Evening star., 1944-05-12
House Group Requests
$4,000 for Inquiry
Into Ward Seizure

The special House committee
named to investigate the Mont
gomery Ward seizure by the
Government was preparing to-
day to shape its course after an
organization meeting yesterday
at which it was decided to ask an
appropriation of $4,000 to carry
on the work.
Another meeting will be held
Wednesday, and the date for OPEN
ing the inquiry may be decided
then, although Chairman Ramspeck
said today that You never can tell
what seven men will do" At any
rate, that meeting is expected to set
the order in which the Government
witnesses-first to be heard-will be
called.
Mr.. Ramspeck said there was
some difference of opinion" as to
whether the Investigators first
should hear Attorney General Bid
die, who directed the seizure, or
War Labor Board Chairman Davis.
The Georgia Representative said
the first meeting of the group was
harmonious, and that no differences
developed which could not be ad-
justed.
Poster Case Dropped.
In another development yesterday
in Chicago, Paul D. Sowell, assistant
to the operating manager of Mont
gomery Ward, was freed of a charge
based on his removal of a Govern
ment poster from bulletin board
IN one of the firms buildings while
the concern was under Federal con-
troll, the Associated Press reported.
United States Commissioner Ed
win K. Walker dismissed the case
after District Attorney William
Connor told him the Government
would drop prosecution.
Earlier, Francis Heisler, counsel
for Local 20 of the CIO United Mail
Order. Warehouse and Retail EN-
ployes Union, filed a petition in Su-
perior Court asking that the con-
cern pay $21,067 to the union for
attorneys fees and losses which, he
alleged, resulted from an Injunction
issued against the union during the
recent strike.
Mr.. Heisler maintained that the
injunction, limiting the number of
pickets to the plant to AZ, deprived
the strike of some of its effective
ness. CIO unioniSts went out April
IL, but returned April 26 at the re-
quest of President Roosevelt, and
the injunction was dissolved.
Avery's Reply Awaited.
The union, winner of a collective
bargaining election this week, await
ed reply from Sewell Avery
Wards chief executive officer, on its
request for meeting to discuss
new contract. The CIO was pre-
pared to seek inclusion of mainte-
nance OF membership clause, while
MIR. Avery has stated he would op-
pose such provision.
The Government took over the
firms facilities after Mr.. Avery re-
fused to comply with War Labor
Board order to extend an expired
contract with the union-a contract
which embraced a maintenance of
membership clause.
MIR. Sowell was arrested by FBI
agents May 4. when he removed a
bulletin setting forth, among other
things. that no dismissals of en-
ployes would be effective without the
approval of the Federal operating
manager. He said at the time he
merely wanted to take the placard
to his office to read it.
He was charged specifically with
taking, purloining, stealing or in
Juring property of the United States
Government with intent to commit |
q depreciation" He pleaded inno-
cent.
AT the outset of the Govern
ment's taking of the Montgomery
Ward plant there was a. threat of
substantial interference with that
possession and with the Govern
ment's property which had been
placed on the premises" Mr.. Connor
told the commissioner.
Mr.. Sowell's act in tearing down
a Government poster was promptly
met with his arrest. That ended the
threat of interference with Govern
ment property.
The Governments possession now
has been terminated. While there
is a violation of Federal statute,
the main controversy is closed and
the ends of justice do not require
that this man be further prose-
cuted."
Mr.. Sowell's attorney stated he
would have proved that Mr.. Sowell
removed the sign with the intention
of performing his duties "as directed
in the poster"