Evening star., 1939-03-05

Close beside him. in the steel negotia-
tions, in the recurring bargaining be-
tween the miners and the soft-coal
operators, and in all other cgar-to-
cigar engagements has been the stout
hearted Murray Scotch by birth and
by speech, Murray has been an Ameri-
can citizen since 1911, an active men,
Der of the United Mine Workers since
1912, vice president since 1920 and
the boss of the S. w. O. C. since its be-
ginning. Under his bossing and his
bargaining, labor relations are and have
been orderly throughout the steel in
dustry, except for the small bloc of inde-
pendents which refused to meet the
union.
HiIlman Is Contrast.
Offering something of a contrast to
these two men of the mines is Sidney
Hillman, once called the Machiaveli of
the c. l. o. Youngest of the three, Mr..
Hillman was born in Lithuania in 1887,
came to the United States in 1907. and
has been president of the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers since 1915. Through
out his career the soft-spoken and care
full Mr.. Hillman has been a student and
active worker in the social sciences.
Years before the New Deal made so
many others conscious of such possi-
bilities, Mr.. Hillman was aiding in CO.
operative housing and in unemployment
insurance experiments in New York,
Rochester and Chicago.
In the highly organized needle trades
industries, his own union is the largest
and has a background of orderly rela-
tions with the industry, developed largely
through his skill at negotiation and bar
gaining.
Facing these three in the approaching
negotiations will be a trio not nearly so
well known nor so severely tested
Probably best known on the Fedora
ton committee is Matthew Woll. Short,
dark, and permanently attired in a
wing collar, the dynamic little president
of the Photo-Engravers has feuded per-
sonally with John Lewis on numerous
occasions. Born in Luxembourg, he has
lived in the United States since 1891.
Throughout his long labor career he
has found sufficient time to take an &C
tive interest in educational affairs, dis
ease prevention, particularly tubercu-
losis, workmen's insurance and all the
'isms" which have plagued us through
recent years. For the latter, he has deep
and abiding dislike.
Two Dark Horses.
r,;tl 4; I, ;.s.
Peace Committee are two dark horses"
insofar as having thus far played a
prominent part in labors internal strife
is concerned.
Harry C. Bates, president of the Brick
layers Union, is native of Texas Be-
ginning his union career in 1900, ne
worked his way through local and ma
tional offices of his union until he be-
came its president in 1896.
Thomas A. Rickert, oldest in years
and in service of all the six named, has
been president -of the United Garment
Workers since 1904, taking the Office
when he was %. Parent union in the
garment field, it was from the United
that the Amalgamated of Sidney Hill
man broke loose. Although each re-
NAMED in the A. F. of L. for many years.
a rather vague division of jurisdiction
kept them at comparative peace with
each other.
Possibly this division might serve as
q measure for adjusting some of the
intraindustry conflicts facing the nego-
tiatorS.
Each of the Federation trio is vice
president of that organization and a
member of its Executive Council, policy
making body. And while, as noted, none
can cite careers as spectacular as those
of the C. I. o. committeeman, each is
experienced and wise In the ways of
labor negotiation.
Beyond their control, however, is an
other factor which quite probably will
have considerable bearing on the pend
ing negotiations.
As President Of the United Mine Work