Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-08
Continued from First Page

AOoAAAoSSA R0PSA AOSAAo
unions with officers but no
rank-and-flle members-in a
move to rig a union election
which would give Hoffa control
over Transfers affairs in met
ropolitan New York.
But before questioning Dio.
the committee laid further
groundwork this morning by
grilling three reluctant coll
leagues Of the mobster. AL
three invoked the Fifth Amend
ment about their associations
with Dio and their activities in
the Joint TeamSter Council Is
election in February, 1856.
Trio Won't Talk
The three witnesses were Sid
ney Hodes. Abe Brier and Ma
than Gordon, all identified as
CLOSE associates" of Dio and
officials in the Dio-sponsored
TeamSter paper locals"
Like six Dio henchmen who
testified yesterday they took the
Fifth on virtually every ques-
ton asked them. They refused
to give much more than their
names and addresses, although
Brier replied to questioning by
Senator Mundt. Republican of
South Dakota, in this way:
@. Were you involved in the
acid-blinding of 0abor COL
umnist) Victor Riesel?. A. No.
@. Are you a member of the
Communist Party? A. No.
@ Are you an American
citizen? A. Yes.
@. Have you been stealing
union funds? A. I refuse to
answer on grounds that it might
tend to incriminate me.
Three Sing symphony
One novel feature of yester-
days session was the APP
pearance of three witnesses
simultaneously in a kind of
hear-no-evil, see-no-evil and,
above all. speak-no-evil act.
The three, Arthur Santa Maria,
David Cosentino and Harry
Reiss. chanted what wags in
the Senate Caucus Room, called
The Fifth Symphony:
Il refuse to answer on
grounds it might tend to in
criminate me-"
The effect Of this unrespon-
sive testimony was to get into
the records through question:
ing a number Of details about
the labor business in New York.
The committees chief counsel.
Robert F. Kennedy, contends
that the whole combine now
under examination can be
traced back to Hoffa.
In addition to the non-sing-
ing trio whose act was yester-
day afternoons headliner, the
committee heard Fifth Amend
ment pleas from Bernard Toll
kow. Frank Easton and George
Snyder. also close associates of
Dio.
Describes DiO's Role
A look at dos role as a la
bor-relations counselor was af-
forded by a New York florist,
Merrill Hermanson.
Mr.. Hermanson told the COM
mittee he was having labor
troubles because a supplier was
being picketed. Fearing a Sec
ondary boycott, he was put
IN touch with one Irving Bitz,
whom Counsel Kennedy re-
ferred to as a notorious hood
lum and member Of the Lepke-
Gurrah mob"
Bitz called someone named
John and Mr.. Hermanson's
fears of trouble were dispeIled.
Several months later Mr..
Bitz said ! might like to meet
Johnny and thank him." Mr.
Hermanson said. $50 I met
him - it turned out to be
Johnny Dio-and asked him II
I owed him anything for his
favors."
Free Sample Of Service
According to the witness,
Do said nothing was owed.
The favor apparently was in
the nature of a free sample,
because Dio then suggested
that If Mr.. Hermanson, as an
inexperienced type, decided he
needed guidance in dealing
with unions" it would be a
good idea for the florist to re-
tain Dio.
Shortly thereafter a contract
was entered into between
Mr.. Hermanson as head Of
Flowerized Presentations, Inc,
and Dio as vice president of
Equitable Research Associates,