Evening star., 1949-05-18
Morse Calls for Prob
.0f Berry's Finances
As Pressmen' S Head
By Jones Y. Newton

llc oEtldE 1dUOl 1Oiilul4l AFc
has been asked TO investigate the
financial manipulations OF the late
Mai. George L. Berry. former
Senator from Tennessee and for
20 years the virtual czar OF the
AFL International Printing Press
mems Union.
Senator Morse. Republican. OF
oregon. requested the inyestiga-
ton at a closed committe session
yesterday. saying there is a ''prima
facie case showing that individual
members Of the preSsmen's union
have been defrauded OF many
thousands of dollars"
The committe took under ad-
visement the Morse request for
appointment Of three member
committee to probe the financial
transactions of Mai. Berry. who
died last December.
Held Shortehanged in Will.
Charges have been made that
the $4,000 member union was
shortchanged in the win Of Mai
Berry. who left the bulk OF an
estimated $750.00o estate to two
Mrs. Berrys. the widow and q
mysterious Mrs. Alva Berry of
Mooresburg, Tenn. Mai. Berry
lived at Pressmen's Home, the
East Tennessee headquarters OF
the union. which he established
shortly after becoming president
in 1907.
The Star revealed six weeks
ago that Local No. ! Of the union
here had called for investigation
of charges that under the Berry
will individuals inherited prop
erty which actually belonged to
the union. Since then other
pressmen's locals have demanded
similar probes.
Shortly after Local No. ] took
it's action J. H. De La Rosa.
present president of the interna-
tional. announced that auditors
were being called in to determine
if the unions financial interests
were fully protected in the Berry
will. Although Mr.. De La Rosa
promised a full report several
weeks ago, one has not been re-
leased SO far as can be deter
mined.
Label Firm Involved.
The charges against Maj. Berry's
manipulation of union funds in
volve principally the international
Card and Label Co.. million
dollar firm printing labels for
popular cigarettes and other prod
ucts which was established largely
with union funds more than 20
years ago. An estimated s700, 900
of the unions money was used to
set up the company and Maj.
Berry left all Of the stock to in
dividuals.
Mai. Berry also was engaged
from time to time In other busi-
ness ventures, and 1t Is under
stood that there. too, he made
use Of union funds.
Senator Morse said he was in
terested primarily in the Berry
case from the standpoint Of pos
sible need for legislation to pro-
tect the interests Of rank-and-fll
members in the operation Of union
welfare and trust funds. He said
that union funds should be sub
ject to the same public surveil-
lance as other trust funds. and
that in order to get a fair and
workable law. an investigation
should be made of all the angles
involved. such as the operations
Of Mai. Berry.
Fined for Tax Evasion.
The Senator said he did not
wish to give the impression that
the operations of Maj. Berry were
typical of the way union officers
handle their trusts.
Two years ago Maj. Berry was
indicted for income tax evasion
He later pleaded nolo contendere
Cno defense) to one count Of the
indictment, and was given q fine
of $4,000 and suspended SEN
tence of a year and a day in jail.
Union officers said that it has
been known for years that the
financial affairs of Maj. Berry
and the union were tangled, but
that Mai. Berry had contended
it made no difference. since upon
his death he would leave every
fhipo he bad IN the union