturers' association and the Fedora
tion of Labor. Mr.. Gompers told of
the fight made by the manufacturers
association, led by Mr.. Van Cleave, to
prevent labor legislation and he read
contributions by Mr.. Van Cleaye to
American Industries, the organ of that
association, in confirmation of his
statement Mr.. Gompers also told of
the appearance of Mr.. Van Cleave be-
fore the national Republican conven-
tion at Chicago and said that his pur
pose there was to prevent the incor-
poration of labor plank in the Re-
publican platform.
Van oIeave's Appeal Successful.
MIR. Gompers said that it was in re-
spouse to the appeal of the manufac-
turers, headed by Mr.. Van Cleave,
that the labor plank had been thrown
out.
do you know the attitude of the
Nationd1 Manufacturers association
towards the attitude Of President
Roosevelt in favor of a modification
Of the anti-injunction law" asked Mr..
Ralston, and Mr.. Gompers promptly
announced lit is one of hostility" Mr..
Davenport sought to bring out the fact
that the federation also opposes the
presidents position, but Mr. Gompers
explained that the federation's antag~
0nism was only to the method pro-
posed, while the Association of Manu-
facturers opposed any change.
>"What," asked Mr.. Ralston. "is the
attitude Of the Manufacturers associa-
tf6A towards the Injunction planls of
the two political parties?"
Mr.. Gompers replied: ''The attitude
of that association, as represented by
MIR. Van Cleave, is hostile to the anti
ipjanotion declarations on the part of
the Democratic party at Denver and
Die of entire accord with the declara-
nens made by the Republican party
at Chicago"
Mr.. Ralston then quoted from Judge
Taft's speech in accepting the Repub-
Ncan nomination for the presidency.
rs it in reliance upon Judge Taft's
decisions that you are here today?"
1T is. Judge Gould quotes from
Judge Taft's opinions in his injunction
decree"
Fhe witness declared that syste.
matte effort had been inaugurated tc,
destroy organized labor. He said tina,
Mr.. Van C(eave had undertaken to
raise a fund of S1,t00,000 with that
end in view, notwithstanding Mr.. Van
Cleave had said it was for educational
purposes.
Bison Range Selected.