The daily worker., 1925-07-29
Los ANGELES
CARPENTER IN
SOUND ADVICE
What's the Matter and
What to Do
BY HELM voLL


WORKER TOR July 9th, page 4, col.
2, is story by Worker Correspondent,
dealing with a false statement made
by E. E. Hampton, ex-secretary-treas
urer Of the Los Angeles District coun-
I'll Of Carpenters.
This is mentioned simply to help
identity hampton, who on July 5th
before aforementioned council, in a
farewell address" said: "the hardest
factor with which to deal is the ex-
member and his continual Knocking"
am not Interested in how hard the
factor" is, but the cause for it's ex-
istence. Are they knocking because
they are just contrary minded, or have
they real grieveances. This is what
interests me, and | think every man
and woman, who like myself carries
card. Let us inquire into a few
things which may have something to
do with the ever-growing discomfort
in many quarters.
FaVortsn
That favoritism exists in most un-
ions is beyond dispute 1t is by Civ
ing jobs to their friends. and showing
them favors in other ways, that Off
cials frequently maintain themselves
in Office. Said a fellow carpenter at
the hall the other day:
See him. That's Richardson. He
has been appointed by Hutcheson to
look after the studios Now he is Civ
ing out tickets for jobs in the movies
to his friends" And sure enough,
that's exactly what he was doing.
Gaegine of Expression.
In many locals. men with ideas of
a progressive kind, and competent to
express them, are ruled out of order,
while those with mentality belong
ing back in the dark ages, and not
any too expressive, are cheered along
by the chairman, who usually sees in
him a man after his own heart.
Some time back, a member of an
other local visited our local, and was
called upon to make a speech by the
chairman under good of the order"
He talked haltingly, giving the impress
sion of having a guilty conscience. His
talk was nothing but a Salvation
Army speech with God, glory and hale.
LULA left OUT It had nothing in it
which by any stretch of the immagi.
nation could come under the headline
referred to- If he had talked on the
advantasespg amalgamation he would
, have been out of order and marked
or expulsion.
Too Much Attention to the Boss
Then we have the report Of our busi-
ness agents. which we have long since
learned to take with a grain of salt.
II is usually a story about excursions
made into the sanctuaries of the CON
tractor, or some public official, seek
ing to Interview these elusive birds.
These are often heroic tales, with the
business agent as the hero. The trials
and tribulations in the search for his
hearts desire is often told with feel
Ing and in a most graphic manner
After many unsuccessful attempts he
nnally succeeds to corral him. here or
there, and they part friends. and the
Doss promises to do this and that
promises which never become any,
thing else.
Last winter, one of our business
agents said something which rings
true. He reported that in a number of
instances, when he asked men on tho
Job what locals they belonged to. thew
would tell him. ASK the boss" II
did not feel good to be talked TO that
way, he said.
don't know what he thought about
the causes for such a reply. but To me
1t is very significant.
Onfriendly to Members from Other
Parts.
one ex-member from Philadelphia
told me that when he came 10 los
angeles, he went to the Labor Temnle
Tor Information and guidance as a M.
ION man naturally would. Here he was
tod, by an official, that the best thing
lor MIN to do was to take the first
train back east, as it was impossihle
10 get Job anywhere near the scale.
FOLLOWING such advice was well nigh
impossible, for good and sufficiant
reasons. He went out and cot a iob
tne same day and at the union scale
OF wages.
He had been two years in Los An.
geies without clearing in. In fact he
was out OF the "Brotherhood' entirely
AZ heart he is union man and would
De credit to any organization OF
workers. This much can't say for the
omciai who placed the straw that
broke the camels back
IL has not infrequently happened
that business agents have been told
by ex-members, that they never would
join again as long as certain men were
continued In Office. The right or
wrong OF this attitude / am not dis.
cussing Just now. | am trying TO set
down some of the causes for the hard.
est factor"
When an ex-member told the wrlta,
L..