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HARVARD COLLEGE
LIBRARY
GIFT OF THE
GOVERNMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES
AND CURRENT COMMUNIST TECHNIQUES IN THE
CHICAGO, ILL., AREA
HEARINGS
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTY-SIXTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
MAY 5, 6, AND 7, 1959
(INCLUDING INDEX)
Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities
^^y^^^o miiiGi umk^t
Mf'Osited 3y THE
mUQ STATES GGVimAim
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
41635 WASHINGTON : 1959
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
United States House of Representatives
FRANCIS E. WALTER, Pennsylvania, Chairman
MORGAN M. MOULDER, Missouri DONALD L. JACKSON, California
CLYDE DOYLE, California GORDON H. SCHERER, Ohio
EDWIN E. WILLIS, Louisiana WILLIAM E, MILLER, New York
WILLIAM M. TUCK, Virginia AUGUST E. JOHANSEN, Michigan
Richard Aeens, Staff Director
CONTENTS
Pact
Synopsis 507
May 5, 1959: Testimony of —
Carl Nelson 518
Leon Katzen 53'2
Carl Nelson (resumed) 637
Leon Katzen (resumed) 538
Afternoon session:
Richard Criley 546
Leslie Orear 560
Leon Beverly 562
Samuel J. Parks, Jr 564
Jack Souther 566
Gloria Wailes 568
Joseph Zabritski . . 570
May 6, 1959: Testimony of—
John R. Hackney 573
Charles A. Hayes 589
Rachel Carter Ellis 593
Leo Turner 595
Afternoon session:
Albert P. Dency 599
Francis William McBain 601
Edwin A. Alexander 607
Bernard Angert . 63 1
May 7, 1959: Testimony of—
Joseph A. Poskonka 637
John Lewis 644
Charles Proctor 647
Donald H. Smith 651
Jesse E. Prosten 654
Index i
m
Public Law 601, 79th Congress
The legislation under which the House Committee on Un-American
Activities operates is Public Law 601, 79th Congress [1946], chapter
753, 2d session, which provides:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, * * *
PART 2— RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rule X
SEC. 121. STANDING COMMITTEES
* ******
18. Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine Members.
Rule XI
POWEKS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
*******
(q) (1) Committee on Un-American Activities.
(A) Un-American activities,
(2) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommit-
tee, is authorized to make from lime to time investigations of (i) the extent,
character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States,
(ii) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propa-
ganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks
the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and
(iii) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary
remedial legislation.
The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the
Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi-
gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American
Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such
times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting,
has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance
of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and
to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under
the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any
member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person
designated by any such chairman or member.
Rule XII
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT BT STANDING COMMITTEES
Sec. 136. To assist the Congress in appraising the administration of the laws
and in developing such amendments or related legislation as it may deem neces-
sary, each standing committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives
shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the execution by the administrative
agencies concerned of any laws, the subject matter of which is within the jurisdic-
tion of such committee; and, for that purpose, shall study all pertinent reports
and data submitted to the Congress by the agencies in the executive branch of
the Government.
RULES ADOPTED BY THE 86TH CONGRESS
House Resolution 7, January 7, 1959
* * * * * H: i:
Rule X
STANDING COMMITTEES
1. There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Con-
gress,
*******
(q) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine Members.
****** ^i
Rule XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
18. Committee on Un-American Activities.
(a) Un-American activities.
(b) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee,
is authorized to make from time to time investigations of (1) the extent, char-
acter, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States,
(2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American prop-
aganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and
attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitu-
tion, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress
in any necessary remedial legislation.
The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the
Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi-
gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American
Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times
and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has
recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance
of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and
to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under
the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any
member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by anj^ person
designated by any such chairman or member.
26. To assist the House in appraising the administration of the laws and in
developing such amendments or related legislation as it may deem necessary,
each standing committee of the House shall exercise continuous watchfulness
of the execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws, the subject
matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such committee; and, for that
purpose, shall study all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by
the agencies in the executive branch of the Government.
SYNOPSIS
Communist penetration of vital industries and current techniques
of the Communist conspiracy were the subjects of public hearings
held in Chicago, 111., on May 5, 6, and 7, 1959.
Mr. Carl Nelson of Chicago testified that from 1934 through 1949
he was a member of the Communist Party and was in ideological
sympathy with it; that after his severance with the formal Commu-
nist Party he continued in the Communist operation until about 1954
or 1955 serving principally in front groups.
Mr. Nelson emphasized that the formal entity known as the Com-
munist Party is only one segment of the total Communist operation
in the United States and that in order to avoid the impact of cer-
tain laws Communists often resign tecluiical membership in the
formal Communist Party but continue in the Communist operation.
Based upon his experience in various Communist units in the meat-
packing industry in the greater Chicago area, Mr. Nelson stated that
it was "saturated" by the Communist operation. There was exhibited
to Mr. Nelson a leaflet which was one of several distributed in front
of the courthouse in which the instant hearings were held. The leaf-
let bore the title, "Chicago Committee To Defend Democratic liights,"
and was signed by Leon Katzen, chairman, and Richard Criley, execu-
tive secretary.
Mr. Nelson identified both Leon Katzen and Richard Criley as
persons who to his certain knowledge were in the Communist Party.
In the course of his testimony, Mr. Nelson detailed Commmiist
strategy and tactics in penetrating the meatpacking industry and
identified a number of persons in the meatpacking industry who to
his certain knowledge were members of the Communist Party.
Leon Katzen of Chicago, who had been identified by Carl Nelson
as a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response to a sub-
pena, but refused to answer questions respecting his occupation,
whether or not he was chairman of the Chicago Committee To Defend
Democratic Rights, whether he had used the name "Mike Samuels,"
and a number of questions regarding Coirmiunist activities.
Richard Criley of Chicago, who had been identified by Carl Nelson
as a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response to a sub-
pena and invoked constitutional privileges when r<sked the following
question: "Are you the Richard Criley who is listed here in this
document as executive secretary of the Chicago Committee To De-
fend Democratic Rights?" He, likewise, refused to answer questions
respecting Communist Party activities and whether he was currently
a member of the Communist Party.
Leslie Orear of Chicago, who had been identified by Carl Nelson as
a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response to a subpena
and testified that he was the editor of The Packinghouse Worker;
507
508 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
that he was not currently a member of the Communist Party; and
that he had not been a member of the Communist Party since 1954.
Mr. Orear refused to answer whether he resigned technical mem-
bership in the Communist Party and whether or not he had ever
broken with the Communist Party. Although he asserted that he
had at the time of the hearing a strong antipathy to the Conmiunist
Party, he declined to answer whether he knew the names of persons
in the Chicago area who were members of the Communist Party in
1952, basing his declination on the ground that liis answer might tend
to incriminate him.
Leon Beverly, who had been identified by Carl Nelson as a mem-
ber of the Communist Party, appeared in response to a subpena and
testified that he was field representative for the United Packinghouse
Workers. He denied current membership in the Communist Party
but declined to answer whether he resigned teclinical membership
in the Communist Party so that he could deny membership and yet
maintain himself in the Communist operation.
Samuel J. Parks, Jr., of Chicago appeared in response to a sub-
pena and testified that for 3 years prior to April 1957 he was director
of a department of the United Packinghouse Workers. He denied
current membership in the Communist Party but refused to answer
whether he resigned technical membership in the Communist Party
so that he could deny under oath current membership while remaining
in the Communist operation, basing his refusal on the ground that
his answer might tend to incriminate him.
Jack Souther of Chicago, who had been identified by Carl Nelson
as a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response to a sub-
pena and testified that he was secretary-treasurer of District 1, United
Packinghouse Workers of America. Although he denied current
membership in the Communist Party, he refused to answer whether
he had ever been a member of the Communist Party and refused
to answer whether he had resigned technical membership in the Com-
munist Party but maintained himself in the Conmiunist operation,
basing his refusal on the ground that his answer might tend to in-
criminate him.
Mrs. Gloria Wailes of Chicago, who had been identified by Carl
Nelson as a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response
to a subpena and testified that she was employed as a secretary in the
international office of the United Packinghouse Workers of America.
She denied current membership in the Communist Party but refused
to answer whether she had ever been a member of the Communist
Party and whether she had resigned technical membership in the
Communist Party but maintained herself in the Communist opera-
tion, basing her refusal on the ground that her answers might tend
to incriminate her.
Joseph Zabritski of Chicago, who had been identified by Carl Nel-
son as a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response to
a subpena and testified that he had been one-time president of Local 25,
United Packinghouse Workers of America. Mr. Zabritski denied
current membership in the Communist Party, but refused to answer
whether he had resigned technical membership in the Communist
Party but maintained himself in the Communist operation, basing his
refusal on the ground that his answer might tend to incriminate him.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 509
John R. Hackney, an international representative for the Amalga-
mated Meatcutters and Butcher Workmen, testified that he had been a
member of the Communist Party from approximately 1942 to 1948;
that being a member of the Negro race, he joined the Communist Party
because he believed that the party was the spearhead of the rights
of the Negro people. Mr. Hackney broke with the Communist Party,
however, upon realizing the insincerity of the Communists.
With reference to Communist penetration of the meat industry, Mr.
Hackney stated that : "Because the party felt that the meat industry
was essential to the national economy and it was important that they
build the party within the meat industry in the event that we had war
with other nations, that we could control the meat industry and its
various outlets."
He continued : "From my most current information and my experi-
ence in my activity in the party I would say that the party is stronger
now in the meat industry than it ever has been." Mr. Hackney cor-
roborated the testimony of Carl Nelson to the effect that the current
technique of Communists is to resign technical membership in the
formal Communist Party in order to avoid the impact of certain laws
but to continue in the Communist operation.
In the course of his testimony Mr, Hackneyj who had served as a
Communist in a number of Communist units within the meatpacking
industry, detailed Communist strategy and tactics in penetrating the
meatpacking industry and identified a number of persons in the meat-
packing industry who to his certain knowledge were members of the
Communist Party.
Charles A. Hayes of Chicago, director of District 1 of the United
Packinghouse Workers, appeared in response to a subpena. Mr.
Hayes denied current membership in the Conununist Party but de-
clined to answer whether he had been a member of the Communist
Party since the passage of the law requiring a non-Communist affi-
davit of certain labor officials and whether he resigned technical
membership in the Communist Party so that he could avoid the
impact of that law, basing his declination on the ground that his
answer might tend to incriminate him.
Rachael Carter Ellis of Chicago, secretary to Charles A. Hayes,
<iirector of District 1 of the United Packinghouse Workers, appeared
in response to a subpena. She had previously been identified in the
instant hearings by John R. Hackney as a member of the Communist
Party, She denied current membership in the Communist Party
but refused to answer whether she had been a member of the Com-
munist Party during the preceding 2 years and whether she resigned
technical membership in the Communist Party but maintained her-
self in the Communist operation, basing her refusals on the ground
that her answers might tend to incriminate her.
Leo Turner of Chicago, who had been identified by Carl Nelson as
a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response to a sub-
pena and testified that he was a field representative of the United
Packinghouse Workers of America. He denied current membership
in the Communist Party but refused to answer whether he resigned
teclinical membership in the Communist Party but maintained him-
self in the Communist operation, basing his refusal on the ground
that his answer miffht tend to incriminate him.
610 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Albert P. Dency of Chicago appeared in response to a subpena.
Although Mr. Dency was confronted with the information of the
committee that he had been a member of the Communist Party in
Waukegan, 111., in 1949, 1950, and 1951, he denied that he had ever
been a member of tlie Communist Party or that he had been knowingly
under the discipline of the Communist Party.
