Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-27

ganlztng genius. ne was maze
chairman Of the Central states
Drivers Council. IN iel7. not yet
80, he was elected frst president
Of the Michigan Conferences Of
Teamsters. and the following year
was appointed an international
trustee.
But Jimmy Hoifa paid for his
rise In the union with humps and
bruises, His elevation came dur
ing years when union activity was
risky business. He learned to use
his fists. and he had his first
brushes with the law. In one "a
hour period In 1888. he was jailed
10 times.
From Line to Jail
''Everytime I showed up on the
picket line" he says. ''Tgot thrown
in Jail. Everytime they released
me. I went back to the picket
line"
Truck owners say that he ex-
hibits the same kind Of bull.
dogged persistence at the bargain
ing table. and they add that It
pays on. because Jimmy Hofia
usually gets what he demands.
But the same owners say that
he knows where TO stop In his
demands. He seems. they say. to
put much stock In the story about
the killing Of the goose that laid
l4-carat eggs.
TWO years ago an ofiicial Of the
American Trucking Associations
said:
you have Just got TO give HofIa
credit for buying the idea that the
industry viii pay wen for work
done but must stop paying for
work not done. He UNDER
stands our problems"
But there is q side to Mr.. Hoffa
which has been Of considerable
concern to truckers. a side that
has been exposed to public view
in the headlines. They tell Of his
underworld pals who were able TO
set UP. with Hoffa's help. phony
paper locals which harassed man.
agement, defied the law and
MIXED the pocketbooks Of rank
and flle members.
Senate hearings also revealed
that he has spent Q fortune In six
figures without writing Q single
check for Il. Then there were his
investments in companies that
held Teamster contracts. the bor-
rowing Of large sums from enl-
ployers without interest or secu-
rity, charges that he tapped the
telephones Of his own aides, and
conspired to wire q grand jury
room for sound.
These are the things upon
which Walter Reuther bases his
contention that there Is no
proper place in federated labor
for Jimmy Hofia. How much
Of Mr.. Reuther's animosity toward
his fellow Detroiter can be traced
10 past feuds that have inspired
personal dislike Is not known.
The auto chief himself has an
aseptic record in unionism. Thus.
from the public standpoint at
least. his position Is q safe one:
no one can make a charge OF
hypocrisy stick.
The Reuther Story
Mr.. Reuther was born In Wheel
ing. w. Va. one Of four sons. three
Of whom were pioneer auto work.
err organizers. His father was an
immigrant brewery worker nom
Germany, q Socialist whose Ameri-
can god was Eugene v. Debs. Like
Mr.. Hoffa Mr.. Reuther dropped
out Of school TO 60 TO work. He
started as an apprentice toolmaker
and in three years became master
mechanic. and. at the same time,
unemployed as a result Of his agi-
tation against Sunday work las q
boy he had established Q record
Of seven years without missing
Sunday SCHOOL,.
In the twenties, most unem-
ployed toolmakers wound up In
Detroit. q city Of dreams for the
mechanic. Mr. Reuther took q
night Job at the Briggs company
and later transferred TO the Ford
factory. where he became q fore
man before very long. He finished
high school while working and
went on 10 Wayne University TO
study the social sciences.
His intense union activity came
later. At that time. he was more
occupied with political activity in
behalf Of the Socialist Party. AS
a Socialist campaigner, he did. Of
course, harangue his shopmates
on the virtues Of organization.
His pro-union arguments we're
made largely Intellectual BY Henry
Fcro offer Of S. a day for the
worker Of even minimal skills.
In 1888, he drew his savings
from the bank and he end brother
Victor sailed fer Russia. the mecca
for young radicals in those days.
But unlike others who made the
pilgrimage. the Reuther boys came
back after three years unim-
pressed. Moscow's socialism seemed
phony, and there was little they
found TO admire In Russian ar
tisans.
They returned TO a Detroit
SETTLING with labor unrest. Lay
offs for model change-overs only
deepened the depression In the
auto city. Walter Reuther's labor
activity began in earnest.
He and two Of his brothers, VIC
tor and Roy, began leading sit
down strikes. First TO fall before