Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-19

at the direction Of Mr.. Meany
Release by the Transfers
Of a report so strongly con-
demning Hoffa aroused inn
mediate speculation that
powerful influences within the
union were undertaking to use
it to head on the Detroiter's
drive.
List Of Charges
In its principal conclusions.
the committee found:
/. Beck, Brewster and Hoffa
used union funds for per-
sonal purposes"
2. Beck and Hoffa used
their ofiicial union position for
personal profit and advantage,
frequently TO the detriment Of
the Teamsters Union member
ship"
3. Brewster and Hoffa en-
gagged in improper activities
relating to health and welfare
funds"
4. The Transfers Union
failed to take any action
against union officials who
have engaged in corrupt ac-
tivities offensive to trade union
morality or against whom SER
ious charges of that nature are
pending" The report mem
toned particularly that the UNI
ion has not taken any action
against Sidney Brennan Of
Minneapolis. an international
vice president, who has been
convicted Of bride taking.
5. The union failed to inves-
tigate whether Beck and other
Transfers officials had invoked
the Fifth Amendment before
the Senate committee ito con-
ceal personal corruption in the
conduct of union affairs"
6. Beck and the union had
failed to comply with provisions
Of the AFL-CIO Ethical Prac-
tees code regarding so-called
paper local charters issued to
gangsterS and racketeers.
Z. Hoffa associated with,
sponsored, and promoted the
interests Of notorious labor
racketeers including John tDio)
Dioguardia."
| Rejects Hoffa Claim
The committee rejected COM
pletely Hoffa's claim that he
dealt with Dio because Of their
mutual interest in organizing
New York taxicab drivers. It
pointed out that Dio was known
in the labor movement as an
unsavory character and added:
I'VE reject Hoffa's defense
that he was naive as to the
character Of Do"
The committee also said there
was evidence that Hofa had
associated with, supported,
sponsored, or hired various
'toughs' and 'hoodums' in the
Central Conference and added:
Indeed. the list Of many Of
Hoffa's proteges and friends
reads like a rogues gallery"
Raps Failure to Act
The committee said 1t did
not accept Hoffa's explanation
that these associations were
efforts Ito rehabilitate juvenile
delinquents." The report added
that Hoffa. by his associations,
cast a. cloak Of responsibility
over such individuals" and per-
mitted them to continue and
expand their activities.
The committee hit hard at
the failure of the union to take
any action against Brennan
and others who have been con-
victed or charged with bribery
and similar offenses, saying 1t
could not conceive Of "a greater
dereliction Of duty" on the part
Of Beck and the Teamsters
board.
1T is this failure TO act, even
more than the actual instance
OF corruption, which shows the
domination of this union by
unhealthy influences" the re-
port said.
The report pointed out that
Beck and the union had re-
fused to answer the charges
In hearings conducted by the
Ethical Practices Committee. 1t
pointed out that the unions had
obligated themselves under the
AFL-CIO constitution TO sup
port decent unions, and added:
THE autonomous rights OF
international unions within the
federation do not embrace the
right Of a union TO be doni-
mated by corrupt infiu-
ences."