sation with Earl Griffin and the matter of the December elections was brought up. Earl asked me how the election looked and I told him that we needed all of the help that we could get. We had been using a number of men out of his local for pipeline work and they had been transferred in and out of our local. These men were acquainted with pipeline work and were acquainted with the problems of the administration of the local union and knew our peculiar and particular problems. We discussed the fact that the members of his local who had done pipeline work and had worked in and out of this union at various times and understood our problems should vote in this election and a number of these men (members of 706) transferred into 798 for the purpose of helping us in the election. It was understood that we wanted these people to clear into 798 for the purpose of voting in 798's election since these people knew and were acquainted with the problems that we had and properly should have a voice in the voting on the various officers in 798. Now when we went over to Baton Rouge, we rented a suite of rooms in the hotel where the election was being held (the ballot box was on the mezzanine). From the campaign fund or chest that we had, we purchased some whisky and some sandwiches and made our room or suite available to the members who were coming in to vote. There were a number of people in and out. As a matter of fact, the suite was crowded all day and many times I would go into the bedroom to get away from all the noise and traffic. A number of men came over to Baton Rouge from El Dorado. Although I don't know, I would say that 40 men would be substantially correct. We held the room open and entertained for the day and for the night and then closed the room up and went on to Cape Girardeau the next morning. Cape Girardeau was the next place where the election was to be held. While at Baton Rouge, the only person I can distinctly remember who came over from El Dorado was "Red" Yocum. "Red" had been a member of 706 and had been to Tulsa on pipeline conferences a time or so and that is the reason that I knew him. I don't know whether he voted but I assume that he did. I assume that he didn't come all the way to Baton Rouge for the purpose of getting a drink off of me. I don't know Ted Nordmeyer. Perhaps I would recognize him if I saw him but the name doesn't mean anything to me. The matter of setting up and handling the election in Baton Rouge was handled by the election committee. The arrangements for the procuring of the hotel room or the place in the hotel to do the balloting was left to the business agent in the Baton Rouge territory. This was true also in all the other places where we went. From Baton Rouge we went to Cape Girardeau. The only entertaining done here as well as in the other places except Baton Rouge was by myself and the business agent of that area and that would consist of having a bottle or some drinks in the room and the room would be open for the men who were looking for a drink. From Cape Girardeau we went to Terre Haute, Ind. We did secure a suite there and did entertain somewhat like we did in Baton Rouge. Terre Haute was my last stop and I came on back to Tulsa. The ballot box was then sent on to Washington, Pa., which was the last place where balloting took place. As soon as the ballot box was returned to Tulsa, I sent the telegram to Washington requesting Earl Griffin's presence for the closing. The election committee was advanced $500 each, or a total of $1,500, to cover expenses and this was advanced before they departed for Cheyenne. I don't recall when the next advancements were made to them but the plan was that they were to use this money until they ran out and then we would make other advancements for their expenses. As I recall, 400 to 500 people out of the entire membership of 798 voted during the election. You must keep in mind, however, that only journeymen are entitled to vote and apprentices have no vote whatsoever. Also a journeyman has to be paid up and in good standing and have been paid up and in good standing for a period of time prior to the election. This of course eliminates a lot of persons eligible to vote. I didn't make any disbursements to the election committee other than that which was advanced to them to cover their expenses and payment for their services on the committee. I don't know how much money was paid for entertainment in the various places. We had an understanding or agreement that these expenses would be paid from and out of the moneys that we had each contributed or put into the pot for that purpose and then when that was gone, we would make another contribution. In each of the places where we went, the business agent for that area would generally handle the entertainment, securing of the hotel rooms for us, etc. As the cards came in from 706, they were sent on to Washington and new cards were made up. After the election, I signed all of the new cards and returned them to local 706. I have read the above and foregoing statement and it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th day of June 1960. My commission expires March 28, 1963. JAMES RICHARD CRADDOCK. MARY FRANCES ECHOHAWK, Notary Public. Mr. DUFFY. There is one other thing I would like to add about the minutes of local 798 which indicate that Mr. Griffin had a direct interest in this election other than the affidavit. The CHAIRMAN. What minutes are they? Mr. DUFFY. I have the minutes, a Thermo-Fax copy of the minutes, of the regular meeting of Pipe Fitters Local 798, dated November 11, 1955. The CHAIRMAN. Dated November 11, 1955? Mr. DUFFY. That was approximately 1 month prior to the election. