The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-05-03
ELECTRIC union
NOT HELPED BY
BR0ACH And co.
Hired Thugs, Gangs,
Beat Men
HBu q Worker CORRESPONDENCE

Your paper has reached a good
many brothers in our local, and l
want to thank you for your enhght-
ening information about the deplor-
able conditions existing in our local
and the electrical trade.
Thugs and Gangsters.
AS a lay member, I want to pros
test, through your paper, against the
manner in which the officials of our
local are curbing free speech, en-
forcing the blacklisting of members
on jobs with paid-up cards, and the
beating of members by hired thugs
and gangsters.
It seems as though the presiding Of
ficials are afraid of criticism by the
members, maybe because they want
to keep the members ignorant of
what is going on, lest they expose
their unfitness for the positions that
they hold.
I have been a member of Local
for the past fifteen years, have
travelled as a floater for years, and
never in all my experience have heard
Of regular paid-up members being
kept out of meetings. This condition
does not exist in Chicago where Mike
Boyle controls the union OF course.
if he tried to keep regular members
out of the meetings, he might not at
tend another meeting.
l can well remember the time when
the Lockwood committee investigated
our local and found w. A Hogan
short something like $4,000, sent him
to Jail and let the thief, Joe Lawler,
who stole much more, get out free
for turning on his co-thief, Hogan
Hogan at present is the locals finan-
cial secretary, after having been de-
feated for five years in succession
His coming back was not due to the
members wanting him back, but due
to the fact that Breach kept telling
the members that Hogan was inno-
cent, when Breach really knew in his
heart and soul that Hogan had stolen
the beneficiaries' money from the
widow Smith. Court records will
prove the above statement.)
Contractors Friend.
Since I have mentioned Breach, lei
me say that I have known him fol
the past ten years, and have yet tc
hear of him doing anything for the
electrical workers. l do know that he
associates with men like Livingston
Comstock and Fishback, who are con.
sidered large contractors in this town
do not know Of single thing that
he has done for Local 3 outside Of
helping GUST a gang of grafters anC
helping install another group of in
competent men, thieves and mislead
ers.
IL Breach were on the level, as HI
claims to be, why does he support
men like Wilson, the president. whc
had his finger in the pie with O'Hara
Stanton and O'Toole? Why does HI
support men like PRESS, who wen
down in defeat with screaming Willie
Walsh, the ex-president and now ;
contractor in New Rochelle? WIZ
does he support McNally. Gallagher
Vain anu AADEeLs WHO were all III
volved in the stealing of the permi
money back in 1917? Surely, uphold
ing these men in their behavior il
not in keeping with integrity towar,
the union and its members.
BOdyguard
/ wonder why Breach requires
bodyguard when he walks in tn
street. He must know that he is no
working for the interests Of the mem
bers of Local 3. These men who guar
him are supposed to be bushes
agents. Surely 5000 a week is a 10
of money to pay for bodyguards.
Ny only hope is that the member
realize what they are doing at tn
coming election and show car Broac
that they are not as yellow as h
claims they are. For myself, l ar
working on one of the big jobs in tn
city, and I keep my eyes and ear
open and my mouth shut, because
have family to support and do no
want to expose myself to Breach
stool-pigeons on the job.
| have written another article abou
conditions in our local and will sen
same as soon as this one is published
niay The DAILY WORKER continu
to grow in circulation
ELECTRIC.