The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-01-15
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1915, by King Features syndicat

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1915, by King Features Syndicate)
CH1CAGO.-Today I present guest artist
who signs his name "Joe,'' on the letterhead
of Joseph A. Padway counsel, American
Federation of Labor, Tower building, Wash
ington, D. CO.
This document is dated Jan. 81, 1910, and
is addressed to Mr.. George Scalise, general
president, Building Service Employees Inter-
national Union.''
BY way of introduction, be it explained that
Joseph A. Padway is close political friend
of President Roosevelt and is the attorney
general of the American Federation Of Labor.
He is also general counsel of the Transfers
union, whose president, Dan Tobin, gave that
dinner for Mr.. Roosevelt last fall at which
the president made his first frankly politi-
cal speech of the campaign. Mr. PadWay was
present there that night. Be it further explain
ed that Padway was sent to England with
Tobin as Mr. Roosevelt's considered selection
of a man morally fit, to represent the decent
working people of the U. S. A.
George Scalise president of the Build
ing Service Employees union, an important
unit of the A. F. of L., later was sentenced
to two terms in prison for offenses which, in
ALL amounted to a vicious betrayal of the
windoWwashers, chambermaids, scrub-women
in office buildings, bell-hops in small hotels
and pinboys in bowling alleys. Previously he
had served four years in a federal prison for
white slavery in that he did compel girl 16
years old, to travel from state to state as
prostitute.
Having Become president of the union. by
selection of the old Capone mob of murderers
in Chicago, and never having done prob
ably honest days work in his life Scalise ap-
piled to President Roosevelt, through the de-
partment of justice, for pardon which would
restore his right to vote and hold public Of
flee. This petition was endorsed by William
Green, the president of the A. F. of L. and by
Padway
A few days before the petition might have
been granted by President Roosevelt, Sea-
Uses criminal record and firm evidence of
his continuing associations with underworld
gangs in the labor movement were published
in these dispatches
Joseph PadWay counsel for Scalise's
union and admits having received from Sea-
lise $1,000 for legal services short time be-
fore he endorsed the petition.
The letter he-einbefore mentioned follows:
Dear George:
IT had read Pegier's article before l re-
ceived your letter and l was about to write
you concerning it. l know that you feel bad
over this article, for that is quite natural. Yet
Pegler is very much disliked man, and l
am sure that those who your friends will
remain your friends, regardless of the vi
ciously over-emphasized and coloced attacks
he makes upon you The mere fact that he has
used such rotten language will create In the
mind of the average reader suspicion OF the
truth of what he says
Don't let it worry you. Those who know
you and appreciate that the comments OF
Pegler are false and unfounded. Those VINO are
your friends-and I include myself IN that
category-wll remain your friends and will
think as much of you as they ever thought of
you. AS for myself, 1 am going to support
your application or restoration OF Citizenship
with all the power at my command In TACT,
have already discussed the matter with Presl-
dent Green, so as to arrange an appointment
for him and me to confer with MI jackson.
Editors note: the attofney-general ap
nointee) The difficulty is that Mr.. Green had
r. 90 To ST. Louis. l daresay shall have
to 90 to the department on our return from
Miami. In view of the Pegler letter (Edltors
note May refer to Pegler arucle) II may
be better to go at that time because the reg
Ter letter will have been forgotten to quite
deoree by then Remember George, there is
nothing so dead as yesterdays news. Remem-
her too that no person has any respect for
tho writer of an article who resurrects an in
cident that is no more than youthful lndis
erection in order to heap abuse upon such
youth almost quarter of century after the
incident.
please keep your head up and meet with
your friends just as you have been doing.
keen on fighting for your union and its mem
beers as you have been doing. They will think
as much of you as they have in the past and
YOU will retain their continued respect.
GAS stated before, I shall again ask
President Green to go with me to the attor-
new general 1 am glad to have your letter
because it will help me to present the facts
to the attorney general and 1 am hopeful that
we will be successful Above all, l don't want
YOU to become depressed.
"You must be maintained in this labor move.
ment for tNe good you have done and the
good you will do Remember, I am with vo'