Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-25

place, and my telephone is 1878 Ora
mercy. EDGEFIELD.
"3:45 pm.
''P. S. l will call You up at ), again at
| s. again at ., etc
Some Astonishing Letters.
| President Gompers submitted some COR
respondence referring to the Edgeheld.
s. c., trip. alleged to have been proposed
by Brandenburg
Brandenburg is alleged TO have written
to Gompers the following:
referring to the incompleted CONVEX
sation with the gentleman at the Vic
| torla. he begs to say. in passing through
Washington, that reasons of the utmost
eXpedlency. which cannot be discussed
mere. exist for your coming alone for a
| day or two of recreation to Edgefield
| S. c. where this gentleman alone will
expect your arrival at some time within
the next ten days. Again he begs to say
that nothing YOU could possibly do would
have a more satisfactory result for all
| concerned. The hunting and fishing in
| that vicinity are very fine"
To the foregoing Mr.. Gompers says he
| made the following reply:
THE porter gave me your card and the
note at the Victoria Hotel requesting
me to come up to see you. but at the
| time 1t was absolutely impossible. / had
| another important engagement to keep
| Immediately. Your other note although
| without street address, reached me this
| morning. Did not duties press upon me
| for immediate attention and I could posi-
| bly, take the time. l would not hesitate to
act upon your suggestion to go to Edg-
| field within day or so. but that is at
this time absolutely out of the question
Would 1t not be possible for you to come
| here in a week or ten days? We might
| arrange a time to suit our mutual con-
| venence Please let me hear from you,
and oblige."
Conference Is Urged.
| A later letter purporting to be from
| Brandenburg follows:
| MY Dear Mr.. Gompers:
Not having known where to reach you
| have not been able to send you any
word and so am leaving this to await
| your arrival. AS soon as you receive it
| call me up and we will arrange to get to-
| gether BY all means do not take on
So many engagements tIldt our oppOTtulll-
ties for conference will be brief for the
situation has developed a mutual import
! ance that can scarcely be estimated too
| highly. EDGEFIELD.'
Conspiracy Against Labor.
The cross-examination of Mr.. Gompers
was concluded before Examiner Harper
| of the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia today. He had a sharp col
lloquy with Attorney Davenport, de-
nouncing one of the latters questions
| as .impertinent." He said in his state
ment that he considered the present pro-
ceeding as one intended to rob him of
the right of free speech. and that he
did not believe that this could be done
by a court decision. He denied any in
tention to treat the court otherwise than
courteously. There were also sharp ref
erences to national policies. Attorney
Ralston, for the federation. made state
ment concerning the purpose Of his ex-
animation, which was. he said. to make
manifest to the court that there is a
conspiracy to destroy organized labor.
Van Cleave Denies Charges.
James w. Van Cleave. president of the
who came here to confer with Daniel Dav-
export and James NJ. Baker, caunsel for
the Bucks Stove and Range Company of
| ST. Louis, has given out statement in
reply to the testimony yesterday of Sam
uel Gompers in the contempt case. Mr..
Van Cleave said:
Il have never employed detectives or
intermediates to shadow Mr.. Gompers or
any other official of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor.
Neither have I offered him a bride Of
any kind, nor have l ever had any con-
nection with the men he claims that shad-
owed him and offered him bride. Every
reference made therein to me or action
on my part is false. and believe that Mr..
Gompers knew 1t to be lie when he
made the statements. He seems to be
trying to make cheap martyr of him
self.
II never have and never will employ
any methods that are not straight. square
and above board in my dealings with or
ganiZed labor. | make this statement
| without eQuivocation."
Gompers Not Surprised.
When asked today by a Star reporter
about Mr.. Van Cleave's denial of Mr..
Gompers' charges, the president of the
\. +. l.. said he had no idea that Van
Cleave would admit them. Mr.. Gompers
called attention to the fact that he was
on oath when he made the charges.