Francis William McBain of Chicago appeared in response to a
subpena and testified that he was a modelmaker. Mr. McBain re-
fused to answer whether he was currently a member of the Commu-
nist Party, basing his refusal on a number of grounds including the
ground that his answer might tend to incriminate him.
Edwin A. Alexander of Chicago appeared in response to a sub-
pena and testified that he was a member of the professional staflf of
the Jewish Federation, Metropolitan Chicago. Mr. Alexander re-
counted his education and his employment, including liis past employ-
ment as a full-time official for the district office of tlie Young Com-
munist League of California and his past employment as a full-time
official in the Communist Party. Mr. Alexander detailed his career
in the Communist Party which, with interruptions, endured over
a period of a number of years until 1956. Mr. Alexander's testi-
mony included a narrative of his activities in various Communist
enterprises but he refused to disclose the identity of persons who as of
1956 were known by him to be members of the Communist Party .^
Bernard Angert of Evanston, 111., appeared in response to a sub-
pena and testified that he was a mold maker. Mr. Angert refused to
answer whether he was currently a member of the Communist Party,
and whether he was currently engaged in Communist Party work in
the International Association of Machinists as a colonizer, basing his
refusal on the ground, among others, that his answers might tend to
incriminate him.
Joseph A. Poskonka of Chicago testified that he was currently in
the Communist operation as a Communist functionary ; that in 1943
he joined that part of the Communist operation known as the Com-
munist Party, but that at no time had he ever been in sympathy with
the Communist Party or Communist principles ; that his service in the
Communist operation was at the behest and with the cooperation of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of supplying
information to the Government. With respect to the current serious-
ness of the Communist operation in the United States, Mr. Poskonka
testified as follows :
Mr. Arens. I expect to interrogate you on several items in
the course of your testimony this morning, but I should like
at the outset to ask you first of all, based upon your back-
ground and experience since 1943 until this instant in the
Communist operation and your participation in the Com-
munist Party as a formal entity, to tell this committee now,
while you are under oath, how serious is the Communist
movement, the Communist operation in the United States this
instant.
Mr. Poskonka. It is very, very serious.
1 Under date of June 3, 1959, the Committee on Un-American Activities voted to recom-
miend to the House of Representatives that Edwin A. Alexander be cited for contempt.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 5H
Mr. Poskonka, who served for several years in the pockinghoiise
segment of the Communist Party, testified respecting Commmiist
penetration of the packinghouse industry in the greater Chicago area
as follows :
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, may I inquire on the basis of
your service in the Communist operation up to and includ-
ing the present instant, and your particular service in the
packinghouse segment of the Communist operation, how seri-
ous is the penetration by Communists of the packinghouse
industry in the greater Chicago area ?
Mr. Poskonka. It is veiy serious because they are domi-
nating and any decent person of any kmd that might be a
decent American citizen that would want to represent labor
as a decent leader or decent citizen, if he is not a member of
the Communists or in sympathy he could not be elected to
office because he would be slammed as a union boss or racket-
eer of some kind.
In the course of his testimony INIr. Poskonka detailed Communist
strategy in penetrating the meatpacking industry and identified a
number of persons in the meatpacking industry who to his certain
knowledge were members of the Communist Party.
John Lewis of Chicago, who had been identified by Mr. Poskonka
in the instant hearings as a person who had been known by him to
be a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response to a
subpena and testified that he was employed in the Swift Packing
plant in Chicago and that he had held a number of offices in Local
28 of the United Packinghouse Workers of America.
Mr. Lewis denied current membership in the Communist Party
but refused to answer if he had ever been a member of the Commu-
nist Party and if he had resigned technical membei-ship in the Com-
munist Party so that he could deny current membership in the
Communist Party if and when interrogated under oath, basing his
refusal on the ground that his answer might tend to incriminate him.
Charles Proctor of Covert, Mich., who had been identified as a
member of the Communist Party in the instant hearings by Joseph
Poskonka and by John Hackney, appeared in response to a subpena
and testified that he was manager of the Packinghouse Labor and
Commimity Center; that he was one-time chairman of the gi'ievance
conuTiittee for Local 28 of the United Packinghouse Workers in
Chicago. Wlien a number of documents were exhibited to Mr. Proc-
tor respecting his participation in certain Commmiist enterprises
he refused to comment, basing his refusal on the ground that his
answer might tend to incriminate him. Mr. Proctor denied that
he had been a member of the Communist Party any time in the course
of the preceding 5 years but refused to answer whether he had ever
been a member of the Communist Party on the ground that his
answer might tend to incriminate him.
Donald H. Smith of Chicago, who had been identified in the instant
hearings by Mr. Carl Nelson and Mr. John Hackney as a person
who was a member of the Communist Party, appeared in response
to a subpena and testified that he was employed as international
representative. United Packinghouse Workers of America. Mr.
512 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Smith denied current membership in the Conmiunist Party and de-
clined to answer if he had been a member of the Commmiist Party
in the course of the last 5 years, basing his declination on the ground
that his answer might tend to incriminate him.
Jesse E. Prosten, who had been identified as a member of the Com-
munist Party in the instant hearings by Mr. Carl Nelson and Mr.
Joseph A. Poskonka, appeared in response to a subpena and testified
that he was an international representative for the United Packing-
house Workers of America. Mr. Prosten denied current membership
in the Communist Party but refused to answer whether he had been
a member of the Communist Party at any time within the course of
the last 5 years, basing his refusal on the ground that his answer
might tend to incriminate him.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES
AND CURRENT COMMUNIST TECHNIQUES IN THE
CHICAGO, ILL., AREA
TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1959
United States House op Representatives,
Subcommittee op the
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Chicago, III.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met,
Eursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in courtroom 209, United States Court-
ouse, 219 South Clark Street, Chicago, 111., Hon. Morgan M. Moul-
der (subcommittee chairman) presiding.
Subcommittee members present : Representatives Morgan M. Moul-
der, of Missouri; Edwin E. Willis, of Louisiana; and August E.
Johansen, of Michigan.
Staff members present : Richard Arens, staff director, and Raymond
T. Collins, investigator.
Mr. Moulder. The subcommittee will be in order.
The hearings which begin today in Chicago are in furtherance of
the powers and duties of the Committee on Un-American Activities,
pursuant to Public LaAv 601 of the 79th Congress, which not only
establishes the basic jurisdiction of the committee, but also mandates
this committee, along with other standing committees of the Congress
of the United States, to exercise continuous watchfulness of the exe-
cution of any laws, the subject matter of which is within the juris-
diction of the committee.
In response to this power and duty, the Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities is continuously in the process of accimiulating factual
information respecting Communists, the Communist Party, and Com-
mimist activities which will enable the committee and the Congress
to appraise the administration and operation of the Smith Act, the
Internal Security Act of 1950, the Communist Control Act of 1954,
and numerous provisions of the Criminal Code relating to espionage,
sabotage, and subversion. In addition, the committee has before it
numerous proposals to strengthen our legislative weapons designed
to protect the internal security of this Nation.
I shall now read the resolution of the Committee on Un-American
Activities, authorizing and directing the holding of the instant hear-
ings here in Chicago.
Be it resolved, That hearings by the Committee on Un-American Activities
or a subcommittee thereof, to be held in Chicago, 111., and at such other place
or places as the Chairman may indicate, on such date or dates as the Chairman
513
514 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
may determine, be authorized and approved, including the conduct of investiga-
tions dtH'mod reasonably necessary by the staff in preparation therefor, relating
to the following matters and having the legislative purposes indicated:
1. The extent, character and objects of Communist infiltration and Commu-
nist Party propaganda activities in labor unions within the area of Chicago, the
legislative purposes being :
(a) To obtain information for use by the Committee in its consideration of a
proposal to amend Section 4 of the Communist Control Act of 1954, prescrib-
ing a penalty for knowingly and willfully becoming or remaining a member of
the Communist Party with knowledge of the purposes or objectives thereof;
and
(b) To obtain additional information adding to the Committee's overall knowl-
edge on the subject so that Congress may be kept informed and thus prepared to
enact remedial legislation in the national defense and for internal security,
when and if the exigencies of the situation require it.
2. Conununist techniques and strategy in the raising of funds for the benefit
of the Communist Party, the legislative purpose being to determine whether a
recommendation should be made tightening the laws relating to tax exemption
which labor unions enjoy, and for the additional reasons set forth in items
1 (a) and (b) of this resolution.
3. The execution by the administrative agencies concerned of the Internal
Security Act, the Communist Control Act of 1954, the Foreign Agents Registra-
tion Act, and all other laws, the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction
of the Committee, the legislative purpose being to exercise continuous watchful-
ness of the execution of these laws to assist the Congress in appraising the
administration of such laws, and in developing such amendments or related
legislation as it may deem necessary.
Be it further resolved. That the hearings may include any other matter within
the jurisdiction of the Committee which it, or any subcommittee thereof ap-
pointed to conduct this hearing, may designate.
I shall now read the order of appointment of the subcommittee to
conduct these hearings which was made by the chairman of the full
committee, the Honorable Francis E, "Walter, of Pennsylvania :
April 28, 1959.
To : Mr. Richard Arens
Staff Director
House Committee on Un-American Activities
Pursuant to the provisions of the law and the rules of this Committee, I hereby
appoint a subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities, consisting
of Representatives Edwin E. Willis and August E. Johansen, as associate mem-
bers, and Representative Morgan M. Moulder, as Chairman, to conduct hearings
in Chicago. Illinois. Tuesday, May 5. 1959, at 10:00 a.m., on subjects imder
investigation by the Committee and take such testimony on said day or succeeding
days, as it may deem necessary.
Please make this action a matter of Committee record.
If any Member indicates his inability to serve, please notify me.
Given under my hand this 28th day of April 1959.
(s) Francis E. Walter
Chairman
Committee on Un-American
Activities
These hearings in Chicago are in furtherance of a project of this
committee on current techniques of the Communist conspiracy in this
Nation. "We know that the strategy and tactics of the Communist
Party are constantly changing for the purpose of avoiding detection
and in an attempt to beguile the American people and the Grovernment
respecting the true nature of the conspiracy.
Preliminary investigations conducted 'by the staff indicate that
a principal concentration point of Communists in the Chicago area
is the packinghouse industry which is vital not only the ec<3nomy
of this area but is essential in the maintenance of a stronsr national
COMMUNIST INFILTEATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 515
defense. Those of us who through the years have been engaged
in the work of the Committee on Un-American Activities are obliged,
from our experience, to conclude that there is no easy answer or
quick solution to the many problems created by the Communist
fifth column in our country. We must constantly keep abreast of
the changing strategy and tactics of the Communist Party so that
we may have factual information for our legislative purposes.
In the course of the last few years, as a result of hearings and
investigations, this committee has made over 80 separate recommenda-
tions for legislative action. Legislation has been passed by the Con-
gress embracing 35 of the recommendations, and 26 separate pro-
posals are currently pending in the Congress on subjects covered by
other committee recommendations. Moreover, in the course of the
last few years numerous recommendations made by the committee
for administrative action have been adopted by the executive agen-
cies of our Government.
Today the Communist Party, though reduced in size, continues
as a serious threat to the security of our Nation. It has long since
divested itself of unreliable elements. Those who remain are the
hard-core, disciplined agents of the Kremlin on American soiL
Most of the Communist Party operation in the United States to-
day consists of underground, behind-the-scenes manipulations.
What techniques are the hard-core Communists pursuing here in
order to avoid detection as they pursue their nefarious work ?
What loopholes or weaknesses exist in our security laws ?
How can those laws be strengthened ?
These are some of the questions I hope to have answered.
