New Britain herald., 1930-11-29
Rise Spectacular

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 Rise Spectacular
 Washington. Nov. 29 (CP)-From railroad yard clerk at $l&0 day 10 q cabinet post at SI5.oQo year will be the story Of William NuckIes Doak f the senate confirms his ap- pointment as secretary Of labor.
 Thirty years mark the span of that unclosed career. but the starr n the dinsy yard offices of the Nor folk and Western railroad at Blue field. W. Va. with coal cars rattllng by all night long IS q fresh mem ory.
 The old lunch basket Doak 'sed then is now a relic on the mantle riece Of his study at "Notre Md COur Nestl, his home near Wash ington The basket IS small, because not many sandwiches can be pur- chased out Of S1.30 a day. It's orig iaal cost was 10 cent.
 The old basket took on q new sig nfcance late yesterday when Pres ident Hoover defed the advice Of The American Federation Of Labor and named Doak to his cabinet. succeeding Secretary of Labor James ]. Davis.
 Recognizes Opposition
 MT. Hoover recognized the opposi- ton expressed by President William Green Of the A r. Of L. 10 the naming ot anyone outside the fedcr- ation. Doak. being counsel here for the Brotherhood Of Railroad Train men, does not meet Greens qualjf- cations. But Mir. Hoover contended he should have the right 10 name anyone he chose.
 Tn view of Greens warning, MT. Hoover intimated he considered II his duty 10 name Doak.
 T do not feel that l can consent 10 the principle" said the president, of debarment Of the railway em- ployes or other labor unions and as- sociations or any labor man in inc United States from the opportunity or the aspiration 10 attain any of fee in the land.
 4AdFt lIl- II Sli--- l'-o p|1L lOi Mir. Green and the federation but Mr. Greens enunciation that ap- pointments must come from one or sanitation in fact imposes upon me the duty to maintain the principle of open and equal opportunity and freedom in appointment 10 public office.'
 Green expressed keen disap- pointment' at the appointment. He did not say whether the federation would hght Doaks confirmation, but concluded his statement:
 Question Not Answerable
 Why someone outside the federa- ion has been selected is a question that cannot be answered by labor and one which it IS difficult 10 un- derstand'
 Green argued that presidents have selected federation members since inc post vas created and that there are many eminent men in the de- psrtment who could have been chosen.
 Doak's friends believe he will be confirmed bE the senate. He has been legislative counsel Of the brotherhood here for nearly l , years and knows every member of the sen ate. many Of them intimately Ii is understood he wants to make peace with the federation.
 At the very moment the president was announcing his appointment poak was in conference with fed ~ration officials on unemployment matters. As soon as he heard the news he telegraphcd to his S6-year- old mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Doak, who is living with a sister, Mrs. D. r. McCartN, Bristol, Tenn.
 Born on Farm
 Doah vas born near Bristol on | farm which was obtained by his an restors as an original grant from the king Of England. He is 4S.
 His rise in labor organization cir clcs has been rapid. While q switch man he was elected to a post in the local labor union. In 1908 he be- came general chairman Of the Nor folk and Western Union. In 1916 he was chosen president and national legislative representative
 From that time on ke was elected to successive offices in the Brother hood of Trainmen, finally becoming vice president His latest post, ob- tained after he turned down the presidency, was editor Of the Broth erhood magazine and general legis- lative counsel.
 He and Mrs, Doak live in home on a beautiful cliff five miles up the Potomac river from Washington on the Virginia side. There he plays with his dogs. two white collies, Waltham and Margy. and dictates his magazine material to a dicta phone.
 Has MitcheIIs Book
 The largest book on his shelf is Organized Labor" by John Mitchell. During the war he served on the railroad control board where S,0S0 labor disputes were settled without a strike. He does not, however. re- gard that as his greatest achieve