The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-16

0AAC0s
BY playing safe, remaining
neutral while rivals cut one an
others threats, Green has 'wormed
his way step by step to the top,
while far ADLER men fell BY the
wayside, victims Of their own
militancy. g1s
But now, at the height Of his
career, the old guard craft union
leaders finally. have pushed him
out to O position which will per-
NIT no fence-straddling.
Bill hated to get there. He
baked and hedged during the
first part Of the way. Just the
same, now he Is out where he
cannot possibly back down, and
the resultant struggle may cost
his coveted Job.
Lay Preacher '-'-
Green was born at Coshocton,
Ohio, March 3, 1873, the son OF
pious English miner and a Welsh
mother.
He entered the Ohio mines at
the age Of 10, after an elementary
school education supplemented
by diligent reading Of the Scrip
lures at o neighborhood Baptist
church. Young Green's familiarity
with the Bible led to his being
invited occasionally to act as lay
preacher at Baptist churches.
Green joined the United Mine
workers soon after going TO work.
A little later he also became an
Elk and an Odd Fellow.
He won his first union ONCE,
president Of the local union, at
the age Of ~, chiefly through the
influence OF his father, who was
highly esteemed by his fellow
workers. Six years later Green be-
gan his climb to high labor ONCE
by the stratagem Of keeping
out Of lights.
Fast One
william Haskins, the Ohio dis
trict president, made the mistake
Of going of to Europe as dele
gate to q trade union conference.
Before departing he asked Green
II the latter had any intention OF
running against him, received q
definite negative.
But no sooner had Haskins left
than his foes organized o drive
against him, and elected the
neutral, but willing Green to his
ONCE.
Green now had his two large
feet firmly planted on the esca-
lator to trade-union success, and
he kept on going, ...
State Senator
Next, Bill took a filler In poll
tics, became an Ohio state sena-
tor, and executed the neat
stroke Of getting credit for the
state workmen's compensation
law. Actually o legislative COM
mission did the work, Green
merely introduced 1t. es. s..
Bill's next big union-step was
appointment to the ONCE Of
secretary-treasurer Of the United
Mine Workers. This past was
handed him largely because he
came from Ohio, and the state
at that time had no representa-
ton on the board OF the UNIV.
Green proved O plodding but
working UNIV ofilcial, was
O jealous advocate OF the princi-
pie Of industrial unionisrn, made
many speeches at labor gather
ings extolling It's virtues and Its
superiority over craft unionism.
These words the CrO militants
have blasted back against Green
-~-now the scourge Of industrial
unionism.
Lucky Break
Several years after his elevation
TO the secretary treasurership
Green got lucky break that
paved the way for him to grab
the A. r. OF l.. presidency years
later. b.
John Mitchell, president Of the
UNIV, resigned as O member Of
the executive council Of the fed
Grafton. Mitchell was No. 2 In
seniority on the council, and
when he left the other members
moved up one place each, leaving
the seventh and last vacant.
This was offered to John p.
White, O UNIV vice president, but
he hotly rejected 1t as beneath
his dignity. II was then rendered
TO Green - who accepted with
alacrity.
Gompers' Successor
From then on Green went
steadily upward - by the simple
process Of standing still and let
ting time do It's work. Precedence
Is as important In the councils
Of the A. r. Of l.. as II Is to the
dowagers OF social Washington.
As older council members died or
quit, Green moved up until he
had reached the high eminence
OF third vice president. Then
Sam dompers died..
Gompers' choice as his sue
cessor was Matthew VOL, ultra
conservative Federation leader.
But the other Federation
moguls didn't like Wolf per-
nee THE nENn0n