New-York tribune., 1920-12-31
Big Builders
Held Allies
OF Brii11dell
Continued from pase ene)

CONTINUED from pase ene)
Association. that he supported the
despotlc rule Of Brindell and approved
the driving of firms not members of
the association out of business became
sharper as the examination continued
and he had to be cautioned by Mr.
Untermyer to be more polite in his
replies.
Eidlitz, whom several witnessed had
declared was Brindell's "boss," was
characterized by Mr.. Untermyer as
the worst factor in the building bust
ness here to-day"
: Mr.. Untermyer introduced letters
and minutes of the association tending
TO show that as the result of the or
ganization's close alliance with the
8rindell council it completely domi-
mated the building industry, forced
SUBJ contractors and builders in gen
eral to seek membership in the as
soclation through its control over the
supply Of labor, and when member
builders refused to join alleged price
liking combinations oustcd them and
usually forced them to the wall
Eidlitz admitted the existence Of
many of these price-fxing com bna-
tions among members of his organiza-
tion. but insisted that that was not q
function of the association, which he
declared to be primarily to settle labor
disputes and jurisdictional differences.
He asserted no force was used to OBJ
tain members and that statements that
he was the boss Of Brindell" we're
ridiculous. He described Blindell.
however, as the "perfect czar in the
business"
Untermyer's Accusations
Asked why the organization had not
/ ousted the subsidiary associations vio-
lating the criminal Law, Edlitz replied
/ that plans had been ~, opposed and were
actually being considered now by vari :
Gus members of the associations The
matter was being temporarily held up,
/ ne said, because "the investigation had
developed situation where we could
handle It very much better afterward
| than before"
"lnstead of cleanino house, you just
sit tight and see what this committee
can prove; is that th- idea?" retorted
Mr.. Untermyer. "Don't you under
stand that the illegality of these asso-
Citations attaches to every member of
| your organization, and that if the
Fuilding Trades Employers Associa-
( ton membership makes contracts with
the Building Trades Council, restrict
ng union labor to its membership and
'equiring, its preference, barring out
non-members. they are transgressing
on the building laws?"
DO you propose to abandon this sort
OF thlng?" finally Queried Mr.. Inter
myer,
I'VE are giving it careful considera-
tion,", replied Eidlitz.
so will the law give it careful con-
sidera ton" came back Mr.. Untermyer-
Eidlitz declared that an attempt had
Neen made to clean up the situation
through g plan now under considera-
ton by members of the Building Trades
Employers Association, who were vot-
ing on the proposition of "getting rid
of Brindell and getting back to the
American Federation of Labor" The
proposal provides that an appeal be
made to the Building Trades Depart
ment of the American Federation of
Labor for the elimination of dishonest
and irresponsible officers in the Build
ing Trades Council and its reorganiza-
ton as a responsible body.
Mr.. Eidlitz concluded that If the
committees counsel succeeded in its
attempt to break up the Building
Trades Employers Association, it
would be putting the very best weapon
in the hands of the other side-the
labor side, and bring about just such
conditions as the committee was try
ing to prevent"
I Mr.. Untermyer suggested that the
organization could remain in existence
by reorganizing 80 that there was mo
price fixing and violations Of the law
by forcing members into the organiza-
ton ceased"
After five hours of grilling, occupy
ing most of the morning and all OF the
afternoon session, Edltz was asked if
he had any final statement to make.
NO." he said, II guess not. After five
or six hours of this performance you
lose your pep"
Operations Of a National Association
Of Building Trades Employers was gone
into through testimony Of Fred G. Web
Der, the executive secretary of the or
ganization. Weber said the associa-
tlon was in existence for about year
and differed from the national builders
exchanges, in that it aimed to settle
national labor disputes rather than
better business conditions, which he
said was the function of the builders
exchanges.
He said it repre- sented employers as
soclations in various cities, including
New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Youngs-
town, Grand Rapids, La Sale, H.; In
dlanapolis and towns in the State of
Iowa. Admitting friendship with Brin-
n any way in the formation Of the ma
tional body. Little more Of the or
ganization's operations was learned
from Weber, but Mr.. Untermyer de-
ciared the matter would be gone into
more fully at a later date.
Kelly Dangerously Ill
Weber surprised tho committee Just
before he left the witness stand by
announcing that Charles J. Kelly.
chairman Of the board OF governors
OF the Building Trades Employers As
sociation. for whom process servers
lave been hunting since the beginning
Of the inquiry, was at his. Kelly's
home, at 81 East El2hty-sixth Street
dangerously III. Ha orasented note
f'om Kelly's pnysle.an, DR.. l.. Oui-
mrnn, in which the latter said thnt his
patient had heart tr. uble and Brighta
discase, and that appearance in court
now or in the future might end in
his death
Mr.. Untermyer had been very anx-
ious 10 get Kelly on the stand. bccnuYe
Of previous testimony relating to his
close association with BrindelI. He IA
sa'd 10 have spent considerable time nt
the latter's country home at Schroon
Lake. Eidlitz said he had henrd. too.
Of Keily's having received gifts from
the House Wreckera' Union at Brin-
della direction.