The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-14
WHAT OF KEEFE?
Democrats Say Deserter Was
Offered Government Position.
Condition That He Quit Bryan
and Support Taft.
HE ENTERS a DENIAL.
conference With President Was
Not in Secret.
He ENTERS "A DENIAL.
Not rendered Position of Com.
missioner of Immigration.


new York. Oct. 14-The Democrat
committee through John ]. Gordon. as
slstant and acting chief of the press
bureau at headquarters has made pub
nc the following statement:
II was stated at the national Demo-
eIae headquarters last night that Pres
ioeht Roosevelt by promise of Office
mas succeeded in having one of the big
men or the American Federation of
LABOR desert President Gompers in his
advocacy of the election of Mr.. BRYAN
Tor the presidency.
ne Idoor leader in question is DAN
lei j. Keefe of Detroit, president of the
9 rnatlonal Association of Longshore-
the Federation of Labor
Inc Democratic committee alleges
t.ias heefe and the president were clos
eted Tor several hours in Washington on
Octooer q and the offer of being named
commissioner general of Immigration
maze vacant by the death of Commits
sloner Sargent, was made, in consider
atlon OF Keefe repudiating Mr.. Gompers
alton.
''Keefe on Saturday last issued a
statement in which he said:
Taft "iiAaiii n
1t is pointed out that on September
last Ine executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor issued a cir
cular calling on organizations of labor
70 work for the defeat of Mr.. Taft and
Republican congressman seeking re-
election and Mr.. Keefe authorized his
signature to be attached to it. The
source of the Democrat Committee in
formation was not divulged but the in
formation was offered that if Mr..
keefe or President Roosevelt deny the
charge another big labor leader now in
new York will come forward with facts
10 prove that the offer was made, and
Mr.. Keefe accepted it and has COM
menced to make good his part of the
deal
Keefe Denies 1t.
Detroit. Oct. 14.-President Daniel ].
keefe' OF the International Longshore-
men, Marine and Transport Workers
association when informed of the state
ment made in national Democrat head
quarters that he had been promised the
position of commissioner general of i'm
migration in return for his advocacy
of the presidential candidacy of w. H
Taft entered a vigorous denial After
having read the statement Mr.. Keefe
said:
Il was not closeted with President
Roosevelt at all i did see him on Oc-
tober 8. but it was only for four or
five minutes audience. at which sew
eral others were. present. These in
clude P. H. Morrissey, head of the
Brotherhood of Railway .trainmen and
think one Of the Others was General
Powell Clayton. There were others that
1 did not know. lam of the opinion
that every word that was said to me
at that time was overheard.
THE president did not offer the po-
sition to me of commissioner general
of immigration directly or indirectly
then or at any other time.
The executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor did not to my
knowledge send out any circular as Is
referred in the dispatch from New
endorsed it. On August Is, more than
six weeks before saw President
Roosevelt 1 made identically the same
statement which l made a few days
ago in regard to Taft's candidacy. My
statement appears In the Detroit Free
Press of August 16. 1 was asked then
by a representative of the Free Press
If 1 had signed or seen a letter sent
by President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor denouncing the
Republican platform and urging labor
to support Bryan and the Democrat.
replied:
Il do not believe Mr.. Gompers has
issued any such letter and If he has
it does not meet my endorsement. If
such letter has been issued 1 have not
seen it. 1 will neither support nor vote
for Mr.. Bryan. I am going to vote for
Mr.. Taft, who is an honorary member
of our branches. the Association of
Steamship and Dredgemen."
Will Hear From White House.
- Washington, Oct 14.-Secretary Loeb,
upon being shown the statement issued
from Democratic headquarters in New
York said nothing in the nature of a
reply would be given out at the White
House last night but that the charge
would probably receive attention today.
Daniel J. Keefe was one of the presi-
dents callers on October IL. Patrick
H. Morrissey of Cleveland. o., head of
the Brotherhood. of Railway Trainmen,
also saw the president the same day.
Loeb Denies 1t.
Washington, Oct 14-While no for
NAL statement issued from the White
House Secretary Loeb today denied that
President Roosevelt promised the office
of commissioner general of immigration
to Daniel ]. Keefe of Detroit, president
of the International Association of
Longshoremen in consideration of Mr..
Keefe's action in declaring for Mr.. Taft
In opposition to the pro-Bryan cam
paign of President Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor. Mr..
Loeb added that Mr.. Keefe in his de-
NAL of the story, was absolutely cor