The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-09-23
BY ROBERT DUNN.

| anyone VINO mas observed the Work
ings of the Tammany machine in New
York City and its relation to the lead
ers Of certain labor unions. The OBJ
ject OF this article is merely to sketch
some OF the incidents in this relation
ship. The reader can Judge for him
self what the effects of it must be
upon the trade union leaders and upon
the general problem of trade union
political unity.
To barter the labor vote" for polit-
zeal preference has been one of the
favorite parlor tricks Of the trade
union leadership almost since the
days when unions were first organized
IN this state. The labor leaders have
always taken part in politics Of the
most partisan character, tho, of
course, protesting publicly that they
were interested in the game only as
"non-partisans."
4 ND the labor leaders have for de.
"A cades been more or less strenu-
ously opposed by the socialists and
socialistlaborites, who have claimed
that the trading Of votes for personal
jobs was not the way to get labor
ahead In the political field.
One of the most militant and articu-
late exposers Of the labor leader in
this role was Daniel De Leon, who de-
clared in season and out Of season
that the trade union leadership was
betraying the workers at every cleo
ton. In the national, state and local
councils Of labor the socialists carried
on the same constant attack upon the
fat boys" who were feathering their
nests by trading the labor vote for
business and political Jobs.
DUN down the lists of the important
~ officers of the New York State
Federation of Labor, for example, and
you find a goodly number of them
who found their way into happy politi-
cal positions thru these methods.
Even before the days Of the State
Federation, when the state body was
known as the Workingmen's Assem-
bly,, we find the first president, Jim
Connolly Of the Practical Painters
Union, ending up as a state factory
inspector.
He was followed by w. N. Thayer
of the Typographical Union, who was
later president of the common council
Of Troy and the warden Of Dannemora
Prison. The next president, Tom
Bowling, a blacksmiths official, was
rewarded by the position Of state com
missioner of labor statistics. After
him came Bill O'Brien of the granite
cutters, who was later the sheriff of
New York county.
THEN. with the formation of the
l. State Federation of Labor, we find
Jim Lavery, a typographical man, the
first president. He was later appoint
ed to the state civil service commits
sion. Martin Murphy of the molders,
followed Lavery. He, in turn, became
civil service commissioner in Buff
falo and then went into business.
! The next executive was John Pallas
of the pattern makers, who became
park commissioner of Greater New
York, while the next in line, w. o.
Jones, graduated into the job of build
ing inspector at Utica. Finally we
come to Jim Holland, the present in
cumbent, who has held several ap-
pointive tho apparently not so lucra-
tive Offices from the state while still
in labor office. He is now on the
board of standards and appeals.
THE press on February 4 announced
4 Hollands appointment by Mayor
Walker as a LAY member" of this
board at salary OF $500. The New
York Times says: "He formerly held
the same position at per diem rate
of $40 for each session but
was dropped by Mayor Hylan after ne
came out in favor Of Walker for mayer
in the last campaign"
If Mr.. Holland retains his $4,000
position as head Of the New York
State Federation of Labor the two
Jobs will together net him tidy in
come from salaries alone Of S12,5OO.
The average factory worker in the
state, it may be we'll to remember,
earns annually, If employed full time
approximately $3.50, or one-tenth of
this amount.
THE same evolution Of labor leaders
4 could be followed thru all the
other Offices OF the state federation.
Among the secretaries and treasurers,
yice-presidents and legislative agents
| who later held public Offices were
Alexander Troup, later a collector of
federal customs under President
Cleveland; Richard Curran, now
member of the state industrial board;
Edward Bates. later deputy secretary
Of state: John Williams. later a state
labor commissioner; Patrick Doyle.
later with the state railroad commits.
sion; Jim Lynch, now head Of the In.
ternational Typographical Union and
once head of the state Industrial COM
mission; Jim Hooley, appointed as
state factory inspector; Jim McManus.