The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-02-09
civic FEDERATION
FOR MORE FEUDAL
TIES ON WORKERS
But Big Union Chiefs
Remain With 1t
BY ROBERT w. DUNN,
Federated Press)

Although conventions of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor have repeat
eddy adopted resolutions in favor of
old age pension legislation. important
officials Of the Federation and lead
ers of its international unions con-
tinue TO hold places on the executive
committee Of the National Civic Fed
Grafton, a militant opponent of state
pensions.
This fact is again brought to the
attention of the American working
class through the press service Of the
Civic Federation, which releases a
story ON Recommendation to In
dustrial Establishments for the Study
and Formulation of Funded Pension
Plans" The Civic Federation has
always fought pension legislation and
boosted industrial pensions used by
corporations to tie workers to the
plant, promote "loyalty' and break
strikes.
Feudal Lies.
This latest pension study of the
Civic Federation is further endorse
ment of what Abraham Epstein. re-
search director of the Old Age Pen
sion Commission of Pennsylvania,
calls one of the leading items of the
benevolent feudalism Of manage
ment." In his recent report on the
PROBLEM of Old Age Pensions in
Industry" Epstein concludes that not
through employers paternalism but
through legislation alone, can the
needs of all the INDECENT aged be
met adequately.
What Sullivan?
In spite Of these conclusions and
the conclusions of other competent
annuity experts, the National Civic
Federation continues to attack all
pension legislation. It's latest report
is signed by p. TOcumseh Sherman,
attorney; James E. Kavanagh, Metro
politan Life Insurance Co.; Arthur
Williams of the New York Edison Co.
notorious open shop firm-William
J. Graham, Equitable Life Assurance
Society, and Frank V. Whiting of the
New York Central Lines. With these
goes the signature of flames w. Sui
livan (Labor)". There are lots Of
Sullivans in the American Labor
Who's Who. But James is not one
Of them.
Labor Members.
On the letter heading used by
Ralph Easley, executive secretary Of
the Civic Federation, we find some
new names under that section on the
Executive Committee, labelled "On
the Part of the Wage Earners". The
recent appointees to take the places
of resigned or deceased labor mem
bers are Thomas +. Mcmahon, presi-
dent, the United Textile Workers of
America; Frank Feeney, president,
the Elevator Constructors Interna-
tional, and Anthony J. Chlopek, presi-
dent, the international Longshore-
mems Assn. Chlopek succeeds T. V.
O'Connor, still Honorary President,
International, Longshoremen' Associ-
atom, while Mcmahon takes the
place of Timothy Healey who resign
ed in protest against Easley's attack
on pension legislation and the British
Labor Party.
Daniel Tobin, president Of the
teamsters' international, is another
labor leader, whose name is off the
committee list. He is succeeded by
Frank Feeney, prominent republican
spokesman Of Philadelphia and editor
of the Philadelphia Labor World, a.
fake sheet which Philadelphia labor
refuses to endorse. Feeney was
named several years ago in the Mar
tin Mulhall expose as taking money
from the National Assn. of Manu-
tacturers for services in New Jersey,
In Bad Company.
Others on Easley's committee are
James Duncan, vice president, A. F.
of L.; M. ]. Keough, head, the Inter-
national Molders Union; W. S. Lee,
president, the r. II. trainmen; VIM.
ID. Mahon, of the street railway en-.
ployes; James Maloney, Glass Bottle
Blowers; ID. b. Robertson, firemenI
and enginemen; i. h. SHEPPARD, of
the Conductors; and Matthew Vol,
now acting president of the Civic
Federation, who signs Easley's broad
sides against Senator Borah and
other senator's favoring recognition
Of the Soviet Union.
Outstanding open shoppers on the
executive committee representing
employers--are Nicholas i. Brady, Of
New York Edison; George d. Cortel-
you, Of Consolidated Gas; Marshall
Field the banker; e. X. Hall, Of
American Telephone and Telegraph,
a firm that broke an A. r. Of IL
telephone girls strike and uses non
Union electricians only; Elon II. Hook
err, of Hooker Chemical Co,
also head of American Defense Soci-
ETY.; odgen L. Mills, of International
Paper Co., which broke the Paper,
Pulp g. Sulphine workers "a. +. of
L.) strike in 1921. Representing the
public are such capitalist figures as
7. Coleman dupont, open shopper
and John Hays Hammond, foe Of tho
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