Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

2352 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Mr. Sorrell did not tell you that on the 9th of April 1945, nearly 3 years ago, he had presented that matter and it was published in full in Variety. Sorrell lists checks he says Walsh got. He sprang it on the committee as if it were something new that he had discovered,, in order to indicate the peculiar conduct of the present head of the lATSE. Nor did he mention that on the next day, April 10, 1945, the following appeared in Variety : Walsh Answers Sorreli, In answer to charges made by Sorrell Sunday night in which he declared^ Walsh had received thousands of dollars from the 2-pereent lATSE racket fund, the lA prexy last night issued the following statement : "The charge which Sorrell makes just goes to show how far he will go in trying to justify his action in tying up the studios. What possible bearing this matter covild have on his actions, even if it were true, he does not explain. So far as my personal record is concerned I can assure Mr. Sorrell if it is any of his business that every cent I have received from the International Alliance, with the exception of my own salaiy, has been spent in the interest of the Alliance. I defy anyone to present any proof to the contrary. "The Federal authorities who have investigated the entire Browne-Bioff matter have gone over my record with a fine-tooth comb. It has satisfied them. It has satisfied members of the lATSE who have twice elected me president." Parenthetically, there has been a subsequent election again. "Therefore, I am afraid it will have to satisfy Mr. Sorrell." Of course, that was brought out b}^ Mr. Sr)rrel] during the period of the strike for the purpose of trying to justify his unlawful conduct at that time. Now, I want to close this Browne-Bioff incident with a formal statement of the convention of the lATSE, which I think this committee should have before Ave again place Mr. Walsh and Mr. Brewer on the stand, so that any questions can be presented to them with respect to it. This statement Avas dated March 16, 1945. and was subsequently unanimously approved as presented to the convention by the convention of the lATSE, and was signed by the entire general executive board, with Richard F. Walsh, international president, and all of the nine Adce presidents, and by the general secretary -treasurer. I think it is very important and A^ery serious. To the members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada. Greetings: Because of the recent release from the Federal penitentiary of former International President George E. Browne, and his representative, William Bioff, the general executive board, at its recent meeting at Minneapolis, decided that' it should make plain, positive, and unmistakable, its position toAvard these two individuals who have betrayed and brought discredit to oiu' great alliance. William Bioff is not now and has never been a member of this alliance. George E. Browne, a former member of Cliicago Local No. 2, resigned his membership in the alliance at the request of a union investigating committee. Under international law, before either Browne or Bioff can be admitted to membership into any local union of this alliance, the application for membership must be approved by the general office. This is official notice to all local unions that such approval will not be given by the general office nor will either of these men be permitted to associate themselves with this international or any local union of the alliance in any manner or capacity whatsoever.