Title: Wisconsin Labor Oral History Project: Max Raskin Interview
Inclusive Dates: 1981

Creator:

• Raskin, Max

Call Number: Tape 950A

Quantity: 4 tape recordings

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Oral history interview conducted December 31, 1981 by Barbara Morford of the Historical Society staff with Max Raskin at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Raskin was the legal counsel for the Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council after 1947. This interview is part of the Wisconsin Labor Oral History Project.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-tape00950a

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In late 1980 the Rockefeller Foundation granted to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin money to support a project to collect oral remembrances of individuals involved in industrial union organizing in Wisconsin. This interview with Max Raskin is part of that project.

Max Raskin was born in Vitebsk, White Russia in 1904. (An elementary school teacher “assigned” him November 8 as a birthdate, since the actual date is unknown.) His father was a cattle merchant and his mother cared for her family of nine children. Max was the youngest of the nine. As Jews they suffered “prosecution by the czarist troops and persecution of the other villagers.” The threat of draft into the army to fight the Russo-Japanese War provided the final incentive to leave. Max escaped across the border with his parents in 1912 with the help of older children who had preceded them.

Until 1919 he lived with his family in a Jewish Socialist neighborhood in Brooklyn and listened to the soapbox speeches of Eugene Debs and Emil Seidel. Max then moved with his parents to Milwaukee where he continued his education. He was the only child of the family to go to high school and college and received support from his older siblings to do so. For this reason, he felt a strong sense of responsibility to the family and is quick to characterize himself as a man of conscience.

After two years at normal school he attended Marquette University, completing his law degree in 1926. During this period he became active in the Socialist Party. He joined in the 10th ward and listed his occupation as shoe salesman rather than attorney because “socialists and labor unions considered lawyers the enemy.” After four years of work he was asked to run for the office of district attorney. Though he lost that election, he ran as city attorney in 1932 and was successful.

As city attorney Raskin worked to support the rights of workers, particularly during strikes of Packinghouse Workers, at Geuder, Paeschke & Frey Co. and Lindemann-Holverson stove works. The latter was settled by the creation of the Boncell Ordinance, which used the principle of public nuisance against employers who refused to bargain with striking workers.

In 1936 Raskin was swept out of office along with many other Socialists due to the “anti-collectivist” spirit of the times. However, the good relationship with labor built during his term in office helped him become counsel for various unions including UAW in Wisconsin and, later, the CIO. As labor counsel, he helped establish procedures for trying union members accused of breaking rules as in the case of Harold Christoffel. His work with the state CIO terminated with merger, as the WSFL counsel was retained. Raskin became active in the Democratic Party and was appointed to a judgeship by Governor John Reynolds in 1963.

Today at the age of 77 Raskin still serves with enthusiasm and bright energy as Reserve Judge for Waukesha County. He lives with his wife in Milwaukee and spends the winter months in Florida.

Interview

The interview was held in Judge Raskin's office at the Waukesha Court House. We [interviewer Barbara Morford and Judge Raskin] began at 10:00 a.m. and were interrupted several times by colleagues with New Year's wishes, and at one point, with an invitation to partake of a New Year's Eve party hosted by the County Board. He was greeted by everyone with clear affection commensurate with his affable, outgoing personality.

The interview was hampered by several things: the interviewer's lack of thorough grounding in Milwaukee history, the strange half-festive, half-fearful (due to blizzard conditions outside) atmosphere, and Raskin's hearing problems. This resulted in my letting Raskin tell his story at his own pace, with his own emphasis. Consequently, the labor issues came late in the day when the attention of both of us was weakened.

Abstract to the Interview

The tapes for this interview have two tracks: a voice track containing the discussion, and a time track containing time announcements at intervals of approximately five seconds. The abstract lists, in order of discussion, the topics covered on each tape and indicates the time-marking at which point the beginning of the particular discussion appears.

