Elmer J. Maloy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1896. He later moved to the city of Duquesne, Pennsylvania. In 1911 at age fifteen, Maloy dropped out of high school to take a job as a water boy at Duquesne Works. Wanting to learn a skilled trade, he apprenticed to become a Millwright, which repaired and serviced various machines in the mill. He left the Duquesne Works for a short stint in the United States Army in 1918. When he went to war, Maloy was promised by the superintendent of the mill that his job would be held for him and he would continue to receive any promotions he would have earned, if he had stayed. When he returned in 1919, his foreman did not promote him to Millwright as expected, but rather kept him as a Millwright's Helper. Maloy witnessed more inequality on the job, such as nepotism, long hours, unsafe working conditions, and low pay. These conditions under which he worked caused him to look toward unionization. However, he knew if he mentioned unionization around the mill he would be terminated. Maloy, with a few other laborers, at one point refused to work overtime. After the men discovered their ability to create a type of "slow down strike," they gained break time and overtime payment. Despite Maloy's own gains in the workforce, he remained discontent with the wage rates. After experiencing hardships as a laborer, Elmer Maloy joined up with the Steel Workers' Organizing Committee (later to become the United Steel Workers of America). It was with this organization where he helped pioneer an attempt to unionize the Duquesne steel mills. Maloy showed great leadership among the rank and file workers and was first president of this committee, Local 1256, in 1937. At the time, the Republican Party had control of the politics of the city of Duquesne. The Republican Party also controlled many organizations and services in the city. A majority of the citizens in the town voted Republican as well. Since the Republicans held a majority in the city and mill leadership positions, they were also in control of the issues that affected the lives of many plant laborers. However, after the Great Depression when Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in November 1932 and implementing New Deal economic policies more Duquesne citizens began to vote Democrat. As a result of this new majority, the Republican Party was unable to change or discount Democrat Party votes like they had in the past. In 1937, Maloy ran for Mayor on the Democrat ticket. He spoke out against the Republican administration that did not come out in support of Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies. Maloy's original intention for running for mayor was anger. As President of Local 1256, he would try to obtain permits to hold union meetings and the Duquesne police chief would routinely deny him the permit. Out of spite, Maloy decided he would run for mayor. Maloy was supported by the workforce of the entire Duquesne area to which he called, "the best organized political organization that didn't go into politics that's ever been created (Maloy interview November 7, 1967, p. 57)." Maloy was elected Mayor of the city of Duquesne in 1937 at age 41. Elmer Maloy was the first Democrat to be elected mayor of Duquesne and he served two consecutive four year terms. During his mayoral terms, Maloy desired to be a fair labor leader. Some of his labor policies included the implementation of a forty hour work week for all municipal employees without increasing taxes. Maloy also had a plan to implement a 'New Deal' type policy, which brought Works Progress Administration projects to Duquesne.
From the description of Elmer J. Maloy collection, 1916-1989. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 587764770
