Evening star., 1950-10-20

ee0Ss tee on m0nWis- un- y
American Ac- Mr. Thomas
tivities and the Metropolitan Po-
lice subversive squad-have been
examining charges of Communist
affiliation hurled against Mr..
Thomas by fellow unionists.
A membership meeting Of the
local held Wednesday night at
Laborers Hall to consider the
charges against Mr.. Thomas broke
up in confusion with special po-
lice detail standing by to preserve
order.
Group Recognizes Ward.
The anti-Thomas faction con.
tends, it was learned, that Mr..
Thomas has been suspended In
definitely and Hubert Ward, vice
president, is now acting head OF
the local.
But Mr.. Thomas presided at
the Wednesday night meeting and
was still in the presidents chair
when the session adjourned with
out a decisive vote.
He was behind his desk in the
presidents Office at union head
quarters. 523 New Jersey avenue
NV. today. He will continue
to head the local. Mr.. Thomas
declared, unless the membership
votes to remove him, The next
membership meeting is scheduled
for November /.
He had been a member Of the
Communist Party on at least two
occasions. but had resigned, Mr..
Thomas told a Star reporter. The
last time he severed his Com
munist Party affiliation. he said.
was before he took Office as pres
ident of the local in June. 194s.
Since then, he insisted, he has had
no affiliation with the party.
In an appeal for full attendance
at Wednesdays meeting. which
was sent to all members Of the
panel, Mr.. Thomas contended he
was the victim of "frameup"
and that the charges against him
were "phony.'
! Mr.. Thomas named lie Roy
Coad and Thomas G. Sampler.
secretary treasurer, as leaders Of
the group seeking his custer.
Affidavit Arouses Interest.
Interest of the investigating
agencies, it was learned. centers
around an affidavit filed last year
by Mr.. Thomas under provisions
of the Taft-Hartley Act. In the
affidavit Mr. Thomas is said to
have sworn that he had no affilia-
ton with the Communist Party.
Mr.. Thomas said he admitted
his former Communist Party
membership when he signed the
Taft Hartley affidavit last May
and swore that he had severed
all affiliation with the organiza-
ton.
Mr.. Sampler said evidence OF
Mr.. Thomas continuing affilia-
ton with Communists was pre-
sented to a union trial board
composed of members of the
Executive Board of the local. The
Trial Board, Mr.. Sampler said.
found Mr.. Thomas guilty. making
his suspension automatic unless
the membership rejects the boards
decision by a two-thirds vote.
Mr.. Sampler said Mr.. Thomas
provoked the confusion at the
Wednesday meeting to prevent q
vote on the boards report be
cause he knew he would be de-
feated."
Mr.. Thomas said the member
ship voted by voice vote to send
the Trial Board report back to the
Executive Board. He said the re-
port could not be accepted be-
cause the board was illegally con-
stituted, inasmuch as one mem
ber had not been a member of the
local for the required two years.
Mr.. Thomas, who came to
Washington in 1885, said he was
a "habitual joiner"
I'D join anything that sounded
good" he explained.
Reasons for Quitting.
His elevation to the union presi-
dency was one but not his only
reason for quitting the Communist
Party he said.
you can't be so idealistic you
can't eat" he explained.
Another reason. he said, was
that he had found himself in dis
agreement with Communist Party
policy.
Gus Banks, shop steward chair
man of the local, is chairman Of q
Committee to Defend the Presi-
dent" In a message to union
members prior to Wednesdays
meeting he said:
Our president, Henry Thomas,
has done more for our union than
any president we ever had. Broth
er Thomas has been sentenced to
crucifixion just as our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ was and by
the same type of men who are
working for less than 20 pieces of
silver"
Mr.. Thomas was elected presi-
dent of the local after a scandal
grew out of embezzlement of $780,
900 in union funds during World
War II. Four union officials
and a real estate operator were
found guilty of conspiring to loot
the unions treasury during 1941
and 1912. Larry Kelly, president
of the union at the time Of the
conspiracy, vanished at sea while
serving with the merchant ma
rine.