Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-06
Joe Padway
Legal Light
Of 7 Unions
AFL Counsel Branded
as ScaIise Friend
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

I EST any one forget the in
- teresting personality OF Joe
Padway, the general counsel of
AFL and general counsel of the
union conducted by notorious
George Browne and Willie Bioff.
I should like to relate the latest
feat of this prosperous altruist,
who recently had the effrontery
TO appear before the congress
sional representatives of the
American people and tell them
what laws they might pass and
what laws he would not stand
for.
Mr.. Padway, born in England,
became a pioneer in the union
movement in Milwaukee and
landed in Washington with a
rich practice as general counsel
for seven international unions
of the AFL and special counsel
for others.
AS general counsel OF the AFL
he was the attorney general OF
that rich and powerful organi-
zation of the American people
and sat in cabinet meetings OF
the ALL along with his client.
the notorious George Browne.
He also represented. as gen.
eral counsel. the Bartenders
Union. in Miami.
GEORGE SCAL1SE OF the no.
~ torious building service
union hired Padway to revise
his constitution" and Padway in
dorsed Scalise's application for
presidential pardon
Among the seven interna-
tional unions which provide Pad
way with the means for living
the more abundant life is The
teamsters' international, with
headquarters in Indianapolis.
whose president is that fine and
pious elder statesman of the
AFL. Mr. Dan Tobin. a member
OF the AF'L cabinet or executive
council
Notwithstanding his piety, and
well knowing Brownies charac-
ter. Mr.. Tobin nevertheless fore
badc 10 throw him out Of the
cabinet.
Like William Green. Tobin
was content TO let politics take
its course.
MIR. TOBIN is a fine Ameri-
A'A can with the reservation
that he does not trust the pub
lie courts and has denounced as
lower than the unspeakable scab.
any member, however sore OPP
pressed. who dareS 10 exercise
his American right 10 appeal TO
the courts for Justice.
Although Mr.. Padway. as
lawyer. is an officer of the court.
he finds ii within his ethics 10
repr es en- this organization.
whose president has expressed
this preference for private union
courts which may be conducted
by persons acting in the role of
judge. Jury and defendant
In Cincinnati. OF late, a group
OF rebellious members of IL local
transfers unions. subsidiaries OF
Mr. Tobin'S international and
having 10000 members. brought
suit and grave charges against
Mr.. Brocky Farrell. who had
been sent in as trustee by Mr..
Tobin following some trouble
many years ago.
A trustee in such cases occu-
pies a position similar 10 that of
Adolf Hitler's governor general
in Poland or CZecho-Slovakia.
He is set over tho rank and
file without their vote or con-
sent and is accountable only IN
the international headquarters.
Indeed. in the transfers union
there is constitutional question
whether even Mr.. Tobin. having
once named trustee. may re-
move him or call him 10 account.
TNHE Cincinnati rebels charged,
Il among other things. that
Mr.. Farrell was a dictator and.
most heinous Of all sins. that he
had authorized numbers Of his
subjects 10 cross the picket lines
of other unions.
For a few terrible DAYS II ap-
peared that the intimate affairs
OF this group Of Mr.. Tobin's SUBJ
ject unions might be exposed 10
the public courts so Mr.. Padway
rushed TO Cincinnati and saved
the day.
The suit and the charges were
Withdrawn and elections were
ordered.
The rebel factioneers were 10
refrain from impugning the
character Of Mr.. Farrell or his
representatives with reminis-
cences or allegations.
For these brief but talented
services Mr.. Padway was allowed
a fee, payable by the local work.
ers on his insistence that a man
so fine as Brocky Farrell. him.
self grown wealthy with the
years. be spared such pain Of
soul as might he caused by pub
lie scrutiny Of his conduct.