The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-04
AS Pegler Sees It
By WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1947, King Features
Syndicate. Inc.)

Copyright, 1947, klng FeatureS
Syndicate, Inc.)
NEW YORK, Dec. "a hostile agent
with intent to unmask the boss politicians
of the teamsters' union and to make them
|appear ridiculous and mean could not con-
lure more effective bombast than they
proudly publish in their journals. The lgno,
rance expressed in some OF the roya! ano
national" president, is stupidity artless.
Dave Beck, of Seattle, Tobin's assigned
protector in the northwestern province, has
the sense to employ professional talent II IN
mixing the hogwash published IN his WASH
ington Teamster. Tobin edits his own Inter
national Teamster Dave is the aspirant to
Tobins throne The old bumbler thought
Dave seemed a little too eager, when, last
winter, Beck sprinkled himself with glory
as the forward-looking leader who called
off the vandal goons in the Oakland genera!
strike Tobin had already called them OFT
and was home awaiting sweet acclaim
when word came that Beck was the man
of the hour. The old nnel-mouth's own
message had been held up while Beck beat
him to the streets with the order to the
beasts to cease and desist Tobin was sus-
picious in the ridiculous way OF clown
ness by his colleague in the act.
But Beck, master apple sinner, goose
creased him with flattery to keep him still
few more crucial months. Then last Au-
gust the union held, in San FRANCISCO, us
great international convention OF dukes,
princes and barons, come from near anu
far on lavish expense accounts.
With old Dams blessing, Dave put
th ough constitutional amendment Great
ing the special office of executive wee
president with plenary powers. Ihat pelng
done Beck's only remaining uncertainty
lay in the risk that Tobln mlght name
someone else to this JOB. g
outlandish adulation in his paper that
might have turned the stomach OF gar
bage-fed hog.
The teamsters' convention ended on Au-
gust 15 Tobin dallied for the convention
of the A. F. of L., also in San Francisco
from Oct to 10.
Up in Seattle, Beck's staff got busy in
the manner of the maharajahs arranging
great gorgings for the glory of the crown
on progress of the emperor Dave was
steering his majesty up to the northWes,
province and fixing to give him the royal
works. e.
Joint council plans big welcome for
Pres Tobin," said head across the front
of the Washington Teamster on Oct. II, -,
international leader OF >eamsters Will
address big meeting in Seattle
"a great mass meeting. of union team
|sters will welcome Daniel ]. Tobin when
he arrives in Seattle Thursday, Oct %,
on his way back to Indianapolis, ETC.
A mammoth rally is scheduled tor the
teamsters auditorium the evening OF his
arrival"
Actually there were present about $50
head mostly professional unloneers, the
king g-emperor's vanity was mltted,, even
though some rank and file were herded
into other halls to listen to the old bores
babble, piped in by wire. They staggered
out of the gas chambers gasplng Tor
stimulants
The WASHINGTON Teamster is owned by
the Joint council of teamsters, No. %, of
Seattle. Beck is president OF the council
and the employer and boss of the editor,
Ralph Benjamin. a competent professional.
On Oct a. Dave turned on the goose
grease and Tobin slithered around the
northwest like an oiled eel.
Page one was entirely devoted to the
stately features of the king-emperor OF one
million faceless nonentities. The clear,
shrewd eyes which can, and so often do,
tPe' tbe Spinning s1,h ing Wheel in the underworld
DUMPS dur sp Of Miami peered benignly at the
Ichumps who pay his lavish way.
The outline called him the "honored
guest" Final arrangements were being
Checked" A monster mass meeting was
Slated" for Thursday And Emperor Fat
head I and his queen were "scheduled' to
do this and that.
mortal slobs. He inspected" the fruit pack
ing sheds He didn't "go' anywhere; he
"proceeded' Movies were made OF the i'm
neerial progress and presented to the crown
for the archives of the dynasty.
"Tobin voiced the highest praise OF
Beck we read in Beck's own sheet.
"Closing the meeting, Dave Beck paid
great tribute to the national leadership of
the union"
At last, old Fathead I appointed Dave
executive vice-president
T have hesitated to remark that Tobin
has not quite equalled Franklin D. Roose-
) velt's seIf-adulation with memorial to
! himself while he still lives. l am not sure
|he hasn't planned it that way:
> While thousands of teamsters' wives are
sending their children butterless to school,
he is earnestly planning an imperial palace
. in Washington, to cost $3,OOO,O00 of their
butter money
From the throne, Dan casually remarked
that zone of the routine changes" was a
constitutional amendment authorizing this
Extravaganza, inevitably to be known as
, the Tobin shrine.
It desolates me not to have space to en-
4 able old Dan to depict himself more fully
But 1 offer these selections from his own
address to his convention as published IN
the October issue:
"Poverty and slavery is even worse.
"Our journal, of which nave a. oeen edl,
tor since nv inception into office, has had
on W, Outstanding place in the literature of
the nation. The education that we endeavor
= to convey through its columns has been
: quite helpful not only to our members but
r. their wives and other members OF their
S families"
Last year those butterless wives and
other members of the teamsters 1amlles
: had to pay $243, 3,313 to MAINTAIN tnls means :