The objective of our subcommittee during this brief stay in Chi-
cago is to sample factual material on types and patterns of activity
germane to the scope of our inquiry. We have not subpenaed wit-
nesses here at random nor shall we attempt to exhaust the subject
matter. To do so would require a disproportionate amount of time,
both of the staff and of the subcommittee to the detriment of other
equally important projects which are presently in process elsewhere
in the United States.
We seek only the facts. Insofar as it is within the power of
this committee, as part of the United States Congress, we shall ob-
tain the facts and we shall do so within the framework of carefully
prescribed procedures, adopted by this committee, of justice and fair
play as provided by the law of our land.
It is a standing rule of this committee that any person identified as
a member of the Communist Party during the course of the com-
mittee hearings will be given an early opportunity to appear be-
fore this committee, if he so desires, for the purpose of denying
or explaining any testimony adversely affecting that person. It
is also the policy of the committee to accord any witness the privi-
lege of being represented by counsel to advise him; but within the
provisions of the rules of this committee, counsel's sole and ex-
clusive prerogative is to ad^dse liis client in a legal fashion.
I would remind those present that a disturbance of any kind or an
audible comment during the hearings will not be permitted. This
is a serious proceeding in which we are earnestly trying to discharge
an important and arduous duty with the general objective of main-
516 COMMUNIST INPILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
taining the security and the American way of life of this great
Nation.
Do you have comments to add to that, Mr. Willis ?
Mr. Willis. Mr. Chairman, you refer to the rules of the committee.
It might be interesting to know, I think this is the one committee that
operates under very enlightened and comprehensive rules. I have a
copy here and the very last provision of the rules is that all witnesses
appearing before the committee shall be furnished with a copy of the
printed rules, and so on. The rules are available to the press, coun-
sel, and to anybody who wants to see them.
Mr. Moulder, Mr. Johansen.
Mr. Johansen. The only comment I would like to make, Mr.
Chairman, is that I am very happy to have the chairman and my
colleague from Louisiana very clearly and emphatically set forth the
fact that we do operate by prescribed rules, with the full regard for
the rights of the witnesses. I tliink it is particularly timely, par-
ticularly important to have that emphasized because of the evident
misinformation that seems sometimes to be promulgated from other
presumably responsible sources. I associate myself completely with
the statement of the chairman and of Mr. Willis.
Mr. Moulder. Thank you, gentlemen.
Now, Congressman Walter, the chairman of the full committee of
the House Committee on Un-American Activities, has requested that
I read the following letter addressed to him by Ralph Helstein, pres-
ident of the United Packinghouse Workers of America, an AFL-CIO
union. The letter is dated May 1, 1959, and he has requested that I
read this letter before the beginning of the hearing and insert the
letter into the record.
The letter is as follows :
Honorable Francis E. Walter
Chairman, House Committee on Un-American Activities
House Office Building
Washington 25, D.C.
Dear Sir:
In view of the fact that the House Committee on Un-American Activities has
subpoenaed some present or former members of our union to appear at your
sessions on May 5, 6 and 7, we have felt it appropriate to transmit to you a
brief statement of the position of our union.
We represent, as you are perhaps aware, over 100,000 employees in the meat
packing industry and others in related industries. If you are familiar with
the history of the meat-packing industry, you know it as one with the history
of back-breaking labor and opprassive, soul-searing working conditions which
earned for it the designation "the jungle."
In the two decades since we came into existence, we have written a proud
history of our own. We have built a record of economic improvement for
packinghouse workers, and we have built a genuinely democratic union, widely
respected for its honesty and integrity and one which is, we are convinced, free
of outside influence, Communist or any other. We hold a respected position in
the ranks of labor and in the communities in which our members reside.
We are particularly proud of our status in the Negro communities of the
nation. A relatively substantial proportion of our membership is Negro and our
union has evidenced its special interest in and concern with the problems of the
Negro people. Negro leaders have risen, on their merits, to positions of impor-
tance in our ranks, and we have applied our energies actively to the task of
eliminating discriminatory practices in American life.
In this history of achievement, many, many people have played their roles —
thousands of rank and file members, local, district and national officers and
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 517
staff employees. Those individuals included among your subpoenaed witnesses
who presently hold district or local office or who are currently on our field staff
are among those who are recognized by our membership as having made, over
many years, unselfish and consistent contributions to the growth and perform-
ance of our union. So far as their records of performance show, they have
passed the test of service to the needs of our members — organization of the
unorganized, negotiation of contract improvements, honest and effective griev-
ance presentation.
Our union was born in the midst of the distress and disillusion of the depres-
sion and post-depression years of the 1930's and 1940's. In the light of the
background of the industry, the economic and social tensions of the times and
the bitter opposition of the packing companies to our efforts at organization and
improvement of conditions, it would have been strange indeed if among the
packinghouse workers there were none who turned to one or another of the
Utopian panaceas held out from various sources to the disillusioned : commu-
nism, socialism, technocracy, single-tax programs, and all the rest.
Before our union was very old, therefore, it was faced with a fundamental
choice of procedures. It could have embarked upon a program that might have
led to bitter internal conflict, diverting energies urgently needed for the task of
providing economic improvements for the packinghouse workers. Our member-
ship developed a different program, one which we believe to be in the best tradi-
tions of our nation. There was never the slightest question or possibility of
yielding control to a Communist group or any other ideology. But we felt
that the challenge of Communism could best be met not by a civil war certain
to blunt the union's collective bargaining effectiveness, but by demonstrating
that a positive and democratic brand of unionism would produce results, thereby
defeating the attractions of Communism by undercutting its ground.
We believe our program was right for the packinghouse workers. We know
that it worked.
Our union has, over the years, established its position on Communism. Our
union is firmly on record in its opposition to Communism — and all similar forms
of authoritarian doctrine. Our union has adopted as official policy the AFL-
CIO Ethical Practices Codes. No member of the Communist Party is or will
be permitted to hold elective or appointive position in our union. For the im-
plementation of this policy, the union has established, from its Executive Board,
a committee to investigate situations involving possible violation of these Codes
and a Public Review Commission of disinterested, prominent citizens, to assure
that our procedures are effective to maintain integrity and democracy in our
union.
The path by which we reached our present position may not be the one which
others have followed or would have prescribed. Perhaps members of your
Committee would disagree as to our choice of paths — and we respect their right
to disagree. We ask only the same respect for our right to our opinion as to
the rigbtness of our course. We firmly believe that the result in our union
proves that our forefathers' faith in the principles of the Bill of Rights was
well founded.
In enforcing our policies today, we are, of course, concerned with the present
and the future. We do not feel that we serve any useful purpose by seeking
to dredge up the muck of a dead past. If there are in our ranks persons with
a Communist past, their present adherence to the democratic principles of our
union represents a symbol of the victory of democratic philosophy over totali-
tarianism, and we see no purpose in placing them in the public pillory.
In our enforcement of our policies, we will, of course, give appropriate con-
sideration to relevant evidence presented to your Committee as we would to
similar evidence from any source. It is an unfortunate fact, however, that your
Committee's decision to conduct these hearings happens to coincide in time with
certain other developments.
A rejected and disgruntled former officeholder has been engaged in an effort
to revive the long dead Communist issue, as it affects our union, in what appears
to us to be a frantic effort, unquestionably doomed to failure, to foist himself
back on to a membership which has rejected him. There is also some evidence
which suggests that he is acting for another union which is suspected of having
hopes of gobbling up the membership of our organization. Finally, your hearings
happen to come at a time when we are about to enter upon negotiations with the
major packing companies, as the current three year term of contracts through-
41635—59 2
518 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
out the industry approaches expiration. Pressinj? problems of plant shut-downs,
mass layoffs, technological unemployment, inadequate pension and severance
pay clauses, and many others claim the attention of our members and leaders.
Tlie sudden revival of long dead issues obviously plays into the hands of the
packing companies.
Under these circumstances, you will understand, I am sure, the feeling among
many of our members that your hearings, may, without any such intent on your
part, serve to aid some few who may wish to create a misleading public impres-
sion of our union. We are confident, in all frankness, that our record of per-
formance in the public interest is so clear and so well understood by those most
directly concerned, that our union's public stature will readily withstand any
such attack.
Very truly yours,
(s) Ralph Helstein, President.
Chairman Walter requested that his comments as follows also be
read and inserted into the record :
1. There is no intention on the part of the House Un-American Activities Com-
mittee, to interfere in any way, or on either side, with any negotiations between
the union and employers. In this connection I wish to point out that these in-
vestigations are in no way directed at the United Packinghouse Workers of
America, as a union, or at its officers, as such.
2. While it is true, as IMr. Helstein pointed out, that this Committee may well
differ with the methods followed by the union to eliminate Communists, never-
theless, the Committee welcomes the unequivocal assertion by the President of
the union that the union is firmly on record in its opposition to Communism
and all similar forms of authoritarian doctrine, that "no member of the Com-
munist Party is, or will be permitted, to hold elective or appointive position" in the
union and that a procedure involving a review by a public review commission of
disinterested prominent citizens has been established to assure that this policy is
being implemented. In these circumstances I am hopeful that any information
adduced by this Committee concerning Communists holding elective or appointive
position in the union will receive the full consideration of the union and the
public board established by it.
That concludes Chairman Walter's statement. I wish to apologize
for taking so much time reading all these statements but I was re-
quested by the chairman to place the letter and his statement in the
record as well as our opening statement.
Do you wish to add any other matter before we call the witnesses ?
Are you ready to proceed ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
Mr. Moulder. Call your first witness.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Carl Nelson, kindly come forward and remain
standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Moulder. Will you raise your right hand and be sworn, please?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
before the subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activi-
ties will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
so help you God ?
Mr. Nelson. I do.
Mr. Moulder. Be seated.
TESTIMONY OF CARL NELSON
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Nelson. Carl Nelson, 3093 West North Avenue. I am in the
heating business.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 519
Mr. Akens. Mr. Nelson, have you ever been a member of the Com-
munist Party?
Mr. Nelson. I have.
Mr. Moulder. May I suggest that the loud speaking apparatus be
placed closer to him because with the fans going you can't hear with-
out using that speaking system.
Mr. Nelson. I have.
Mr. Arens. Have you, in addition to being a member of the formal
entity known as the Commmiist Party, likewise been a participant
in the Communist operation ?
Mr. Nelson. I have.
Mr. Arens. Tell us, first of all, the period of your membership in
the Communist Party.
Mr. Nelson. From 1934 through 1949.
Mr. Moulder. Can you bring that closer to him ?
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly speak into the microphone here?
The acoustics are rather poor.
Mr. Nelson. From 1934 through 1949.
Mr. Arens. After your severance with that entity known as the
Communist Party, did you then stay in the Communist operation ?
Mr. Nelson. I did up until about '54 or '55.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Nelson, so that the record may be clear at this
point, were you ideologically in sympathy with the Communist Party,
were you in truth and fact a Communist ?
Mr. Nelson. I was.
Mr. Arens. You were not an undercover agent of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation as were some persons ?
Mr. Nelson. No, I wasn't.
Mr. Arens. Now, before we proceed further so that we may keep
your testimony in perspective, may I inquire what distinction do you
as a person who has served for many years in the formal entity
known as the Communist Party and likewise who has served until
the course of the last few years in the Communist operation, what
distinction do you make between the Communist Party as a formal
entity and the Communist operation in the United States?
Mr. Nelson. Well, there is no difference in it. Its different organ-
izations are under the control of the Communists. They are all
leading Communists that are heading these organizations.
Mr. Arens. During the period in 1948 of the passage in the 80th
Congress of amendments to the National Labor Relations Act, requir-
ing certain officials to sign non-Communist affidavits, to your certain
knowledge, did certain people resign from the formal entity known
as the Communist Party and maintain themselves in the Communist
operation ?
Mr. Nelson. They did.
