The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-20
BIG:EI i I ! / | [ |
ALWAYS Y 81 D | /
Labor Leader, With Police 4 ii Re !:
cord as Long as Arm, Not
( Without Friends.

CHICAGO, May 19.-Chicago is
the only city in the United States
that could, in 1922, produce Big
Tim Murphy.
Though under Indictment with
Fred Nader, a" Con" Shea and five
others in connection with the labor
war bombings in which two police
men were killed. Murphy's friends
stand by him They have stood by
him before.
In fact, he has police record as
long as ones arm; and yet this has
in no way intrfered with his rise
to leadership in Chicago labor clr-
scIes Or in politics. Big Tim mas
been a congressman s. private secre-
itary in Washington and mem be-
Of the Illinois legislature.
Rig Tin, has .'inflooence. And
S.inflooence'' is what counts. 1t
makes no matter how man gets
it. or how he uses it. Just SO he
has it. sChicago-or to be strictly
accurate. a part of Chicago-re
spects the possessor thereof.
! In Tough District.
out near the stockyards is
touch district. The only right that
really counts is the right that starts
from the shoestrings and lands
square on the button under an ad-
yersary's chin 1t was in this dis
trict Tim Murphy was born 80
years ago. That's where he grew
up. That's where he lives today,
with his liveried chauffeur, his
blooded dogs, and his speedy rae
ing cars.
AS a true product8ot his ENVIRON
ment. Big Tim is hard. But ne n
many admirable qualities. He nev'
er could have attained and held has
position as leader without the n
is endowed with physical courage
He makes decisions quickly; and
stands on them: In his dealings
with his fellow men he is often
times obliging to an extreme.
His Ambition.
Early In life Big Tim learned
that the men who were looked VI
to were the men who could gram
A"fayors." He set out to put himself
IN position to do granting on a
VIII olesa1e basis.
To gain his points, first in Tom
Carey's gang of Indians. Big Tim
| became an expert debater-T.wen
ty-ninth ward style. A Twenty.
ninth Ward debater says it With
fists. From the gang it was ar
easy step into politics. Former
! Congressman pipes McDermoti
needed boys like Tim who were
leaders among the young fellows
1t was McDermott who took the un
schooled stockyards youth to WASH
Isington as his private secretary ant am,
iwho later helped him get elected
to the legislature.
Knew What Was Wanted.
fHF -, oil ceHn tlnT
had been neglected. but he knew
what McDermott' and his own con
stituents wanted And he generally
GOT ~ for them. A boxing bill. fol
Instance.
In this district of Chicago, a rec
FORD as slugger and gunman is no
against a man-if he can shove box
ling bills through. and get "favors-
| Murphy's political record is IN
significant compared with NJ:
i achievements in the labor Worlc
! Of Chicago He has absolutelt
! dominated the street .swepers ane
the gas workers unions, and ha:
earned the name of being a power
| in building trades unions
Police Record.
AS for his police record. his mos
notorious difficulty was his arres
! charged with killing NOISY En-
right. a rival labor leader. WheI
! the case came to trial the witness
| es% had vanished. At present ne. 7:
under six years Jail sentence fror
the federal court. which also I'M
posed an additional $780, tine
! for conspiracy in the $500 600 Dear
born mail robbery. In other case
Ihe has been acquitted or release.
from custody before his case cams
| to trial.
! The police say they hope TO ses
| him hanged as the result OF tnef
| nresent charge. Big Tim says
i.Thev,l1 never get me- I've been ii
/ sail too often and never got ever
scratch ed It's all frame-up-.