Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-28
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
Peele1


IN THE contest for a place on
the New York State Supreme
Court we have before us, among
those competing, two men who
have associated with underworld
gangsters.
One. Thomas A. Aurelo, has
been repudlated by both the
Democratic and Republican par
ties since disclosures of his de-
votion and political obligation
10 frankie Costello, a slot ma
chine racketeer. Aurelio is
defendant now in disbarment
proceedings. but is still on the
ballot.
The other, Matthew NJ. Levy,
a lawyer long associated with
the union front. a lucrative field
for labor lawyer politicians, was
pulled out OF the hat by Alex
Rose of the Hatmakers Union
as the candidate of the mis-
called American Labor Party.
a left wing New Deal subsidiary
composed in unequal parts OF
Socialists. Of varying shades OF
pink, and Communists.
He was put forth after en-
barrassment overlook Aurelio.
MIR. LEVY who calls himself
VI friend of labor, was
counsel for New York Local 300
of the notorious Browne-Bion
racket of the movie industry
from Aug !, 1886, to Dec. 81,
1871. except the year 1888 when
he was on the bench.
His pay was $4,000 a year or
a total of S97 500 for services
which did not occupy him TO the
exclusion of other law practice.
After he ceased 10 be counsel
for the local. MIR Levy pre-
scented a i,iii fu0 s2S, BITS.
In subsequent litigation Wit
the union, which demanded the
return OF important papers, he
said that he had sac. 900 coming
and probably more.
Levy refused 10 hand over the
Union property Until ne was
paid $4,000 on Jan. II. 1912,
when the dispute was settled by
agreement between him and the
unions new counsel. Nathan
Frankel, who does the job for
$4,000 a year.
Mr.. Levy, labor's idealistic
friend. was firm. not soft. in his
financial dealings with the
working man.
IN SEPTEMBER, 1885. after
i Levy had become counsel for
Local SOC. the wages OF the
rank and file were cut 12is per
cent by reason Of a conspiracy
between Browne and Blofi and
the employers.
No suggestion is made that
Levy knew Of this secret agree
ment by which Browne and
Bioff received a large sum But
he was getting $4,000 a year
TO watch the interests OF the
workers and. as late as June,
1910. after Bioff had been re-
vealed as an underworld gang
ster, he lavishly extolled Browne
at the convention Of the mob in
Louisville.
After Levy ceased 10 be coun-
sci for 800. the local. acting on
disclosures made in the Browne
BIon trial. sued several motion
picture companies for the
amounts which the members
dad lost through the conspiracy
10 reduce their pay.
The petition charged the en-
ployers with hribing Browne and
Blon. Two of The defendant
companies settled--Loew'S for
S97 800 and R-k-O gor So, 500
Levy may have had no inklin'
Of the character Of Browne and
Bioff when he first became
counsel for 800, but they and
their union were notorious
When he laviShcd praise on
Browne in June. 1910. $3.50
by that time il had been
shown that Bioff was an old
brothel-kccpcr who had never
worked and he was in Jail.
Nevertheless in his official re-
port. Browne eulogized Bioff as
"A martyr who was suffering
horribly so that the members
and their loved ones might enjoy
a better life.
Levy's only comment on the
report was that II was 'thought-
provoking lie took no excep-
ton 10 the praise OF Bioff.
Copyright. 1888. Dy United Features synd.