Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-09-30
FAIR
ENOUGH
Westbrook
PeeIer

THIS is to inform you that
- Matthew M. Levy, a former
municipal judge who has been
endorsed by the Democrats and
the American Labor Party for
a place on the Supreme Court
bench. is no cleaner than
Thomas A. Aurelio. whom the
Democrats and Republicans
both repudiated after Thomas
S. Hogan, the district attorney.
had revealed that Aurelio had
expressed a deep obligation TO
prominent and inveterate
underworld racketeer with
Democratic political connec-
tons and predictions. The
racketeer goes by the name OF
frankie Costello, which is an
alias.
The old parties are trying 10
throw Aurelio off the ticket,
but it is my belief that they
are stuck with him and the
interesting possibility exists
that this conSort of hoodlums
will be elected. However, as be-
tween Aurelio and Levy, / am
telling you that there is no
choice.
A few years ago Levy was
retained by Local 306. a New
York chapter Of the fnat bSome
Brown Bioff union and /or
racket in the amusement in
duStry. This local had been
racket in its own right and,
when the rank and file finally
got a rebellion going, he was
brought in as counsel, and not
a Selfless altruiSt, either, but
on the usual business under
standing between lawyer and
client.
In THIS position Levy had
L fine opportunity 10 observe
the workings Of Browne, Bioff,
Circella. John p. Nick and the
rest of the filthy vermin in
control of the shake and
squeeze IF he says he didn't
learn that they were rats, he
indlctS and diSqualifies himself
on one of two grounds. either
of them absolutely compelling.
If you believe that he re-
manned ignorant of their char
acter and Of the character Of
the union, then you have 10 re-
ject Levy as too dumb for any
job requiring the intelligence OF
a fool ] don't believe him.
However. because ] have great
respect for his intelligence, and
! hold that he condemned him
self on moral and eth ic A |
grounds when he went 10 the
"hoodlumS' old home week or
national convention, Of this
gang Of criminals in Louisville.
Ky, in June. 1910, and. in set
speech, paid elaborate compli-
ments 10 George Browne, the
president Of the mob
He said he was proud 20 have
been called upon 10 greet the
convention and tore into the
Communists like a parson as
sailing sin.
But. standing there amid this
brutal gang Of eutthrpats, he
had not a single word 20 say
against them. ON the contrary.
spoke Of Browne as "A modest.
earnest, effective and devoted
leader.
7 HAVE the official report Of
Il the convention quoting Levy,
but his remarks IN part are
paraphraSed or omitted so | am
unable 10 corroborate the United
Press report of the time. which
said that Levy had told the mob
that one Of the principal prob
lens of unioniStS was the poi
son Of certain columnists and
the poison Of all Communists ,"
However. | think this would
have been i'm character and I
believe he was referring 10 me
AS poisonous columnist. and I
want - nail his hide 10 the door
at this point
Every word Of the poison"
that / discovered, verified and
published. in the interests Of
clean unioniSm and justice To
the working stiff, has been
proved in court, and Levy's
modest, earnest. effective and
devoted" friend, who personifed
his ideal has been sentenced TO
prison for the very leadership
that Levy found so admirable.