The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1951-03-29
Union Official Suspended
After Senate Crime Probe

xA4lOx 0CxxA1S
New York UPA) - John P
Crane, head of the Uniformed Fire
mems Association Of New York
was suspended as first vice-pres-
ident of the international Associa-
tion of Firefighters-AFL at noon
on March % when he refused to
resign.
Crane made headlines two days
earlier when he told the Senate
crime Investigation committee that
he personally handed William
IO'Dwyer, New York's former may
or, $4,000 in cash during the 1949
mayoralty campaign, gave $4,000
over three-year period to assist
ant fire commissioner James ].
Moran for goodwill, and contri-
buted $3500 to Thomas E. Dewey's
support in the l948 Oregon prim-
aries. The money came from the
treasury of the Uniformed Fire
mems Association, which is Local
|94 of the international, Crane adj
mitted.
Next day, international pres
ident John P. Redmond wired Crane
from Washington that he'd be sus-
pended within "a hours if he didn't
resign. Redmond said Crane vio-
lated provision in the union con-
stitution barring officers from pro-
noting political candidates. The in
ternational president also said
Cranes actions 'have not been in
the best interest of the Associa-
tion and Firefighters everywhere. I"
In a return telegram, Crane re-
fused to quit, charged Redmond
was fully aware of Local 94's sup
port of candidates and considered
it local matter. Your hypo-
critical action is a self-exposure of
your unfitness for the office" Lat
er Crane modified his counter
charge against Redmond by telling
reporters the international pres
ident hadn't known previously to
whom the New York local made
contributions.
Redmond denied knowing the
New York local was contributing
to political campaigns prior. to
Cranes disclosures before the
crime committee. Redmond declar-
ed Crane was trying to protect
himself behind "wall of fab
rication." He pointed out that
in his testimony Crane said "No
one" knew anything about dona-
tions to O'Dwyer and Moran. (The
contribution to the Dewey cam
paign had previously been acknow-
lodged by the recipient.)
Redmond said he ordered Cranes
suspension after consultation with
all the rest of the unions vice
presidents in the US and Canada
He pointed out that the New York
leader could resist suspension by|
standing trial before the union ex-
ecutive board - which wouldn't
meet for "a month or two"
Crane told reporters he'd receiv-
ed more than 70 kilograms of sup
port. Meanwhile the head of the
Philadelphia Firemen's Uni on,
James Forbes, announced that 5000
members of his local had voted to
stand behind Crane "all the way
down the line" William Cross, pre-
sident of the New York State Fire
mems Association, also voiced
strong support for Crane and said,
"We resent the action of the in
ternational."
The $68,5O0 Crane admitted Civ
ing to O'Dwyer, Moran and the
Dewey forces accounted in part for
$135,0C0 of union funds which
Crane had withdrawn and which
the district attorney for New York
County and grand jury recently
questioned him about without
much success. For the crime COM
headed by Sen. Estes Kef-
auver Cd, Tenn.), Crane listed ad-
ditional polite II expenditures
bringing the total above $130,C00.
Gerard Purcell, financial secre-
tary of Local "a, is under indict-
ment for grand larceny in connec
tion with union funds.)
ODwyer, now ambassador tol
Mexico, denied having received the
money from Crane. The formerI
mayor was in town to testify be-
fore the Kefauver committee and a !
.