The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-05-28

workers. In this field, the gangSters played
dual role They frightened the ranks of the
skilled unions preventing organization of all
the workers in the trade, and they guaranteed
the bosses against strikes. For this they received
a double graft-from the union members and
from the employers. The usual game is to
keep the books of the union CLOSED" and force
prospective candidates for membership to gay
sums as high as $500 for the privilege of re-
ceiying a union working card. Many of the
misIeaderS who rule through gangsters are silent
partners in construction companies in whose
favor they operate their union powers. Others
receive regular salary from the bosses as strike
insurance"
The labor bureaucrat who held perhaps the
record for corruption and betrayal was Robert
P. Brinden, one time president of the New York
Building Trades Council In 1921 Brindell, to-
gether with number of his gunner in the
building trades unions was indicted by the
grand jury on evidence arising out of the So
called Lockwood Investigations 1t was es-
timated that Brindell's graft ranged between
100000 and 100000 per year.
His Spectacular Rise
Brindell had a spectacular rise from an I'M
known dock worker to the position of the most
powerful labor bureaucrat in New York State
In the course of his eventful climb to the heights
VI LIS COIIupClOl lie OLSdIl4ACQ uOCh NOIhSIo
of New York. Securing small increase in their
pay, he forced some 1000 of these workers to
make him the life long president of their local
union. Each of them, moreover was compelled
to vote him personal contribution of fifty
cents per month as his salary This levy brought
Brindel between $4,000 and $4,000 yearly.
Gompers Helps Along
Brindells next act was to make friends with
the national labor bureaucracy. In 1914, he
formed strong friendship with Samuel Com
pers, and his dock workers were given federal
charter by the American Federation of Labor
in spite of their irregular form of procedure
Brindell Immediately became active in the New
York City Central Federation Union (now the
Central Trades and Labor Council, the joint
body representing all the unions of the city.
In 1916 he helped William B. Hutchinson, Pres
ident of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners, another Labor Faker break the
famous 1916 carpenters strike in the city by
sending in as scabs the members of his dock
builders local.
In 1919, he again united with Hutchinson to
break carpenters strike in the east. In this
year he became president of the New York Build
ing Trades Council So great was his power that
he succeeded in having himself elected as rep
resentative TO the A. F. of L. conventions in
which he forced support of his methods. Dur
ing this year. he outlawed 10000 New York
painters who had insisted on democratic man
agement Of the Building Trades Council
II was first disclosed that Brindell, like most
other labor takers in New York City, had worked
hand in hand with Tammany Hail. the demo-
cratic machine. In particular, he had joined
forces with one William Kennaly, vice chair
man of the Board of Aldermen and the right
hand tool Of the Tammany Boss Charles MUIR
ply.
Among other things, Brindell entered into
agreements for large considerations with in
diyidual employers and associations to supply
labor to them uninterruptedly. builder by the
name Of Levy paid him $4,000 to have strike
called off. Another firm by the name of Todd
Irons and Robertson agreed to pay Brindell
$4,000 for strike insurance" and delivered the
first installment Of the total during an auto
mobile ride. Max Aronson, cloak and suit
manufacturer paid $4,000 to have work resumed
on his building after Brndell hal called a
strike After the money had been paid the
same non union men went back to work who
had been previously employed
The function OF these msleaders and their
gunner in the skilled unions, as is clearly evil
dent, was not to struggle for increased wages or
to maintain even the wage scales OF the "ay =