Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-01

any self-help housekeeping OF
his 1,6-million-member union.
He said he has investigated
the RAckets Commuters
charges and uncovered no
shady dealings. I'VE know
everything that happened" he
said.
own Investigations Set Up
Mr.. Hoffa has told the Rack
cts Committee In the past that
he has asked accused officials
whether they, were guilty OF
the charges. In addition, he
established an "anti-racketeer-
ing commission" to investigate
the union. Former Senator
George H. Bender, Republican
OF Ohio, who heads the COM
mission. has handled his Job
mostly by mail. He has asked
Teamster affiliates and law
enforcement authorizes wheth-
er racketeers have infiltrated
the union.
But even this style OF invests
eating has Its limits. Mr.. Hoffa
said. He explained that he does
not plan TO question ofiicials
who took the Fifth Amendment
before the Rackets Committee.
To do so. he said. might prompt
the committee to follow up by
Questioning the unions own in
vestigators.
The Bender commission is
still In existence despite attacks
by the monitors. Mr.. Hoffa said,
but "we're waiting for the court
decision" on the membership
before letting Mr.. Bender step
up his activities. "We1l keep
Bender as long as it's neces-
sary." he added.
Mr.. Hoffa has been trying
hard to get rid Of the monitors,
but he said the outcome OF the
court test will have no great
significance either way. II the
Transfers succeed in curbing
or abolishing the membership,
he said. ut won't change our
operations at all: we've been
able to do everything we've had
to-"
Dismisses Talk Of Power
Mr.. Hoffa. who Is considered
by many TO be the most power
full labor leader in the country
despite his election from the
AFL-CIO and the existence of
the membership. declares that
he can't see why the Nation is
so worried about labor's power.
I'VE have q long way to 60
before you can start talking
about power" he said. IF we
had half as much power as
they give the corporations,
maybe then you could talk
about our power"
In his lexicon, they" means
Government. business and all
the other forces he believes are
prosecuting him.
"You can't say our power is
excessive when only IS million
workers belong to unions" he
said. "a more commonly ac-
cepted figure is about is mil
lion. The Transfers claim
about l.6 million.)
What power have we got
except the power Of collective
bargaining?" Mr.. Hoffa asked.
DO you want to take that away
and destroy the unions?"
He contended reformers who
talk about union corruption
really want to weaken labor
economically.
That's what Mcclellan is
after and you know it," he said.
Let's not kid ourselves"
They'll let you have a picket
line only as long as it's not
effective" Mr.. Hoffa contin-
ued. but as soon as a picket
lines effective. they want to
outlaw It,"
He was referring mainly to
proposals to restrict or outlaw
organizational picketing and
secondary boycotts.
Dislikes Proposed Bills
Some Of Mr.. Hoffa's most
persuasive lawyers are lobbying
for what they call workable"
reform legislation. But he made
It clear that he hopes Congress
kills all the pending proposals.
Mr.. Hoffa stirred up the
attest Juror over union power
with a speech last month in
Brownsville. Tex. Newsmen
quoted him as threatening
Nationwide strikes II Congress
enacts certain types Of restric-
tive legislation. He later denied
The quotes and the interpreta-
tons.
Attempting to clarity his po-
sition, Mr.. Hoffa said a ban on
secondary boycotts would pre-
vent unions from helping each
other win strikes. He noted that
out-of-town locals Of his union
now observe picket lines when
the Teamsters strike outlets of
3 bookstore chain, for example.
II