Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-20
Leaders Probe
Textile Unions
Tangled Affairs
By CECIL HOLLAND

MculUCIS OI JIiC executive
council of the United Textile
Workers held q closed meeting
today to take a look at the
affairs Of their union under
fire from Senate investigators.
One Of the matters under
study will be whether to adopt
stricter safeguards over union
funds. But there was no indi-
cation the council would take
any action against Anthony
Valente, its president, and
Lloyd Klenert. secretary-treas-
urer.
Both officials are under in
vestigation by the Senate COM
mittee investigating improper
labor management activities.
Chairman Mcclellan. Democrat
of Arkansas, said the two may
have misused union funds for
the purchase Of expensive pri-
vate homes in Rock Greek Hills.
in nearby Montgomery County.
Hearing Resumes Monday
The committees investiga-
ton will be resumed after q
weekend recess with another
public hearing starting at. 2
pm. Monday. The first wit
ness then will be AFL-CIO
President George Meany.
According to Senator Nc
Clellan, Valente and Klenert
took steps to return the money
after Mr.. Meany. then secre-
tary-treasurer Of the AFL, dis
covered what the Senator
called their misuse of union
funds" The two homes, cost
ing together $4,000, were
, pOuBnC III lSoz.
While in weekend recess the
committee turned back to its
inquiry into the affairs of the
Teamsters Union. 1t called in
Harold Gibbons, Transfers
leader in st. Louis, Mo-, for
questioning by staff aides, APP
parently with a view to later
public hearings.
Klenert Testifies
Klenert was witness in the
textile union investigation yes
terday and acknowledged that
$57, 900 of union funds were
used in purchase of the homes.
But he insisted this was a plan
approved by the union leader
ship for laying away and con-
cealing "a slush fund" for use
in an anticipated internal union
fight.
However. Eric G. Jansson of
Chevy Chase. Md, q certified
public accountant, testified he
resigned as the unions auditor
because of the questionable"
situation.
Mr.. JansSon said he was
given two conflicting stories
about the $4,000. One was a
sworn statement by valente
and Klenert saying the money
was for organizing expenses.
Later, Mr.. Jansson said, he was
told that it was for a building
fund.
Martin j. Quigley, Washing
ton attorney and president of
the Mutual Title Co., testified
he had written a letter repre-
senting that the $57, 900 had
been on deposit for the pur-
chase of a union headquarters.
He said he had actually re-
ceived the money only the day
before to make up for a like
amount used in buying the
two homes.
Accused Of Completely
Committee Counsel Robert F.
Kennedy accused Mr.. Quigley
of writing a false letter and
said that if there was amy
misuse of union funds, you
were certainly a part of it i.
you were involved in it and
knew what was going on"
While saying that he may
have been "indiscreet," Mr..
Quigley insisted that what he
has written had been true "in
substance"
Klenert, in his testimony, de-
MED using union funds to pur-
chase a Steinway grand piano.
a television set and air condi-
tioning for his home. This
denial was entered in connec-
ton with testimony about some
complex transactions involving
a number of cashiers checks
He swore that union funds