Evening star., 1953-01-13

/
going to change Martin Durkin's S
championship of labor.
He used only a few words to
tell the most dramatic situation
in his career-the period when
the gangsters offered to help run
his union. There were threats, he
said, but they were indirect.
Word was passed to him that he
was "going to be taken care Of"
They might have been indi-
rect, but they were very real. The
Capone lieutenants discovered
that unions could be rackets. In
deed many of them had been
just that for years. The gang
sters merely moved in and dem
onstrated many new techniques
in racket operation. They were
in the plumbers union. They
took over a painters local and
soon bodies of the officials were
found in various places.
What had he. done about it,
he was asked.
"Oh, I just went on as usual,
but prayed a little harder" he
said. God took care of me-"
That is the thing that must be
understood in any reckoning of
Martin Durkin. He is peculiarly
product of generations of Irish
Catholic piety. He attends mass
every day, in Washington at the
Blessed Sacrament Church near
Chevy Chase circle. He is a men,
ber of the Holy Name Society and
no one has heard him take the
name of the Lord in vain.
II found when I was a young
man." he said, that I was talk
ing two languages and one Of
them was not for the home. I
cut that one out"
Church Is Credited.
The Catholic church, whose
influence and hold on its working
men is the envy of many Prot
estant clergymen, had much to
do with his rise from the stock
yards to the cabinet. But he has
had to suffer gibes for it such as
the crack a general president Of
another union once made:
If had as much on my con-
science" he said, I'D go to
church thirty times a day."
His father, James Durkin, was
killed by an automobile while on
his way to church to make a
novena. 1t is a strong strain that
has passed from the father to his
son and to the grandsons giving
strength to each.
Martin B. Durkin, Martins
Oldest son, wrote this letter to
his parents from shipboard be-
fore going ashore with his fell
low Marines on Two Jima:
II want you to know that I
have been able to go to Mass and
Communion nearly every day on
the boat. You'll know how much
fear that takes out of you. Right
now I feel that I am as ready for
anything as I ever could be. It
doesn't mean that on D-Day I
won't be as afraid as the next
fellow, but as to squaring myself
with God, I think I have done
my best.
Il have faith in Gods seeing
me through, but If He shouldn't
there isn't a thing I could regret.
He allowed me to have the best
life any fellow on this earth
could have, and for it I have you
to thank for the greater part.
There is only one other person
on earth other than both of you
and my brothers who can ac-
count for that happiness and
that's Dorothy (his wife). Just
keep your faith in Gods bring
ing us together again. Remember
me most in your prayers but
not in your worries. One prayer
will mean more to me and give
me greater happiness than all
the worries Of your life"
Born Near Stockyards.
The incoming Secretary Of
Labor was born in the stockyards
district Of Chicago on March 18,
1894. His father was a stationary
engineer and q union man. He
was employed in factories. later
in the public schools.
Martin went to Visitation pa
rochial school He was the oldest
OF eight children and he went to
work after the eighth grade to
help support the family. He had
had a white collar job during
school vacation the year before
in the advertising Office of a
department store. He was a
strong boy and there was more
money to be made working with
his hands. He. got q job on the
killing floor Of o packing plant