Evening star., 1949-11-18
Curran Calls BrawIine
In NkU Desperation
Plan by Communists
By the Assoeiafed Press

PIdn by Communists
BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Nov. 18.-Joseph
Curran. president Of the CIO-Na-
tional Maritime Union charged to-
day that brawling conflict in
union ranks-with a threat Of
plenty Of blood" to come-was
caused by national plan OF des-
peration" by the Communist
Party.
MIR. Curran arrived at union
headquarters unmolested after two
days of left-wing versus right
wing fighting that climaxed in a
11st-swinging general membership
meeting last night.
I'VE intend to carry out the
functions of this organization and
we will not permit hoodlums who
are spurred and used by the Com
munist Party to prevent our or
ganization from functioning, Mr..
Curran told newsmen.
Called Part of National Plan.
What they (the leftists) are
doing" he asserted. els part OF a
national plan of desperation by
the Communist Party because they
realize that the legs have been cut
from under them and they are
being driven from trade unions"
About 100 policemen and detec-
tives guarded the six-story union
headquarters near the Hudson
River waterfront in the light OF
threats that there was more vio-
lence to come.
big Joe" Curran used an iron
hand last night to quell the left
wing rebellion against his leader
ship.
The towering union president
stalked into a battling crowd OF
$500 seamen last night and
seized control of their meeting
from left-wing rebels.
Mr.. Curran, who had flown back
from Texas in a chartered plane
in response to an SOS, lodged a
barrage of eggs and brickbats as
he tossed his weight around on
the platform. H.
Won't Admit Defeat.
His narrowly outvoted op-
ponents. refusing to admit defeat.
shouted wait til tomorrow.
Thereu be plenty Of blood on
Seventeenth street"
NMU headquarters on West
Seventeenth street near the
Hudson River piers-was battle
ground on Wednesday. Curran
officers were besieged upstairs as
900 left-wing members charged
into the neighborhood and brawl-
ing broke out.
Heavy police reserves have been
posted in the area since.
The left-wingers, who charged
that the Curran-controlled meet
ing last night was invalid, held
their own session afterward and
called another meeting at union
headquarters today. |
Fist-f1ghts were raging and
chairs spinning through the air
last night as Mr.. Curran walked
into st. Nicholas Arena to take
control Of the meeting where
grievances were being thrashed
out.
The NMU President janmed
through q resolution. by a slight
margin, censuring his left-wing
foes led by David Drummond, de-
posed New York port agent.
Curran's foes swung fists. threw
chairs. hooted and booed- through
the meeting. The fights were brok-
en- up by $50 police on emergency
duty. The brawlers were elected
by the police, but they slipped
back in through other arena en-
frances to rejoin the fray. No one
was reported injured seriously
enough to- require medical treat
ment.
Mr.. Curran's foes waved in front
of his face cards bearing the
word Fink" "a about the worst
double name one union
member can call another.
Declares Meeting Adjourned.
Members of the embattled fac
tions sat staring at each other
like bulldogs for Is minutes after
Mr.. Curran declared the meeting
adjourned. Then Mr.. Curran and
his right-wing aides walked out
Of the sports arena - scene OF
many famous prize fights. The
left wingers' meeting ended the
tempestuous nights proceedings.
The longstanding left right
split in the union erupted into
violent conflict Wednesday after
Mr.. Drummond and 13 of his aides
were discharged by the Curran
administration.
The resolution Mr.. Curran
forced through last night accused
the IA OF "wil1ful disobedience."
The union charges against the
IA will be referred to the National
; Council of the NMU. Mr.. Curran
has considerable strength In this
body.
Last nights meeting. according
to Curran supporters. included
800 seamen imported from Bos-
ton, Norfolk. Va, Philadelphia
and Baltimore by the left-wingers.
Chest