The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-12-21
.isleaders in
the American
Labor Unions
BY WILLIAM z. FOSTER


and Robertson, $4,000; A. Hersh-
kovitz, $4,000; G. A. Northern
Wrecking Co., $1I120. The highest
demand he made was for 100000
from the Gotham National Bank
Building. He compromised for $685.
900. How he worked is shown by
the following testimony to the Lock
wood Committee by Hugh F. Robert
son, builder, constructing the Cum
ard Building and Cunard docks:
81 think it was Brindell that used
the term strike Insurance. This
was insurance against any labor
trouble on the job. He said that if
we could get strike insurance it
would be good thing to have. /
wanted to know what kind of an
arrangement we could make. He
quoted the sum. He said he .fanted
$4,000 for strike Insurance. He
wanted $4,000 Immediately and the
rest of the payment to come along
on request to be strung along"
After an appointment with Brin-
dell, says Robertson:
"He took me back to the office in
an automobile and / put $4,000 on
the seat of the auto. | charged that
$4,000 to sundry expenses"
On later visits VIII Brindell, dur
ing luncheons at the Hotel Commo-
dore and on automobile rides, $4,000
more was paid in four payments by
Robertson.
To further his grating schemes,
Brindell had strong organization
which he used ruthlessly against the
employers and his enemies in the
labor movement. He almost COM
pletely suppressed democracy in the
unions. The Building Trades Coun-
Gil, of which he elected himself presi-
dent for life, was a mere clique of
grafters, taking orders from him.
Only three unions, themselves equal
ly corrupt, ventured to oppose his
autocratic rule, the bricklayers,
painters and house wreckers. Where
necessary he did not hesitate to ex-
pei A. F. of L. locals and to organize
dual bodies against them. Neverthe-
less the A. F. of L. constantly sup
ported him, as it does countless
other grafters and takers. Brindell,
although sharing the plumber with
his associates, was greedy and sell
fish. This contributed much to his
downfall. Once, for example, tIsi-
ness agent reported that he had been
offered $4,000 to wink at non-union
men employed on the Job. Brindell
took the matter out Of his hands,
got $4,000 and put it all in his
own pocket.
Brindell bled his unions. His sal
airy as president of the Dock Build
ers ran to $4,000 per year. He
was known as the highest priced la
Dor leader in the world. Of the so
cents paid monthly by each of the
$4,000 members of the Building
Trades Council, large portion went
into the pockets of the grafters.
Thousands of workers paid to union
officials as much as $1,000 per week
for working permits, little of which
money ever reached the union treas
uries. Brindeli once proposed to his
enemy, Zaranko of the House Wreck
ers, that the latter's 1900 men could
join the Building Trades Council on
the basis of $4,000 initiation fees
and $1,000 weekly from each of
them so long as they remained in
the trade. Small wonder that Brin-
dell became rich. He had big es-
tate in the Adirondacks, the mil
lionaires' playground, where ne spent
his summers. He had investments
in many companies.
Together with P. Stadtmuller and
]. Moran, both business agents,
GSindell, after being held on $780,
tlH bail, was convicted of extortion
and sentenced to from to 10 years
in the penitentiary. The specific
charge was that he had accepted a
bride of $4,000 from Max Aronson
to settle strike. Although every
body knew he was guilty of rob
bing the workers, Brindell was given
the full support of the reactionary
union officialdom. Only after his
conviction did Gompers wall: II
knew Brindell when / believed he
was thoroughly honest and l re-
GREETED very much that he has gone
wrong"
In Sing Sing Brindell, because Of
his wealth and political influence,
was granted extraordinary privil-
eyes. He had special food and
clothes, and whiled away the time
with a radio. Business agents came
to see him and he ran the building
trades unions from inside the prison.
Once he was found outside the walls
with his family. This caused a
scandal, and, with much publicity.
he was transferred to Dannemorra,
where the discipline is severe. But
later, without publicity, he was shift
ed to Great Meadows, where the re-
gime is milder even than in Sing
Sing. He was finally paroled, hav-
ing served three years and nine
months.
After his release Brindell tried to
"come back" in the labor movement.
But he was too badly discredited.