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The Commoner.
VOLUME 13, NUMBER 9
The Story of a White House Deal
Associated Press Dispatches Printed Before and After the Election of 1908
and Later Which Tell Their Own Story and Carry Their Own Moral
irmwr" 'vrr
6ta
niciromo election
(Introducing Daniel J. Kcofc.)
Akron, Ohio, Octobor 12, 1908. At tho
Akron mooting tonight Mr. Tuft reiterated tho
points ho had previously mado on tho labor
quostion and brought to his support tho rocontly
published lottors of Daniel J.. Keofo, momber of
tho executlvo council of tho American Federa
tion of Labor and head of tho International
Longshoromcn organization.
Tho candidate said tho testimony of Mr. Keofo
"was tho more weighty because Mr. Keofo had
ascertained his (Taft's) position on labor in
coustant references during tho Panama troubles.
Mr. Koofo closed his indorsement of Mr. Taft,
which tho latter read, as follows:
"I shall support and voto for Mr. Taft, who
was admitted to membership in tho International
Brotherhood of Steam Shovol and Drpdgemon
on account of his strong advocacy of tho en
forcement of tho eight hour law on all govern
ment work coming under tho jurisdiction of tho
war department. I might say that Mr. Taft has
dono moro to enforco laws in favor of organized
labor than all his predecessors."
SHOWING DANIEL ,T. KEEEE'S MOTIVE
Now York, October 13, 1908. Tho demo
cratic national committeo, through John G.
Jordan, assistant and acting chief of tho press
buroau at hoadquartors, tonight mado public
tho following statemont:
"It was stated at tho national democratic
headquarters tonight that President Roosevelt,
by promiso of office, has succeeded In having
ono of tho big mon of tho American Federation
of Labor dosert President Gompers in his ad
vocacy of tho oloction of Mr. Bryan for the
presidency. Tho loador in question is Daniol
J. Kcefo of Dotrolt, president of tho Longshore
men's Union, and ono of tho vice presidents of
tho Amorlcan Federation of Labor. Tho com
mitteo alleges that Keofo and the president were
closotod for soveral hours in Washington on
Saturday, Octobor 3, and that Keefo is to be
mado commissioner of Immigration, in considera
tion of Koefo's repudiating Mr. Gompers and the
oxecutivo council of tho federation.
"Keofo on Saturday last issued a statement
In which ho said: I am going to voto for
William H. Taft.
"It is pointed out that on September 28,
last, tho executive council of tho American Fed
eration of Labor issued a circular calling on
labor organizations to work for the defeat of
Mr. Taft and tho republican congressmen seek
ing ro-eloction, and Mr. Keefo authorized Ills
signature to bo attached to it. The source of
Iho democratic committee's information was not
divulged tonight, but tho information was
offered that if Mr. Keofo and President Roose
velt deny tho chargo another big leader now In
Now York will como forward with tho chargo
that tho offor was mado and Keefe accepted it
and has commenced to make good his part of
tho deal."
SETS MR. ROOSEVELT TO THINKING
Washington, October 13, 1908. Socretary
Loob, upon being shown tho statement issued
from democratic, hoadquartors in Now York
said nothing in tho nature of a roply would be
CABINET ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thero are no hard-and-fast precedents which
would guldo President-elect Wilson- in tho
matter of informing tho public of the cabinet
selections which ho has mado. Ho may adopt
tho method which Genoral Grant thought best
in tho announcement of his first cabinet. Grant
liimsolf was then like a sphinx, being absolutely
silent about cabinet appointments oven to his
friends. Tho list which ho sent to tho senate
tho day after his inauguration contained soveral
names which had never beon mentioned in any
of tho guesses. Nobody dreamed that Presidont
Grant was to appoint Elihu Washburn as socre
tary of state. Grant himself afterward was
quoted by some of his intimate friends as hav
ing said that it might have been better if ho
had not been so secretive about his cabinet
given out at tho White House tonight, but that
tho chargo would probably receive attention
tomorrow. Daniol J. Keefe was one of the
president's callers on October 3. Patrick Moris
sey of Cleveland, Ohio, head of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen, also visited tho president
during tho same day.
DANIEL J. KEEFE DENIES IT
Detroit, Mich., October 13, 1908. President
Daniel J. Keefo of the International Longshore
men, Marino and Transport Workers' Associa
tion, when informed tonight of the statement
mado at national democratic headquarters in
New York that ho had been promised the posi
tion of commissioner general of immigration in
return for his advocacy of W. H. Taft, entered
a vigorous denial. After having the statement
read to him Mr. Keefo said:
"I was not closeted with President Roosevelt
at all. T did see him on October 3, but for only
four or five minutes, and several others were
present."
THE CHARGE REITERATED
Now York, October 14, 1908. Tho democratic
national committee issued a statement tonight
quoting Timothy Hoaley, president of the Inter
national Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen, as
authority for tho allegation that Daniel J. Keefe
bad been promised by the president appoint
ment as commissioner general of immigration in
return for the Detroit labor leader's support of
Mr. Taft. Tho national committee had promised
to make known its informant if the charge
was dpnied as it has been both by Keefo and at
tho White House.
The national committee quotes Mr. Healey in
part as follows:
"I was in Washington on Wednesday of last
week on a matter dealing with" our organization
which brought mo in contact with an official nf
nisli standing in the government service. Ho
said to mo: Dan Keefo haB been selected for
commissioner general of immigration.'
