Evening star., 1953-10-24
The Political Mil
The Political Mil
Convict. Casts Shadow
Across Two Elections
Foy Issue Hurries 6. o.P.
In New York, New Jersey
By GouId Lincoln

BY Gould Lincoln
NEW YORK, Oct. 24.-Two men, one
the Republican candidate for Governor
OF New Jersey and the other the Re-
publican president of the New York
Senate and Acting Lieutenant Governor,
have recently gone on radio and tele-
vision to explain why they had deal
ings with Joey" Fay, convicted labor
racketeer and extortionist Boiled
down, their explanations we're: To do
business with or through Fay was the
easier and quicker way out of labor
troubles. 1t is not pleasant picture.
Candidate Paul L. Troast-for Gov
ernor of New Jersey-said he has had
no dealings with Fay since Fay went to
jail several years ago, convicted in the
New York courts of engaging in
conspiracy to extort 1868, 900 from con-
tractors on public works project.
Mr.. Troast did. however. write letter
to Gov. Dewey of New York, urging
that Fay, who had served upwards of
four years of his prison sentence. be
placed on parole. He acted, he said.
at the request of several labor leaders.
Talked to Fay.
Senator Wicks admitted he had dis
cussed labor troubles with Fay, vice
president of the International Union of
Operating Engineers and business agent
for years for the local union in Newark
N. j., both before and since he went TO
Jail. Like Mr.. Troast, Senator Wicks
said that he had found Fay, because
of his wide influence in labor circles,
efficient in getting settlements of juris-
dictional controversies and of threat
ened strikes. Mr.. Troast headed and
still heads a big construction concern
of his own. His interest in the settle
ment of labor disputes is obvious. Sem
ator Wicks' interest, he said, was to
prevent strikes and work stoppages
which would injure the people of the
district he represents.
Both Mr.. Troast and Senator WickS
asserted they had never paid Fay cent,
and that he had never asked them for
money. But some one paid Fay. If re-
ports are correct, Fay is man of large
wealth. His attempt to shake down
the contractors in the New York opera
tion. which sent him to Jail, was only
an example, it is said of many opera
tions more successful in the past.
Incredible as it may seem, this char
acter Fay, who repeatedly began his
operations in New Jersey years ago as
a Strong-arm man, continued to be a
man of great influence even in Sing
Sing prison, visited by politicians
among them Wicks-by important labor
leaders and businessmen. A release
from Jail, apparently, would have put
him right back where he was before-a
power in the labor world, able to put
his finger on contractors and politicians.
Something is terribly wrong with the
system which permits such operations
as those Of Fay and keeps him in power.
Senator Wicks in his explanation to the
people of New York, excusing his visits
to Fay in Jail, declared there is a Sec
ond government, constituted by organ
lied labor and that it's leaders with in
credible facility and success, make de-
cisions that strike across the lives and
interest of us ALL" Fay, he said is one
of these leaders, WickS testified further
to the great influence Fay welded
wherever he waS"-which included Jail.
1t is also incredible that contractors
and the rank and file of labor should
stand for the kind of racketeering in
dulged in by Fay. A crooked labor
leader shakes down contractors and at
the same time sells the workers down
the river. Contractors and other busi-
nessmen may find it far cheaper to pay
the price asked by Fay than to pay an
increase in wages to thousand or five
thousand workers. Or a contractor.
hoping to avoid a strike and delay in
carrying out his contract, may look upon
contribution to Fay as good insur-
ance.
Fay as an Issue.
The shadow of Joey" Fay, now re-
moved to Dannemora Prison near the
Canadian border, where he is not as
accessible to visitors of any kind.
straddles today the political campaigns
in the great States of New Jersey and
New York. The publicity given to the
names OF FayS visitors in prison and
to the names of those who wrote letters,
asking he be paroled, creates the issues.
The Democratic candidate for Cover
nor of New Jersey, Robert B. Meyner,
is making all he can Of the Troast
letter for Fay's parole. But while Mey-
ner himself had no relations with Fay,
one OF his chief supporters, Mayor
Kenny of Jersey City, not only was
among Fay's visitors in Sing Sing, but
also is reported to have written letter
asking Fays parole. Kenny. who rolled
up enough votes in Hudson County to
make Meyner'S nomination possible last
spring says he does not recall writing
letter.
In New York, the Democratic candi-
date for Mayor, Robert F. Wagner, jr,,
son of the late New Deal Senator, has
made Fay an issue in the city campaign,
trying to pin on the Republicans SYM
pathetic relations with the convicted
racketeer. He has charged that man
high in the Eisenhower administration
in Washington and close friend of
Gov. Dewey is among those who asked
Fay's parole-and the gossip caused by
the charge has led even to the door Of
Chief Justice Warren-because one
California labor leader is among
those who have tried to get Fay re-
leased, and is reported to have taken
the matter up with Warren when he
was Governor.
Categorically, it is stated on the
highest authority here that the Chief
Justice never asked in any way for
parole or clemency for the convict Fay,
either of Gov. Dewey or of the parole
board.
Gov. Dewey, whom Wagner has
sought to impugn because of the Fay
incident, is sitting pretty. He has Fay
in jail. He did not yield to the i'm
N0vafNi Af LII