The sun., 1908-09-25
GOMpERS CHARGES BRIBERY
SAYS $4,000 A YEAR WAS OFFER.
ED TO QUIT LABOR CAUSE.
The Offer. He Says. Was Made by Branden.
burg In Behalf OF President Van
Cleave OF Manufacturers Association
-Onicers OF the Association Deny It.

-Omcers OF he Association Deny IL.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 2a.--while being
CROSS examined before Examiner Harper
in the Federation OF Labor contempt case
to-day Samuel Gompers, president Of
the federation, reiterated the sensational
statement that no had been followed by
detectives, and added that a large bribe
had been offered to him to desert the cause
OF labor. Mr.. Gompers in making the
charge connected with II the name OF
President James W. Van Cleave Of the
National Association Of Manufacturers.
Attorney Ralston, employed for the
defence in the contempt proceedings, was
cross-examining Mr.. Gompers. He led
up step by step to the details Of his having
been followed by detectives, which Mr..
Gompers declared was for the purpose
Of carrying to President Van Cleave such
information as might reflect on Gompers' 8
course in matters pertaining to organized
labor.
Mr.. Gompers described at length the
many times he was, as he said, shadowed
by detectives during the summer OF 1907.
and how when he turned on one of the
men the man admitted that he had been
employed by Mr.. Van Cleave to dog the
footsteps of the federation's president.
The cross xamination then bore on
the question of bribery. Mr.. Gompers
said that while in New York on business
the latter part Of the summer Of 1907
he was accosted by a man giving the
name of Brandenburg, who claimed to
know him. After the two had met sew
aroI tiroos NJ Eon,poro ro,Io rod Rrop.
denburg told him that he had been sent
by Mr.. Van Cleavo to offer him money
to desert the cause Of labor and betray
it's secret.
President Gompers declared that Bran
denbnrg had proposed to him. in the name
OF Van Cleave. a guarantee Of an income
Of IS 900 or 5000 a year for the remain
der OF his life il he would accede to the
terms Of the president of the National
Manufacturers Association. Gompers
said he did not decline the proposition
because he sought to lead Brandenburg
on. but that he had immediately told
the entire story to his fellow officers
OF the Federation Of Labor
When Mr.. Gompers had conclud ded
his narrative and Attorney Ralston said
that he had no more questions to ask 4,
Attorney Daniel Davenport. representing
MIR. Van Cleave and the Bucks Stove
and Range Company in the contempt
proceedings, characterized the state
ment as -scandalous." He added that
he would move in court to have the state
ment stricken from the records.
In the course OF his testimony Mr..
Gompers declared that a systematic
effort" had been begun to destroy or
ganized labor. Mr.. Van Cleave, he said,
had Undertaken to raise fund Of 81 500 600
with that end in view.
The testimony before the examiner
in the contempt case continues to cover
wide field. Attorneys on both sides
have charged the other side with un-
necessary questioning.
George Boudinot, secretary Of the Ma
tional Association Of Manufacturers; H. H.
Lewis, editor OF American Industries, the
organ of the association, and others
familiar with the affairs Of the associa-
ton said yesterday afternoon that Samuel
Gompers was not telling the truth when
he said that attempts had been made on
behalf Of the association to bribe him to
desert the cause OF labor.
james W. Van Cleave. the president
Of the association, whose name was con-
nected with the bribe story which Mr..
Gompers '~'' is somewhere out West
travelling ID Mr. Lewis. I'VE have
heard nothing from him about the matter
yet, and while don't propose TO speak
Tor Mr.. Van Cleave / can assure you that
neither the association as an association
nor any individual in it ever attempted
to bribe Mr.. Gompers or anybody else in
the labor organizations to do or not to do
anything on earth. That ought to cover
1t. This silly charge Is not even new.
On November 20, last, at Norfolk, Va.
Mr.. Gompers got up in the convention Of
the American Federation Of Labor and
made similar accuse ton against Brough-
ton Brandenburg, the writer. The charge
fell to the ground"
The only comment have to make is
that Gompers is condemned liar, said
Secretary Boudinot.
Others connected with the associa ton
asked Of what possible use Samuel Com
pers could be to the associa ton in any
capacity. Why, they said. should any
one want to bribe Gompers'