Beck Reduced

For beating up C. I. O. coalyard owner-drivers, three A. F. of L. teamsters went to trial in Seattle last week. This routine court item was news in Seattle and all along the Pacific Coast. Reason: They were Dave Beck's teamsters.

Remote indeed was the chance that any Beck slugger would have been brought to book in Seattle a year ago. Brawny Dave Beck was then still boss over his teamsters, other unions, Seattle businessmen and Seattle politicians. Evidence that Boss Beck might be in a decline appeared early this year, when in Seattle's elections droves of A. F. of L. voters deserted to C. I. O. candidates. The fact that middle-of-the-road Mayor Arthur B. Langlie defeated both labor rivals did not help Dave Beck, did not stop the C. I. O. invasion of his domain. Last winter, Dave Beck's Oregon lieutenant, Portland Teamster Al Rosser, and some 100 henchmen were rounded up, indicted for crimes varying from bombing to arson. Last week, Rosser awaited sentence for arson in the burning down of a box factory whose owners refused to sign up with A. F. of L.

Recent events set Dave Beck thinking. The results: 1) He suggested to the Washington State Federation of Labor that A. F. of L. and C. I. O. might do well to make peace, the better to fight their common enemies. 2) He disclosed that by diet and exercise he has taken off 44 Ib. in three months, has got down to a fit 170, the better to fight his enemies. Encased in heavy pants, rubber vest, rubber coat, two sweaters, he sweats his way around the University of Washington track every morning at 6 o'clock , flexes the Beck muscles on a rowing machine, subjects the Beck posterior to an electric belt.

Said the new Dave Beck last week: "I feel like a million."

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