Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-31
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
THE great pick-and-shovel de-
partment of the American
Federation of Labor. which at
present is receiving some vast
sums from horny-handed Ameri-
can toilers of the poorest
bracket, is governed by an ex-
elusive group of labor leaders.
Joe Moreschi. the president OF
the union. known officially as
the International Hod-Carriers'
Building and Common Labor
erS Union, succeeded to the
presidency by vote of the execu-
tive board on the death of DOM
mick d'Allessandro in 1926.
The union controls 250.000
men in all parts of the country
and receives out of their small
and intermittent earnings up
ward of S6.000,000 a year.
OF THIS enormous income
" the international gets little
over millions dollars year in
per capita taxes at the rate of
30 cents per head per month.
plus s. out of each initiation fee
provided. Of course. that the
locals don't forget 10 pay.
TT Is unlikely that the locals
L would be so foolish as 10
hold out. however. because the
boys in charge of the internal
tional may easily cancel the
charter of an unethical local.
This year with the locals
representing ex-members of the
WPA force. farmers and casual
laborers. engaged in work on
environments and other rearma-
ment projects, HE international
should collect at least $1,000 and
perhaps twice that many S. divi-
r deHds eh. the initiation fees. So
the total receipts of MoreSchis
office should run we'll over
81 .250.00
They do pay modest office
expense. including the cost OF
charters. for enterprising or
ganizers starting new locals. and
they pay a death benefit OF from
$50 TO 5000. although in Chicago.
when that subject was men,
Toned to officers ef the Union,
no book figures were obtained.
GONE of tho locals have a s.
- week accident benefit for
members injured on the job. but.
again referring 10 Chicago the
= local unions would not show
their books.
Incidentally, although 5000 is
the maximum theoretical death
benefit, after man passes his
SlXileth birthday. though he may
have been a member all his
working life, the maximum
drops 10 $50.
OF course. il will be discov-
erred that William Green. the
president Of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor. has been Ut
tcrly unaware Of the nature Of
this union all this time. Mr..
Green being a man who likes IN
think good thoughts Of his assoc
ciateS in the cause of labor with
an upper-case l.
But in May, 1881. Mr. Green
was ono of those invited 10 a
testimonial dinner in Boston IN
honor of Moreschi as that great
crusader for the rights of the
pick-and-shovcl man prepared 10
shove off for Bristol England.
as a fraternal delegate of the
( AFL 10 the British Trades
Union Congress.
MIR. GREEN did not attend,
vi but Frank II. Mccarthy.
New England organizer of the
AEL. officially represented him
at feast adorned by the pres
once of army and navy officers,
the Italian consul and other per-
sons of rank and note.
Mr.. Morcschi was praised as
"a man and leader of men, and
sailed away for England to view
+ the customs of unioniSm there.
bearing in his pocket "a SUBJ
stantial check" from his devoted
/ followers.
"Mr. Moreschi." said a news
story of the following morning.
"has been similarly feted by
members OF unions of his organ
ization throughout the country
in recognition of his services and
of the honor paid him by the
AL selecting him as-itS