The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-22
FRESH DELUX FRIUT CAKE
FOR THANKSGIVING. NORRIS
GROCERY AND MAItKET.-Adv. 21-2
SENSATIONS COME IN INVES-
TIGATING BUILDING TRUST

their way into the city hall each
day the committee sits.
All types are to be found there in
the aldermanic chamber. Affluent
bankers jostle grimy laborers, while
watching an array of millionaire
builders, labor leaders and lawyers
pass in and out of the witness stand
under the merciless fire Of committee
counsel.
Many of these witnesses are seen to
squirm under the volley Of questions.
Once in u while n pleads for
mercy az Mr.. Untermeyer pins him
down.
For God sake, Mr.. U~ntermeyer,
don't sacrifice mt on this altar" inn
plored one contractor who had tes-
titled to the domination of certain
interests. You don't want me 10
have my doors closed with q million
dollars worth of business OF hand, BY
answering you here
But, day after day, the investiga-
ton goes on before crowds Of Witness
es, and in seclusion a grand jury
IufS oNtl NNcNAliipiF AApAA NAit AANaA AAA5
selected for its attention.
Constantly there occurs mention of
q code of practice. This cryptic term
crops out ever and again among
charges that combinations exist among
building men to restrict outputs. con-
troll prices and choke competition.
One witness admitted that a certain
..a. -.o, ,1.trn1Ia1 fha NATHAN nyar
by a national association.
Embedded in this testimony is the
code Of practice, alleged to have been
operated by John T. Hettrick, a law
yer, with several hundred subscribers
including cut stones, plumbing, heat
ing ana ventilating contracts. 1t was
charged that these building men sub
mit:ed their bids through a central
clearing house and 1.-THE work was
apportioned.
Through the code, clients were num-
bored and colored cards were mailed
them notifying them of the status
cf their bids. Production OF the key
sheets to the mysterious card sys-
tenn was n OF the sensations OF the
Investigation. Mr.. Hettrick charging
chat the cards and other data had been
stolen from his mail.
Witnesses testified that thousands
uf dollars were paid by clients TO Het-
trick under the code and that a large
insurance fund was maintained by the
various building groups, the purpose
of which has not been explained.
Running along with the charges that
under the code competitive bidding
was throttled. vas testimony by vari-
Gus witnesses OF payments involving
thousands Of dollars TO Robert 7.
Brindell. president Of the building
trades council, and his walking dele
gates.
Brindell, who testified that he had
been employed as a drug clerk al
Providence, Il. l., eight years ago,
is one OF the highest paid labor lead
FRS In the United States, and has
been described by witnesses as a
King, riding contractors with a high
hand. He has publicly denied the
charges but has declined TO return Ia
the witness stand after one appearance
at which time he objected To being
questioned as TO his personal life.
According 10 witnesses. Brlndell had
absolute control over the $4,000 un'
ion men in the building trades council
and could strike a Job at any time
Il the contractor did not meet his de-
mands. One witness declared that
the labor leader figured $1,000 a foot
for himself on a construction job. on
several occasions, 1t was testified that
Brindell had declined to take $500 OF
smaller amounts offered him with the
statement that he was mo piker."
one housewrecking contractor de-
clarcd that his million dollar busi-
ness" had been ruined when he re-
fused 10 pay tribute.
throughout. the hearings have beer
marked by sharp clashes between Mr.
untermeyer and certain witnesses, in
Guiding Hettrick who was declared
In contempt and his offices raideC
for documents which he had declined
to produce.
Mr.. untermeycr in a statement hat
declared that he IL not warning OF
the American Federation OF Labor
adding that In driving out the vultur'
he was rendering the labor cans'
the grcatest>assistancc.
Several times during tho investiga
ton Mr.. unterneycr has complained
OF obstacles placed In the path Of In
yestigation and asserted that importan
witnesses could not be found by sub
poena servers. Although It IS no
summer" he said, Summer resort
outside the state seem TO be quit
popular"
Evidence sought by the committee
has also been elusive according Il
Mr.. Untcrmeyer who brought out dur
inr examination that a group OF Gu
stone contractors had destroyed Ger
tain documents relating TO price hN
ing because they might have beel
incrfminated IL the papers fell ih''
the hands OF the committed.