Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-05
Gompers Says
Nothing to Conceal.

| New York. Dec. 4-Samuel Com
pers was asked, tonight, to what ex-
tent the American Federation of La :
| Dor, of which he is president. would
aid in further investigation by the
government of labor troubles.
Our books and such records as we
| have win be open" answered Mr..
Gompers, TO the federal grand jury.
Investigating committee or any re-
sponsible person of decent character
| and integrity. We have nothing to
| withhold"
Would this offer include the books
and records showing money received
ard paid out and for what purposes?"
| a reporter asked.
| Mr.. Gompers replied with some
heat: II tried to make my statement
as specific and accurate as possible
| Mr.. Gompers was asked if he knew
whether he was under surveillance or
mot.
| Il know l am" replied Mr.. Com
lpers. Two of Burns men have been
| Following me since my arrival in New
York, last Saturday night. I go and
leone openly and l have nothing to
conceal l intend to remain here un-
till Tuesday and then go to Washing
ton"
| Mr.. Gompers began the interview
| with positive denial of a statement
credited to Detective William ]. Burns
| that Clarence S, barrow was at the
conference In Indianapolis in June.
| ut is absolutely false he said.
| There We're 40 labor leaders from all
| over the country present to discuss
| plans for raising money for the de-
| fence of the MeNamaras. There was
| no intimation of their guilt given out
at that meeting"
Mr. Gompers Indignantly asserted
that he did not feel called upon to re-
ply, when one reporter asked him sug-
gestively If he had any expectation OF
giving up the leadership of the labor
| organization in the near future. He
added:
Il was lately unanimously reelected
| president of the American Federation
OF Labor
Mr.. Gompers talked freely along sev-
| eral lines, ignoring his resolutions t.
keep silent until he was ready for d
formal written statement, but most OF
his expressions have already been re-
corded He spent most of the day il
| conference with his attorneys. He
| would not discuss the subject Of the
| conferences.
New York. Dec 4-President Gomper
Of the American Federation of Labor ex
planned. this afternoon, his part in tin
conference of labor leaders which AT
torney barrow said was held at Los An
geles before the Mcnamara defence de
cided TO enter pleas of guilty.
II was at Atlanta attending the con
| vention of the American Federation o.
| Labor" said Mr.. Gompers. when Mr.
| Darrow's telegram reached me. 1t mere
| " asked that some representative come
| to Los Angeles for a conference. 1t was
| exceedingly busy, and after glaucinl
| through the message. handed 1t to some
/ one else.
ut was not until two days later tina
| learned that Nockeles had gone 10 Lo:
| Angeles or that anyone had gone. l wa
| given this information by certain laeol
| leader Nockeles never reported to ma
al ALL If barrow told Nockeles that tbs
| McNamaras were about 10 confess
| against the union" added Mr. Gompers
| '.it will be the duty Of the American Fed
| Grafton Of Labor TO investigate. Their
has been a lot of vaporiZation and mum
ming about all these suspicious. Blu
| there has been noting definite In tn
Los Angeles case you see what labor
does when il finds proof Of guilt. Blu
| Of all these hundreds of times not on
has ever been proven TO have sprune
from a neighborng unions counsel I'm
Ill that proof comes, | ignore all the ae
eusations as the whisperlngs of malicious
| enemies of labor