Evening star., 1949-04-05
Berry and Aides Kept
Union Control 24Years
Without Opposition
By Jones Y. Newton

By Jones Y. Newton
The late George L. Berry. one
time Senator from Tennessee and
high Government Official, had no
opposition for the last "a Of the
40 years he reigned as president
of the rs, ,000-member AFL Inter
national Printing Pressmen's
Union.
The fact and others are impor-
tant in considering action of
Washington local of the union In
voting investigation of charges
that the international was short
changed in the will of Maj. Berry.
who died last December. The Star
revealed yesterday that Local No.
! here had called for an investi-
cation of the charges.
While Mai. Berry was elected to
six successive four-year terms as
president without even token op-
position, it also is interesting to
note that the pressmen since 1924
have held only two conventions
In 1910 and last year. The union
constitution calls for conventions
every four years.
The election laws of the union
would seem to make it virtually
impossible to unseat any of the
seven international officers, espec-
tally IL a powerful man or a pow
erful clique were in control. The
seven officers form the Board of
Directors. 4
One Possible Exception. II
So. with possibly one exception.
none of the present seven officers
was elected originally by the un-
ion membership to the position
he now holds. They were appoint
ed by the remaining members of
the Board of Directors to replace
. deceased or incapacitated mem
ber. The possible exception is
Fred Maxted, the Canadian vice
president. It could not be learned
definitely whether he was ap-
pointed or elected the first time.
Since the original appointments
some of the vice presidents have
been elected to new terms.
Union laws make 1t very difficult
for any one other than an incum-
bent to qualify for election. And
II the qualification hurdle is
cleared 1t would seem to be just as
tough to win over an incumbent.
To qualify to run for Office,
candidates for president and sec
retary-treasurer must have the
Endorsement of "at least 10 per
cent of the subordinate unions in
good standing from at least Is
different States or provinces (of
Canada" Candidates for any Of
the Ave vice presidential posts
must have Endorsement of at least
3 per cent of the subordinate un-
ions from at least Is different
States or provinces.
Locals Vote Under Unit System.
Locals vote under a unit system
entire vote Of a local is cast
according to majority view. Locals
of so members or less get one
vote; more than so, but less than
100 members. two votes, and so on.
But no union may have more than
10 votes. Thus 10 little unions of
rs members have as much say In
election of international officers
as the 3,l00-member New York
City local.
The internationals Board OF
Electors makes the final tabulation
Of the votes received from the
locals. The union laws state that
"the Board of Electors shall con-
sist of the president and the Sec
retary-treasurer of the Interna-
tional union and one member of a
subordinate union to be selected
by said president"
It was said that for 20 years at
least no officer appointed by the
directors to fill vacancy has been
defeated in a subsequent election.
The union constitution provides
that the president land other
officers. too) are to receive "$9
per day hotel expenses. and also
railroad fare by the nearest route,
and also all other expenses in
CURED in the performance Of his
duties ."
When the Government was in
vestigating the income tax case
against Maj. Berry two years ago
1t was said to have found that he
had drawn the "$9 per day hotel
expenses" 365 days a year from
the union. At least he had cred
tied that much against his income
as union business expenses.
Indicted in Tax Evasion.
Maj. Berry was indicted on
three counts of tax evasion. He
pleaded nolo contendere (no de-
fense) to one. and was fined $l0.-
900 and given a suspended prison
sentence of a year and a day.
Thereupon. following customary
Justice Department procedure,
the remaining counts of the in
dictment we're dismissed.
The charge on which he was
sentenced concerned the calendar
year 1899, when Mai. Berry re-
ported income of $7,181 and paid
tax of $238. 1t was charged that
the real income was $26.352 and
the tax liability $2.773.06.
For 1910 he reported net in
come of $2,ss7 and paid tax of
only $25.89. The indictment
charged for the same year that
Mat. Berry's net income was $685.
005. For 1s4l Mai. Berry paid
tax of $4,878 on a net income of