Thus, the researcher, by using a tape recorder's fast-forward button, may find expeditiously and listen to discrete segments without listening to all of the taped discussion. For instance, the user who wishes to listen to the topic on “ESCAPE TO AMERICA” should locate the place on the second track of tape one, side one, where the voice announces the 11:15 time-marking (the voice says at this point, “eleven fifteen”), and at this point switch to the first track to hear the discussion. The discussion on “ESCAPE TO AMERICA” continues until approximately 15:35, at which point discussion of the next topic (“SCHOOL IN NEW YORK”) begins.

Notice that in most cases, sentences beneath each headline explain more about the contents of the topic. For example, the sentences underneath “ESCAPE TO AMERICA “ give further details on what appears on the tape between 11:15 and 15:35.

The abstract is designed to provide only a brief outline of the con-tent of the tapes and cannot serve as a substitute for listening to them. However, the abstract when used with the index will help the researcher to locate easily distinct topics and discussion among the many minutes of commentary.

The State Historical Society of Wisconsin is the official repository for the noncurrent records of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and its predecessor organizations, as well as for many other international, national, regional, and local labor unions.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Barbara Morford, May 26, 1982.

Tape/Side   1/1 Time   00:00	INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   00:35	PREFACE
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   00:55	BIOGRAPHY Scope and Content Note: Born in Vitebsk, White Russia, near the eastern border of Germany. Came to United States in 1912 at age 8 with parents and older brother. Last of nine children, all deceased.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   02:25	ARRIVAL IN U.S. Scope and Content Note: Came with help of brothers and sisters who had preceded him. Family dispersed when war broke out. Came to Milwaukee in 1919. Father a trader of cattle in old country; in the U.S. he went into poultry business. Retired early because of poor health and lack of work.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   04:20	RELATES CHILDHOOD STORY OF POLICE RAID IN WHITE RUSSIA Scope and Content Note: While just a “little shaver” police came to brother's business to search for political materials. Asked young Raskin if he would like to say something and he said yes. They put him on a table and he said, “Down with the czar.” Everyone laughed but if older brothers had said the same thing they would have been sent to Siberia.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   07:25	ANTI-SEMITISM Scope and Content Note: Faced “prosecution from police and persecution from villagers.” U.S. was haven. Threat of draft into army during Russian-Japanese war provided incentive to leave. One brother punctured ear to escape draft. Couldn't leave country without proof of military service.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   11:15	ESCAPE TO AMERICA Scope and Content Note: Walked several miles across border at midnight with help of sympathetic soldiers. “Schlepped” with parents and brother across border in group of 200.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   15:35	SCHOOL IN NEW YORK Scope and Content Note: Attended boys school. Birthdays assigned by teacher, since most children didn't know when they were born.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   18:15	SOCIALIST ENVIRONMENT Scope and Content Note: Raised in Jewish, socialist neighborhood in Brooklyn. Socialists were centrists who held that means of production must be owned by all the people so all could share in the product. As a child listened to all the soapbox speakers. Heard Eugene Debs at Brooklyn Labor Lyceum. Emil Seidel was vice presidential candidate with Debs. Gave Raskin the feeling that he was coming to home territory when he moved to Milwaukee.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   24:30	FAMILY POLITICS AND BACKGROUND Scope and Content Note: Father not political but brothers were. Max only one to go to college or high school. Others worked to help support Max. Felt responsibility to family.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   25:25	SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY Scope and Content Note: Was choir boy from early years. Responsibility to not bring shame on family.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   27:00	END OF TAPE 1, SIDE 1
