The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-10-14
Are Making Desperate Attempt I,
Offset Stampede of the La
Dor Vote to William
H. Tart.
KEEFE SHOWS THEM UP
Had Publicly Declared Himself For
Taft Last August and Says Cir
cuIar Referred to Was
Not Issued.

NEW YORK, Oct.14-The Democrat
ic national committee, through John j.
Gordon, acting chief Of the press bu-
reau at headquarters, last night made
public the following:
1T was stated at the national demo-
cratic headquarters tonight that Pres
ident Roosevelt by promise of office,
has succeeded in having one of the big
men of the American Federation of La
Dor desert Gompers in his advocacy Of
the election of Bryan.
"The leader in question is Daniel ].
Keefe, of Detroit, president of the In
ternational Association of Longshore-
men, and one of the vice presidents of
the Federation of Labor.
"The Democratic committee allages
Keefe and the President were closeted
for severa! hours in Washington Oct.
3 and the offer of being nxmed COM
missioner general of immigration,
| made vacant by the death Of Sargent,
was made in consideration of Keefe's
repudiating Gompers and the executive
council of the federation.
"Keefe Saturday last issued state
ment in which he said: Il am going
to vote for William H. Taft"
/ 1T is pointed out that Sept. % last
the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor issued circular
calling on organizations of labor to
work for the defeat of Taft, and the
Republican congressman seeking re-
election, and Keefe authorized his sig
nature to be attached to it.
THE source of the Democratic COM
mittee's information was not divulged
tonight, but information was offered
that if Keefe or Roosevelt deny the
charge another big labor leader now in
New York, will come forward with
Keefe accepted it and has commenced
to make good his part of the deal"
Will Probably Reply.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13.-Secretary
Loeb, upon being shown the statement
issued from Democratic headquarters
in New York, said nothing in the ma
ture of reply would be given out at
the White House tonight, but that the
charge would probably receive atten-
tion tomorrow. Daniel j Keefe was
one of the Presidents callers Oct 3.
Patrick Fl. Morrissey, Of Cleveland, o..
the head of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen, also saw the President
!, the same day.
keefe Makes Statement.
DETROIT. Michigan, October IL
Keefe said: Il was not closeted with
President Roosevelt at all. | did see
him October 8, but it was only four
or five minutes audience at which sew
eral others were present. These includ-
ed P. H. Morrissey, head of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen, and
think one of the others was General
.. Powell Clayton There We're others
did not know. l am of the opinion that
every word said to me at that time was
overheard
THE President did not offer me the
position of commissioner general OF
immigration, directly or indirectly.
then or any other time.
Circular Not issued.
'The executive council of the Ameri-
n can Federation of Labor did not to my
knowledge send out any circular as is
referred to in the dispatch from New
York, consequently | could not have
S endorsed it.
d August Is, more than six weeks be-
/ fore | saw President RooseTelt l made
J. identically the same statement which
IS | made a few days ago in regard to
G Taft's candidacy My statement ap.
,r peard in Detroit Free Press of August
1G. / was asked there by the repre-
sentative of the Free Press if l had
signed or seen the letter sent uot by
President Gompers of the American
t. Federation of Labor, denouncing the
Republican platform and urging labor
m to support Bryan and the Democratic
ticket. | replied:
Stands Ry Taft.
n 81 do not believe Gompers has is
IL sued any letter, and if he has, it doe
Of not meet my endorsement. Il such
H letter has been issued 1 have not seer
lie it. l will neither support nor vote TO
le Bryan. | am going to vote for Taft
er who is an honorary member of one o
i'd our branches, the Association O
Steam Shovel and Dredgemen.