Mr. Arens. Did they do that so that they could take a non-Com-
munist affidavit in order to avoid the impact of the then existing law?
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Nelson, I expect in the course of the testi-
mony here to probe with you into your own operations, and I expect to
elicit from you a pattern of Communist activity in which you and
others have engaged, to your certain knowledge, in this area. But in
520 COMMUNIST INTILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
order to keep your testimony in perspective at the moment I should
like to ask you, based upon your extensive service in the formal entity
known as the Communist Party plus your extensive service until
recently in the Communist operation, how serious is the Communist
menace in this area to your certain knowledge as of now ?
Mr. Nelson. It is more serious now than it ever was before, because
at this time although most of the people are not formally in the party
still they maintain their Marxist-Leninist philosophy and they are in
the leadership of various unions throughout the State of Illinois. I
would say it is definitely in a better position today than they ever
were.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Nelson, has the Communist operation and the Com-
munist Party, being a part of the operation, to your certain knowl-
edge penetrated the meatpacking industry in the greater Chicago
area?
Mr. Nelson. Saturated it.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Nelson, why has the Communist Party empha-
sized a penetration of the meatpacking industry in this greater Chicago
area?
Mr. Nelson. Well, if this country was ever to go to war, an army has
to travel on its stomach, and they would be in an excellent position to
cut off food for the Armed Forces.
Mr. Arens. Is the Communist Party a political party or is it a conr
spiracy ?
Mr. Nelson. From my experience it is a conspiracy.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Nelson, before we proceed with your personal his-
tory in the Communist Party, I should like to display to you a leaflet,
which was one of several that was distributed in front of this build-
ing here this morning by pickets of a Chicago Committee to Defend
Democratic Rights. As we entered this building this morning stretch-
ing for at least three-quarters of a block carrying signs was a group
known as the Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic Rights, and
it has various bulletins it disseminated on the street corner there. Mr.
Collins of the committee staff will now display to you a copy of a
bulletin, and I should like to invite your attention to the names of the
officers who appear as the leaders of this Chicago Committee to Defend
Democratic Rights. Would you kindly read those names off?
Mr. Nelson. Leon Katzen, formerly was the section organizer of the
Communist Party on the northwest side. Richard Criley was a mem-
ber of the section committee of the Communist Party of the packing-
house industry.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Nelson, so there may be no question on this record,
do you here and now while you are under oath identify Mr. Katzen
and Mr. Criley as persons who, to your certain knowledge, while you
were a member of the Communist Party, were in the Communist
Party?
Mr. Nelson. I do.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman. I respectfully suggest that the docu-
ment which has now been displayed to the witness be appropriately
marked and be incorporated in the body of the record.
Mr. Moulder. As requested by counsel the document will be appro-
priately marked and inserted as a part of the record.
COMMUNIST INTILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 521
(Document marked "Nelson Exhibit No. 1" follows :)
Nelson Exhibit No. 1
Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic Rights
189 "West Madison St., Suite 811 LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN
Chicago 2, III. (De 2-7142)
HOUSE UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE CHICAGO HEARING
SET FOR MAY 5-6
The Un-Americans are at it again ! Two groups of Chicago unionists have
been subpoened to appear before it on May 5 and 6. They include members and
former members of the United Packinghouse Workers of America and of Local
#113 (Tool and Die) of the International Association of Machinists. Additional
unionists may still be called at a later date.
It is clear that the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing is a
direct intervention into the internal affairs of labor.
The House Committee (whose general mandate to function was questioned by
the U.S. Supreme Court) has no specific authorization from Congress to con-
duct such a hearing as that scheduled here. It is evident, also, that there can
be no legitimate legislative purpose for this hearing. On both counts, the entire
hearing is patently illegal, on the basis of the Supreme Court decision in the
Watkins case (which stated that the Committee has no right to expose "for
sake of exposure".
Chairman Walter's public statement that the hearing is for the purpose of
"investigating subversive infiltration" into defense industries is camouflage for
a flagrant attack on unions and the constitutional rights of American workers.
It will be recalled that the last "labor investigation" of the Committee in this
area was in 1952 when it was timed to disrupt the strike of International Har-
vester workers and the negotiations for a new contract in the meat packing
industry.
The House Committee has just completed witch-hunt against labor in the
Pittsburgh area. In February in Los Angeles under guise of investigating "legal
subversion", it unfolded an attack on defense attorneys in civil liberties cases,
and on the constitutional right to be represented by counsel. In Atlanta, Geor-
gia, last year, the Committee was denounced by over 200 prominent Negro leaders
in the South for "trying to attach the 'subversive' label to any liberal white
Southerner who dares to raise his voice in support of our democratic ideals."
The recent actions of the House Un-American Activities Committee are the
most potent argument for its abolition, and the cutting off of all further appro-
priations. (For 1959, it has already been voted $327,000 by the House of Repre-
sentatives).
RECOMMENDATIONS FOB ACTION
1. Write your Congressman to support the bill introduced by Representative
James Roosevelt to abolish the House Un-American Activities Committee.
2. See and judge for yourself by attending the hearing on May 5 and 6 at
the Federal Building (Old Post Oflice), Clark and Adams Sts.
Sincerely yours,
(S) Leon Katzen,
Leon Katzen,
Chairman.
(S) Richard Criley,
Richard Criley,
Executive Secretary.
P.S. — We depend on your contributions to continue our activity.
Mr. Moulder. May I inquire of the witness, when you answer the
question regarding definite identification of these people as being
members of the Communist Party, on what do you base your asser-
tion that they were members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, Leon Katzen was the section organizer on the
northwest side. I attended numerous, too numerous to mention,
522 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
meetino^s with him, not only of the section committee, but the 34th
Ward Branch of the Communist Party, and district meetings and
too many meetin<rs to mention, and likewise with Richard Criley.
Mr. Moulder. You were personally associated with them at these
meetings you have mentioned?
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr. Moulder. At different times?
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Plave you served in closed Communist Party meet-
ings with Leon Katzen and Richard Criley ?
Mr. Nelson. Definitely.
Mr. Arens. The chairman and executive secretary, respectively,
of the Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic Rights?
Mr. Nelson. Definitely.
Mr. Moulder. In order to clarify the record on another point, you
mentioned awhile ago that the union was saturated. That was in
response to a question asked you by counsel. The industry was
saturated, is that right?
Mr. Nelson. Saturated.
Mr. Moulder. To what period of time are you referring ?
Mr. Nelson. I am referring to the time from '43 up until now.
Mr. Moulder. You are still actively associated with the organiza-
tion?
Mr. Nelson. Not since '55, no.
Mr. Moulder. Proceed, Mr, Arens.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Nelson, with that general perspective of
your testimony, may I ask you, first of all where and when did you
first associate yourself with the Communst Party ?
Mr. Nelson. It was in 1934 I attended a school that they had set
up on Chicago Avenue near Springfield.
Mr. Arens. Was this a Communst training school?
Mr. Nelson. This was a Communist training school, yes.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly, at your own pace, without at the
moment telling us about other persons who were actively engaged in
the conspiracy, tell us the sequence of the identifications which you
had within the various units of the Communist operation in the
greater Chicago area?
Mr. Nelson. Well, I was recruited in 1934 in December by Norman
Jay and was assigned to Unit 5-10. At that time they called the
different sections of the party by numbers like Section 5, Unit 10,
It means I belonged to Section 5 and Unit 10. And I also became,
in 1935, a member of the section committee of Section 5 engaged
in work with the Daily Worker. And in 1935 I attended a party
training school at 1628 West Division Street.
Mr. Arens. Is there any doubt in your mind, based upon the
teachings which you received at the Communist Party training school,
but that the Communist Party and the Communist operation in the
United States is a fifth column on American soil ?
Mr. Nelson. Correct. I believe it is.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly proceed with your career in the
Communist operation ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, in 1940, I was working at the American Ex-
celsior Co. on Halsted Street, and Mannie Bornstein called me and
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES: — CHICAGO 523
told me to come down and see him. He was employed at that time
with the Government employment service and he told me to go to
work at Armour & Co. and he gave me a referral.
Mr. Arens. Wlio was Mannie Bornstein ?
Mr. Nelson. He was a member of the party, a former section or-
ganizer out in Cicero. He ran for mayor of Cicero at one time. I
believe it was in 1932.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Did you at his direction go to Armour
&Co.?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. What did you do there ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, first meeting I had before I got into the Armour
branch, I had a meeting with Les Orear, Jane March, Dave Mates,
and Joe Bezenhoffer at Forum Hall.
Mr. Arens. Pause there for a moment. Do you here and now, while
you are under oath, identify each and every one of those persons whose
names you just called off, as persons who, to your certain knowledge,
were members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Nelson. I do.
Mr. Arens. Was there a Communist Party tentacle or branch at
Armour & Co. ?
Mr. Nelson. There was.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Proceed, if you please, now to the next
operation which you were engaged in. We will come back in a few
moments to the actual operation itself.
Mr. Nelson. In 1943 I got fired out of Armour and I went to Swift,
Mr. Arens. Was that because of Communist Party activities that
you were fired from Armour ?
Mr. Nelson. It was. Then from Swift I went to
Mr. Arens. Excuse me a moment. While you were at Swift, were
you engaged as a comrade in Communist Party operations ?
Mr. Nelson. I didn't belong to the Swift branch, no.
Mr. Arens. Was there a branch at Swift ?
Mr. Nelson. Yes, there was.
Mr. Arens. Of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Nelson. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Proceed, if you please.
Mr. Nelson. From there I went to Wyckoff Steel.
Mr. Arens. When did you go to Wyckoff Steel Co. ?
Mr. Nelson. In July of 1943.
Mr. Arens. Did you engage in Communist Party operations there?
Mr. Nelson. No, I engaged in union activities. I met a party mem-
ber there, Ray Cerda.
Mr. Arens. Was there a cell of the Communist Party there?
Mr. Nelson. No.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir, your next activity.
Mr. Nelson. I went to work with the Aluminum Corp. of America.
Mr. Arens. When?
Mr. Nelson. That was in 1948. And there I met Blanche Born,
who was a member of the party. There was no cell there to my
knowledge. And from there I went and got a release and tried to
get a job at a higher skill, and I went over to the union hall, and Herb
March told me to try to get a job in one of the small houses. That I
524 COMMUNIST INTILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
attempted and didn't meet with success and I stopped in the employ-
ment office at Wilson & Co. and asked if they were hiring pipe cover-
ers, and they called out to the shop foreman, and I got a job as a pipe
coverer in Wilson & Co.
Mr. Arens. Was there a tentacle or branch or unit of the Com-
munist Party at Wilson & Co. ?
Mr. NeLvSon. There was a branch there. I was told to see Joe
Zabritski, the party man at Wilson Co.
Mr. Arens. Did you see him ?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Do you here and now identify him as a person who, to
your certain knowledge, was a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Nelson. I do.
Mr. Arens. Did you serve in closed Communist Party meetings
with him?
Mr. Nelson. Numerous ones.
Mr. Arens. Give us the next entity with which you were connected
in Communist operations.
Mr. Nelson. 1 became a member of the section committee there.
Mr. Arens. Section committee of the Communist Party?
Mr. Nelson. Of packing ; that is right.
Mr. Arens. It was the packing fraction of the Communist Party,
was it not?
Mr. Nelson. It was the entire section, which was composed of lead-
ing people from different plants in the packing industry.
Mr. Arens. Was it a Communist operation ?
Mr. Nelson. It was.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Now, your next operation, please, sir?
Mr. Nelson. I was in charge of the Daily Worker and the press
in the Wilson Co.
Mr. Arens. Do you mean in charge of the dissemination or distri-
bution of the Daily Worker ?
