Sewell Avery
Encyclopedia
Sewell Avery (Sag. News Nov. 1, 1960, Page 1 and page 5) was an American
businessman.
Born in a wealthy family of lumber barons in Michigan
, Avery attended public schools in Saginaw and Detroit and the Michigan Military Academy. He was a financier
of the American Liberty League
and a National Advisor for one of its front organizations
, the Crusaders
. Avery also gave generously to the Church League of America (CLA). He was a favorite of the anti-New Deal
movement and was a staunch opponent to the National War Labor Board
. Richard Sanders wrote
Avery's opposition to union-laws are best summed up in his own words, when asked what he intended to do after the government had seized Montgomery Ward. He said: "... the government has been coercing both employers and employees to accept a brand of unionism which in all too many cases is engineered by people who are not employees of the plant...these devices...only appear to make workers free to choose,... are a disguise for leading the nation into a government of dictators."
As a businessman, Avery was president of Montgomery Ward, director of J.P. Morgan’s U.S. Steel
and president of U.S. Gypsum. In 1955, Sewell retired with a fortune of $327 million.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman.
Born in a wealthy family of lumber barons in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Avery attended public schools in Saginaw and Detroit and the Michigan Military Academy. He was a financier
Financier
Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment...
of the American Liberty League
American Liberty League
The American Liberty League was an American political organization formed in 1934 by conservative Democrats to oppose the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was active for just two years...
and a National Advisor for one of its front organizations
Front organization
A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy groups, or corporations...
, the Crusaders
The Crusaders (repeal of alcohol prohibition)
The Crusaders was an organization founded to promote the repeal of prohibition in the United States. Prominent Crusaders included Alfred Sloan, Jr., Sewell Avery, Cleveland Dodge, and Wallage Alexander....
. Avery also gave generously to the Church League of America (CLA). He was a favorite of the anti-New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
movement and was a staunch opponent to the National War Labor Board
National War Labor Board
The National War Labor Board was a federal agency created in April 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson. It was composed of twelve representatives from business and labor, and co-chaired by Former President William Howard Taft. Its purpose was to arbitrate disputes between workers and employers in...
. Richard Sanders wrote
- Avery defied Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
’s New Deal by refusing to pay $30,000, as prescribed by the National Recovery Act. Despite this defiance, his vice president at Montgomery WardMontgomery WardMontgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
(Frank Folsom) was appointed to FDR’s National Defense Advisory Commission (1940-1941). During World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Avery would not comply with government orders to allow unionization efforts. As a result, National Guardsmen carried him from his office in 1944. “To hell with the government,” he blurted out at the Attorney General, “You... New Dealer!”
Avery's opposition to union-laws are best summed up in his own words, when asked what he intended to do after the government had seized Montgomery Ward. He said: "... the government has been coercing both employers and employees to accept a brand of unionism which in all too many cases is engineered by people who are not employees of the plant...these devices...only appear to make workers free to choose,... are a disguise for leading the nation into a government of dictators."
As a businessman, Avery was president of Montgomery Ward, director of J.P. Morgan’s U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
and president of U.S. Gypsum. In 1955, Sewell retired with a fortune of $327 million.