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   00:00	INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   00:35	EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Scope and Content Note: Finished two years at normal school, then went to Marquette Law School for three years. Joined Glee Club.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   02:45	CITIZENSHIP Scope and Content Note: Had to become citizen on his own. Took two friends of mother as witnesses in about 1921.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   04:10	BACKGROUND Scope and Content Note: Graduated from Marquette in 1926, and wanted to start political career. Interested in socialist party which was “dominant political force.” Main reason for success was their belief in honesty and clean government.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   05:20	DESCRIBES SOCIALIST PARTY Scope and Content Note: A reform movement sprinkled with Marxian passages; not socialists “by the book.” Believed that government belonged to people. Organized by wards. Joined in 10th ward (lower north side). Raskin listed occupation as shoe salesman rather than lawyer because both socialists and unions considered lawyers to be enemies. Party very selective in accepting lawyers, who constituted probably no more than ten out of 5,000 members. “I better not show off. I'll tell them I'm a working man.”
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   09:00	DESCRIBES LOCAL GOVERNMENT Scope and Content Note: Alderman from 10th ward a socialist. In 1913 partisan elections in municipal government to abolish socialists but socialists kept their organization. Dues and labor required of all members. Raskin distributed socialist Voice of the People. Aldermen would give reports at each party meeting.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   12:50	STRUCTURE OF PARTY - DISTRICT COUNCIL Scope and Content Note: Wards elected delegates to district council. Decisions made there, also real debates took place. Saw such labor leaders as Hadley, Weber, Ohl there.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   14:35	EARLY PARTY ACTIVITIES Scope and Content Note: Election of 1928. Tom Duncan ran in district; took soapbox and made speeches in his behalf. Became delegate. Raskin noticed that those who were elected presiding officers for meetings always came early, so he began coming early. Was elected presiding officer.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   17:35	ELECTION OF 1930 Scope and Content Note: Received call from vigilance committee which was preparing slate. Looking for candidate for district attorney. Had used up all candidates. Challenged him on his beliefs and selected him. Final election meeting held Sunday before election. Never in his “wildest dreams” did Raskin expect to be there. Roused public attention by accusing bailiffs and court attendants of passing out lawyers' cards (ambulance chasers). Practiced making speeches on auditorium stage.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   27:15	ELECTION RESULTS Scope and Content Note: Voting procedure.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   29:20	END OF TAPE 1, SIDE 2
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   00:00	INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   00:05	RESULTS OF ELECTION OF 1930 Scope and Content Note: Raskin ran well in city, but “buried” in suburbs. Became more active in party. Even defeat gave him good standing as party member.
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   02:20	ELECTION OF 1932 Scope and Content Note: Selected to run again; this time for City Attorney and there were more substantive issues, such as public ownership of utilities.
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   05:30	ORGANIZED LABOR AND POLITICS Scope and Content Note: Labor movement began to “show muscle.” Followed Gompers line of staying out of politics. Only help from labor was by stealth--sneaked into meetings with help of friends. Changed with organization of CIO. Political leaders openly invited to meetings. Raskin invited Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Rosenberry to speak at a union meeting. He came to a meeting of the Nash Motors local. Discusses judicial ethics.
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   14:05	HELP FROM LABOR MOVEMENT Scope and Content Note: No access to the Federated Trades Council; would have been like trying to reach General Motors' Board of Directors. Stresses importance of Milwaukee Leader.
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   16:45	SOCIALIST PARTY CAMPAIGN FINANCING Scope and Content Note: Socialist elected officials required to bail out Milwaukee Leader. Raskin contributed ten percent of salary to Socialist Party.
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   17:25	WORK AS CITY ATTORNEY ON LABOR ISSUES Scope and Content Note: Reviews history of labor in Milwaukee. Describes J. F. (Jake) Friedrick. Relates dealings with other reporters. Support for legislation funding soup kitchens. Used to “tag along” wherever Mayor Daniel Hoan went.