Mr. Nelson. Distribution, sales promotion, and so forth.
Mr. Arens. Your next operation, please, sir ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, after 1948 I was fired out of the plant.
Mr. Arens. Was that for Communist operations ?
Mr. Nelson. Yes. They refused to take myself and another fellow
back. Then I was
Mr. Arens. Who was the other fellow ?
Mr. Nelson. Sam Parks.
Mr. Arens. Was he, to your certain knowledge, a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Nelson. He was.
Mr. Arens. Did you serve in closed Communist Party meetings
with him?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Do you here and now, while you are under oath, say
without equivocation he was a Communist?
Mr. Nelson. I do.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Would you kindly proceed to your
next connection?
Mr. Nelson. From there I got a job down at UE as custodian of
the building. I believe it was from October 1948 until, I think it was
February '49.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 525
Mr. Arens. Did you serve in closed party meetings witb him ?
Mr. Nelson. With who?
Mr. Arens. Parks.
Mr. Nelson. Oh, ;y^es. Numerous meetings.
Mr. Aeens. All right, sir. Now you have in the sequence of events
of your career in the Communist operation gotten up to the point
where you were connected with the TJE. That is the United Electri-
cal Workers Union, is it not ?
Mr. Nelson. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about that, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. I quit there, and I got a job in G. H. Hammond as
a pipe coverer. And G. H. Hammond, they asked me to accept an
office in the union when the elections came around, which I did. I
believe it was outside guard or inside guard in the union. And I
was selected by Walter Price Co. to go to the founding convention
of the National Negro Labor Council.
Mr. Arens. Where was that?
Mr. Nelson. That was held in Cincinnati.
Mr. Arens. When was that?
Mr. Nelson. I believe that was 1952.
Mr. Arens. Was that a Communist operation ?
Mr. Nelson. It was.
Mr. Arens. Was it controlled by the Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. Nelson. It was.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Your next participation in the Com-
munist operation ?
Mr. Moulder. Can you explain in what respect, how it was, and
upon what you base your statement ?
Mr. Nelson. In the National Negro Labor Council ?
Mr. Moulder. Tell us why you draw that conclusion when you
make such a statement.
Mr. Nelson. The entire leadership in the Chicago area was com-
posed of Communists. They were all party members in the leader-
ship of it. And that is the basis of my conclusion.
Mr. Arens. What was your next connection with the Communist
operation ?
Mr. Nelson. Richard Criley came to me in 1953 — I believe it was
1952, and asked me to serve on the Freedom of the Press Committee,
as in the past I had been able to get quite a few subscriptions for the
Chicago Star and the Daily Worker, and I accepted. I attended a
meetmg at 5457 Chicago Avenue, where this was held, and I was
elected onto the executive committee of the Freedom of the Press
Committee.
Mr. Arens. Was the Freedom of the Press Committee controlled
by the Communist conspiracy?
Mr. Nelson. It was.
Mr. Arens. Can you, in similar fashion to your response to the
question of the chairman of this subcommittee, tell us why you have
reached that conclusion?
Mr. Nelson. Well, the purpose of the committee was to raise funds
for the Daily Worker, to get subscriptions for it, and in general build
up the Daily Worker and Sunday Worker.
Mr. Arens. Did the leadership of the Freedom of the Press Com-
mittee consist of persons known by you to be Communists?
526 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Nelson. It did.
Mr. Arens. What caused your disassociation from the Communist
operation ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, I seen the way people had lied to me and I didn't
like the way I was handled by Jim Keller. Then I went in business
for myself, and I didn't have any time to fool around with it.
Mr. Arens. Now, did the Communist Party, while you were in the
operation, undertake to govern your personal life?
Mr. Nelson. Well, when the strike was over, we were getting a
little money from the union and I was cut off and my wife called the
union hall and threatened to send a picket line down there with the
children, and a special meeting of the party was called of the Wilson
workers where Jim Keller told me I had to make a choice between
my wife and the miion. And it was a meeting that night of the
union where we went, and nothing was said about what had taken
place. So that was one of the factors that led to me getting out of
the party.
Mr. Arens, Now, Mr. Nelson, may I invite your attention to per-
sons known by you, to a certainty, to be members of the Communist
Party during your career in the party. Where would you like to
start? Would you like to start with the packinghouse workers
fraction ?
Mr. Nelson. Yes.
Mr. Arens. And give us the date, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. Well, from 1941 on, I Iniew Jesse Prosten to be a
member of the party, was in hundreds of meetings with him.
Mr. Arens. Would you pause as you give us information respecting
each person who was, to a certainty, known by you to be a member of
the Communist Party? And I admonish you now, as I have ad-
monished you in private conversations, while you are under oath here
and now to testify with respect to only those persons who, to your
certain knowledge, were members of the Communist Party. Now
give us a word about Jesse Prosten. Is this J-e-s-s-e P-r-o-s-t-e-n ?
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir.
Mr. Nelson. He was on the international union payroll. He was
a member of the Armour branch of the Communist Party, and was a
member of the section committee, which is the highest body in pack-
ing of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. What is his status now in the United Packinghouse
Workers of America?
Mr. Nelson. That I don't know.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I should like to announce for the record
that we have been making every effort to get Jesse Prosten under sub-
pena and our security advices from confidential sources lead us to be-
lieve that he is evading subpena and is now hiding out in the south-
eastern part of the United States. We will continue until we do get
him under subpena.
Mr, Nelson. Les Orear.
Mr. Arens. Let us be sure we have his name spelled properly.
Mr. Nelson. Yes. O-r-e-a-r.
Mr. Arens. Les is his first name ?
Mr. Nelson. Leslie Orear, yes.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about him.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 527
Mr, Nelson. The first meeting I had before getting into the Armour
branch was a meeting held in Forum Hall with Les Orear, Jane
March, and Dave Mates, and Joe Bezenhoffer. Les Orear was the
section educational director of the Communist Party. He was also a
representative of the United Packinghouse Workers of America.
Mr. Akens. And do you know what his present position is?
Mr. Nelson. That I don't know.
Mr. Arens. Did you, in the course of your membership in the Com-
munist Party, know as a Communist a person by the name of Charles
H. F-i-s-c-h-e-r?
Mr. Nelson. No, I didn't.
Mr. Arens. You say you did not ?
Mr. Nelson. I did not, no.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly proceed to give us a word of de-
scription about other persons who, to your certain knowledge, were
known by you to be members of the Communist Party activity in
penetrating the meatpacking industry ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, there was Herb March.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about him, please.
Mr. Nelson. He proclaimed to the world he was a Communist ; at-
tended himdreds of meetings with him.
Mr. Moulder. Where were the meetings held that you referred to ?
Mr. Nelson. The section committee meetings were held at the party
headquarters at 4848 South Ashland Avenue. And other meetings
that were held throughout the Chicago area, not necessarily sec-
tion committee meetings, but they were party meetings, say, caucus
meetings of delegates and party delegates going to the union conven-
tions, and so forth.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, Leon Beverly ?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. B-e-v-e-r-1-y?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about Leon Beverly, if you please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. Leon Beverly was a member of the section committee
of the Communist Party, also member of the Armour local, and to
the best of my knowledge he was president of the Armour local.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist Samuel J. Parks,
P-a-r-k-s, Jr. ?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. Sam Parks was a member of the Wilson branch of
the Communist Party, was a member of the section committee of the
Communist Party, and was sent to Europe by Chicago Star, the Com-
mmiist Party paper.
Mr. Arens. Do you know what his present occupation is?
Mr. Nelson. As far as I know he runs a gas station.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a man by the name of
Jack Souther, S-o-u-t-h-e-r?
Mr. Nelson. Yes, I did.
Mr. Arens. Would you give us a word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. I attended several meetings with Jack Souther, or
numerous meetings I should say, and the last I know of Jack was that
he was working in the district office. Just what his function is, I
don't know.
528 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. District office of what ?
Mr, Nelson. The United Packinghouse Workers.
Mr. Moulder. This gentleman was sent to Europe by the Chicago
Star, you say ?
Mr. Nelson. Yes ; which was a Communist paper.
Mr. Arens. Do you know the purpose of his journey to Europe?
Mr. Nelson. It was to further enhance his political education.
Mr. Moulder. Where in Europe, do you know ?
Mr. Nelson. He went to London, France, Poland, and Czechoslo-
vakia. I don't know all tlie different places he went there. But I know
some of them.
Mr. Moulder. You say he went there to enhance his Communist
Party education ?
Mr. Nelson. The party sent him there. They were sort of disap-
pointed. They get a report every day about Sam and, according to
them, all he was doing was enjoying himself in Paree. But that was
the purpose of them sending him there.
Mr. Arens. What year was he sent to Europe ?
Mr. Nelson. That was, I believe in 1947 or 1946.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name of
Gloria Wailes ?
Mr. Nelson. Yes ; I did.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about her, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. She worked for the Wilson local office as the office girl ;
she did typing, took care of the files, and promoted the Daily Worker.
I attended several meetings with her ; was a member of the National
Negro Labor Council.
Mr. Moulder. I am sorry, Mr. Arens, to interrupt. But I am sure
the committee is interested in the point the witness brought out about
enhancing the Communist Party political education by sending that
man to Europe. Do you know of other instances where that has been
done ? Is it a general policy or rule or a program on the part of the
Communist Party organizations throughout this coimtry to occa-
sionally send or designate some person to go to Europe for instructions
from Communist Party leaders over there in the countries you have
referred to.
Mr. Nelson. They sent another fellow from the Swift local by the
name of Charley Proctor. They sent him to Kussia. So they don't
openly state that is the purpose of it. But that is what takes place.
Mr. Moulder. The point I am trying to arrive at is direct evidence
which shows that there is a direct connection between the Communist
Party as it exists here in this country and the international Communist
Party conspiracy referred to by our counsel, Mr. Arens ; that there is a
constant negotiation and contact with the Communist Party leaders in
Russia, with those Communist Party leaders in other countries, and in
turn with the Communist Party leaders in this country. Is that so ?
Mr. Nelson. There is a connection because how would we get reports
every day ? Bill Cerda used to give us a report of what Sam was doing
in Poland, what he was doing in France, what he was doing in Czecho-
slovakia, or what he was doing in London. We used to get them daily
from Bill Cerda.
Mr. M0UI.DER. That is my purpose for bringing that out. I think it
is very important.
COMMUNIST INTILTKATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 529
Mr. JoHANSEN. When you say you received these reports daily,
•were those received at meetings or in individual conferences or what ?
Mr. Nelson. These were given to leading people in the Communist
Party in the section who, in turn, would relay them to people that were
directly connected with
Mr. JoHANSEN. Who was the individual, Cerda, you say was the
source of the reports ?
Mr. Nelson. Bill Cerda.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, Joseph Zabritski?
Z-a-b-r-i-t-s-k-i?
Mr. Nelson. Yes, I do.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. Well, when I went to work in Wilson, Jesse Prosten
told me to contact Joe Zabritski who was the party man in Wilson &
Co., which I did. I attended hundreds of meetings with Zabritski,
paid my dues to Zabritski. Zabritski was the secretary-treasurer of
the Communist Party section and kept all the dues and membership
records of the party members.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, Charles A. Hayes,
H-a-y-e-s?
Mr. Nelson. Yes, I did.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. I attended many, many a meeting with Charles Hayes,
in 4848 South Ashland, in his home, in my home, in different caucus
meetings of party delegates, etc.
Mr. Arens. To your certain knowledge was Hayes sent to any
training school of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Nelson. He was.
Mr. Arens. Where was that conducted ?
Mr. Nelson. I believe it was conducted here at 1628 West Division
Street.