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Where did you procure those minutes? Mr. DUFFY. I procured these from the offices of local 798 in Tulsa, Okla. The CHAIRMAN. Those minutes may be made exhibit No. 28. Excerpts from these minutes, pertinent excerpts, may be read into the record. (The document referred to was marked "Exhibit No. 28" for reference and may be found in the files of the subcommittee.) Mr. DUFFY (reading): Meeting was called to order by President Ray L. Miller at 8 p.m. Brother Miller introduced General Organizer Earl Griffin and turned the gavel over to him to conduct the meeting. Brother Griffin presented his credentials to Brother Miller and a wire from General President Martin P. Durkin, requesting his presence at Tulsa, Okla. Brother Griffin gave the membership a short talk and then proceeded into the business of the meeting. Brother Cole made a motion that the regular order of business be dispensed with at the present time and that we proceed with the nomination of officers. There is another paragraph I would like to read. "Red" Howard was also nominated, but was not present and hadn't abided by the constitution and bylaws of local 798. Brother Griffin asserted that if Brother Howard could produce a receipt of a registered letter being sent to local 798, that he would accept Brother Howard's name as a candidate for the office of business agent. I think those are the pertinent sections, Senator. Senator ERVIN. How many candidates were there for the office of president? The CHAIRMAN. In that 798 election Mr. DUFFY. Let me give you his opposition. The CHAIRMAN. Do you have a copy of the ticket in that election? Mr. DUFFY. The ticket is set forth in the minutes, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. In the minutes that have just been made an exhibit? Mr. DUFFY. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Let the ticket be printed in the record at this point, from that exhibit. (The ticket referred to is as follows:) Nominations opened for president. Those nominated: H. H. "Pop" Faucett and Leo D. Veal. Nominations for vice president. Those nominated: E. P. Crowe. Nominations for recording secretary. Those nominated: Lloyd Ellis and Jeff P. Bohannon. Nominations for financial secretary. Those nominated: Chuch Wintrode and George C. Vincent. Nominations for inside guard. Those nominated: Jim Romans. Nominations for executive board. Those nominated: Grady Miller, Johnny Stewart, Arneil McBeth, and Bob Williams. Nominations for finance committee. Those nominated: W. B. "Blackie" Cole, Ed Fisk, and Troy Burson. Nominations for business manager. A. F. King. Those nominated: J. E. Craddock and Nominations for business agents. Those nominated: Ray L. Miller, Ralph Lewis, W. L. Clark, J. F. "Buck" Collier, Mike Barrackman, "Baldy" Evans, Sam Brandon, and Clarence Merrill. Mr. Duffy. I will mention Mr. Craddock's opposition at that time was Mr. A. F. King, and the position he was running for was reelection as business manager of that local. The CHAIRMAN. Craddock was running for reelection as business manager? Mr. DUFFY. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. That was 1955. Mr. DUFFY. And there has not been an election since that time, Senator, in this particular local union. The CHAIRMAN. There has been no election in that union since that time? Mr. DUFFY. That is correct. Senator ERVIN. Did you have an opportunity to investigate and ascertain whether any members of other locals were transferred into 798 for the purposes of this election as in the case of members of 706? Mr. DUFFY. Senator, I checked that and it would indicate, but I wouldn't want to testify to it, that there were other people also transferred from other locals at this particular time. Senator ERVIN. I can realize that in view of the many different places where the election was conducted, the many different locals scattered throughout the country, that would have been a task that would take a man years to complete. I just wanted to make clear whether you did or did not have an opportunity to make as complete an investigation which would cover that. Mr. DUFFY. I didn't make as complete an investigation as I would like to have done, Senator. As you say, it would take a lot of time to do it. The CHAIRMAN. I think it would be well at this point to have printed in the record from exhibit No. 19, which is the constitution of the international union, section 154, under the title "Clearance Cards." Apparently the constitution was not complied with in the issuing of these clearances for them to vote down in Baton Rouge in that election. Mr. DUFFY. I think the section reads that these men had to be cleared into this local 60 days prior to the election. Of course, the record shows that they were cleared in 11 days prior to the election. Mr. ADLERMAN. Of importance is the fact that the card had to be signed personally in the presence of the secretary of the incoming local