1977 July 20

Introduction

TWOC Philadelphia Area Leaders
Scope and Content Note: Weinstein, Pollock, George Baldanzi.

William Pollock's Interest in a Top Position with International Union
Scope and Content Note: Made his intentions known by calling together the five business agents from Philadelphia and polling them on their opinion; three favored. Hueter and George Powell opposed; did not want Pollock to leave the Joint Board “experiment” so soon.

Committee Formed to Get Support for Pollock's Bid for Secretary-Treasurer
Scope and Content Note: Committee consisted of Hueter and Powell. In two separate meetings, Rieve cool to idea; no decision made; several other people interested in the position. Pollock believed his bid successful and began grooming Rolla Wallace, one of the newest business agents, for position of Manager, causing some resentment.

Hueter on Entertainment Committee Formed for First TWUA Convention in Philadelphia

Support for Pollock as Secretary-Treasurer Finally Arranged
Scope and Content Note: Two days before convening, still no decision on position of Secretary-Treasurer. Hueter inquired; Pollock summoned. Outcome: Pollock won support for position of Secretary-Treasurer with the condition that Hueter become Manager of Philadelphia Joint Board; this a surprise to Hueter.

Anecdote about Pollock's Nomination as Secretary-Treasurer at the Convention
Scope and Content Note: Hadn't asked anyone to nominate him; therefore, no one did for a few moments. Bill Gordon stopped embarrassing pause by taking the floor and making the nomination.

Did Not Know Why He and Powell Were Selected to Plead Pollock's Case to Rieve

Other Potential Candidates for Position of Secretary-Treasurer

Pollock as Part of 1936 UTW Convention Opposition Slate with Rieve
Scope and Content Note: Hueter feels this did not have too much to do with his decision to run for Secretary-Treasurer in 1939. As representative of the third largest group in the organization (the Philadelphia Joint Board), Pollock felt he should become Secretary-Treasurer.

Choosing the Executive Council Slate
Scope and Content Note: Slate picked primarily by Rieve, Baldanzi, and Hillman to give recognition to certain factors - region, industry, large groups within the organization.

Introduction

Responsibilities as Philadelphia Joint Board Manager
Scope and Content Note: Supervision of business agents, employment of Board employees, cooperation between unions, negotiation of contracts, supervision of shop problems, and general overseeing.

Operating Differences Between Philadelphia and Other Areas
Scope and Content Note: Philadelphia rarely called upon International representatives for assistance because local people had good experience and generally good relationships with employers and within the Joint Board.

Absence of Ethnic Problems in Philadelphia

Anecdote about Ethnic Origins Which Occurred Shortly after Hueter Became Business Agent
Scope and Content Note: Hueter made strong point that a person's ability to speak English well had no bearing on his right to be heard at meetings. Incident grew out of criticism of Polish speaker.

Effects of World War II on Philadelphia Textile Workers
Scope and Content Note: More women in positions previously held by men; argument developed over equal pay for equal work; employers often proved the work not equal.

Hueter Member of War Labor Board
Scope and Content Note: Did not find it difficult negotiating contracts; framing demands within limits of rules and regulations which were widely known; no strikes.

New Building for Philadelphia Joint Board in 1945
Scope and Content Note: Pollock opposed Hueter's efforts to get loan from International Union; Rieve approved loan, as did Executive Council.

Pollock Continuously Blocked Hueter's Efforts and Supported Wallace
Scope and Content Note: Claimed he did not want to appear to favor Philadelphia endeavors.

Wallace's Position on Executive Council
Scope and Content Note: Useless as far as representing Philadelphia Joint Board on Executive Council; maintained authority as business agent over his own local union in Philadelphia, to Hueter's exclusion. Wallace not particularly able, wanted to avoid controversy, and personally opposed to Hueter.

From the Beginning Rieve Urged Hueter to Run for Executive Council
Scope and Content Note: Hueter stuck to promise to Pollock that he would not run. Began to have second thoughts when he saw Wallace's ineffectiveness.

Introduction

Hueter Finally Decided to Run for Executive Council in 1948
Scope and Content Note: Had been asked by Rieve prior to each convention if he would be interested in the position. Joint Board delegates and Philadelphia delegates to 1948 convention asked Hueter to run for Vice President (i.e., Executive Council member). Wallace was not nominated and did not run.

Relationship Between Hueter and Wallace Deteriorated
Scope and Content Note: Bad relationship lasted until Wallace's death.

Why Philadelphia Delegates Urged Hueter to Run for Executive Council
Scope and Content Note: Within first two years after Wallace on Council, he stopped attending Joint Board meetings or reporting International Union events to the Joint Board; membership therefore not informed of Council business and even many members of Wallace's own local finally urged Hueter's candidacy.

Wallace Claimed Hueter Violated 1939 Agreement by Running for Executive Council
Scope and Content Note: Hueter maintained agreement applied only to 1939, was not perpetual. Pollock agreed with Hueter's interpretation.

Hueter's Position on Special Assessment for Strike Fund Brought before Executive Council in November 1948
Scope and Content Note: Felt decision should be postponed pending clarification of where money would go and how it would be spent. Represented Philadelphia Joint Board's views on this subject, as it had always paid its own way without financial help from the International.

Letter from Philadelphia Joint Board Introduced at November 1948 Executive Council Meeting Advocating Creation of Labor Party
Scope and Content Note: President of Joint Board, John Millar, worked for many years in textile industry in England and advocated to Joint Board that a political party similar to Britain's Labour Party be set up in the United States. Lack of recognition of labor in the United States somewhat justified Millar's position. Hueter took no position; Rieve felt labor would progress further, faster working within existing political framework.

Discussion on Potential of Labor Party in Light of Political Situation in 1948
Scope and Content Note: If Truman defeated, opportunities would have been good for formation of a labor party; but no top union officials ever supported possibility of a labor party.