Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-03-16
Whats
New!
By
Edwdrd Duck
On Leave
With The
Army
A TRIBUTE

fishly of his time, money and
health, that others, not all of
whom appreciated 1t, might
improve their status as work
ers.
It is a tribute to one whose
modesty is classic and whose
character is outstanding. His
honesty has earned the re-
spect even of those who have
consistently opposed him. He
is indeed a rare person-good
to know.
Howard Cutcher has served
the workers of the Electric
Auto-Lite Com pany since
1887, being elected executive
shop committeeman each year,
until last year, when he rose
to the craftsmanship of his
unit. This year he was de-
feated. So be it. This is not
a political article, nor does it
taste of sour grapes. Good
luck to his successor.
1t is because l have known
Howard Cutcher as a very
close friend since one day
back in 1887 when we at
tended the Notre Dame-Pitts-
burg football game together
that / am able to write this
article. ] have watched him
closely and have seen him ac-
cept burdens that almost any,
one else would refuse. / have
seen others take credit for
the things Howard did. l
have seen him prosecuted and
maligned upon numerous oc--
casions, but usually he would
just chuckle and say, Let
them have their fun" It's all
in the game, and Howard
knew it and accepted it that
way.
VOLUNTEER
In 1941, when Local IL be-
gan its successful organiza-
tional campaign at the Cham
pion Spark Plug plant, How
ard and | volunteered to work
as team in making house
calls. He dug into his pocket
for gasoline money, accepted
no compensation for his time
and trouble, and burned the
midnight oil, including Satur-
days and Sundays, in bringing
these workers into the fold.
In all my years of associa-
ton with Howard Cutcher !
have never seen him place his
own welfare ahead of the well
fare of those he represented.
He would go without his sleep
and meals in order to attend
meetings and negotiations.
In his shirt pocket could
always be found little slips of
paper, notes referring to re-
quests and favors from people
in the shop which called for
something "over and above
the line of duty. l do
not recall his ever having re-
fused anyone a favor. In fact,
there are people who bitterly
opposed his election to union
office, but who sought him
out when they had a very spe-
cial request to make.
Whether it was a blood
TRANSMISSION that so m one
needed or a problem on un-
employment insurance, How
ard was there to help, no mat
ter who was making the re-
quest.
GOOD JUDGMENT
His judgment has always
been calm and deliberate. He
never spoke unless he knew
exactly what he wished to
say. He never footed his own
horn.
AS for courage, newspaper
stories a few years back told
how Howard turned on gun
man during a holdup, chased
the thug while he was being
fired upon, tackled him, and
took the gun away from him
which should give you some
idea of what he's got that
most people haven't.
No, Howard Cutcher didn't
get elected. But il isn't his
loss, at all. And l know him
better than most folks. He has
no price, he's loyal to his
friends and his beliefs, and in
my opinion is the type of per-
son who is needed in the labor
movement, His principles are
unquestionable, and have
never been challegened by
anyone who chose to disagree
with him on any issue.
l might add that his admin
istration was unquestionably
the most efficient in the his
tory of the Auto-Lite unit, in
spite of internal dissension
and an appalling lack of CO.
operation by few of his asso-
ciatas.
| don't feel sorry for How
ard Cutcher because he was
defeated. l rather feel sorry
for those who failed to appre-
ciate him. The campaign is
over. His opponent has won,
Y n