The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-31
ElDLITZ, REPUTED
BOSSOF BRNDELL,
SCOUTS COERCION
Power Behind Employers
Building Ring Evasive
Under Fire.
PIPE COMBINE QUITS
Untermyer Shows Contrac-
tors Had to Quit Business
or Obey Orders.
PARENT OF MANY TRUSTS
LockwOod's Score on Indict-
ments 52-Hearings End
Under Old Power.
PIPE COMBINE QUITS
PARENT OF MANY TRUSTS

After many weeks of fruitless effort
10 have n subpoena served on him, the
Lockwood committee yesterday got
Otto NJ. Eidlitz member of the board
OF governors of the Building Trades
Employers Association, and character
lied by Samuel Untermyer as "the
worst factor in the building business
to-day" on the witness stand.
4, Eidlitz's presence gave the commit
tee its first opportunity to get an in
side view of the employers associa-
ton. which is the parent body of the
limestone or cut stone ring, the plumb
ers' ring, the heating and ventilating
contractors outfit and a score of other
combinations which have been investi-
gated individually by the Lockwood
committee, including virtually all of
the organizations of which the fifty
two individuals and firms indicted re-
Gently were members.
Over the vigorous denial of Eidlitz,
that he is the ruling figure in the EN-
eddy been charged. that he is "Brindelfs
boss" Mr. Untcrmyer introduced
flood of documents and mediterranean
the witness. with questions for six hours
to show that The Building Trades En-
ployers Association was the real power
behind the Brindell throne-the power
BY which he welded his labor bludgeon
over contractors-and that Eidlitz was
cognizant of and acquiescent m the
Brfndell policies and methods
This was the last committee session
until after the Legislature renews It's
powers. Sessions are expected to be re-
sumed January 10 or II.
Minutes Answer Questions.
Repeatedly wher Eidlitz sought to
evade admission of knowledge of the
\ operations of Robert p. Brindell and his
Building Trades Council Mr.. Untermyer
introduced the minutes of the Employ
ers Association to show that that body
not only knew OF and acquiesced in the
Brindell coercions, but by it's official
action in specific cases compelled con-
tractors to obey the Brindell mandates.
and that Eidlitz was present at the
meetings at which such actions were
taken He reintroduced testimony OF
Atwell and other witnesses of the early
sessions of the committee to show that
Eidlitz was feared as the real boss
Of the building situation. Mr.. INTER
nyer gained from Eidlitz an admission
that he had gone to Brindell to get him
to release certain contractors from his
orders. specifically .the Caldwell-Win-
gate Company. which was threatened
with a Brindell strike on job at 100
Broadway, since Brindells inexperi-
enced housewreckers couldn't do the
work and were afraid to climb the
building because it was a tall one.
- II 40 f4aRA n
labor upon a recalcitrant contractor,
however. the executive committee of the
Building Trades Employers Association
turned the trick by notifying the Offend
ing member contractor that ne was d.
obeying the rules of the association and
was subject to being cut OFT from labor
or being fined. That use OF the EN-
ployers Association to back up Brlndeli,
II was shown. went further than that;
IL compelled all member contractors to
let work only to such subcontractors as
employed Brindelrs labor. AS result
Of that rule the Caldwell Wingate Com
many was not 80 fortunate upon another
occasion, when the Employers Associa-
ton fined them 1900 for awarding
work to a subcontractor who did not use
Brindell labor, though that contractors
hid was the lowest Of six bids by $1,000.
That was for work on the Sailors Snug
Harbor.
Settling "a Brindeil strike.
The manner in which the strike rule
for failure to use Brindell men was
shown In the case of Fred T. Ley & Co..
inc.
Records of the Building Trades EN-
ployers' Association, introduced in evil
dence and upon which Eidlitz was ex-
amined, showed that strike was called
on job of the Ley Company in Thir-
teenth avenue. Brooklyn. because con-
crete laborers, union men. but who did
not carry a Brindell card, were en-
pioyed
The link between the Employers AS
ISOLATION and Brindelrs Building Trades
Council was established more soldly In
this same case for the last sentence In
the document last referred TO was as
follows:
"They referred the Ley Company to
Mr.. Kelly and Mr. Brindell."
The Mr.. Kelly referred to is the
chairman of the executive committee and
the board Of governors Of the Building
Trades Employers Association, whom
the Lockwood Committee has been seek
ing for weeks.
When Eidlitz tried 20 evade admitting
that the association tried 10 compel con-
tractors TO Join or put them out OF
business Mr. Untermyer asked him to
builders work-that being Eidlitz's line
as a member OF Mark Eidlitz & Son, con-
tractors. doing s12.00o,0o0 business
year-who was not member of the as
sociation.
well, I suppose Tod, Irons & Robin
son are" he replied.
you know how they manage to do II.
don't your fred Untermyer.
Il read about H."
by promising to pay $50 70 Brin-
dell. Mr. Robinson said, did he not7"
tea"
A letter from Grosvenor Atterbury
architect. 10 tho Building Trades En-
ployers' Association was introduced In
which the architect said "One OF the
contractors who is member Of your
association told me in very plain English
that n the contract (for a building) was
let TO any one who was not member
of the employers association he would
see to II that the contractor would not
be supplied with labor. I am very much
interested IN this statement and would
like 10 know whether as an association
YOU would back up this stand OF one OF
your members"
In reply he received copy or the
BrindeiI agreement whereby members Of
the association had 10 use Brindell labor,