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Six   The Air Line Pilot   February, 1947

Candidly Speaking: The 9th Convention Through the Camera's Eye

[[24 images]]

February, 1947   The Air Line Pilot Seven (seven)

CANDID CAMERA CAPTIONS
Here, on the opposite page six, is the real and live picture story of the Ninth Annual and Biennial Convention of ALPA—the candid, off guard ones snapped while the delegates were in action or relaxed:

(1) ALPA's unofficial board of strategy huddles at the rear of the Convention hall to do a little Monday morning quarterbacking. "Now it's thissa way." whispers Jerry Wood, EAL, who was elected as the Association's first vice-president, to ALPA's Washington Representative Dickerman. The two interested spectators at the right are the "old barnstormer," "Red" Foster, and ALPA's reelected check writer—treasurer, that is—Warren Malvick, TWA.

(2) Quiet! Newspaperman at work! After consuming two kegs and four jugs of ultra strong black coffee, whereupon he assumed that razor edge sharpness of a top-bracket news snooper, Edward C. Modes, of ALPA's Publicity and Public Relations Department, took his trusty pencil firmly in hand with a spade-handle grip and wrote the amazing happenings of the ninth annual melee of ALPA.

(3) Bang! Bang! Bang! "We'll have order," says Chairman Behncke . . . and by Hades there was order. He roared, "There's now on the floor the original amendment and the amendment to the original motion and the amendment to the amendment is now open for discussion. Whereupon someone moved the question. Bang! Bang! Bang! "Now let's get this straight. Who moved what? The amendment to the amendment or the amendment or the motion to amend? Did I hear a move to table? The delegate says it's not in the Roberts' Rules of Order. Trying to play smart, eh? You ate the book for breakfast, I presume, and now you're digesting it, I presume. Let's get on with the Convention and get things done." Bang! Bang! Bang! "The motion is tabled and it's so ordered. Proceed with the next order of confusion. Time's awaistin' and so on and on and far into the sixth night. 

(4) This plus this equals this and if you fall in bracket so and so, it'll cost you this much. If it wasn't an ALPA Convention, he'd have sounded like a super sleuth from the Bureau of Internal Revenue because it was just about that time of the year. But guess again. It's ALPA's glib-tongued, mathematical wizard, PAA Delegate Eckert explaining ALPA's new percentage dues system. Eckert was the super intellectual boy who figured out and put over the new system which was passed by the Ninth Convention. 

(5) Hey, what's the big attraction back there, anyway? The action's supposed to be up front. Well, maybe it was one of those infrequent interludes when the delegates were able to relax for a moment and take a deep breath. Anyway, no matter where it was - front, back or middle - action and plenty of it was typical of the Ninth convention. The identifiable gents in left foreground are (l. to r.) Thad Young, Panagra; Jack Grissom, Braniff; and Oliver Huff, also Braniff.

96) Whatever it is, it must be interesting, the look on the face of K. D. Wright, Delta, seems to tell us as these three delegates queue up for an off-the-floor and maybe off-the-record "male cow session." That's right, Wright's in the middle. The other two, and you'll have to take our word for it, are George Sheridan, EAL, and "Doc" Ator, AA. Did we hear George and "Doc" wail they were gypped on this picture? Well, if you want your mugs recorded for posterity (and if they're in the AIR LINE PILOT, they will be), you ought to turn around when the cameraman yells, "Hey you," which he yelled at most everybody at one time or another during the Convention.

(7) One of the wheelhorses and workhorses of the Ninth Convention, veteran Bart Cox, AA, who battled voluminously from the floor, on the rostrum, and, we presume, in the committee rooms as well, goes into action as he presents a resolution on the floor in his own forceful style.

(8) Oh, oh, lobbying for that resolution of yours, eh, Emery? That's the ALPA spirit: If you think it's right, fight for it, but good. All's fair in love and war and getting a resolution through an ALPA Convention . . . as long as it is according to Roberts' Rules of Order. The delegate: Emery Martin, AOA.

(9) Mal Freeburg, NWA, takes time out to enjoy a hearty laugh, as an out-of-range someone whom the camera didn't catch cracks wise during a recess of the Convention floor sessions. Despite its seriousness, the Convention had its lighter moments, for air line pilots without a sense of humor are few and far between. Come to think of it, is there any such bird?

(10) "Hey, don't snap that picture; I'm not ready," yelled Mr. Behncke's traveling secretary, Miss Violet Miller, being perenially woman-like. But the photographer snapped it anyway. And it's not bad for no primping nor posing. Really it's mighty pretty, we'd say. What are you doing at ALPA anyway? You really ought to be in Hollywood, you know. Oh, you've heard that before? Smart gal, but still very pretty, even candidly, we still say candidly.

