Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-30
Brighter Days
SeenbyHOffa
For His Union
~ tia Associated Press

~ tia Associated Press
Transfers President James
r. Hoffa says the worst Of his
unions troubles ARE now be-
hind US"
We have withstood every at
tack by labor, Government and
the press" said Mr.. Hoffa, OBJ
Viously In q bouncy mood de-
spite q pending Federal indict-
ment against him plus the
problems Of running the worlds
biggest union.
But, he said In an interview,
the Transfers political and le-
gal fight is still far from won.
The biggest threat is legis-
laton," he said, glancing out
the window Of his third-flo
office IN the Teamsters Build
ing toward the Capitol O short
distance away.
Politics Emphasized
To fight the threat Of what
Mr.. Hoffa calls anti-labor legis-
lation, he is pushing hard on
political organization Of his IL
million union members.
He said the 81 million figure
he has been quoted as setting
for Transfers political activity
was not true.
But, he added. I'VE win
spend what we believe neces-
sary to educate our people" po-
itically and urge them to get
registered to vote"
1T Is not q question Of es-
tablishing any figure" he said.
I'VE don't know what we have
to spend"
81 Billion In Assets
The big union. with assets
Mr.. Hoffa estimated at about
81 billion, Is pushing its DO
htical program through DRIVE.
The letters stand for Demo-
Gratis. Republicans, Independent
Voter Education.
Mr.. Hoffa said that, In STEP
ping up political organization
OF his members, we're not try
ing to set the world on fire
overnight"
But he said the program.
now in its fourth year, has
been successful to the extent
that Congress Is better &C.
cepting our philosophy" on Ia
Dor legislation and has given
the Teamsters comparable rec
ignition on Capitol Hill with
the AFL-CTO. from which Mr..
Hoffa's union was expelled ON
corruption charges in 1857.
Mr.. Hoffa said the Team
sters are forced to look among
Republican presidential pos
sibilities in 1864 because II
don't see how anybody In labor
with q straight face can sup
port Kennedy"
Calls Union Solid
He described the President
and his brother, Attorney
General Robert r. Kennedy, as
fantastic, Hitler types" who
are aiming at total destruction
Of the Transfers"
The Transfers. Mr.. Hoffa
said, are doing exceedingly
well despite all the harass-
ment Of Bobby Kennedy. This
union has more qualification
today than at anytime In the
unions history"
In addition to his political
activities and his legal fight
against the latest Of more than
half q dozen indictments filed
against him by the Justice De-
partment, Mr.. Hoffa Is taking
on another major task.
He already has started ne
gotiationS for q Nationwide
contract covering more than
100000 Transfers drivers work.
ing for some $1,000 firms.
But, he said, the Teamsters
won't make the mistake Of in
itiating q Nationwide strike
and thus bringing Federal in
tervention such as occurred in
the current railroad labor dis
pute.
"Falling Domino" Technique
Mr.. Hoffa said the falling
domino" technique best de-
scribes the tactics the Team
sters will use II forced to strike
to get q Nationwide contract
next year. That Is, they will
strike only one or q few major
trucking firms at q time so as
not to bring on any possible
national crisis that would in
vite Government Intervention.
Mr.. Hoffa predicted he would
win his legal fight against the
Justice Department. He ap-
peared unworried about a pend
ing Supreme Court decision on
his request to move his trial
on Federal jury tampering
charges from Nashville, Tenn.
The case grew out of q previous
trial on charges Of labor law
violations.