In 1946, I was reelected president of local 652 at Oldsmobile in Lansing. From 1947 to 1950, I was assistant regional director for region 1-C, covering the territories of Lansing, Flint, Fenton, Owosso, and Holly, Mich. Late in the year 1950 and to 1953, I was an organizational staff worker for the UAW, being concerned particularly with the competitive shop staff work. From 1953 through 1956, I was appointed organizational director for the United Automobile Workers in the Philadelphia, Pa., area. In 1957, I was reelected president of local 652 Oldsmobile. In November of 1957, Gov. G. Mennen Williams appointed me to the position of commissioner of labor for the State of Michigan. The Michigan State Senate refused to confirm me and, after serving 3 months, I was replaced by another appointee. In February of 1958, I returned to my post as president of local 652 at Oldsmobile and served in that capacity until June 1, 1959, when I was defeated in the local union election at that time. On June 16, 1959, I suffered a heart attack, as described earlier in this affidavit, and have been totally disabled from performing work in any capacity since that time. III. I have not seen a transcript of the testimony given before the Senate Labor Committee last week but I understand that Mr. J. F. Motsinger, a former associate and acquaintance of mine, has made certain statements and given certain testimony concerning things that I was supposed to have done and said in his presence. My comments on Mr. Motsinger's statements are as follows: (a) On information and belief, I understand that Mr. Motsinger testified that I instructed him to send in false reports concerning his organization activities to Mr. Richard Gosser, vice president of the UAW. This testimony, if given, is completely false, and in fact, Mr. Motsinger was required to send in reports of his organizational activities once each week and these reports were always to be factual as to the precise work activities he had performed during each week in question. At no time did I instruct Mr. Motsinger to "beef up," falsify, or exaggerate his reports, nor at any time did I request Mr. Motsinger to prepare his reports so that they would conform with the reports I was required to file with Mr. Gosser. The sending in of false reports exaggerating our organizational activities, or in any way distoring the truth of our efforts in attempting to organize workers, would be impossible inasmuch as Mr. Gosser's staff was personally and continuously in touch with the plants in which we were performing organizational activities and our activities were under continuous and routine surveillance. Mr. Motsinger was very lax about getting on his weekly reports as required and I did have to prod him from time to time to see to it that a report was filed. (b) On information and belief, I further understand that I was quoted by Mr. Motsinger as having instructed him as follows: "Your job is to organize the people and what you tell them and what you have to do is to organize them and is it." This statement is completely incorrect since it was our unvarying practice never to make claims or promises to prospective members that we did not in good faith attempt to carry forward if our organizational activities were successful. We made it our practice to promise only that the union, if successful in organizing a given plant, would do its very best to secure comparable benefits and contract provisions that we were able to actually effect in other localities. We never attached any guarantees to our statements or claims to prospective union members and indicated only what had been accomplished in other areas where organization was successful in comparable type plants. We further made it our practice to advise prospective members that the actual negotiations for their union would have to be carried out not by the organizers, but by the local bargaining committee of the newly formed membership with the assistance and direction of the UAW regional staff office. Due to Mr. Motsinger's conduct, with which we became familiar in previous months, we in fact delegated to him those jobs in connection with organizing wherein he would have the least possible personal connection with prospective union members in new plants and in fact delegated to him such ministerial activities as passing out handbills and running routine errands. (c) On information and belief, it is my understanding that Mr. Motsinger testified that when I was up for confirmation before the Michigan State Senate committee in connection with my recent appointment by Governor Williams as commissioner of labor, that I withheld information before the Michigan Senate as to my previous union activities and posts held with the union. One of the first things I did, in fact, when I was appointed by Governor Williams as commissioner of labor, realizing I required confirmation by the Senate, was to distribute to the local daily newspapers in Lansing and also to the senate committee considering my confirmation, a complete list of all the union activities and posts I had held and performed in the past. Moreover, when interrogated by individual senate committee members, I was requested to detail all my activities and union posts held from the most recent to the oldest post or connection I had with the UAW, and I made full and complete disclosure at that time of all the various posts listed under section numbered II, on pages 1 and 2 of this affidavit. (d) On information and belief, I understand that Mr. Motsinger further testified that in January of 1955, he had a fist fight with me, as a result of which I "put some lumps on his head." The foregoing statement by Mr. Motsinger is incorrect and the truth of what happened is as follows: Approximately in January of 1955, I had recently delegated to Mr. Motsinger an organizational assignment of a plant in Allentown, Pa. Mr. Motsinger was very disturbed about being given this assignment because it would require his commuting day to day from Philadelphia to Allentown, which was approximately 1 hour's drive. Without provocation, after