" 'Is that so?' T asked.
" 'Yes, the job is his,' he replied.
"I askod him how he knew, and he told me
that Ills informant was a member of the presi
dent's cabinet and knew what he was talking
about. . b
"This information was not given to me in
a confidential manner, but T-will not give my
informant's name, for it is plain to see what
would happen to him if his name came out.
"There is not any doubt in my mind but' that
the statement that the president offered Keefe
the position and that Keefe agreed to accept is
true. Perhaps the offer was not mado at this
conference on October 3, last, but I believe it
has been made."
ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM KEEFE
Cleveland, Ohio, October 14, 1908. Daniel J
Keefe, president of tho International Longshore
men s Union, and member of the executive com
mittee of the American Federation of Labor, was
in Cleveland today attending a meeting of the
Lumber Carriers' Association. Mr. Keefe reiter
ated his statements mado yesterday in regard
to the allegations that he was promised the
commissionership of immigration as a reward
appointments, "n. nmnMn m..i.i
spared the peculiar experience exemplified bv
the speedy resignation, of Elihu Washburn as
secretary of state and his appointment as minis
ter to France. General Grant always felt that
at 3 dn aV been 8pared tbo bumiliaSon or
at least the anoyance, occasioned by his ap
pointment of Alexander T. Stewart of New York
as secretary of the treasury had he sought ad
l w Khad he told W member of the"
senate that he expected to nominate Mr. Stewart
for that office he would have been Informed
that Mr. Stewart under the law was Inedible
General Garfield's cabinet was an unknown
quantity not because Garfield was secreUve but
because ho had the greatest difficulty in making
up his cabinet It was in fact not comS
until after Garfield's inauguration Tn? only
for his support of Candidate Taft. Mr. KGGfft
said:
"It is not reasonable to suppose that tho ro
publican party, if it was in the business of buv
ing up votes, would waste its energy and effort
on life long republicans.
" PcAober 3 J went t0 Washington to see
Mr. Wright, secretary of war, on some business
pertaining to my organization. While thero I
called upon and paid my respects to tho presi
dent. P. H. Morrissey, head of tho Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen, and others were
with mo at the .time. I talked to the presi
dent in their presence. No mention was made
of the immigration -department and the presi
dent did not ask me to accept tho position mado
vacant by tho late Frank Sargent.
"I am not and never have been a candidate
for that position. .1 do know of two other
prominent labor men who are being urged for
ROOSEVELT AND LOEB DENY IT
Washington, October 14, 1908. Whilo no
formal statement was issued from the Whito
House, Secretary Loeb today denied that Presi
dent Roosevelt promised the office of commis
sioner general of immigration to Daniel J. Keefo
of Detroit, president of the International As
sociation of Longshoremen in consideration of
Mr. Keefe's action in declaring for Mr. Taft in
opposition to the pro-Bryan campaign of Presi
dent Gompers of the American Federation of
Labor. Mr Loeb added that Mr. Keefe in his
denial of the story was absolutely correct.
AFTER THE ELECTION
Washington, December 1, 1908. -Daniel J.
Kccfe of Detroit, Mich., was today appointed
commissioner general of immigration to succeed
a VSPr?,k P' SarSent- M. Keefo is presi
dent of the International Longshoremen's Union.
THE NATURAL RESULT
Mo3SSllingtn!, February 22, 19 13. Secretary
Nagel has made a report to President Taft on
the official conduct of Daniel J. Keefe, of De
troit, commissioner general of immigration and
demarndedlmended that Keefe'S resiation bo
rrrZL0 al!Qges tllat the bead ot the immi
fn? i ? S?JViC ?as accePted free transportation
lim atld family from railroads and steam
WfnJS6 a,lleged acts were considered by
Pnnma.yNagel as sufliciently serious to be
Si the President's attention, because the
5p?i? nSS? n gel!al of immigration necessarily
coSipPtSa"ff th raIlroads and steamships in
connection with immigration cases.
tnko lnLf nown whether President Taft will
coniaZSCtinV ?G may leave the case for the
?ho fit "n ,0 President Wilson in view of
SeoJ?nr.eTmailiingMdays of Mb administration.
Hp mnZ ?fgeJ wi" not discuss the situation.
renoS t. SiS tigation and submitted his
T?Inf the President some time ago.
immS8.ap?T0inte(1 commissioner general of
miMteUrm inwNoJember, 1908, for in indeter
StQraatSSi rHe tolmQy as president of the
v?oV? nrn.T1 .Loneshoremen's Union and sixth
vlco president of the American Federation of
member of his cabinet whose appointment was
sec?etarnv , Pubilc was Jams G, Blaine
never pmi p J ff State PresUent Cleveland, who
alwava m1?.Jop newspaper support and who was
cided aS .lffr!?t t0 new8Papor influence, de
guess wh-5 JS top polIcy t0 let the Public
lould b TSvim,emberBh,P of bIs flrst cabinet
rMouncen,?Kin1 While not authorizing any
SJS f nll cabinet' nevertheless was
because hTVpiwwbership known to tho public
an idea n?J? at in thIs way he could get
Set would LhatTt le p,ublIc estimate of his cabi
ton2neM Lincoln, It waB kn dedde(1
leaSS cSrHiH,8Cab,lnet the men who had been
t?on bnfnandfidates for the Presidential nomina
rwhtherhe publican national convention
ZmoumlTeU was nomInated-