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   23:10	CITY FINANCES Scope and Content Note: Needed to borrow money every year in the spring time. In 1933, city turned down for loan by First Wisconsin National Bank. “Baby bonds” created at five percent interest. Difficulty in getting program accepted.
Tape/Side   2/1 Time   28:50	END OF TAPE 2, SIDE 1
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   00:00	INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   00:30	BABY BOND PROGRAM Scope and Content Note: Raskin in charge of program; little acceptance. Created “white list” of organizations or businesses which would accept bonds and accept them at par. Distributed to employees, serving as free advertising. Result was that Milwaukee came through Depression debt free.
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   05:55	LABOR ORGANIZATIONS WHILE CITY ATTORNEY Scope and Content Note: Raskin wanted to be actively involved in labor issues. Told his staff they could take credit for successes; he would take blame for mistakes. Had support of the party. Dan Hoan taught Raskin to keep door open.
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   08:25	LABOR UNIONS GOOD AND BAD FOR RASKIN Scope and Content Note: Had to prosecute those arrested for such violations as destruction of property. Raskin once refused to prosecute some participants in a mass demonstration against Hitler. Court decided that someone else must prosecute on behalf of city.
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   10:50	CHANGE IN TRAFFIC COURT APPEARANCE BY POLICEMEN Scope and Content Note: Allowed stipulation to be placed on back of traffic ticket thereby releasing many policemen from coming to court.
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   13:55	PACKINGHOUSE WORKERS STRIKE OF 1933 OR 1934 Scope and Content Note: Plankinton management lodged scab workers inside the plant. Raskin demanded that Plankinton get license to run boarding house, thereby defeating company efforts to house strikebreakers. Workers won strike.
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   20:40	GUEDER, PAESCHKE AND FREY CO. STRIKE Scope and Content Note: Difficult strike which Raskin helped settle. Jake Friedrick one of negotiators. Used the police to contact 800 strikers to inform them they must attend meeting the following day.
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   27:00	LINDEMANN-HOLVERSON STRIKE Scope and Content Note: Issue was management's refusal to recognize union. Strike split families; fathers striking and sons scabs or vice versa. Required presence of most of police force. Raskin used principle of public nuisance. Assigned problem to Mary Eshwaller and suggested to her an ordinance declaring public nuisance.
Tape/Side   2/2 Time   29:10	END OF TAPE 2, SIDE 2
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   00:00	INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   00:30	LINDEMAN-HOLVERSON STRIKE--BONCELL ORDINANCE Scope and Content Note: Asked alderman Frank Boncell from 14th ward, which was where plant was located, to introduce ordinance. Introduced and passed, but later revoked.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   05:00	RASKIN'S DEFEAT FOR RE-ELECTION Scope and Content Note: Raskin held responsible for fomenting strikes. Law and order was issue and this meant being able to cross picket line, not to walk safely on the street. Raskin called on Hoan: “What was socialist about his administration?” Socialist caucus had regular meetings.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   07:25	PROPOSAL FOR PURCHASING POWER PLANT Scope and Content Note: Resolution introduced with price tag of 60 million dollars attached. Defeated because such an expenditure during the Depression was unimaginable to voters. Raskin went down to defeat along with the referendum and Boncell; Hoan's margin diminished.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   12:20	PATTENGEE VS. WAGNER IRON WORKS Scope and Content Note: CIO tried to organize plant already under contract with AFL. Company fired organizers; suit sought vacation pay for those fired. Supreme Court found that AFL had done nothing to support plaintiffs and was considered same as “enemy,” the company.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   14:20	BRIBERY ATTEMPTS Scope and Content Note: Invited to lunch by a newspaperman and offered $5000 retainer if he withdrew a petition. Beer also delivered to house after prohibition was lifted.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   18:35	RASKIN AS LABOR SPOKESPERSON DURING TERM IN OFFICE Scope and Content Note: Mounted police sent out during Seaman Body plant strike, and labor called on Raskin to intercede. As a consequence they continued to call on him after he left office. Raskin became attorney for United Auto Workers in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin; other unions also came to Raskin for assistance. Sometimes paid; sometimes not. Newpaper Guild paid him with a membership. Describes Reuther family as socialists of the democratic variety.