Detroit evening times., 1945-12-28

"NNH tidl N'i' AiiNt upOU De-
ing told that ProSs was
criminal with bad police
record, including convictions
in both the federal and state
courts, Mr. Stember said the
Legion certainly would ex-
anime very carefully any ap-
pllcatlnn for charter thHt
might he received from this
union and probably would turn
II down.
DROSS, himself has no record
Il of patriotic service nor any
record Of sustained service as
a worker in any legitimate oc-
cupation. He never was q labor
leader and the means by which
he obtained a sheaf OF union
charters from the ALL are not
quite clear.
Ben ProSs, now as years old.
was first arrested on June Q.
1927, charged with grand lar
Ccny in ovcrstatinG his assets
and undertaking his liabilities
in a business deal.
The charge was reduced 10
petty larceny and on Oct. 25
ne was sentenced 10 90 days in
the work house. ON Jan. 20.
1923. he was arrested on an
other charge of grand larceny.
He was discharged on March
II.
IN JULY. 1929, Pross was
Il sentenced by Judge Fred II.
Bryant in the Federal court in
New York 10 serve three years
and four months IN Atf7ura
for violation Of the Federal
bankruptcy act
In that swindle the crook hv
way Of training for his career
as union statesman and
friend Of the woTker. opened a
furniture store and obtained
merchandise on credit which he
then moved out secretly 10 be
sold in auction rooms.
The Judge paid him the com.
pliment Of rcmarking that ths
scheme was thoroughly dis
honest.
Ten years later. in 1888.
ProSS. nov -hece#e r anion hovx.
was fined 500 in tho Federal
court in New York for a viols.
tion OF the Sherman antitrust
law.
The racket in this case was
set forth as an act In behalf Of
ms subjects with the explana.
lion that he put an embargo on
wines which had been bottleH
IN California so that his owa
people would get the work oi
bottllng.
The racket worked 10 the
benefit of the NeW York bottllng
companies. too. however. one of
which was operated by a rela-
tive Of tho homing hero Of the
second World War. worthy
President Oncto.
a representative of one Of tho
large diStillery companies has
stated that ProsS. personally.
asked this company 10 give
Oneto's relative a contract 10
-boIlle certain wines.
Being subject 10 the displeas-
tire Of Pross in lis union rela-
tions, the company gladly threw
the business that way.
CnpertgFhed by such troubles
and unembarraSscd by his
record as thief or the fact that
he has lost oven tho rights Of
citizenship. PrnSS- often fssHeS
profound statements in tho
racket publications of the union
movement which give him great
prominence and dignity and con-
stantly give him credit for GER
tam increases in wages granted
the workers
DROSS has large plans for his
Il future and is now organizing
from cellar 10 roof a company
with a nationwide business deal
ing in drugs and cosmetics as
well as liquor.
Several members of his FAM
lily have been associated with
him in unionism and business
ventures.
One member pleaded guilty
last March 26 10 being COM
mon gambler in operating
poker game in an apartment as
keeper, dealer and player and
was fined $3.50 with the option
OF 30 days in Jail plus a sus-
pended sentence Of 30 days.
This was an unusually severe
sentence on such n charge but
an investigator who worked on
the case said that families were
Victimized 10 a tragic degree by
the losses, for some women who
had lost heavily reSorted ~
prostitution 10 recoup and con-
ceal their losses from their hus-
bands.
William Green, the president
OF the AF'L, has known all about
Pross' criminal character and
record for at least 1S months