Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-14
3BaIk al Quiz
About Rigging
Union Election
Invoke 5th on Roles
In Move to Boost
Hoffu to Power
BY CECIL HOLLAND


labor racketeer Johnny Dio re-
fused today to tell Senate in
vestigators what part they
played in rigging" a Team
ster's Union election designed
to boost Teamster Leader James
r. Hoffa to power in the New
York area.
The three-Harry Davidoff.
Joseph Curcio and George
Baker-said their answers
might tend to incriminate
them.
They gave only their names
and addresses and invoked the
Fifth Amendment on their &C.
equations and roles in Do
controlled unions in the New
York area.
The three were among several
associates of Dio, or John DID,
guard, questioned by the
Select Senate Committee inves-
tigating labor racKeteering.
The stories Davidof, Curcio
and Baker refused to tell were
provided by three of five other
witnesses who trooped to a side
witness chair while Curcio and
Baker remained on the main
stand. Two Of the auxiliary wit
nesseS took the Fifth Amend
ment. one Of them under cir
cumstances that made commit
tee members speculate that he
had been inundated.
The three laxative witnesses
painted a picture of exceedingly
casual practice in the selection
installation and dismissal of
officials in the so-called phan-
tom locals Of the Teamsters
Union. These locals were spe-
cially set up late in 1855 for
the purpose Of insuring victory
Tor John O'Rourke in an cleo
ton for the presidency of
TeamSter Joint Council is in
New York. AS it turned out,
ORourke did not need their
votes.
Bizarre Touch
A bizarre touch was provided
by one witness, Anthony Bar
bera. Asked about the details
OF a union election, Barbera. a
truck driver. said he couldn't
remember clearly because he
was drunk that day.
Another witness, Joseph
Meglino. fell back on the Fifth
Amendment. However, in an
earlier statement to committee
investigators. Meglino was
quoted as saying he couldn' I
possibly know anything about
the phantom locals because he
was a member OF a travelling
crap game at the time.
Election Called Fraud"
Committee Chairman McCIel.
Ian. Democrat of Arkansas
called the 1855 union election
a fraud and told Davidoff
the days first witness:
1T was a rugged election and
you helped to rig it,"
According to the committee
Dio and his hoodlums set uu
phantom Teamster Union locals
in a move to name ORourke
a Hoffa man, as president N
the council.
Davidoff invoked the Fifth
Amendment As times in a brief
appearance before the commit
tee. This aroused the ire OF
Senator Mcclellan, who said
Il hope the committee will
come up with recommendation
and that Congress will pass
legislation that will liberate
honest working people Of this
country from hoodlums anc
racketeers and protect them
from some Scoundrels."
Question Protested
At one point Senator Nc.
Clellan asked Davidoff:
Are you willing to tell u.
how much money you've robbed
working people of since you
have been connected with thu
union?"
Davidoh invoked the Fifth
to the question after his at.
torney. Jacques Schiller of New
York protested the question
and heard his protest over
ruled.
Faced with the refusal OF tn,
three to testify. Senator Nc
Clellan directed COMMITTEES
Counsel Robert F. Kennedy tt
outline their union connection,
and criminal records.
Mr.. Kennedy said the three
See LABOR, Page A.!