The evening world., 1922-04-21
GOMPERS ON STAND
.|NHOUS|NG INQUIRY;
TELLS LABOR VIEW
Mr.. Untermyer Gives Assem-
blyman McWhinney a Clean
Bill of Health.
BIG BOON IN PROSPECT
Counsel Deplores "Woeful
Lack of Vision by the Build
ing Trades Employers"

| Samuel Gompers, head of the
| American Federation of Labor, ap.
peared before the Lockwood Commit
tee on Housing this afternoon to dis
cuss general conditions affecting
union labor in the building trudes in
its relation to construction OF new
homes. -
Before the testimony there was a
settlement of the controversy between
Samuel Untermyer, counsel to the
committee, and Assemblyman Thomas
w. McWhnney. Vice Chairman.
The committee, except Mr.. Nc
Whitney. had an executive meeting.
When they fled back into the cham
ber Mr.. Untermyer strode to his table
and said, abruptly:
''Mr Chairman. desire to read
the following statement into the
record on behalf of the committee.
referring to various news
paper reports | desire to say that
there is entire harmony in. the
committee and that 1t has not
| charged by the committee or its
counsel that the action of Mr..
| McWhlnney in connection with
the bills at Albany, however much
we deprecate what some of us re-
gard as his lack Of judgment, has
been dictated by corrupt or un-
worthy actives.'
| Mr.. McWhinney stood up. Then he
sat down. Mr.. Untermyer, almost
without a pause, launched into dis
cusson of the immediate work of the
committee. He said
Upon the labor situation, concern
ing which we are about to inquire fur
ther, the situation is far from salts
factory. Just as we have made all
our arrangements and there is a tre-
lmendous building boom in prospect,
we find labor in an unsettled condi-
ton, due to what l regard as the
woeful lack OF vision on the part of
the presiding genius in the Building
Trades Employers Association. *.
Eugene Lantz, a former member of
the Jersey City Dock Builders Union,
which was parent of the Brindeil
organization in this city, and former
President Hoidstrom OF the New York
Dock Builders Association, were
called by Mr.. Untermyer, ahead OF Mr..
Gompers in order to make O basis for
asking MIR. Gompers about possible
reforms to prevent abuses of union
power by such men as Brindell.
Mr.. Lantz said he haL been fol
the union in bringing "unfounded
lcharges" against Brndell to the ef-
feet that BIindeli had levied a ''do-
nation assessment without authority
and had used abusive language Il
members who opposed it and misap'
propriated union funds. Union Of
fetal srefused to allow Mr.. LantZ t.
have access TO the books to Prov
his charges. Then they find him $500
. and suspended him until the fin
should be paid. He couldn't pay /
and has been on the outside, taking
odd jobs, ever since.
Former President Holdstrom saiC
Brindel had been member of th'
IDockbuilders in poor standing unit
!. 19ll. Then he began paying due
3 Regularly. In few months he wa
|, elected business agent at $40 week
lat the first meeting following the sal
larry was increased to $50 week. Til
! expenses Of the union that year, 1912
= rose from 81. 900 to $4,000. Mr.. Hold
h lstrom objected to Brindell's expendl
Q lures and was deposed. Brindell'
Q salary was raised to SIS week. MI
n Holdstrom as a member, objected tn
union sustained the objection. Brin
e Idell continued to draw the SIS a wee
8 on warrants signed by the new pres
/, dent; the expenses of the union ros
y to $2s. 900. in 1914.
: what happened the next year?
II asked Mr. Untermyer.
1.-THE union-it went bankrupt,
< said Mr. Holdstrom sto'id.y,
Meantime, Mr.. Holdstrom, sti
fghting Brindell's expenditures, W;
expelled after he had brought charg
against Brindell which were new
y tried because there was a riot at Il
trial meeting which was ended in
raid by the police reserves and indei
y nitely adjourned.
Mr.. Holstrom formed a new uni,
under a charter from the \. f. of |
taking with him about 1000 member
he said Brindell kept 900 retainers
Dock Builders Local No. 1856 und
a Carpenters International Brothe
hood charter.
Mr.. Holdstrom went 10 France a
built docks for the army in 19I
When no came back Brindell h
effected a consolidation Of the I,
unions. Mr.. Holdstrom was barr
from New York. He got a uni
card in Baltimore. When he car
back to New York the card was TAX
from him on the ground that he h
never paid n fine imposed on him
Local No. 1856 to which he had neN
belonged.
"For what were you hned7" ask
Mr.. Untermyer.
"They wouldn't tell me-" said \
Hoidstrom. "They wouldn't even
5 me how much the fine was"
Mr.. Untermyer said nc had ser'
= notice on the Dock builders and
international Carpenters that pr
. tices like these must be voluntar
remedies and forbidden or the Co
!. mittee would get legislation for st
regulation OF union memberships
yolyinK the right to work,
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FOR COLDS. GRIP or INFLUENZi
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