Evening star., 1955-01-12
False Letter
Attributed 10
Fear Of Union
Contractor Test;fies
Of Payments to
Painters Local
No. tark lcnne
By Jock Jones'

A letter falsely denying that
payments were made to induce
workers to stay on the job was
sent to the Washington painters
union because q contractor feared
he would have labor trouble II
he didn't. the vice president Of
the contracting firm said today.
Howard Reale, former vice
president Of Metro Decorating
Co. Of New York. gave the testi-
mony in the extortion trial Of
two suspended officials In Wash.
ington groups Of the AFL Broth
erhood of Painters. Decorators
and Paperhangers.
The officials, also accused Of
conspiring to obstruct inter-
state commerce. are Robert c.
Lowry and John E. Sullivan. on
trial in U. S. District Court for
the District Of Columbia.
In Middle Of Job.
Mr.. Reale said that when In
ternal trouble developed in the
union--brough on by payments
to union officials---Mr. Lowry
asked him to write the letter
denying any payments were
made.
I'VE were right at the top Of
the job them" Mr., Reale testi.
fed. I'VE were employing about
100 men. I was afraid II ! didn't
write the letter we would have
trouble getting the Job finished
on time"
This was the first public dis
closure, produced at the trial by
Defense Attorney Charles z.
Ford. MIR. Reale said he didn't
tell special House Anti Rack
eteering subcommittee about the
letter when it investigated the
payoffs last August because
"they didn't ask me about it."
Mr.. Beale said he discussed
the letter with Boris Baron, the
company's president, and that
Mr.. Baron at first was, reluctant
to approve 1t, but finally gave
Mr.. Beale the go-ahead.
Denied knowing Of Letter.
On the witness stand earlier.
Mr.. Baron denied knowledge Of
the letter. Mr.. Baron and Mr..
Beale both have testified that
they agreed to pay painters
union officials $4,000 in $500
monthly installments to keep
workers on the job at Andrews
Air Force Base where Metro had
o contract In 1851 to paint 40
barracks and five mess halls.
But both have been vague
about who actually got the
money. They said 1t was placed
In envelopes and laid on q table
at monthly meetings at the Lee
House bar. They said they were
not sure just who picked It up.
But somebody picked 1t up.
It wasn't left behind. I'm sure
Of that" Mr.. Reale testified.
In answer to questions about
whether he or Mr.. Baron picked
up the envelopes. MIR. Reale smil.
ingly answered no.
Letter Denies PAYMENT.
He said that when Internal
strife hit the painters union be.
cause of disclosure Of the pay
ments. Mr.. Lowry asked him to
write the letter. Dated February
30. 1852. and addressed to the
union. 1t stated:
I'VE wish to establish the fact
that at no time have we ever
given or committed ourselves to
any sum to be paid to any union
official in the District of Co
lumbia or In any other locality"
1t was signed by Mr.. Reale,
as vice president Of Metro.
The meetings at which the
money was paid were attended
by Mr.. Reale and Mr.. Baron
and by Mr.. Lowry and Archie
B. Moore, ousted union official
who first made the payments
public. But, like Mr.. Baron, he
was unable TO identify any one
else or having been present. al
though he said that at times
others were there.
Mr.. Moore was ousted from
his job as union business agent
as a result OF the internal diffi.
Guilty over the payments.