Mr. Arens. In what work for the Communist Party was Hayes
engaged ?
Mr. Nelson. Well Hayes at that time was
Mr. Moulder. "Wliat time was that ?
Mr. Nelson. That was 1946.
It was after the strike. They sent Hayes to school with the hope
to build him up because they were afraid they were building a "Franlv-
enstein" in Sam Parks, and they wanted to use Hayes as a buffer against
Sam Parks, which they did.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, Rachel, R-a-c-h-e-l,
Carter, C-a-r-t-e-r, Ellis, E-1-l-i-s?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about Rachel Carter Ellis, please.
Mr. Nelson. I attended meetings with her, and she worked down at
the Daily Worker office on Washington Boulevard, and I used to
bring subs in to her, and when I worked with Wyckoff Steel she was in
the Local 453 office. I worked with, I think he was her husband,
Hilliard Ellis, Hilliard Ellis and Sam Mariani.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name
of Lex) Turner, T-u-r-n-e-r ?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about Leo Turner, please, sir.
530 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Nelson. I know Leo Turner from working down at UE..
He used to attend the Trade Union Commission meetings of the party
that were held there on a Saturday, or Saturdays, rather. And I know
he had gone to Spain.
Mr. Arens. Did he go to Spain to fight for the Communists?
Mr. Nelson. He belonged to the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name of
John Lewis, L-e-w-i-s?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. A word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. John Lewis used to work at Hammond & Co., and
then he was transferred to Swift, when they transferred their slaugh-
tering operation. He was a member of the section committee of the
Communist Party, and he was the organizer of the party in Swift &
Co.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, Charles Proctor,
P-r-o-c-t-o-r?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Tell us a word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. Charley Proctor was also a member of the section
committee. I was in numerous meetings with him. He was sent to^
Russia by the party.
Mr. Arens. For what purpose ?
Mr. Nelson. That I don't know.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, Donald H. Smith,
S-m-i-t-h?
Mr. Nelson. I did.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Nelson. I met Donald Smith in caucus meetings of party dele-
gates to the convention at Montreal and the convention in Cleveland.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Commimist, LeRoy Johnson ?
Mr. Nelson. No, I didn't. I know LeRoy Johnson, but I didn't
know him as a Communist.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, could you give us just a word about the or-
ganizational setup of the Communist operation within the greater
Chicago area to your certain knowledge ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, District 8 takes in the entire State and part of
Lake County, Ind., and they have it broken down on a political basis,,
like senatorial and congressional districts and on a ward basis. And
from there each branch has a given concentration on a factory. If it
is in the 28th Ward, it would be the railroad industry ; or if it is in the
14th Ward it would be packing. But the main concentration in
Chicago is packing and steel. And in the period when I was sent to
packing, Les Orear told me at that time that the party was really
going to colonize in the packing industry.
Mr. Arens. Was Les Orear known by you to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Nelson. Yes, sir.
Mr. JoHANSEN. Mr. Counsel, excuse me, but as of what date, Wit-
ness, are you testifying as to your knowledge of the organizational
setup of the Communist Party in the Chicago area?
Mr. Nelson. From 1934 through 1949, and like I say I wasn't in
the party, but I was ideologically in sympathy with the party up'
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 531
until '54 and '55, and up until that period that is when I knew about
this setup.
Mr. Moulder. Of course, as you know, in past hearings people have
been named by witnesses as being members of the Communist Party,
and if their names are common names and many other people have
the same name, publication of those names sometimes causes embar-
rassment and reflections upon persons who are in no way whatsoever
connected with the Conununist Party. Do you know these people
whom you named, where they may reside, or some additional identi-
fication so they might be distinguished from other persons having the
same name ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, I don't know where all of them reside. I know
where some of them do, and it is possible that since that time they
have moved.
Mr. Moulder. I might add that they will be identified later during
the course of these hearings.
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr. Willis. And, of course, may I interpose this: Mr. Witness,
you are being truthful and testifying at least very freely. Of course,
what you have to say covers the period of time that you talked about
up to 1954 or '55. Now, you broke with the Commimist Party, dis-
associated yourself from the party about that time, and you cannot
go beyond that date as to these witnesses. Is that correct 2
Mr. Nelson. Not organizationally, no.
Mr. Willis. Not organizationally ?
Mr. Nelson. Ideologically, I can, though, because I was a member
of the Freedom of the Press Committee, I was a member of the
National Negro Labor Council.
Mr. Willis. I am talking about up to 1955. I say you have no
knowledge of their association or whether they may be members today
or might have quit, like you did in 1955. The limit of your testi-
mony goes up to 1955 ; is that correct ?
Mr. Nelson. Well, as far as knowing them organizationally, you
can't go beyond 1949 ; but I know of activity after that.
Mr. Willis. I see. Well, of course, our rules permit these witnesses
to come forward themselves and to repudiate what you say, or, assum-
ing you have told the truth — and I believe you have — they would
have the right to do what you have done and say, "Well, that is cor-
rect ; I had some association in years past, but I am not connected with
the party any more." We would have to see their reaction if they
want to testify.
Mr. JoHANSEN. Mr. Chairman, to further clarify the point that
you are making, it is my understanding that the witness is not testify-
ing of certain knowledge after 1954 or 1955 or thereabouts.
Mr. Willis. Well, he indicated that, from general knowledge, he
thinks they might still be ideologically connected. But he has not
been in the organizational features.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Nelson, you have testified extensively in an
executive session and have been in extensive consultation with the staff
on a number of items which are perhaps not germane to the scope of
our inquiry in this session ; isn't that correct ?
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
532 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, in view of the outline of the scope of
inquiry we have here today and in view of the fact that this witness
has supplied the staff and the committee in executive session very
substantial information on other items, other persons, and other areas
of activity of the Communist operation with which Ave are not pres-
ently concerned within the scope of the framework of this particular
hearing, I respectfully suggest that would now conclude the staff in-
terrogation of this witness for this proceeding.
Mr. Moulder. I wish to make it clear so that it might be thor-
oughly understood that all the persons whom you have referred to
and named and identified as members of the Communist Party will
be definitely and specifically identified during the course of these
hearings by other witnesses.
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr. Moulder. We will stand in recess for a period of 5 minutes.
(Subcommittee members present : Representatives Moulder, Willis,
and Johansen.)
(A brief recess was taken.)
Mr. Moulder. The committee will be in order.
(Subcommittee members present: Representatives Moulder, Willis,
and Johansen.)
Mr. Moulder. Call your next witness, please, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Leon Katzen, kindly come forward and remain
standing while the chairman administers an oath to you.
Mr. Moulder. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are
about to give before this subcom.mittee will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Katzen. I do.
TESTIMONY OF LEON KATZEN, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
IRVING G. STEINBEEG
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mr. EIatzen. My name is Leon Katzen, K-a-t-z-e-n. My residence
is 1616C Touhy Avenue, Chicago, 111.
Mr. Arens. And your occupation, please, sir?
Mr. Katzen. I will refuse to answer that question.
However, Mr. Chairman, I should first like to address a challenge
to the committee based on what I consider to be the illegality of the
subpena which was served upon me. I have neither been informed of
the purpose of this inquiry nor have I ever been shown the rules of
this committee.
Mr. Moulder. Very well.
Now the question directed by counsel was to state your occupation
and — is that correct ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir. Would you kindly tell us your occupation?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. May I, Mr. Chairman, have a copy of the rules and
a copy of the stated purpose of this inquiry ?
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered and directed to answer the question as to his occupation.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUlSriST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 533
Mr. Moulder. The witness is directed to answer the question.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I believe that I am within my rights,
particularly in the light of the comments made earlier by Mr. Willis,
in asking for a copy of the rules of the committee.
Mr. Arens. Witness, there is a copy of the rules of the committee
which I am laying there on the table for your counsel.
Now would you kindly answer the question, what is your present
occupation ?
Mr. ICatzen. Now, sir, I should like to have also a copy of the
statement of the purpose.
Mr. Arens. I will be glad to explain to you the pertinency and pur-
pose of this particular inquiry. The Committee on Un-American
Activities
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Arens, just a moment, if you please.
Were you in the hearing room at the time I made the opening
statement about 10 o'clock ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Yes, Mr. Chairman, I was. I have been subpenaed
to arrive here at 10 and I was here promptly. However, sir, may I
say that your statement of the purpose of the inquiry, beginning with
the authorizing resolution going back to the 79th Congress, was
lengthy, complex, surrounded by all the difficulties of acoustics in this
hall. This was a statement of purpose which, it occurs to me, for a
witness properly to testify would require careful consideration, care-
ful study in order that a witness might not only, if so minded, co-
operate with the committee, but at the same time protect his own
rights as guaranteed to the witnesses appearing before the committee.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered and directed to answer the question as to his occupation.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. The witness is directed to answer.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, do I understand that I am being re-
fused a copy of the statement of the purpose which you read at the
opening of the session ?
Mr. Moulder. The record will show that the witness heard the
statement read by the chairman of the subcommittee at great length,
at which time the explanation was fully made and the witness was
thoroughly informed of the purposes of this hearing. And you are
directed to answer the question, and if you refuse, then we will
proceed with the next question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, it means, as I understand it, then, that
I am proceeding without a full knowledge of the purpose of the
inquiry which is being carried forward here.
Mr. Moulder. No. The record clearly shows that you have been
thoroughly informed, that you heard the statement read, which clearly
explains the purpose of the inquiry and the hearing being held.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. And in making this direction to answer the question,
I wish to also say that it is not in the nature of a threat, but it is so
that you might be fully advised and informed of the possible dangers
41635 — 59 3
534 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES ^CHICAGO
which you mi^ht be incurring: in that you might be in contempt of
Congress by refusing to answer the question.
Mr. Katzen. Sir, I respect the motives with which this advice is
given me. Nevertheless, I must ask to be permitted to state for the
record that I was served with a subpena which I considered to have
been illegal, in that I was neither served with the rules of the com-
mittee nor with the purpose of the inquiry to which I was being asked
to make myself present, and apparently I am being so refused now.
Mr. Moulder. Before you proceed further, Mr. Arens, do you not
think counsel should identify himself ?
Mr. Arens. That generally follows, as the chairman will recall,
after the witness identifies himself ; part of his identity is his occupa-
tion, which he thus far refuses to give to the committee on this record.
As soon as he gives his occupation, we subsequently identify the
counsel.
Now, sir, kindly tell us what is your occupation ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, without having been given an oppor-
tunity to familiarize myself with the purpose of this inquiry and
having been ordered to answer the question, I will now proceed. I
shall refuse to answer this question on the following several grounds :
First of all, I rely upon the first amendment to the Constitution
of the United States, which says that Congress shall pass no law
abridging freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of people
peaceably to assemble or to petition their Government for redress of
grievances.
Further, I am refusing to answer this question on the grounds that
the authorizing resolution referred to by Mr. Willis, under which this
committee operates, is vague, nebulous, without specificity. Wlio
is to say what is the meaning of un-American? There are those of
us who believe that it is un-American to deprive the Negro children
throughout the South of equality of education. There are those of
us who believe that it is un-American to
Mr. MoTTLDER. You were not asked to make any argument before
the committee. As I understand, you declined to answer, claiming
protection under the first amendment.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I had not yet completed my several
grounds.
Mr. Moulder. Proceed. Make it as brief as possible.
Mr. Katzen. I further am refusing to answer this question on the
grounds of lack of pertinency. It has been stated here repeatedly
that this is an inquiry into something to do with the labor movement.
This certainly cannot be related to me, nor can my testimony, which
I might give, be pertinent to the publicly stated purpose of this
innuii-y.
In the Watkins case I believe that the point was made very clear
by Mr. Chief Justice Warren, speaking in behalf of the majority
of the Supreme Court, in stating that it is necessary that there be
])ertinenf"y to the question.
