Evening star., 1948-02-24
.ChristoffeI Assisted
In Strike 10 Bar Aid 10
British, Budenz Says

Testimony that Howard Christoffel
helped plan a strike with political
motives at the strategic Allis- Chal-
mers plant in 1941 was given today
at the District Court perjury trial
of the former Milwaukee labor
leader.
The work stoppage was agreed on
by the union chief in conference
with Communist leaders to interfere
with the plans of the late President
Roosevelt to aid Great Britain, ac-
cording to Louis F. Budenz, former
managing editor of the Daily Work
er, who was Government witness
today. Mr.. Budenz renounced COM
munism in 1945 and re-entered the
Catholic Church.
The 34-year -old defendant, who
is accused of perjury before the
House Labor Committee last March,
was president of the CIO United
Automobile Workers unit at the
Allis- Chalmers plant at the time of
the prewar strike. He also was
president of the Milwaukee County
Industrial Union Council.
Christoffel's denial under oath,
before the House Committee that he
bad communistic connections was
flatly disputed on the stand today by
Mr.. Budenz, now an assistant pro-
fessor of economics at Fordham
University.
Budenz Tells of Meeting.
The witness, who said he was
member and official Of the Com
r1unist Party from 1885 until he
resigned in 1945. said he attended
a meeting in Milwaukee in 1910 at
which Christoffel, Fred M. Blair
once a Communist candidate for
Governor of Wisconsin, and Eugene
Dennis, whom he described as a
former Wisconsin Communist lead
er, we're present.
Mr.. Blair, now a candidate for
Mayor of Milwaukee, when sum-
moned as a Government witness last
week, refused to state whether or
not he knew Christoffel on the con-
tention that he might incriminate
himself.
Dennis after the Milwaukee
meeting became secretary of the
national Communist Party, Mr.
Budenz said.
Dennis, the witness said, urged
those present to restudy the writings
of Stain and to steel themselves for
the work that lay ahead. Dennis was
quoted as saying that an imperial
istic war had broken out abroad and
it was up to party workers in this
country to counter such a war with
civil war at home.
Mr.. Budenz said Dennis quoted
Soviet authorities that the late
President Roosevelt was another
Hitler"
Dennis was quoted as saying that
the Communist Political Commit
tee believed that a strike at the
Allis Chalmers plant might help
disrupt the Roosevelt program to
help England.
Dennis was quoted as asking
Christoffel and Ned Sparks, de-
scribed as a Communist worker, II
the situation at the Alis- Chalmers
plant could not be turned into q
work stoppage. The plant at the
time was turning out vital equip
ment for warships and farm ma.
chinery.
Strike Occurred Later.
Mr.. Budenz added that Chris
toffel and Sparks said situation
existed at the plant which coulo
be turned to advantage.
A strike occurred at the plant
several months later, but was set
tied before Germany attacked Rus
sia in June, 194l.
Mr.. Budenz testified he next saw
Christoffel at a CIO convention In
Buffalo in August, 1941. He said
this meeting was in hotel in the
presence of Roy Hudson, described
as a Communist now believed to be
in Pittsburgh. At that time, Hud-
son was a labor representative for
the party, Mr.. Budenz said.
John S. Pratt, special assistant to
the Attorney General told Justice
Edward NJ Curran that the Gov
ernment probably will conclude Its
case by Friday. o. John Royce Ii
attorney for Christ0ffel