Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-07
BY MARY McGRORY

BY MARY McGRORY
The threat of "or else" has
been sounding in the ears of
frightened men since time be-
gan.
The ancient Greeks knew
the terror of the shakedown.
Unless seven youths and seven
m idens were forthcoming
every year, the minotaur would
come out Of his labyrinth to
devour the rest of the Athen-
ians. It was a fiourishing
racket until Theseus put an
end to it by putting an end to
the minotaur.
Now before the Senate Labor
Committee, the shape of a
modern minotaur is taking sim
lister form. Being a Goth CEN
tury ogre. and having its lair
in New York, it goes by the
name of Equitable Research
Associates and calls itself
a labor relations firm Its
president is Johnny Dio. who
has never been known in the
CANISTER circles he grew up in
for either equity or research.
TOday's ShakedOwn
A trio of ordinary citizens
recounted their encounters with
the minotaur's representatives
to the Senate Labor Committee
yesterday. For Louis Boyar.
who runs the Brooklyn Auto
Glass Shop, the "or else" was
the ruin of his business. For
Paul Claude. owner Of the
ing Paragon Brass Products.
the "or else" was the lives of
his children. But Louis Pope,
the co-owner of the Collision
Automotive Repair Shop, was
lucky. He turned back the
monster with a paper sword.
For Mr.. Boyar, peace at any
price seemed cheap after three
days of pickets around his shop.
He was desperate" he said. He
thought maybe the Auto Glass
Dealers Association might raise
$1,000 as a tribute to Local 227.
of which Dio was president. His
offer was spurned.
For him, as for about 100
other mostly one man glass
dealers, the end came with the
signing of a sweetheart con-
tract" in which there was no
sweetness and no heart. The
workers got no benefits, nor
did the employers. since they
mostly worked for themselves
anyway. Equitable Research
prof1ted. however. some $4,000.
Shaking From Memories
Paul Claude, a little man
from Brooklyn, was still Shak-
ing from his memories when he
appeared before the committee.
Just how his company, which
manufactures plumbing sup
plies. caught the unionizing
eye of the Retail Clerks Union
Local 405. he did not know
All he knew was that he was in
trouble from the day in 1854
when Max Chester, it's vice
president who was identified
by committee counsel Robert
Kennedy as a friend of Dio.
came into his shop and asked
for $4,000.
Trembling. Mr.. Claude said
Chester told him that a con-
tract he could live with"
would cost about $4,000 over
a period of three years. But if
he paid $4,000 now, Chester
said it would save $4,000 and
he. Claude, should be grateful.
Threatening Kind Of Interest
From the first, Chester
showed an obsessive interest
in Mr.. Claude's children.
He was always asking about
my children. always inquiring
about the health Of my chill
dren, always saying accidents
could happen to children play
ing in the streets" i,
AT this moment. I am
scared for them. right now. !"
said Mr.. Claude.
Mr.. Claude fed to the police.
The police captain told him it
was a Legitimate union" and
advised him to make some
kind of deal with Chester and
his men.
Max Chester told him not to
go to the District Attorney.
why not?" inquired a Sem
ator.
That's ALL said Mr.. Claude.
He don't have to give no
reason"
Mr.. Claude finally signed a
contract. but Max Chester
proved Unsuitable. About Nov
ember l, 1854, he wanted Chris
mas money. Mr.. Claude gave
him 5000. after Chester had
made his usual inquiries about
the health of the Claude chill
dren. Over a period of months,
he wanted more.
In all, Mr.. Claude paid ST.
400 to Chester. Chester gave
him a few checks in return.
They all bounced" he re-
called ruefully.
A Bronx Solution
The Labor Committee ap-
parently called Louis Pope the
bouncy little president of the
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