Mr. Moulder. We cannot spend all our time listening to you re-
viewing the decisions of the Supreme Court. We will be tolerant
and have every respect for the witness. Now, as I understand, you
decline to answer that question, and you have stated your reasons.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIE S^ — CHICAGO 535
claiming the protection under the provisions of the Constitution, is
that correct?
Mr. Katzen. Under the provisions of the Constitution, Mr. Chair-
man, and I shoukl like to state also for the record that I have full
respect for the Congress of the United States of America. Never-
theless, I feel that I should not be denied the opportunity to state
fully the grounds upon which I am refusing to answer this question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. The Supreme Court
Mr. Moulder. At this point, I would like to make a part of the
record in connection with the testimony of this witness the statement
which I read at the opening of this hearing this morning at 10 o'clock,
the opening statement made by me as chairman of the subconnnittee.
I would like to insert this document in the record at this point and
have the record show that it is the statement referred to by the wit-
ness which he has admitted he heard read at the opening session
of this hearing.
(For opening statement, see pp. 513-518.)
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, would it be pei-missible for me to ask
that my counsel be given a copy of this statement which has just
been inserted into the record ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, I give it right now.
Mr. Moulder. May the record show that counsel representing the
witness has a copy of the opening statement made by the chairman of
this subcommittee.
Mr. Arens. If you will hesitate there, may I inquire, are you rep-
resented in this proceeding by counsel ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, would you kindly identify yourself?
Mr. Steinberg. My name is Irving Steinberg, 180 West Washing-
ton.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Witness, have you completed your answer,
your response to the question as to your present occupation?
Mr. Katzen. No, sir; I have not.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly complete your answer ?
Mr. Katzen. I further rest my refusal to answer this question on
the groimds that in light of the Watkins decision any questions which
may be placed to me in this inquiiy must necessarily lack specificity,
pertinency, and consequently they must be without any meaning
for me.
Lastly, I should like to state that I am refusing to answer this ques-
tion on the ground of the protection afforded, the privilege afforded,
by the fifth amendment of the Constitution of the United States,
which guarantees that I do not have to be a witness against myself,
that I do not have to testify in a proceeding of this sort.
Mr. Arens, Now, sir, do you honestly apprehend that if ^ou told
this committee truthfully, while you are under oath, what your present
occupation is, you would be supplying information which might be
used against you in a criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Arens, I have been sworn in at these proceedings.
I would be bound to give an honest answer, if only out of fear of tlie
possibility of perjuring myself. The answer that I gave in refusing
to answer the prior question was evidently an honest one.
536 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Witness, you said a few moments ago you
had difficulty determining what the purpose of this inquiry is here.
I display to you now a document, which was identified by a previous
witness, issued by the Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic
Eights, signed Leon Katzen, chairman, and Richard Criley, executive
secretary, in which the Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic
Eights announces to the world what that committee thinks the purpose
of this particular inquiry is.
Would you kindly look at this document, which has been identified
on this record by sworn testimony, and tell this committee whether
or not you are the chairman of the Chicago Committee to Defend Dem-
ocratic Rights ?
(A document was handed to the witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. May I have an opportunity to read this ?
Mr. Moulder. Certainly.
Mr. Kj^tzen. Do I address myself to the chairman or you ?
Mr. Arens. If you please.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I am refusing to answer this question
on several grounds, which I should like to set forth.
(Document previously marked "Nelson Exhibit No. 1" appears on
p. 521.)
Mr. Arens. Are those the same grounds you stated a few moments
ago?
Mr. Katzen. Might I be permitted to state the grounds ?
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer whether or not they are the
5ame grounds you stated a few moments ago ?
Mr. Katzen. Sir
Mr. Moulder. To expedite the proceedings and not take so much
of your time, you can, if you wish, reassert the same reasons by ref-
erence and they will be considered as the same reasons in response to
this question.
Mr. Katzen. I should like, if I may, to restate the reasons, if only
for the purpose of making precise and perfectly clear what my reasons
are for refusal to answer.
Mr. Moulder. You have that privilege.
Mr. Katzen. All right, sir.
I am refusing to answer this question on the grounds that the ques-
tion violates the rights guaranteed me under the first amendment to
the Constitution of the United States. It seems to me, I may say,
Mr. Chairman, that addressing this question to me precisely violates
my rights under freedom of the press, because apparently this written
piece of material to which my name is allegedly attached is something
which is considered to be inimical and worthy of investigation in the
light of subversive propaganda objectives which the committee is
interested in.
I further refuse to answer this question again on the grounds of
the lack of specificity of the authorization originally granted this
committee, in that there is no one who is able to define the meaning
of the word "un-American," and I tie this up with my earlier ground,
in that it is implied that a statement of this kind is un-American.
I submit, sir, there might be a wide variance of opinion about this,
just as there could be a wide variance of opinion as to the activities,
let it be said, of this committee.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VII AL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 537
I likewise, sir, would like to reiterate the grounds which I stated
last, which is that I invoke the privilege under the fifth amendment
of refusing to be called upon to serve as a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Sir, are you now, this very instant, a member of the
Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzex. Sir, I am refusing to answer this question on the basis
of several grounds which I should like to cite. First of all, I rest my
refusal to answer this question on the ground that it violates a free-
dom guaranteed me under the first amendment to the Constitution
of the United States of America, which states that Congress shall pass
no law abridging the right to freedom of assembly and by extension
to freedom of association.
I should further like to state as my ground for refusal to answer
this question that the authorizing resolution empowering the activity
of this committee is vague, nebulous, without specificity, consequently
meaningless.
And I repeat what is the meaning of un-American is subject to
much debate and discussion. There are those of us who believe that
the activities of the Atomic Energy Commission in denying to the
American people the facts concerning the hazards of radiation fall-
out are pursuing an un-American course.
Mr. Moulder. That, of course, is argument about the use of the
phrase "un-American." I cannot see that that is in point.
Mr. Katzen. I further insist to register my refusal to answer this
question on the grounds of lack of pertinency and relevance of any
questions which will be placed to me during an inquiry having to do
with the labor movement to myself. They are completely unrelated.
And lastly, I want to restate my ground that I invoke the privilge
of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that Mr. Nelson
be called forward now.
Mr. Nelson, would you kindly come forward ?
TESTIMONY OF GAEL NELSON— Kesumed
Mr. Arens. Mr. Nelson, an hour or so ago, you were sworn to tell
the truth before this committee, were you not ?
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr, Arens. During the course of your testimony you stated, in
effect, that while you were a member of the Communist Party you
knew as a Communist a person by the name of Leon Katzen. Is that
correct ?
Mr. Nelson. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Do you see now in this Federal court room the per-
son who, to your certain knowledge, was a member of the Communist
Party whom you knew by the name of Leon Katzen ?
Mr. Nelson. Yes, sir.
Mr. Moulder. And referred to in your testimony.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly point him out now to this com-
mittee ?
Mr. Nelson. Right there. [Indicating.]
Mr. Moulder. The record will show that the witness, Mr. Nelson,
pointed to Katzen, the witness now on the stand.
538 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
TESTIMONY OP LEON KATZEN— Resumed
Mr. Arens. Mr. Katzen, Mr. Nelson lias just looked you in the
eye and, while he was under oath, identified you, in your presence,
in the presence of your counsel, and in the presence of this committee
in this public session, as a person known by him to be a member of
the Communist Party. So there will be no question of the faceless
informer, would you kindly look Mr. Nelson in the face and tell this
committee now : Was Mr. Nelson telling the truth when he swore you
were a Communist or was he in error ?
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I must now most respectfully suggest
and urge that my counsel be given the opportunity to cross-examine
this witness, otherwise the identification be expunged from the record
as having come from, in fact, a faceless informer.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the witness
be ordered and directed to answer the question.
Mr. Moulder. I want to make this statement in response to what
the witness has just said.
Our committee is the only investigating committee that I know of
in the Congress having rules and regulations which give to witnesses
subpenaed before the committee an opportunity under our rules to be
represented by counsel, to be advised at all times during the course
of the hearings. We have gone as far as is possible. We have
adopted procedures to protect the individual rights of witnesses
appearing before the committee without going into the courtroom
procedure, because after all the witness is not on trial. This com-
mittee lias no authority to punish anyone or to prosecute anyone.
If we complied with your request, we would be here all day in cross-
-examination of the witness as requested by you.
Then, secondly, you have been accused (identified) here by the wit-
ness, Mr. Nelson. He has made his statement very frankly. You
heard his testimony at great length in the hearing room, and he posi-
tively identified you as a person he referred to in his testimony. And
now instead of availing yourself of the opportunity of denying or
affirming his testimony, you take refuge behind the request that your
counsel be permitted to cross-examine.
Now, do you wish to deny or affirm the statement made by Mr. Nel-
son in his testimony concerning your Communist activities?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, exactly for the reason that you, sir,
used the word "accused" with all of the implications and overtones
•which flow from the ordinary meaning of that word and in the light
of the fact that in the Watkins case the Supreme Court said that the
guarantees of due process before an investigating committee must be
no less than those in the judicial process, I now, therefore, renew my
request that my counsel be permitted to cross-examine the last identi-
fying witness, or that the testimony given by this witness in the form
of accusation against me be expunged from the record as of no value,
worthless, misleading, and irrelevant.
Mr. Moulder. Proceed, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever used any name other than the name
Leon Katzen ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUNIST INFILTKATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 539
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I must refuse to answer this question
basing myself on several grounds which I should like to cite.
I first ijase my refusal to answer this question on the basis of the
first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which guar-
antees that each citizen shall enjoy without abridgment by Congress
freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, that under
the fifth amendment to the Constitution each citizen shall be guaran-
teed freedom of his person.
I further cite as grounds for my refusal the fact that the authorizing
resolution under which this committee operates is without sufficient
clarity and definition, is so nebulous and vague as to make the pur-
poses, the aims, and the objectives of this committee meaningless, or of
multiple meaning, depending upon the observer.
I further cite as a ground the lack of pertinency and relevancy
in a hearing of the kind that this has been announced to be of any
questions which may be put to me.
And lastly, I base my refusal to answer this question on the grounds
that under the fifth amendment I cannot be compelled to become a
witness against myself.
Mr. Moulder. Before proceeding, Mr. Arens, may I say this: In
the beginning you stated you heard the statement read this morning
about the purposes for which the hearings are being held. In that
statement we stated our desire to know the extent, the character, and
the objectives of the Communist infiltration and Communist Party
propaganda activities in the labor unions in the area of Chicago.
We want this information produced by the committee for its con-
sideration of amending section 4 of the Communist Party Control
Act of 1954.
I ask you this question : Do you have any knowledge or information
concerning the extent, character, and objectives of the Communist
Party's infiltration and Communist Party propaganda activities in
labor unions within the area of Chicago ?
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding — and you will
correct me if I am in error — that the subpena which was served upon
me on the 30th of April was seemingly served as an afterthought.
The subpenas which were served on other people who may be called
upon to testify today were issued far prior to this time.
Mr. Moulder. May I interrupt ?
Mr. Katzen. May I ask a question, sir ?
Mr. Moulder. You are not answering the question. It is a very
simple question. Do you have or possess any such knowledge or in-
formation ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. But, Mr. Chairman, I am trying to get some clarifica-
cation, and this is why I put the question as I did. It is my under-
standing— correct me if I am wrong — that the subpena served upon
me was served only after a letter to which my name has allegedly
been signed, calling for the abolition of this committee, was freely
circulated in this area. I want to understand if that is the connection
between my appearance here and my receipt of the subpena.
