Sea Food Papa

When critics point to the many racketeers who hold office in A. F. of L. unions, William Green cries that he is being crucified. His alibi: that the Federation lacks disciplinary power over its autonomous international unions, can wield the big stick only over the Federal unions directly affiliated with it. Last week Mr. Green had a chance to use his stick.

Scripps-Howard's Ray Lamb reported that Local 16,975 of United Sea Food Workers Union (a Federal union) had rehired as its business agent blubber-mouthed, notorious Joseph ("Socks") Lanza. Known as Sea Food Papa, the Tsar of the Fulton Fish Market, and other names, Socks Lanza is no rose under any of them.

In the police records for more than half of his 40 years, he has been charged with juvenile delinquency, unlawful entry, conspiracy, carrying a gun, grand larceny and homicide. In 1937 the Federal Government sent him to prison for two years for violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

Released last February, Socks Lanza lost no time getting himself elected to his $75-a-week job with the union he has lived on since he founded it 21 years ago.

Last week Mr. Green, professing to have learned, from Reporter Lamb's story, of Sock's reemergence, dispatched a telegram to A. F. of L. executives in Manhattan instructing them to revoke the charter of Local 16,975 unless Socks Lanza was dropped forthwith from its payroll.

Promptly Local 16,975 refused, promptly lost its charter. Then Sea Food Papa made a unique gesture of renunciation, resigned (thus automatically restoring the union's charter). To his friends Socks Lanza said: "I'm being crucified."

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