Evening star., 1936-01-21
D. c. LABOR BODY
REFLECTS LOCHER
Central Union Presidents
Ticket Defeats That of
Henry Rhine.

Long prominent in organized labor
circles here, John Locher, ironWorker.
last night was reelected president of
the Central Labor Union. with 100
member bodies and total membership
OF 100000.
Locher and his associates defeated
an opposition ticket headed by Henry
Rhine of the old National Recovery
Association Lodge, American Fed
Grafton Of Government Employees, by a
decisive vote. Rhine moved to make
Lochers election unanimous, but un-
der the rules this was not done.
Locher personally carried 1876 votes
to Rhine's SO. Clyde Mills of Typo
graphical Union was reelected vice
president over Joseph Ferrier, book
binder, by 1T to 70.
Frank j. Coleman, secretary: J. E.
.Toone, treasurer, and Michael Tozzalo,
sergeant at arms, were unopposed and
received the entire vote of 249.
Lester Is elected.
Robert Lester. bakery driver was
reelected financial secretary over C. K.
Kreicllbaum, machinist. by 1876 to 64.
Frank Lee, machinist, officer Of the
City Bank of Washington, with l76:
Harry Thompson. brewery worker,
with 189, and Agnes King, uphol-
sterer, with l89 votes, were elected
trustees, in competition with l.. E.
Sullivan, who received 73 votes; Dan
Kessler, GO, and Louis Tuckman, So.
The delegates heard the story of
two victims Of silicosis disease at
Gauley Bridge, w. Va-Arthur Pey-
ton, 20, and Hiram Skaggs, AZ. who
said they were afflicted with the
malady, which, they said, has killed
nearly 400 of their friends and asso-
ciates, and threatened 1000 more.
Skaggs said he has so much of this
glass dust on his lungs that his
heart is beginning to harden, and the
doctor had given him five years. at
most, to live. Peyton, younger man,
said he was protected part of the
time with respirator but still suffers
from the dust and from breathing
gasoline motor exhaust in the tun-
mel. which was completed in August,
1881. The delegates took up a cash
collection of sS0.43, to be turned over
to the Peoples Press Relief Commit.
tee.
Racing Bill Reimbursed.
The Central Labor Union reiterated
its position in favor of the pending
bill for the District of
Columbia. A telegram was read
from Walter E. O'Hara, Miami, Fla,
operator of race tracks, promising that
If he obtained the right to operate
track in this city it would be erect
ed by organized labor A delegate
declared that O'Hara had promised ,
it also would be operated by union
labor. OHara is expected to be here
Thursday.
Seventy-six new delegates were
obligated. upon presentation of ere.
dentials.
The Washington Newspaper Guild
sent four "fraternal delegates" who
rights on the floor, but no voting
rights, since the guild does not belong
officially to the American Federation
of Labor. The delegates are Robert
M. Buck, Washington Daily News; J.
Bernard Mcdonald. Post; Richard
Baker, Times, and Eddy Gilmore, AS.
sociated Press.
The officers were installed by w.
w. Keeler, past president Of the
Central Labor Union Organized La
bor is growing in strength here. ac-
cording to Locher, who reported that
members in locals affiliated with the
central body now number nearly
10000 more than at this time last
year. Locher is executive secretary of
the Building Trades Council and was
formerly business agent of the iron
workers.
The annual meeting was held, as
usual, in Typographical Temple.