Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-13
Double Life
Of Unionis+
Is Exposed
Joe Fay, Friend Of Green,
Plays Both Sides
Thursday. August Is, 1912
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

iCIihS dS hiuiiNSu lilub, uiiuti
world character and union
racketeer and you can fit them
into place at will as descriptive
matter wherever you encounter
the name OF our subject, who is
Joe Fay, a vice president of the
International Union of Operat-
ing Engineers, a great power in
the American Federation of
Labor and an honored friend of
William Green. That will avoid
repetition and speed up the
story.
When, a few months ago. Mr..
Fay went into court in Syracuse,
N. Y. TO answer a felony indict-
ment accusing him OF booting
in the face of II. OrYille War
ner. one of his union subordi-
mates, his expensive legal staff
asked for q dismissal on the
ground that Brother Fay. fine
patriot. was indispensable in the
prosecution OF the war.
Mr.. Warner, the complaining
witness, had taken a runout.
obviously 10 oblige Brother Fay,
who stood to get five years in
prison and was really scared.
So. after brief continuance.
the indictment was dismissed
and Fay was released.
TT WAS not necessary 10 dis
L miss the indictment and IL
was a matter OF legitimate COM
ment that the prosecutors office
and the court were willing 10
permit a dismissal under such
conditions.
For il was reasonable TO Sus-
pect that Brother Warner had
been taken care Of and that
somebody was fiouting the dig
nifty of the court and monkeying
with the machinery OF justice.
Nevertheless, the indictment
was dismissed. and. sure enough.
soon afterward. Brother Warner
was given back his job as bust
ness agent of one Of Fay's local
unions in Rochester.
Governor Lehman Of New
York has power 10 order John
Bennett. his attorney general
and Jim Farley's candidate for
the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination. TO investigate War
ner'S disappearance, Fay's ac-
quittal for lack of prosecution
and Warmers reinstatement in
his jobs through Fay's influence.
but he has done nothing
about il.
Mr.. Bennett. il appears. Is
unable 10 initiate such inquiry
without an order from the
governor.
AS TO whether he would so
order his own attorney general
! II elected, one does not know.
but. on the basis of Tom
Dewey's past performances with
such unioneerS as Fay and War
ner, one may feel reasonably
sure that, if elected, he would
! WELL. so now we come 10 the
w real significance OF that
crack of Mr. Fay'S lawyers about
his~ peculiar value in the war
| effort.
Apparently they did not mean
merely that he would be valu-
able in shaking down workers
for large fees. dues and taxes
! for the privilege CT serving their
country on the civilian war con-
struction Jobs
They would seem 60 have had
in mind also his great impor-
! tance as a construction contrac-
tor. for il turns out that Mr..
Fay is working both sides OF
/ the street.
On one side ne j. unioncer
representing labor with an up
! per case l. IN its relations with
! employers and on the other side
he is an employer, himself. in
large way of business dealing
with labor.
LIE IS president Of the Inter-
IL national Excavating Conn.,
pany OF Newark, and the preSi-
dent of his local Newark union.
No. S25, is Edward T. Shinn
who is also vice president and
treasurer of the company.
Then we find that Edward
Shnn Jr., son of the old
gentleman. is president OF an
other big firm called the United
Crane e. Shovel Service Co. Con-
tractors, who also deal in con-
tractors machinery.
Next, we have the Interna-
tional Hoist & Machine Co.
also of Newark. whose president
is Fred w. Romp. who was, with
Fay and Edward Shinn Sr.. one
Of the original incorporatorS OF
the International EXcavating
Company in 1923.
ray recently put resolution
through the Jersey Building
Trades and Construction Council
in favor of Senator Smathers.
the man who nominated Thomas
F. Meaney as federal Judge.
touching off a rather gamey
scandal, and Judge Meaney is a
member of the Frank Hague
machine which Brother Fay well
serves both as unioneer and