being told he would have to perform that assignment, he struck me in the area of my left eye, after which I raised my arms to defend myself only and that ended the aggressive acts on the part of Mr. Motsinger. Immediately following this incident, which I reported to Mr. Gosser in Detroit, Mr. Motsinger was relieved of all further association and duties with my staff and with the UAW. Further the deponent sayeth not. RUSSELL WHITE. Subscribed and sworn to before me, Douglas O. Froelich, notary public in and for the county of Oceana, State of Michigan, on this 25th day of August, A.D. 1959. I, Kenneth Bannon, being duly sworn depose and say that: (1) I am, and for some 12 years have been, the director of the Ford department of the international union, UAW. (2) I understand that one J. F. Motsinger in recent testimony before a U.S. Senate committee has alleged that it was common knowledge among the entire staff of the international union, UAW, and more particularly, the staff of the Ford department of said union that a strike which occurred in the Ford Motor Co. plant in Canton, Ohio, in 1953 was caused by the international union in order to bring collective pressure on the Ford Motor Co. (3) There is no truth in any such statement that Motsinger may have made. (4) The 1953 strike in Canton commenced because of a substantial number of grievances involving production standards and health and safety matters, all strikable grievances under the contract then existing between the Ford Motor Co. and the Union, had accumulated over a period of some 4 or 5 years since the opening of its plant, and in the settlement of some 4 or 5 years reached on this accumulation of grievances, most of which agreement is still reflected in the local working conditions currently existing at the Canton plant at the Ford Motor Co. Further, deponent sayeth not. ΚΕΝΝΕΤΗ ΒΑΝΝΟΝ. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of August 1959. [SEAL] My commission expires May 23, 1960. Notary Public, Wayne County, Mich. AFFIDAVIT STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Wayne, ss: I, Dewey McGhee, being duly sworn do depose and say that: (1) My residence is 8011 Hough Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, though I am temporarily living at 110 East Hancock Street, Detroit, Mich. (2) I am currently employed at the Ford Motor Co., River Rouge plant, and I am an active member of local 600, having recently been elected to the general council of that local, and have been a member of local 600 since it first came into existence in 1941, having been active in the initial organization of the Ford Motor Co. (3) I was an international representative for about 6 months in 1947, and was reappointed as an international representative in 1949 and served continuously in such capacity until 1958 with the exception of about a 15-month period in 1950 and 1951 when I neglected to pay my regular monthly dues to local 600, and, becoming delinquent, I was no longer eligible to serve as an international representative until I had reestablished my continuous good standing membership in local 600 and the international union for a continuous period of at least 1 year, which I did, prior to my reappointment to the staff of the international union in May 1951. 4. Following my layoff from the international union staff in 1959 resulting from an austerity program by the international union, I resumed my employment in the Ford Motor Co. Rouge Plant which employment has continued to date. 5. As an international representative, in the years 1953 and 1954, I was assigned to the international union's competitive shop department in the Cleveland area. 6. During my entire service as an international representative, I made, willingly and voluntarily, contributions to an international union flower fund for the purpose of assisting union members nominated by my caucus for international offices in their campaigns for election to those offices by the international union conventions. 7. At various times while working for the Ford Motor Co. at the Rouge plant and while serving as an international representative, I made willingly and voluntarily, contributions to a local union flower fund for a similar purpose in connection with candidates for local union elective offices nominated by my local union caucus. 8. At no time did anyone ever threaten, coerce, intimidate, or otherwise pressure me with regard to these flower fund contributions at either level. 9. I have read the pages of the transcript of testimony before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field for August 21, 1959, insofar as that testimony involved me (pp. 559-571) and do hereby state and swear that the statements made therein concerning me, and particularly the statements to the effect that Mr. Walter Madrzykowski or Mr. Wesley Schultz, or both of them, had met with me in Cleveland, Ohio (in the basement of the regional office or any other place) to threaten or in any way talk to me about my contributions to an international union flower fund are untrue and do not reflect, directly or indirectly, any situation of which I have any recollection concerning discussion of the flower fund, or any other subject. Further, deponent sayeth not. DEWEY MCGHEE. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th day of August 1959. [SEAL] My commission expires May 23, 1960. Notary Public, Wayne County, Mich. AFFIDAVIT STATE OF OHIO, County of Cuyahoga, ss: Wesley A. Schultz, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he resides at 14321 Gramatan Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, and is presently employed at Midland-Ross Corp. as a tool and die maker; that from July 1949, until April of 1959 he was employed by the UAW in the Cleveland and Detroit areas; that his job title while working for the union was coordinator of organization and as such he was responsible for competitive shop staff people in the area. Affiant says that he knew J. F. Motsinger as a staff organizer during a small part of this time and also had Dewey McGhee under his direction. The affiant knows of no instance in which Dewey McGhee was reprimanded, lectured, censured, or "bawled out" by Walter Madrzykowski, or any other official of the union. Affiant never told J. F. Motsinger that such a conversation had taken place. Affiant does not recall ever asking J. F. Motsinger to come to Cleveland from Canton for any purpose other than the usual staff meetings. Walter Madrzykowski never interfered with any of my work in directing staff people under my direction and in no instance that I know of went directly to the staff, or any single one of them, for any purpose. WESLEY A. SCHULTZ. Sworn to and subscribed to before me this 25th day of August, 1959. I, Barden L. Young, being duly sworn to depose and say: 1. I reside at 9581 Vaughn, city of Detroit, County of Wayne, State of Michigan. I have been a member of local 174 and of the international union continuously since 1939 and have been a member of the international union staff since 1944. 2. I understand that one, J. F. Motsinger, in recent testimony before a U.S. Senate committee stated that I had a conversation with him in 1952 in which I allegedly discussed smear tactics used by the UAW in political campaigns and in which I more specifically have alleged to have stated, with reference to former U.S. Senator Charles Potter, with reference to his war injuries, "Wait until it gets around to finding out what actually happened, that he was slightly inebriated, and fell off a truck, in a truck accident." 3. I hereby state and swear that I never had any such conversation with Motsinger, that neither in 1952 or any other time did I ever discuss smear tactics or this type of personal attack with regard to any political candidate with Motsinger or anyone else, that I never made any statement to Motsinger or anyone else concerning the war injuries of former Senator Potter, and that to the best of my recollection, no one connected with the UAW at any time during the 1952 political campaign participated in any rumor mongering or smear campaign of any type with reference to former Senator Potter's war injuries. Further, deponent sayest not. (Signed) BARDEN L. YOUNG. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of August 1959, in the county of St. Clair, State of Michigan. My commission expires Notary. AFFIDAVIT STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, 88: John J. Dillon, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I reside at 33-52 Crescent Street, Long Island City, N.Y. I am educational and citizenship director of region 9A of International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW, AFL-CIO, hereinafter referred to as "International" and have held that position at all times hereinafter mentioned. It is my understanding that one Jess Motsinger, who was formally employed by the international was in New York City in 1954, from the 23d day of September to the 1st day of October of that year. I am further informed that registration of voters for the purpose of qualifying to vote in the general election of 1954 was held, pursuant to law, from Thursday, September 30 of that year until Saturday, October 9. In the course of my employment with the international I was generally responsible, in 1954, for administration of efforts exerted by the international and by its region 9A in the geographical area of the latter with respect to the en suing general election. From my own recollection and from records now in possession of region 9A, which I have recently had occasion to examine, it is my belief that, in the period prior to the commencement of registration in 1954 the educational and citizenship activities of the international and its region 9A, as those of various civic and educational organizations, were largely, if not wholly, concerned with the education of the voting public in general to the requirement that they register in accord with the provisions of law so as to insure their being allowed to exercise their franchise to elect whatever representatives and to pass upon whatever referendums, if any, they choose to support. (Signed). JOHN J. DILLON. Sworn to before me this 31st day of August 1959. AFFIDAVIT STATE OF MICHIGAN, County of Wayne, 88: I, Charles E. Yaeger, being duly sworn depose and say that: 1. I am the assistant director of the Accounting Department of the International Union, UAW, and its chief accountant, and have held that post since February 14, 1955. 2. Records of said accounting department indicate that one J. F. Motsinger was on the staff of said international union from April 1953 to January 1955. 3. The records of said accounting department further show that the only period when said J. F. Motsinger was assigned to the New York City area was the week from September 23 to October 1, 1954. Further, deponent sayeth not. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 31st day of August, 1959. My commission expires (Signed) CHARLES E. YAEGER. Notary Public, Wayne County, Mich. TESTIMONY OF CYRUS MARTIN-Resumed The CHAIRMAN. You have been previously sworn? The CHAIRMAN. You will remain under the same oath. The Chair admonishes you again that I am going to expedite these hearings, and I am going to get through as quickly as I can. Senator CURTIS. You testified, Mr. Martin, that your name was Cyrus Martin, and you are also known as Toots Martin? Mr. MARTIN. That is right. Senator CURTIS. What is your present employment? Mr. MARTIN. I work 2 days a week at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, as a janitor. Senator CURTIS. Did you have any other employment in recent times during the school year? Mr. MARTIN. I drove a school bus at times. Senator CURTIS. But at the present time, during the summer months, you are the janitor at the church? Mr. MARTIN. That is my only source of income, Mr. Senator. Senator CURTIS. Now, you belonged to local 12, or associated with local 12, for some 13 years; were you not? Mr. MARTIN. I joined the union in 1934, Mr. Senator, and it was then known as local 384, and I was a charter member of that local union. Senator CURTIS. And you were a steward at Willys-Overland? |