(11) A trio of copilots go into a huddle for a little informal discussion . . . probably about copilot matters, for the copilots had a large and active voice in the Ninth Convention and proved themselves sound, logical and progressive delegates: A. H. Weidman, AA (right), and C. D. Denk, TWA, left.

(12) AA Master Chairman W. H. Proctor spots the approaching slinking candid camera flend and makes with the "I-caught-you-that-time, chum," smile just as the old bulb flashed and the shutter clicked.

(13) Tish, tish, Miss Peoria, next time you'll believe the old newshawk when he tells you, "There's film in that thar camera." Besides, after all the serious business at the Ninth Convention, a little monkey business was newsworthy and . . . well, after looking at the 99 delegates for six and one-half days and nights a little cheesecake is refreshing, isn't it? She works in the Education and Organization Department which the Ninth Annual convention voted to incorporate permanently into the ALPA Organizational setup.

(14)"Mr. Chairman, I think we ought to have some discussion of that question before it's voted," chortles PAA Delegate J. E. Abraham. The result was one of the many long and thorough discussions that jotted the Ninth Convention. That is what conventions are for, to voice the views and opinions of the pilots . . . and voice them they did with no punches pulled. But no matter how the debate raged or who thought what, they all wound up in the ALPA tradition of majority rule. Others in the photo are W. R. Everts, PAA; D. L. Rogers, PAA; F. W. Saul, PAA; and J. W. Grissom, Braniff.

(15) Delegate R. A. Nordt, AOA, takes time out to talk things over with ALPA's Washington representative.

(16) The Credentials Committee in action. The first committee to go into action, before the Convention could even get underway. "Let's see your credentials," was their stock phrase. Even "One-eyed Connolly" couldn't crash an ALPA convention with these watchdogs on the job, and, needless to say, there were no gate-crashers. Seated at the credential checking table are K. D. Wright, Delta; G. T. Tremble, UAL; and F. C. Miller, PCA. Standing in left foreground looking on is C. E. Aagard, WAL, while that broad back in the right foreground is the other side of Wayne Allison, AA. 

(17) "Hi ya, Karl, haven't seen you in a couple of weeks," says Russ Morris, TWA, (left) as he shakes hands with Karl J. Ulrich, of ALPA's Employment Agreement Department, who also served as Convention secretary. 

(18) Here's a group picture of the PAA delegates. Back row (l. to r.): F. W. Saul, J. L. Raabe, C. H. Smith, R. F. Eckert, J. E. Abraham, D. L. Rogers, and E. M. Black; front row (l. to r.): J. M. Marcum, C. J. Howe, J. W. Burke, W. B. Wallace, W. R. Everts, and F. H. Goslin. 

(19) "It seems to me, Mr. Chairman, we're off the beam," says PAA Delegate C. J. Howe." We're moving the question and not voting on the resolution" - a familiar point of order at he Ninth Convention after the first couple of days when virtually all of the delegates had received a streamlined education on parliamentary procedure and seemed to be experts on Roberts' Rules of Order. If a man was out of order, someone caught it and he was called on it and called on it quickly. There always seemed to be one way of straightening it all out, however...a motion to adjourn takes precedence. Yes, among other things that happened, too. 

(20) Your old chairman got a rest on this one. After flashing photographer's bulbs in his face until it was a wonder he could see, the photographer gave him a respite with this angle shot. He isn't raising his arm in self defense against the expected flash but is up to his usual trick, keeping order on the Convention floor with a flick of his gavel indicating who had the floor first, a trick that isn't as easy as it sounds, but is duck soup to the man who has been doing it for nine straight ALPA Conventions. In the foreground (l. to r.) are M. J. Connors and K. J. Ulrich, both of Headquarters staff and Bart Cox, AA, on the rostrum as chairman of the Committee on Employment Agreements, Salaries, Hours and Working Conditions (Domestic). 

(21) "Mm, nice looking display," comments D. E. Burch, National, as G. M. Sheridan, EAL, seems to agree. The displays, which backgrounded the Convention hall, were numerous and colorful and told a visual story of ALPA's progress, advancements and achievements. 

(22) For a veteran observer at nine conventions, the better half of the Behncke clan (extreme left) and the only woman honorary member of ALPA, conventions are serious business. She's probably the second greatest authority on ALPA's origin, development, accomplishments, trials and tribulations, and all of its victories and all of its blood and guts battles. It was in her small living room, 17 years ago that she saw ALPA born and it was she who helped suckle it through its tender and shaky first years, later to grow to its present enviable position in employee-representing circles- one of the strongest unions in the world. When the offices are closed and the old man is away, she is still ALPA's after-hours, all-hours telephone operator and its official trouble smoother-over and message-taker. Next to Mrs. Behncke is Viola Baumback, the boss' private secretary and the Association's senior employee and one of its ablest. She smiles coyly as the slinking candid camera fiend gets on with his dirty work. In the background are James H. Keeton and Dale Cavanagh, UAL visitors, keeping an alert outlook or lookout for the fast moves of the Roberts' Rules of Order experts. 