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   23:30	REMEMBERS HAROLD CHRISTOFFEL Scope and Content Note: Christoffel a communist and “made no bones about it.” “No one wanted the strike there...They cheated. They had counterfeit ballots. As a result they had a majority but it was not a true majority.” UAW put local in trusteeship, and named Pat Greathouse as president and Raskin as attorney. Christoffel followed party line.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   27:15	META BERGER Scope and Content Note: She accepted a trip to Russia. Also built a house with non-union labor, although Raskin suggests there was no union labor in Ozaukee County at that time. Labor expected her to “import” union workers. “The trades, they demanded everything of the Socialist Party they could, but they gave very little in return.”
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   28:00	RASKIN INVITATION TO VISIT RUSSIA Scope and Content Note: Sometime before the war, Eugene Dennis, a “handsome looking guy with a baby face,” told Raskin, “We would like to send you to Russia at no expense to you.” Raskin declined, and still considers this a smart decision, though he had a great desire to see his birthplace.
Tape/Side   3/1 Time   29:10	END OF TAPE 3, SIDE 1
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   00:00	INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   00:20	LABOR ATTITUDES TOWARD LAWYERS Scope and Content Note: Raskin established procedures for trying union members who broke rules; was a law officer advising parties how to proceed. Not part of debate. Christoffel ousted.
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   04:00	SOCIALIST PARTY IS PEACE PARTY Scope and Content Note: Not tenable in the face of Hitler. Rank and file wanted to fight and left Party. Farmer-Labor Progressive League formed; Norman Thomas, Frank Zeidler mainstays of Party.
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   12:50	ELECTIONS IN 1944 Scope and Content Note: Dan Hoan and William McMurray both decided to run for U.S. Senate. Raskin and Krycki went to New York to meet with Frank Rosenblum (regional director in Chicago for Amalgamated Clothing Workers), Morris Hillquit and Roger Baldwin. Stopped in Detroit to talk to Morris Sugar, attorney and “brains” for UAW. Argued that Hoan should be candidate instead of McMurray because McMurray was a communist. Raskin states that he didn't know Sugar was also communist. McMurray became candidate. Raskin then tried to get Hoan to run for governor. Circulated petition to encourage Hoan and he agreed to run. “But Hoan had a lousy voice over the radio.”.
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   18:00	ELECTION OF 1946 Scope and Content Note: Christoffel and other Communists supported McCarthy in primary.
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   20:20	WORK WITH BILL COOPER OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION Scope and Content Note: Charles Kasik, president of Century Building wanted to keep “charwomen” from organizing; Cooper asked Raskin for help. Filed a complaint with the brand new Wisconsin labor board. Lawrence Gooding was chairman. Held that women could not be fired for joining the union. Board upheld them; appeal to circuit court sustained board's decision.
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   26:20	MERGER OF WISCONSIN STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR AND STATE INDUSTRIAL UNION COUNCIL Scope and Content Note: Raskin's work for CIO ended at merger as the new organization retained AFL counsel.
Tape/Side   3/2 Time   29:15	END OF TAPE 3, SIDE 2
Tape/Side   4/1 Time   00:50	WISCONSIN CIO CHANGES AFTER LEFT WING OUSTED Scope and Content Note: Change in the right direction; didn't lose activism but gained more support. Communists didn't make positive contribution. Early leadership of both AFL and CIO were Socialists. Socialist Party contributions included learning how to run meeting, talk, declaim, etc.
Tape/Side   4/1 Time   03:30	SOCIALIST PARTY LOSES POWER BECAUSE ROOSEVELT BECOMES A SOCIALIST Scope and Content Note: Old AFL leaders didn't want labor law because they didn't want lawyers. Became active in Democratic Party. Appointed by John Reynolds as Judge in 1963.
Tape/Side   4/1 Time   08:00	WHY LABOR MOVEMENT IS IN DISFAVOR Scope and Content Note: Need more public relations work. Need to emphasize that they are part of consumer public as well. Importance of teaching labor studies in high schools. Has two children and six grandchildren and one is going to become conservative!
Tape/Side   4/1 Time   13:00	END OF INTERVIEW