The New York herald., 1921-05-31
BRINDELL'S COUNCIL
SURVIVES EXPOSURE
Despite Lockwood Reyela-
tions 1t Wins Support of
A. f. of l.. Leader.
OUTLAW UNION UPHELD
Imprisoned Building Cars
Aids in Control, Holding
500 a Week Jobs.
MORAN NOW FACES TRIAL
Untermyer Resumes Inquiry
To-day Into Effects of In
surance on Housing.
OUTLAW UNION UPHELD
MORAN NOW FACES TRIAL

John Donlin, president of the build
ing trades department OF the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, has notified
William Kehoe, secretary of the Cen
tral Trades and Labor Council, that
the council has no right under the
constitution of the American Fedora
ton of Labor to investigate the Build
ing Trades Council. of which Robert
P. Brindell was president until he
went to Sing Sing.
The Central Trades and Labor
Council, which takes in all classes of
unions throughout the city, but whose
Jurisdiction over the building trades
unions Brindell refused to acknowl-
edge. adopted on May l a resolution
introduced by Philip Zaussner. secre-
tary of District Council 9, United
Brotherhood Of Painters, Decorators
and Paperhangers of America, calling
organization and composition of the
New York Building Trades Council"
Zaussner's union has long been at
war with the Brndell council. and in
painters union Brindell organized
within his council an outlaw union
of painters. decorators. &c. Since
Brindelrs conviction the Zaussner
union, which is recognized by the A.
F. of L., has sought to bring about
the dissolution OF the outlaw union es-
tablished by Brindell. The resolution
introduced by Zaussner for the in
vestigation of the Brndel organiza
ton was aimed mainly at the outlaw
union of painters, decorators, &C.
Secretary Kehoe of the Central Trades
and Labor Council communicated the
text of the Zaussner resolution 10 Mr.
DonTn as president of the Building
Trades Department Of the A. F. OF L. In
November last Donlin notified Brindell
that unless the practice Of establishing
outlaw unions was abandoned by the
Brlndell council it would be necessary
to revoke the A. F. of L. charter of the
council or take some other disciplinary
measures Nothing, however, was done
in this direction by Donhn or the A. F.
OF l. and the charter of the Brindell
council leaves 1t still fundamental part
of the Building Trades Department Of
the American Federation of Labor.
In his letter to Kehoe. given out last
night by Patrick Crowley, who succeeded
Brindell as president of the Building
Trades Counci Donln informs the sec
retary of the Central Trades and Labor
Council that the proposed investigation
by this body of the Brindell organization
will not be permit -ed. Donlon's letter
reads in part;
Replying to the subject Investigation
into the form of organization of the
Building Trades Council of the City Of
New York allow me TO say that such An
investigation might be welcome Dy the
Building Trades Council. Howevef, the
question is a matter Of law Has the
Central Trades end Labor Council the
authority to investigate the Building
Trades Council? The whole matter is
characteristic of New York and of the
element that seeks the investigation
The form of the New York Building
Trades Council, in my opinion, is one
that might succeed. where one of BIZ
annual (half yearly elections would be
sure to fail Nothing is so injurious to
cur movement as the element of politics.
and tho longer the period between cleo
tions the better chance for attention to
be given to the interests OF the lay
man. IL am allowed to use the express
sion On Washington, as ] believe New
York has 1t patented.
However. the Building Trades De-
partment of the American Federation
of Labor under its charter. has juris-
diction over all matters indicated by the
name of tho department, and as presi-
dent OF this department ! respectfully
frf h0dv N y, axyc
no right to investigate anybody char
tered by this department These great
defenders of democracy who are asso-
ciated with your body would do we'll to T,
recognize departments and not arrogate |
unto themselves autocratic authority. |
but recognize the constitution to which
We. as a movement, have subscribed"
Donlins reference to the defenders
OF democracy was accepted by labor
men last night as a veiled hit at the at
tacks OF Samuel Untermyer. counsel to
the Lockwood Legislative Committee,
who has on several occasions attacked
the Brindell council as an 'undemocrat-
ic'' organisation.
Zaussner In his resolution, also char
acterized the council as undemocratic
and pointed to the fact that under the
Brindel system the business agents, or
walking delegates OF the unions. who
constitute the membership oil tue bullu-
ing Trades Council. are elected by their
unions for three year terms at fixed
salaries OF s75 a week or more. Some Of
them have been elected for life.
This three year term was established
by Brindell as requisite to member
ship In the council. though In other
unions and previous 10 Brindelrs riso
to power In all unions In the building
trades elections OF business agents were
held every six months. The same policy
OF three year terms Is being continued
under the reorganization or the coun-
ell since Brindeli went to prison. Ros-
well D. TomplSins still Is secrstary Of
the council: Steve Birmingham, who lost
his police lob because of his connection
with Brindel's compensation bureau in
1 the council. is still special agent" for
4 the bureau: Ed Weinberg Brindel's
! crony and real estate manager. now
| holds a 5000 job in the same bureau
and in other ways the actual control
| OF the council by Brindell. through his
friends, is said TO be still as absolute
az ever.
The Lockwood committee will resume
| It's inquiry to-day into the effect OF
| insurance practices upon local building
conditions Joseph Moran. one OF Brin-
I del's walking delegates. will appear for
\ trial to-day on On indictm mt charging
4 oXtortion Moran was indicted jointly
/ with Peter Stadtmuler and Brindel.
4 Stadtmuler is in the Tombs awaiting
i scnfepce He has indicated a deaira "a