Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-25
OFFER GOMPERS
BRIBE TO TELL
SERIOUS CHARGE is MADE BY
FEDERATION PRESIDENT
ACCUSES VAN CLEAVE OF USING
DETECTIVES
Says His Movements Were Watched
by EmlssarIes of President of the
Merchants Association Seek
: ina information

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24.-That he
had not only been followed by detec-
tives, but had been offered a large
bribe to desert the cause of labor, con-
Meeting with that charge the name Of
President James w. Van Cleave of the
National Association of Manufacturers.
was the declaration made by President
Samuel Gompers of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, in the contempt pro-
ceedings against him and other officers
before Examiner Harper.
The revelation was made during the
cross examination of Mr.. Gompers by
Attorney Ralston.
Have you ever been followed by de-
tectives?" Mr.. Ralston asked.
II have BEEN" he said, "and so have
my colleagues of the executive council
on many occasions"
I'm whose INTEREST,""
"At the instance of Mr.. Van CleaVe."
For what purpose?'
"For the purpose of bringing to him
such information as might reflect on
my course in the cause OF labor"
Mr.. Gompers then related the particu-
lars of an effort to have himself fol-
lowed which he said had occurred III
Washington the latter part of the sum-
mer of 1907 and had continued for sew
eral days.
Observed Detective
He said that he had first observed a
man following him from his home to
his office, and he said it was kept up
daily and nightly for some time, the
man ACCOMMODATING him on the street
cars and standing outside his oft1ce
until he was ready to return to MS
| home
"On one OCCASION he said, "he kept
closer to me than ordinarily. That was
one evening when l attended meeulis
of a lodge of Elks, of which L am
| member. He followed me to the lodge
room and again took the same car
which l boarded to reach my home
1t is a particularly lonesome road from
the car line to my house, and when the
man followed me / turned upon him
and demanded to know why ne was
| following me, and directed him to de-
| sist from doing so.
HE at first replied that he was not
dogging me, but afterward admitted
| that he was doing so. | recognized
him, and he was a member of the Ma
| sonic fraternity. He then told me tnal
| he would desist from pursuing me, ano
| admitted that he was detective, say
| ing that Mr.. Van Cleave had employed
| him to dog me-.
| Mr.. Gompers said that he had beer
followed on other occasions, but at nc
time as persistently as this.
! Tells of Bribe
| The cross-examination then bor'
upon the question of bribery.
Have you," Mr.. Ralston asked
"ever been approached by emissaries o
Mr.. Van Cieave who wanted to br1b
your"
yes" replied Mr.. Gompers.
when and where?" asked Mr.. Rals
| ton.
In reply Mr.. Gompers entered upon
| long narrative, the purport of w'hicf
was that in the latter part of the sum.
mer of 1907, while in New York, he hao
| been accosted by man who gave the
name of Brandenburg and claimed ac-
| quaintance with him, who told him
after they had had several meetings
| that he had been sent by Mr.. Var
Cleave to offer him money to desert the
cause of labor and betray it's secrets.
| Mr.. Gompers said that Brandenbure
had told him that it was Mr.. Var
Cleave's purpose to destroy his (Gom-
pers) character, but that he (Branden-
| burg) had persuaded him that it woulo
| be better to make an ally of Gompers
and that Van Cleave consenting, Bran
denburg had proposed to him in behalf
| of Van Cleave that he desert the cause
| of labor and accept from Brandenburg
| a guarantee of an income of $4,000 to
$4,000 a year for the remainder of his
| life.