Evening star., 1943-11-05
De Lorenzo 10 Return
To House Hearing
Today, Admits Lies

IUudYr AunliIS Lies
Thomas V. De Lorenzo, president
of the United Automobile Workers
local at the Brewster Aeronautical
Corp. plants, was to resume his tes-
timony before the House Naval At
fairs subcommittee today.
De Lorenzo acknowledged to the
committee yesterday that he has
used half dozen different names
when they came in handy" and ad-
mitted he had lied in several official
documents-among them his 1910
income tax return and his draft
board record
The Brooklyn born labor leader
said he picked his present name
from a telephone book or hat"
because "it sounds nice"
Names Came in Handy.
Out of a croSs-eXamination by
Representative Hebert, Democrat, of
Louisiana, one time city editor of a
New Orleans newspaper, came state
ments from De Lorenzo that:
l. He was born IS years ago as
Harry Posner, that he changed his
name legally in 1910 to De Lorenzo,
and that he has used the name of
James Harris and a half dozen
others" on various occasions when
ever they came in handy"
2 He left the wholesale wine busi-
hess in 1899 because the wife
thought I was drinking too much" d"
and accepted a S22-a-week job AS
rlveter's helper; that he joined both
the CIO and AFT unions as in
surance that he would keep his job
when the question arose over which
union would become the bargaining
agent at the plant,
3. There were "lies"-aS Mr..
Hebert put it-in an application he
filed TO obtain alcohol. in his ap-
plication for job at Brewster, in al
application for a Civil Service rating
IN his 1910 income tax return, and in
his draft board record.
Will Lie to Support Self.
De Lorenzo was called before
VIC 'SiAAh1ptSC, pldIlb
production failures at Brewster, Just
dav after he, as the union head.
and Henry Kaiser, the companvs
new president, signed a new union
contract which the Navy hopes will
end bitter labor MANAGEMENT strife
In the plants.
His desk loaded with a mass of
documents, Mr.. Hebert fatty de-
clared that his cross-examination
was aimed at determining the
'credibllity' of Mr. De Lorenzo, and
whether the Navy and the committee
could count on his pledge to CO.
operate with Mr.. Kaiser to get out
fighting planes for the Navy.
How far do you intend to con-
tinue lying" inquired Mr.. Hebert.
Frankly said De Lorenzo Il will
lie at all times in order to get job
and support myself"
The inquiry switched back and
forth from production problems at
Brewster to De Lorenzo's views on
his responsibilities as union leader,
from his statements on labor's
philosophy in time of war to his
adherence to the truth.
Bluntly, he asserted that c. A.
Van DeuSen and Frederick Riebel-
Mr.. Kaisers predecessors at Brew
ster-Were responsible for the COM
panys production failures, declared
that they had attempted to bust
the union" and said neither one
is fit to shine Kaisers shoes"
Better Position to Bargain.
He defended his action in fighting
at a recent union convention to
void labor's no-strike pledge on
the grounds that it would put the
president of the union in a bet
ter position to bargain with the
President of the United States to
obtain concessions"
. DO you mean that the union"
eoared Mr.. Hebert, takes the posi-
ton that it should abandon their
no-strike pledge and use the threat
Of a strike to force the Commander
In Chief to bargain with it for con-
cessions?"
I've seen Congress bargain with
the President" retorted De Lorenzo
II don't see anything wrong with
It, adding later that Congress let
us down great deal at one point
by falling to keep prices pegged."
The witness acknowledged that
he had once said that our policy is
not to win the war at any cost. 1t is
to win without sacrificing too many
Of labor's gains.
wouldn't you rather lose those
little advantages rather than lose
the war demanded Mr.. Hebert.
1t goes a great deal deeper than
Just losing those advantages" main
tanned De Lorenzo. Some of US"
ne said at one point. feel that we
have given up too much already and
that we'll wind up with a Fascist
form of government"
Failed to Mention Arrest.
He acknowledged that he failed
to state, in filling out an applica-
ton for civil service Job with the
War Labor Board, that he had been
arrested on charges of "vehicular
homicide"
Il just didn't feel like putting it
down" he said. The case was dis
charged"
The union leader testified that
his 1910 income tax return was filed
under the name of Posner, though
he had then become De Lorenzo
legally, and that his income was
recorded as received as a salesman,
though it was earned as a Brewster
employe.
He acknowledged that his draft
board record listed him as being
employed as an aircraft worker be-
fore his employment at Brewster,
though he testified that such was
not the case.
Il just wanted to make it conform
with the Brewster records" he ex-
planned.