(23) The shining oratorical satellite of the Ninth Convention was none other than that perennial old standby, V. A. Peterson, EAL, whose persuasive argument swayed many an issue when its outcome was in doubt. We don't know exactly what he was waxing eloquent on in this particular picture, for his activity was unconfined; but of one thing you can be certain: Whatever it was, it was worth-while and constructive and even those who disagreed, listened. In the foreground is F. S. Blaney, TWA, and the man on the puffing end of the pipe is J. W. Grissom, Braniff. 

(24) The better half of PAA Delegate E. M. Black, who was an interested spectator throughout the Ninth Convention, finally consented after much persuasion, to pose prettily for the cameraman who gave no one any privacy. But camera or no camera, Mrs. Black was a very petite, fetching and decorative part of the Ninth Convention. And, by the way, "E. M." didn't slip us a quarter on that one either, Mrs. Black. 

That is the candid story of the more candid moments of the Ninth Annual and Biennial Convention of the Air Line Pilots Association. Whether we snapped your "good side" or "bad side" it's all in fun and part of the game, for, candidly speaking, we were really just trying to be candid and down to earth, you know. 

For ALPA Builders, a Blueprint of the Future
(Continued from Page 5, Col. 2)
the "go ahead signal" to proceed with the employment of pension experts to write up a suitable pension plan bill to be subject to a vote of the Board of Directors prior to being introduced into Congress.

Far-reaching Decisions

The Ninth Annual and Biennial Convention was an all-work and no-play proposition out of which came many far-reaching decisions that will spell expansion, growth and strength for ALPA. An example of the high speed pace of the Convention was the final session which began on the morning of Sunday, February 23, ran continuously throughout the day and into the following dawn, when the Convention adjourned sine die at 6:30 a.m. on the morning of February 24. Many other sessions were practically as long.

There was little pomp or ceremony at the Ninth Convention because the work load wouldn't permit it, and like all other ALPA Conventions it was absolutely liquorless and partyless. The time of most delegates was about equally divided between committee and floor sessions. Business was conducted under the Revised Roberts' Rules of Order which kept it on a correct parliamentary plane while at the same time giving anyone with anything to say a chance to say it. Resolutions came both from the committees and from the floor.

The Ninth Convention was actually the 1946 Convention. It had been postponed because of the TWA strike and arbitration which were in conflict with the original dates for which it had been set.

Because of the tremendous volume of work which faced it, it was the longest Convention in ALPA's history. Originally scheduled for four days it was extended an additional two days in order to clear all the scheduled work from the agenda.

Data Being Assembled

While much work was accomplished at the Convention, much work is yet to be done to put the many resolutions in workable order. Many of the resolutions which were passed are still not in Headquarters hands because the Convention reporters have not yet completed the transcript which will run close to 2,000 pages. However, copies of all resolutions are being mimeographed and will be placed in the hands of of all council chairmen as soon as possible. In the meantime Headquarters is proceeding with the tremendous job of consolidation of all Convention material, preparing it in such form that each resolution can be processed and complied with in proper order.

There is no doubt that the Ninth Annual and Biennial Convention was the most progressive and creative of any of the nine ALPA Conventions. The delegates were visionary and sincere which qualities were reflected in their accomplishments. Theirs was the job of architects of ALPA's future, and they not only planned well and wisely, but gave ALPA's builders the tools and added finance with which to build.

PRESIDENT BEHNCKE SAID:
(Continued from Page 5, Cols. 3 and 4)
thing ... at times almost frail. You have to use good judgment when you have an organization such as ours that is a complete democracy. You can destroy it very easily. It is like a tender plant. It will prosper as long as it is properly handled, but once it is ruthlessly handled by would-be dictators and selfish non-principled and diabolical climbers, it can be very easily harmed and even destroyed."

"This is an air line pilot's organization. We have always gone forward with the one idea, which is, to build a representing organization one hundred per cent for air line pilots, first, last, and all the time. We have been very touchy about even what you might call semi-official pilots. The line has been pretty sharply drawn. Let's keep this a pure air line pilots association--any other approach will be the beginning of the end."

"We swept a terrific amount of confusion out of this picture and we are now in a position so we can go ahead. I has been the postwar effort of certain air carrier officials against the air line pilots, but the atmosphere is clearing. There is light around the edges and we are going to be able to go ahead and, with a reasonable amount of luck and with Providence on our side, clean up all of our differences and employment agreements in a rapid fire fashion. We are going to negotiate all our open agreements on the basis of an individual negotiation with every carrier, and not one of those sort of deals like the Airlines Negotiating Committee tried to put over."

Transcription Notes:
Completed transcription review up to (20). Start with (21) for review.