The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-12-06
Misleaders in
the American
Labor Unions
By WILLIAM 2. FOSTER

chllIly NMdIllH) MAIDEN laN
the basis of organized graft in tn,
Chicago building trades. He became
a real power in the industry in 1896
as business agent of the Steamfit
ters' Helpers. Bold, courageous, I'm
scupulous, ail-fellow-well-met, ant
a powerful organizer, he soon dom
mated the whole Chicago building
trades situation. Carroll, the cor
rupt president of the Building Trade.
Council, became his tool. Soor
skinny" reached the throne him.
self.
Madden mulcted the employers
right and left. He levied "fines'
against employers for infractions OF
union rules, sold them "strike in.
surance," declared strikes and ther
called them off for cash, all OF
which graft found its way into TIE
pockets of himself and his cronies.
In 1909 Madden, together with Mike
Boyle and F. A. Pouchot, were con.
victed of extorting thousands of do.
lars from employers. In connection
with this trial Luke Grant said that
Madden demanded bride of $4,000
on the Insurance Exchange Build
ing, or $1,000 per floor. He was
given only $4,000. Work stopped
at the tenth story. Like his kind
Madden was connected closely with
the capitalist politicians of his time
These rallied to his defense. Pres.
ent at his trial were many we'll
! known politicians. Senator Broder-
lex put up bonds of $4,000 for him.
Madden's friends succeeded in pack
ing the jury with union men and
ne and the others got off With l:~ht
fines.
skinny" Madden ruled the unions
with an iron hand. In his service
was a network of plug-uglies ready
to do his bidding no matter how
rough the job. He was elected for
h. IN his union. The elections were
simple. All those favoring him were
asked to step on one side of the
hall, all those against him, On the
ether. Few dared risk opposing him.
Mike Dc Kelley, leader of the Stock
yards Workers, once brought in a
resolution in the Chicago Federation
OF Labor condemning the notorious
Drlscoll, pal of Madden's. ST. -tly
a-1erward Donnelley was beaten and
nearly killed. He never fully re-
covered. By gun and blackjack
Madden terrorized the local labor
movement.
One of the most lurid events in
the history of American trade union
ISM was the capture of the Chicago
Federation of Labor from the Mad
Gen gang in 1905 by the Fitzpatrick
Nockels-Dold progressive faction. II
] IS wild story of Madden's fruit
less efforts to hold on by the use
OF gunner, ballot box stuffing. and
PONCE assistance. Though his power
vas at that time broken in the Chi
cago Fed ration of Labor Mad Zen,
remained car of the Building Trades
Council tor several years longer. He
died in 1912.
MAIDEN viewed the labor move
rnent simply as means to further
his personal ends. Like labor takers
generally, if he led any fights to
improve his workers conditions.
which he often did, it was because
1ms was necessary in order to main
tam the organization which was lis
base of operations. Madden. who
came to Chicago as q hobo, became
Wealthy from his knqvery. A cor
ervatlve estimate put his fortune at
100000 He owned several saloons
and was interested in various other
enterprises. He was rabid oppon-
ent of socialism ard every ploglts
slVe moveme.t in the tlsde uni9ls.
Gompers was his close ally. He
sneered at honesty and earnestness
IN the labor movement, favorite
saying of his being, "Show me an
honest man and I'll show YOU a
fool"
In an article entitled, "The Walk
lpg Delegate" in The Outlook, Nov.
III, 1924, Luke Grant, who was close
ly in contact with Madden in his
palmy days, thus describes him:
He was flashily dressed. His
trousers were fresh from the IRON
ing board of the tailor, and his
coat was the latest cut. He sport
ed fancy lavender-colored waist
ccat, and in his shirt-front a dia-
mond sparkled. Patent leather
shoes adorned his f.. His whole
appearance indicated that he had
no lack of money and spent much
ot'it upon himself"
Madden lived like lord, in luyuri.
Gus apartments. When taken to task
f. his wealthy manner of life he
defended himself like typical labor
faker, as follows:
Sure have an auto. What of
it? Don't the hod-carriers. plas-
terers and brickIayers know it?
They think a lot more of me be-
cause l sport it. The say, well.
there's some class to our boss.
amt there?' | sponed money. Sure
1 do. But most of it is for the
good Of the service, as the police
"