Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-07
CIO-AFL Pick
Evil City for
Merger Talks
Chicago Noted for Rule
by Racket Unionists
BY wEsTBRooK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLEH
THE present moment, when
Il William Green and his
executive council of the AFL are
meeting in Chicago and peace
with the Go Is in the wind. is
an opportupe time TO remind
him, and all others concerned, OF
some interesting truths.
Chicago is the most corrupt
area in all of American union
ism.
These deliberations are being
carried on in city where labor
organization always has been
racket dominated by criminals
| and where the few honest lead
ers have silently condoned such
evil conditions either out of fear
of the underworld or in an I'M
courageous belief that 10 drive
/ the rascals out would be TO cause
scandal and harm the cause of
| labor.
In Chicago, Mr.. Green, him
! self, adorned with his official
! presence, a testimonial dinner
given for William f. Maloney.
the president Of the operating
engineers union. AT which Joe
Fay of Newark was one OF the
honored guests and featured
speaker.
MIR. GREEN doubtless knows,
wi and he certainly should
know. that Maloney is a rich
man. with a stable of race horses
and a winter home on Miami
Beach. and that Fay is not only
a vice president of this union
but a rich contractor as well.
In Chicago an ex-bootlegger
and common I'm world
racketeer operating under an
alias took over union and
also. like Maloney acquired
winter retreat on Miami Beach
which he bought for cash from
AL Capone's business manager.
Frank Nitti. also spelled Nitto.
This member Of Mr.. Green's .
organization was accused Of a
shortage Of 5000 900 in the
union funds and AT my last
information had got away with
| il because the secretary treas
urer and the books had vanished.
Mike Boyle. braZen and no
torious. and denounced by the
United States court Of appeals,
is an eminent Chicago colleague
Of Mr. Green, in command Of
the electricians and. OF course,
Mr.. Green will not need remind
ing that Chicago was the home
grounds of George Browne, now
i'm prison. who was a member OF
the very same executive council
or supreme cabinet OF the ALL.
and the home grounds of Willie
Bioff, too.
Mr.. GREEN, who often chideS
WI me for neglecting 10 praise
the good in unions while de-
nouncing the had. never made
a move or voiced a word against
Browne, and the executive coun-
Gil lacked the decency and
character 10 throw him out
even when his crookedness vas
notorious.
Instead. Just as he was about
10 60 10 prison, they got rid Of
him by voting to eliminate his
position in the council.
etx-1 L.. -
been placed on a committee 10
investigate and report on rumors
of racketeering in unions of the
ALL in Chicago.
Another mob of Capone hood
lums took over union OF bar
tenders and walters and robbed
the treasury. and II was in Chi
cago that George Scalise and
others organized building en-
ployes' union.
Chicago was the zone Of oper-
ations Of Mike CarroZzo If the
hod carriers. and is still the
home of Jimmy Petrillo, the
president Of the musicians, cur
rently under fire by the depart
ment OF justice.
IN FACT. unioniSm in Chicago
Il is so rotten that one narvels
at the effrontery of the dumb
ness Of the executive council in
holding its meeting there and
making the situation conspicuous
10 the rest Of the country by
presuming 10 treat with the Go
on the subject OF labor peace.
Now. Mr.. Murray Of the Go
and Green and everyone else
concerned in the discussings
knows all this to be true and
call attention 10 the fact that in
speaking of peace none of them
has given or will give the slight
est recognition Of the foulness
which negligent and unworthy
leadership has permitted TO exist