The Wilmington morning star., 1946-12-10
As PeglerS Sees 1t
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright by King Features Syndicate, Incl

and will be pushed out of his job in a revolu-
ton Of young Turks. The only aspirant for
his place is Dave Beck, of Seattle, a dictator
in his own jurisdiction which includes the
entire Pacific coast. Beck entered the sltua-
ton as Tobin's protege and, for 10 years.
has ruled not only the teamsters but much
of the interstate and intrastate OF
California, Washington and Oregon. He began
bv personal appointment as Tobin's represen-
tative. Beck is an alert, highly intelligent,
aggressive professional unioneer who mates
communists and takes, and deserves, credit
COR a successful fight in that area to con1lne
Harry Bridges to the waterfront, resisting
Bridges efforts to shove his influence lnshore.
To call him a professional u%nicneer is slmp'
lv to acknowledge that here is a relatively
young man, in his fifties, who, like Tom
Dewey in government, has made a pro1es-
sion of his occupation, studying the history
of the labor movement and developing ms
strength progressively, year after year. His
power is Sch that, with a word from oeatue'
he was able to call off the general strike
in Oakland last week at an alarming mo
ment when, otherwise, a local, or Wlder, clVll
war might have occurred. However, ne coulo
start a civil war just as easily under our
laws. Although he is much mere intelligent
and efficient than Tobin and has none OF the
old mans vanity, he is not, necessarily, a
more desirable man from the STANDPOINT OF
the whole public. He undoubtedly would clean
out, however, many of the stupid ola local
and regional bosses of Tobin's political or
ganization within the teanlsters and organize
an entirely new administration.
Beck also is now the most likely candidate
for the presidency of the entire American
Federation Of Labor but not necessarily as
the immediate successor to William Green,
who is ~78-years old and weary OF the painful
personal strife which moved John l.. Lewis
to write last year that there actually was no
labor movement in the United States but a con-
fusion of bitter rivalries. To be elected presl'
dent of the AT. of L., a candidate must go
to the convention with a strong union ana
a big block Of delegates behind him ana tne
teamsters are one Of the big ones. Matt VOL
of the photo-engravers, for example, Is a
landmark, who in some political circumstanc-
es, might be taken as a compromise candl-
date as the republicans selected All Lanoon'
from Kansas, a small state, IN 1880. but or
dinarily a small union, such as the pholo-
engravers, could not elect its man. VOL
wouldn't take the job, even as a compromise
man. however. for he is 67-years old, him
self, and enjoys a prosperous and comfortable
life in the role of executive and dlgnltary,
with an insurance business as a sldelae. NC
other field offers greater opportunities 10
young men than unionism in the Az OF ~.
Until Lewis jeopardized his own power with
the current coal strike and drew down. upon
his union and himself the fines and the spec
tacular denunciation pronounced by Judge i.
Alan Goldsborough, a scheme had existed
whereby Lewis was to persuade Gresh u"
resign as president OF the Az. OF L.. ana
%contrive the appointment of William L. Hut
cheson, the president OF the carpenters an
other of the big AFT. of L. unions. to serve
the unexpired portion Of GREEN'S term. Hut.
cheson, who is 77-years old, long ago planned
Cor his son, Morris, who is first vlce-presi-.
dent Of the carpenters. The carpenters con
s%titution specifically provides that, In the
case of a VACANCY in the presidential office,
the first vice-president, shall become presl'
dent. Hutchinson has wanted the A. F. OF l..
presidency as an honor to enc his career.
It is impossible TO toresee whether Lewis
will emerge from his present troubles bigger
than ever, a busted dictator or only scuffed
up. Anyway. the scheme certainly goes on
ice for a time, but even if old Hutch should
presently get a term or portion OF a term
as president of the AZ. o. L.. that would
mean no impeachment to Beck's ambitions, if
he wants the job. Hutcheson is just too old
to carry on. Beck might be delayed a year
or two but that little time would serve him
comfortably in the development OF his politi'
cal plans and power. In any case, Beck is
coming on whereas the old men are tired
and fading and realize now that the only
question facing them is not whether they will
90 but how gracefully.
Although Beck was, as stated. a protege oe
Tobin, and has been one Of his councillors
in recent years, he may have had a hand
in making Tobin ridiculous with his po,npositv
and posturings by ercouragiag him to treat
himself as a great man. Some clever mind
certainly was responsible for the idea of Civ
ing Tobin a royal winter palace in Miami
Beach which Tobin was ready to accept as
an expression OF appreciation from his sub
jects, at a cost of $10O, 900 to them. until
someone suddenly reminded him that JIMMY
Petrillo. OF the musicians, who got a $50. 900
mansion from his 'boys'' in Chicago. had to
pay income tax. plus penalties, on the value.
AS a compromise the winter palace was tech
nically reserved for the entire royal caste Of
the Transfers. although Tobin has first claim,
and the property belongs to the union. Never
theless. the publicity given this extravaganza
and Tobin's general self-indulgence. including
his gambling in Florida last winter, have
sentiment against him.
Then. too, his constitution was amended
to provide unlimited travel at home and
abroad and periodic rests for the old bumb-
Ter. with his wife, all at the expense of the
serfs who paw the dtes. and moreover, that
this luxury should be for Dan Tobin. only.
and not for any successor in office. He had
tried to ignore the criticism hut it is fierce
and it hasn't abated. A clever rival could not
have devised a more delicious way to make
a chump of the old guy while appearing to
shower him with kindness.
Like Hutchinson, Lewis, and F. D. Roose.
welt, Old Dan has been a good praeticing
nepotist Cor there have always been soft,
III - u r.