Evening star., 1952-03-14
Auto Union Reaches
Showdown on Firiino
Ford Local Officers
BY The A.seeie..d Pres.

DETROIT. Mar. 14.-Whether
to fire the officers Of its largest
local for allegedly permitting
Communists to infiltrate their
ranks came to a showdown before
the international Executive Board
OF the CIO United Auto Workers
today.
President Carl Steilato Of the
60.000-member Ford Local 500
went before the UAW Governing
Board at its demand to show cause
why an administrator should not
be appointed to take over the local.
Several Labeled Communists.
The international boards order
came on the heels of the naming
OF several Local 600 officers as
Communists by witnesses before
the House Un-American Activities
Committee here this week.
Summoned with Mr.. Stellato
were Pat Rice. vice president: w.
g. Grant, financial secretary, and
William r. Hood, recording sec-
retary, Of the local. Both Rice
and Hood refused to tell the House
committee whether they ever have
been members of the Communists
Party. but both signed non-Com-
munist afidavits In taking their
union Offices.
Local COOS general council
which some witnesses told the
House committee is Communist
dominated, met last night to plan
strategy for the locals officers be-
lore the international board.
Fist Fight Breaks Out.
Fists new at the council session.
from which reporters were barred
Walter Quillico, q member OF the
locals human relations staff, and
Bill Shuford burst from the meet
ing room and began pummeling
each other. Bystanders separated
them and they finally went back
to the meeting. ~aa
The reason for their fisticuffs
was not learned.
Walter p. Reuther UAW presi-
dent presided at the closed inter-
national board session today. He
and Mr. Stellato formerly were
close union political allies but in
recent years have differed sharply
over policy.
Locals Editor Is Fired.
A few hours after he got his
summons from the international.
Mr.. Stellato fired the editor of the
locals newspaper and suspended
two members of his staff who were
reluctant witnesses before the
House committee.
David Averill was fired as edi-
tor Of Ford Facts. Mr.. Steiiatol
said Averill, an admitted reformed
Communist. knew thatshis charges
that the newspaper was Red-domi-
mated were untrue.
Those suspended pending fur
ther investigation were james
Watts and Walter Dorosh. 10th
refused to testify before the Gun
Fessmen. concerning Commianistl
RRrty membership. i
The international Unions con- |
titution forbids any person from
holding Office if he is a member
OF the Communist. Fascist or Nazi
Party or "SubSefpieYlt" tn sfinh
parties.
Regarding the dismissal of
Averill, Mr.. Stellato said that un-
der union rules the editor should
have filed charges within 60 days
after he became aware Of any on
GERS alleged Communist affilia-
ton.
Worker and Student Are Ousted. |
Meanwhile, Cadillac division Of
General Motors Corp. fired Rus
sell j. Kitto, "a. The company
said Kitto, named as Commu-
mist before the committee, had
drawn a blackjack on a fellow
employe. a veteran Of Korean
fighting and violent anti-Com-
muniSt.
The Wayne University council
Of deans expelled Mrs. Lorraine
Faxon Meisner. 20-year-old junior,
who giggled and refused to answer
House Committee questions.