Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-15
'SAYS ROOSEVELT
| IS BUYING VOTES
CHARGED WITH PURCHASING LA
Dor LEADER WITH PROM
ISE OF OFFICE.
WOULD GIVE APPOINTMENT IN
EXCHANGE FOR REPuDIA-
TON OF GOMPERS.

New York, Oct, 14-The democrat
ic national committee, through John
]. Gordon. acting chief of the press
bureau at the headquarters, last
night made public the following.
1T was stated at the national dem.
ccratic headquarters tonight that
President Roosevelt, by the promise
of an office, has succeeded in having
one of the big men of the American
federation of labor desert Gompers in
his advocacy of the election of Bryan.
The leader in question is Daniel
j. Keefe of Detroit, president of the
international association of longshore.
men, and one of the vice presidents of
the federation of labor.
The democratic committee alleges
that Keefe and the president were
closeted for several hours in Wash
ington, on October third, and the Of
fer of being named commissioner gen
eraI of immigration, made vacant by
the death of Sargent was made in
consideration of keefe repudiating
Gompers and the executive council
of the federation.
"Keefe, Saturday last. ISSUED
statement in which he said: I am
going to vote for William II. Taft
at is pointed out that on Septem.
Der %, the last executive council of
the American federation of labor is
sued a circular calling on organiza.
lions of labor to work for the defeat
of Taft and republican congressman
seeking reelection, and Keere auth
orized that his signature be attached
to it.
THE source of the democratic com
mittees information was not divulged
tonight, but the information was Of
fered that if Keefe or Roosevelt deny
the charge another big labor leader,
now in New York, will come forward
with facts to prove that the offer was
made, and Keefe accepted it and has
commenced to make good his part OF
the DEAL
Mo Denial Yet.
Washington, ID. c., Oct. 14.-Sccre.
tary Loeb upon being shown The
statement issued from the democratic
headquarters in New York, said that
nothing in the nature of a reply would
be given out at the white house last
night, but that the charge would pro
badly receive attention today. Dan
iel ]. Keefe was one of the presidents
callers of October 3. Patrick II. Nor
'rissey of Cleveland, Ohio, head of the
brotherhood of railway trainmen,
also saw President Roosevelt the
same day.
DenaI by Keefe.
Detroit, Mich, Oct 14-President
-Keefe of the longshoremen's union
last night categorically denied the
statement from the democratic head.
quarters in New York that he had
been offered the position of commits
sioner general of immigration in re
turn for his support Of Taft. Keete
said:
81 was not closeted with President
Roosevelt at all. / did see him on
October 3, but it was only four or
five minutes, at which several others
were present These included P. II.
Morrissey, head of the brotherhood
of railway trainmen, and | think one
of the others was General Powell
Clayton. There were others did not
know. ] am of the opinion that eV-
erv word said to me at that time was
overheard.
"The president did not Offer me
position as commissioner genera
rectly or indirectly, then or at ~
other time. The executive council OF
the American federation of labor did
not to my knowledge send out any
circular as referred to in the dis
patch from New York, consequently
7 could not have endorsed it.
con August Is, more than six weeks
before saw President Roosevelt J
made identically the same statement
which l made a few days ago in re.
gard to Taft's candidacy. Ny state.
ment appears in the Detroit Free
Press of August 16. I was asked then
by a representative of the Free Press
if | had signed or seen a letter sent
out by President Gompers of the
American federation of labor, de.
nouncing the republican platform and
urging labor TO support Bryan and
the democratic ticket I replied:
az do not believe Gompers has is
sued any such letter, and if he has, il
does not meet my endorsement. II
such letter has been issued | have
not seen it. I will neither support
nor vote for Bryan. | am going to
vote for Taft, who is an honorary
member of one Of our branches, the
association of steam shovel ana