Evening star., 1949-09-13
Pressmen Local No. |
Here Threatened With
Loss Of lis Charter

Loss Of lis Charter
Washington Printing Pressmen's
Union No. has been ordered by
the international union to show
cause September 81 why its charter
should not be revoked or sus-
pended, 1t was learned today.
The charges grow out of the
Washington locals activity in con-
nection with complaints about the
late George L. Berry, who headed
the international union for many
years and once served briefly as a
Senator from Tennessee. A House
Labor subcommittee last spring
looked into reports that he manip-
ulated hundreds Of thousands of
dollars Of union funds for his own
use.
The Washington group is charged
with havig violated the constitu-
ton and laws of the international
Printing Pressmen and Assistants
Union Of North America, AFL. At
the hearing September 81 at union
headquarters at Pressmen's Home.
Tennessee. the Washington officials
will have an opportunity to answer
the charges brought by the inter-
national board Of directors.
Accused of Planning to Sue.
Specifically the local is accused
Of planning court action without
first exhausting all remedies pro-
vided in the union constitution,
revealing union business to out
side groups. appealing for f1nan-
cial aid without approval Of the
dictators, and making false
charges" rejecting on the honesty
Of a member or claiming improper
use of funds.
Possible penalties range from
revocation or suspension Of the
locals charter to expulsion or
fines against dividual members.
Although international officers
have not formally announced the
show-cause session for next week.
it was learned authoritatively to-
day that a notice dated last
Thursday has been received by
Washington local officers. 1t is
signed by President j. H. de la
Rosa and the six other members
of the Board of Directors.
Accompanying this was an
eight-page printed pamphlet in
which Mr.. de la Rosa discussed in
detail the charges against the
local.
Newark Also Accused.
The Newark IN. j. local OF the
union also would be directed to
show cause why it should not lose
its charter, Representative Jacobs,
Democrat, of Indiana reported in
Indianapolis. Mr.. Jacobs headed
the House subcommitte.
Rumors have been current for
some time that the Washington
and Newark locals intended to file
suit against the will of Mr.. Berry.
This was charged in the pamphlet
disclosed today. 49,.
The union presidents pamphlet,
received by members here, bitterly
replied to the criticism not only
against Mr.. Berry but against the
Policy Committees handling Of
union funds. It described the
criticism as the "mutterings Of a
few malcontents'' and ascribes the
charges to political aspirations"
These unjustified attacks (onI
Mr.. Berry and the international
ofticers) have been through the
device of an investigating COM
mittee In Congress" the pamphlet
stated, IAN investigation which
has failed to prove any neglect
or lack of faith on the part OF
the international officers in the
Berry estate.
Called Political Attack.
LET us face facts and recog-
nize the move Of the Washington
group for what it is-an unadul-
terated and unjustified political
attack predicated purely upon po-
1itical ambition"
The pamphlet singled out the
testimony of James S. Judge.
washington local president, before
the House subcommittee. 1t as
serted the Washington officers
went to the House group without
attempting to discover the true
facts from the international
union"
The Washington oficials. ac-
cording to the pamphlet, had am
pie opportunity to study the finan-
cial records and the Berry will
but did not do 50.
us 1t any wonder" the pam
phlet concluded, that the an
nounced purpose Of the congress
sional investigation, as inspired
by Local No. /, was to seek and
find instances Of undemocratic
practices within unions which
might warrant q law which would
permit local unions to investigate
or sue their parent bodies with
out fear Of reprisal?"