Changes

After the [[Bolshevik Revolution]], in 1922 Hillman organized the Russian-American Industrial Corporation with himself as president to operate the "textile and clothing industry of Russia." Hillman's corporation sold to labor organizations at $10 a share a quarter of a million dollars of stock. Hillman went to Russia to sell the idea to [[CPSU]] General Secretary [[Vladimir Lenin]]. He cabled back from Moscow: "Signed contract guarantees investment and minimum 8 per cent dividend. Also banking contract permitting to take charge of delivery of money at lowest rate. Make immediate arrangements for transmission of money. Had long conference with Lenin who guaranteed Soviet support."  

After the [[Bolshevik Revolution]], in 1922 Hillman organized the Russian-American Industrial Corporation with himself as president to operate the "textile and clothing industry of Russia." Hillman's corporation sold to labor organizations at $10 a share a quarter of a million dollars of stock. Hillman went to Russia to sell the idea to [[CPSU]] General Secretary [[Vladimir Lenin]]. He cabled back from Moscow: "Signed contract guarantees investment and minimum 8 per cent dividend. Also banking contract permitting to take charge of delivery of money at lowest rate. Make immediate arrangements for transmission of money. Had long conference with Lenin who guaranteed Soviet support."  

When the Amalgamated Clothing Workers met in Chicago on May 8, 1922, a message was sent from Moscow by [[William Z. Foster]], then national chairman of the Communist Party. It read: "The defeat of the employers is the natural result of the splendid spirit of the Amalgamated. Many times in my present tour speaking to your unions I marveled at this growing spirit but since coming to this country I marvel no longer. It is the spirit of the Russian revolution, the spirit that will lead the workers to emancipation."  

When the Amalgamated Clothing Workers met in Chicago on May 8, 1922, a message was sent from Moscow by [[William Z. Foster]], then national chairman of the Communist Party. It read: "The defeat of the employers is the natural result of the splendid spirit of the Amalgamated. Many times in my present tour speaking to your unions I marveled at this growing spirit but since coming to this country I marvel no longer. It is the spirit of the [[October Revolution|Russian revolution]], the spirit that will lead the workers to [[emancipation]]."  

When the [[Congress of Industrial Organizations]] (CIO) was formed all the leaders were aware that certain Communist unions were moving in. Hillman knew Michael Quill, Joseph Curran, [[Harry Bridges]], Ben Gold, Abram Flasner and numerous others who had moved into the CIO were Communists. And Hillman understood Communists in labor unions are not interested in the welfare of the members but in the use of the labor union apparatus for revolutionary activities.  

When the [[Congress of Industrial Organizations]] (CIO) was formed all the leaders were aware that certain Communist unions were moving in. Hillman knew Michael Quill, Joseph Curran, [[Harry Bridges]], Ben Gold, Abram Flasner and numerous others who had moved into the CIO were Communists. And Hillman understood Communists in labor unions are not interested in the welfare of the members but in the use of the [[labor union]] apparatus for revolutionary activities.  

Hillman was deeply sympathetic to the Communist cause in Russia and to the extreme [[leftwing]] ideal in America, and he was a bitter man. When [[John L. Lewis]] and David Dubinsky later left the CIO, Hillman would be supreme.

Hillman was deeply sympathetic to the Communist cause in Russia and to the extreme [[leftwing]] ideal in America, and he was a bitter man. When [[John L. Lewis]] and David Dubinsky later left because of the growing Communist influence in the CIO, Hillman would be supreme.

==Lepke==

==Lepke==

On the night Fererri was killed, Lepke was seen by a policeman on the streets in that neighborhood in Brooklyn. He told Lepke: "You're too close to where a murder has been committed, so you better come with me." The officer took Lepke to the police station. Lepke telephoned from the station to Sidney Hillman, who shortly after arrived at the station house with [[Fiorello LaGuardia]], his lawyer. Nothing more was ever heard of this nor was anyone indicted for the Fererri murder.

On the night Fererri was killed, Lepke was seen by a policeman on the streets in that neighborhood in Brooklyn. He told Lepke: "You're too close to where a murder has been committed, so you better come with me." The officer took Lepke to the police station. Lepke telephoned from the station to Sidney Hillman, who shortly after arrived at the station house with [[Fiorello LaGuardia]], his lawyer. Nothing more was ever heard of this nor was anyone indicted for the Fererri murder.

In December, 1941 while Lepke was in Leavenworth and Governor Dewey was trying to get hold of him. William O'Dwyer was the district attorney of Brooklyn investigating the murder ring of which Lepke was the head. His chief investigator was a captain of the Police Department and stories were leaking out that he was making progress. Hillman's counsel, Fiorello LaGuardia, was now Mayor of New York. At LaGuardia's order the Police Captain was told to give to his superiors a complete report on the activities of every member of his staff for every hour of the day for the preceding eight months and thereafter was to continue to report hourly on their activities. LaGuardia was trying to find out what O'Dwyer was investigating. O'Dwyer ordered his chief investigator to refuse to comply with the order, which he did. It was a big scandal in New York.

In December, 1941 while Lepke was in Leavenworth and Governor Dewey was trying to extradite him, William O'Dwyer was the district attorney of Brooklyn investigating the murder ring of which Lepke headed. His chief investigator was a captain of the Police Department and the ''[[New York Times]]'' reported O'Dwyer was investigating the Fererri case and the investigation involved a high-ranking New York political leader and a labor leader of national reputation and had to do with Lepke's activities as a goon for a labor union. O'Dwyer denounced LaGuardia for trying to scuttle the investigation.

 

Hillman's counsel, Fiorello LaGuardia, was now Mayor of New York. At LaGuardia's order the Police Captain was told to give to his superiors a complete report on the activities of every member of his staff for every hour of the day for the preceding eight months and thereafter was to continue to report hourly on their activities. LaGuardia was trying to find out what O'Dwyer was investigating. O'Dwyer ordered his chief investigator to refuse to comply with the order, which he did. It was a big scandal in New York.  The murder for which Lepke was convicted and wanted for execution by Gov. Thomas Dewey and shielded by President Franklin Roosevelt was that of Joseph Rosen.

 

Rosen was a trucking contractor who was hauling to non-union factories in other states for finishing, clothing cut under union conditions in New York. He was put out of business by Lepke in the interest of a local of Hillman's Amalgamated union and Rosen was threatening to go to the district attorney with the information how this was done. To keep him silent, in 1936 Rosen opened a small candy store and the members of the local union were ordered to spend some money in the store. This local was controlled by Lepke and a vice president of the Amalgamated. The highest court in New York State, in its decision on the Rosen case, said that Lepke had supported the faction which gained control of the local and that Paul Berger, the hitman in the Rosen murder, was an intermediary between Lepke and the Amalgamated. In the end, Rosen, like Fererri, was murdered.  

==References==

==References==