New-York tribune., 1921-06-14
Labor Fight ON
Graft Praised
By Untermyer
Telegram to A. +. of l.. Con-
yention Cornmends Deci-
sion to Refuse Recogni-
ton to Brindell's Gang
Defends the Union Shop
Crowley, i'm Statement, De-
clares Council Plans to
Assist in Cleaning House

Lockwood committee, sent q message Of
ccngratulation yesterday to the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor, in conven-
ton at Denver, on its decision to force
tho reorganization of the Building
Trades Council here, the body formerly
ruled by Robert P. BrindelI, now In
Sing Sing for extortion.
At the same time Patrick Crowley,
present head Of the council, issued 8
statement declaring that IL was the
intention Of the organization "to CO.
operate with the A. F. Of l.. and any
other bona fide organization for the
betterment of labor conditions"
He declined to say whether this
meant that the council would submit
to all the reforms which John Donlin,
president of the Building Trades De-
partment of the A. F. Of L., has been
instructed to introduce into the coun-
Gil. He added he had received no off,
cial word yet that Donlin was coming
TO New York.
| Mr.. Untermyer in his telegram to
| the convention pointed out that eff the
| New York Council is forced to reorgan-
ize on proper lines or disband this
wholesome housekeeping will involve
no danger Of encouraging non-unionism
or what propagandists miscall the open
shop, to which ! am fundamentally op-
posed"
| Urges Hutcheson Be Deposed
He added that it would greatly
strengthen organized labor by ridding
| it of W. E. Hutcheson, head Of the
Joiners of America, whom Mr.. Inter
myer referred to as "crony" of Brin-
| dell's and as "an evil influence"
It was understood that Untermyer,
in accordance with his agreement with
the Lockwood committee, he had also
written letter to Attorney General
Daugherty in connection with Federal
action against the nationwide COM
binations exposed by the committee.
Dispatches from Washington said, how
ever, that the Attorney General had de-
clined to release the letter for publica-
| ton.
Mr.. Untermyer's message to the A. r.
OF l.. convention reads:
Untermyer's Message to A. r. of L.
CAS- a lifelong champion of organ
lied labor, who has been unremittingIy
denouncing the malign and corrupting
influence of the New York Building
Trades Council and particularly its
criminal arrangements with the Build.
ing Trade Employers Association, I
congratulate the convention on it's
| courage and wisdom in refusing to
further recognize this lawless, defiant
and undemocratic council.
Its agreements with the EMPLOYERS
ASSOCIATION are grave inquiry to or
/ ganized labor in whose success / am
andaalways have been deeply concerned
The employers are exploiting the
unions to the public injury and are
maintaining their unlawful combina-
York Council is forced to reorganize
on proper lines or disband, this whole
some house cleaning will involve no
danger Of encouraging non-unionism
or what propagandists miscall the
open shop to which I am fundamen.
tally opposed. 1t will greatly strength.
en- organized labor by riding it of the
Brindell gang and his grating satellites
and will place it on an honest, digni.
fed basis.
Exploited by Employers
"Under Brindells blighting strong
arm methods of leadership and that o.
his present regency, the Council has
been mere pawn in the hands of these
combinations Of employers who hav,
exploited the Council to perpetuate ane
shelter their unlawful trade combina
tions for their own benefit to the in
jury of labor. Our committee has un
covered repeated instances or agree
ments between unions in Brindell'
Council and associations in the EN-
pioyers' Association, where unions wer
required to enforce the employers cor
rupt agreements to the extent of ex
torting for the labor furnished b,
unions double or more than the amour