and the secretary of the outgoing local. The CHAIRMAN. Let sections 153 and 154 both be printed in the record. (The sections referred to are as follows:) NO PERMITS SEC. 153. No permits shall be given or issued to anyone (by any Local Union or representative thereof) who is not a member of the United Association or who has not been accepted by the Local Union and is paying an application fee for admittance to the United Association. Upon failure to comply with this section Local Unions will be subject to discipline according to the Constitution by the General Executive Board. CLEARANCE CARDS SEC. 154. There shall be a card known as a clearance card, issued to members in good standing who may desire to clear from one Local to another. Said card to be signed by the member who receives it in the presence of Secretary issuing same. Upon the member depositing this card he shall again be required to sign his name in the presence of the Secretary receiving it for identification purposes. The Financial Secretary shall forward all clearance cards to the General Office within 48 hours after acceptance of same by Local Union. For failure to comply with this section the Financial Secretary shall be assessed not less than $25.00 nor more than $50.00. Mr. DUFFY. The requirement of the constitution states that that man will sign that clearance card in local 798 in the presence of the secretary-treasurer. These men never made the trip to Tulsa, Okla. Senator ERVIN. In other words, the transfer of these 40 or more persons from 706 to 798 was made in violation of the constitution of the union. Mr. DUFFY. I think we can adequately say that, Senator. Senator ERVIN. And after these transfers were made in violation of the constitution of the union, in some instances those who were unable to go to Baton Rouge for the purpose of voting had some other person substituting to act in their name. Mr. DUFFY. That is correct, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further? If not, thank you. Mr. Yocom, please be sworn. Do you solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give before this Senate subcommittee shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. Yocoм. I do. TESTIMONY OF ALFRED M. YOCOM, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL, TOM GENTRY The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Yocom, state your name, your residence, and your business or occupation, please. Mr. Yocoм. Alfred Yocom. The CHAIRMAN. Where do you live? Mr. Yocoм. 1306 West Sixth, El Dorado, Ark. The CHAIRMAN. You have counsel representing you, do you? Mr. Yocoм. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Gentry, will you identify yourself for the record? Mr. GENTRY. I am Tom Gentry, attorney at law, with an office in the Tower Building in Little Rock, Ark. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Yocom, you are a member of Local 706 of the Plumbers & Steamfitters' Union, are you, at El Dorado, Ark.? Mr. YoсOм. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. How long have you been a member of that local? The CHAIRMAN. What official position do you hold in that local? The CHAIRMAN. You are what? Mr. Yocoм. The inside guard. The CHAIRMAN. That is a new one. I never heard of that one. What are the duties of an inside guard? Mr. Yocoм. To check the members when they come into the hall and go out during sessions. The CHAIRMAN. Do you have any other duties or responsibilities? That is, official duties or responsibilities other than to check the members as they go in and come out of a meeting? Mr. YoсOм. That is all at the office. The CHAIRMAN. That is all at the office? Mr. Yocoм. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What do you mean at the office? Mr. Yocoм. Well, in the field, I am job steward in the field. The CHAIRMAN. You are a job steward in the field? Mr. Yocoм. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. You are not president, vice president, or any other elected officer? Mr. Yocoм. Yes, sir; I am an elected officer. The CHAIRMAN. You are elected as a steward? Mr. Yocoм. No, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What offices are you elected to? Mr. Yocoм. Inside guard. The CHAIRMAN. That is an elective officer, inside guard? Mr. YoсOм. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What are the duties of inside guard? Is that, as you say, to check the men as they come into a meeting, a union meeting? Mr. Yocoм. Yes, sir; during a closed union meeting. The CHAIRMAN. You check them to be sure they are eligible? Mr. Yocoм. I take the password. The CHAIRMAN. You take the password? Mr. Yocoм. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And your duties outside of the office-you said something about your duties inside the office and outside the office. What other duties do you have in the office and not out in the field? Mr. Yocoм. No other duties in the office. The CHAIRMAN. You have nothing to do with the records? The CHAIRMAN. The keeping of the records or anything in that regard? Mr. YoсOм. No, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What are your duties as steward? Mr. Yocoм. Well, to settle jurisdictional disputes between the other crafts, between my craft and other crafts, should one arise. The CHAIRMAN. That is the only function you perform as a steward? |