Mr. Moulder. Do you decline to answer the question ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Well, Mr. Chairman, the question appears to me to be
so vague, consisting actually as it does, if I understand it correctly,
540 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
of tliree separate questions, tliat I must refuse to answer it on the
grounds which I liave previously cited in my refusal to answer prior
questions.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MotTLDER. Do you have any knowledge or information whatso-
ever concerning Communist Party techniques and strategy in the rais-
ing of money for the benefit of the Communist Party in this area ?
^The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. ELatzen. It is my impression, Mr. Chairman, that this ques-
tion because of its vagueness, because of the fact that it embodies
really several questions, cannot be answered; and, therefore, I must
refuse to address myself to it on the grounds that number 1, under
the protection of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United
States, which states that Congress shall pass no law abridging free-
dom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of citizens peaceably to
assemble or freedom to petition their Government for redress of griev-
ances ; on the ground that the authorizing resolution under which this
committee is operating is so vague and tenuous and diffused as to be
without specific meaning and that, therefore, necessarily the ques-
tions which will be placed to me will be vague; that the questions
placed to me must necessarily lack of relevancy, pertinency, and have
no relationship to me; and lastly on the grounds that under the fifth
amendment to the Constitution I cannot be compelled to become a
witness against myself.
It is for these reasons that I refuse to answer this question .
Mr. Willis. Mr. Chairman, I am not asking a question, but I call
attention to this part of your statement which, of course, is correct :
Despite statements that have been made that this committee has no
legislative purpose, the truth of the matter as stated in your statement
is, and I quote, "Legislation has been passed by the Congress embrac-
ing 35 of the committee recommendations."
Mr. Moulder. That is correct. And in connection with the ques-
tion being asked, I cannot understand how you can construe the
question which I propounded, as to whether or not you have any
knowledge or information, as being a vague question. Again I direct
the witness to answer the question.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, could I ask that the court reporter
read the question back so that I may test my memory as to whether it,
in fact, was not a vague question consisting, in fact, of several ques-
tions ?
Mr. Moulder. The record will speak for itself. I think your re-
quest is purely vexatious to delay our proceedings. Go ahead, Mr.
Arens.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, so the record may be straight as to
the pertinency, I should like now, as I have done in previous hearings,
to make on this record a legalistic explanation of the pertinency of
this subject which is under inquiry by this committee :
Sir, the Committee on Un-American Activities is under a mandate
from the United States Congress to perform two principal functions.
One function is to maintain a continuing surveillance over the ad-
ministration and operation of the security laws. These laws include
the Internal Security Act of 1950, the Communist Control Act of 1954,
the Foreign Agents Registration Act, numerous provisions of the
Criminal Code relating to espionage, sabotage, and internal security.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 541
The second principal function of this committee is to develop fac-
tual information upon which it can recommend to the Congress of the
United States legislative proposals for the purpose of safeguarding
the internal security of this Nation. Over the course of many years,
this committee has assembled great quantities of factual information
which has been the basis upon which the Congi-ess of the United
States has enacted considerable internal security legislation.
It is the information of this committee and it is the information of
the United States Congress — indeed, it ought to be the information of
all patriotic Americans — that there is sweeping the world now a god-
less, atheistic conspiracy known as communism, an international con-
spiratorial operation of which the conspiracy in the United States is
just one tentacle. It is the objective of this conspiracy to crush all
human freedom. It is the objective of this conspiracy to stamp out
all the values upon which this civilization in the West and the free
world has been founded.
It is the information of this committee, sir, that you are part and
parcel of that conspiracy; that you, sir, are a dedicated, hard-core
Communist; that you, sir, have been practicing the techniques, con-
spiratorial operations of the Communist conspiracy within the greater
Chicago area dedicated to overthrow this Government of the United
States and dedicated to destroy the Constitution of the United States,
behind which you have sought protection today.
Before this committee in executive session based upon intelligence
information, we believe that you, sir, presently have information re-
specting the operation of that conspiracy which is sweeping the world
and which, according to this witness this morning and other witnesses
of like knowledge, is more serious, a more deadly menace than ever be-
fore in the history of this Nation.
Now, sir, with that explanation of pertinency, I ask you this ques-
tion: Have you, sir, in the course of your life used the name Mike
Samuels, S-a-m-u-e-1-s ?
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I am not used to inquiries of this sort.
It appears to me, however, that the dictates of justice would require
that I be given an opportunity to make a statement with regard to
the lengthy statement that was made by the staff director.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered to answer the question as to whether or not he has in his
lifetime used the name
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman
Mr. Arens. — Mike Samuels.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I am asking for an opportunity to an-
swer the statem^ent.
Mr. Moulder. The counsel has given you a very lengthy explanation
of the pertinency of the question that has been propounded.
Would you repeat the question, Mr. Arens ?
Mr. Katzen. He also made accusation.
Mr. Arens. The question is. Have you used the name Mike Samuels ?
Mr. Katzen. The question, sir, is clear enough.
Mr. Arens. If you give us a truthful and complete answer to that
question, I expect to explore with you some of your activities in the
conspiracy known as the Communist Party in the greater Chicago area
in which you have used the name Mike Samuels.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
542 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, would you kindly answer the question ?
Mr. IViVTZEN. Mr. Chairman, the question is certainly clear enough,
but the statement which contained a variety of accusations and innu-
endoes against me requires, in my opinion, in simple justice a re-
buttal
Mr. Arens. Do you want to deny
Mr. Katzen. — an answer.
Mr. Arens. — you are, and in the past have been, a member of the
Communist conspiracy operating in the Chicago area ?
Mr. Katzen. Sir, what I want to state is that all of the activities
which this committee is allegedly looking into are protected by the
first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and that
the best effort that this committee might make would be to exercise
that fii"st amendment more than it has been exercised in the recent
period of time, if we are truly dedicated to the maintenance of the
freedoms upon which this country was founded.
Mr. Moulder. The witness is directed to answer the question pro-
pounded by counsel.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, at this time I must refuse to answer
this question upon the basis of several grounds which I wish to state;
and while I don't know whether it may legally be cited as a ground,
Mr. Chairman, it appears to me — I am not oversensitive, I am not a
child — but I gather that there is a very definite overtone of hostility
being directed against me by the staff director. However, this is
not one of the grounds for my refusal to answer, because I don't know
whether it would be acceptable.
My gi-ounds are rather. No. 1, that I feel that the question put to
me is a violation of the rights guaranteed me under the first amend-
ment to the Constitution of the United States ; No. 2, that the question
put to me flows from an authorizing resolution to this committee which
is so vague and nebulous, tenuous, and without boundary as to make
any question which flows from that authorizing resolution necessarily
vague, nebulous, unanswerable.
I further refuse to answer this question on the oft-stated grounds
of lack of relevancy and pertinency to me or to this inquiry as the in-
quiry has been given a purpose in the public statement by the chair-
man.
And last, I suggest that I have the right to refuse on the grounds
that the subpena issued to me was, in fact, issued as an afterthought
by reason of the allegation that I was a signer of a piece of material
which, in fact, was not distributed outside the courthouse, but which
1 am reliably informed was received through the mail by some 10,000
people throughout this area.
Ajid lastly, I am refusing to answer on the grounds that the fifth
amendment guarantees that I may not be compelled to become a witness
against myself.
Mr, Arens. In passing, would you tell us who informed you that
there were 10,000 of these leaflets distributed by this Chicago Com-
mittee to Defend Democratic Eights? Could you help us on that,
please, sir?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, it may very well be that the individual
who told me 10,000 copies may have been in error. It may very well
have been 15,000 or 20 .000 copies.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES^ — CHICAGO 543
Mr. Moulder. Not questioning the accuracy of the number, he asked
you the question of who told you. You have opened up a subject of
discussion by making that statement.
Counsel, you heard — that question.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, may I understand? Am I being di-
rected to ansAver that question?
Mr. Moulder. Yes, answer the question. You raised the question.
I think you should be directed to answer. You have not answered
any question yet. We would like to have some answers.
Mr. Katzen. Are you directing me, sir ?
Mr. Moulder. Yes, you are being directed.
Mr. Katzen, If I am being directed, sir, then I must refuse to
answer this question, and to save time, on the basis of the same essen-
tial grounds as those which I cited for my refusal to answer all prior
questions.
Mr. Moulder. For reasons previously given.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, I display to you an original card, a transfer
card to be sent to the central office through the district office — the
central office of the Communist Party of the U.S.A. — transferring
a particular comrade from one section of this conspiratorial opera-
tion to another. This transfer card is signed by Mike Samuels,
S-a-m-u-e-1-s, on the transfer card identified as "organizer." The
date on this transfer card is March 1, 1939.
Kindly look at this transfer card which I display to you and tell
this conmiittee, while you are under oath, whether or not you are the
Mike Samuels — ^you used the name Mike Samuels — and whether or
not you affixed the signature "IMike Samuels" to that Communist
Party transfer card.
(A document was handed to the witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Steinberg. May I look at Exhibit 1 ?
Mr. Arens. Exhibit 1 ?
Mr. Steinberg. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. The record will show the witness and his counsel are
examining the docmnent
Mr. Steinberg. Yes, that is so, sir.
Mr. Moulder. — referred to by counsel.
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I must refuse to answer that question
on the grounds which I shall, if I may, with ;70ur permission, sir, cite
in capsule form as essentially those wliich I cited before, to wit :
On the grounds that the first amendment to the Constitution of
the United States is the guarantee for every American citizen that
Congress shall pass no law abridging freedom of speech, freedom of
the press, freedom of religion, freedom of the right peaceably to
assemble, freedom of citizens peaceably to address petitions to their
Government for redress of grievances ;
On the further grounds that the authorizing resolution of this
committee is sufficiently vagiie and tenuous as to permit of so wide a
variety of interpretations as to be in effect without meaning, that the
specific jurisdiction of this committee for the purpose of conducting
this inquiry is consequently vague.
544 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. JoHANSEN". May I suggest, Witness, this is a pretty large cap-
sule, and I think the witness answered adequately when he said it
was on the previous grounds. These are obvious dilatory tactics,
Mr. Moulder. You can, of course, decline to answer and claim
the very same reasons previously stated. It might expedite the pro-
ceedings. But, on the other hand, we want to give you the privilege.
Mr. Katzen". Sir, that was my offer, and I believe on my prior
question I did answer that way, but that on the question before < hat
I answered once more at length, lest there be any misunderstanding
concerning precisely what these grounds are.
Mr. Moulder. You claim all of the reasons ?
Mr. Katzen". Show for the record that I am willing, sir, to let it go.
Mr. Moulder. You are declining to answer for all of the reasons
previously stated?
Mr. Katzen. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. Any one and all.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the exhibit
I displayed to the witness be appropriately marked and incorpor-
ated by reference in the record.
Mr. Moulder. Yes ; it is so ordered.
(Document marked "Katzen Exhibit No. 1" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. How long have you been employed at your present
occupation ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I submit that this question is most
clearly an invasion of my privacy. I, therefore, refuse to answer on
the grounds that the first amendment to the Constitution of the
United States serves as a guarantee for every citizen that Congress
shall pass no law abridging the right of the people of the United
States to the freedom of press, freedom of religion, freedom of speech,
freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition their Government for
a redress of grievances.
I further refuse to answer this question on the grounds that this
question is most closely related to the lack of specificity and clarity
in the authorizing resolution under which this committee operates.
Further than this, I am refusing to answer on the ground of lack
of relevancy between this question and the today publicly stated
purpose of this inquiry and the lack of relevancy between questions
put to me and that purpose.
Lastly, I am declining to answer on the ground that under the
fifth amendment to the Constitution of the United States I may not
be compelled to become a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, I display to you a thermofax reproduction
of the announcement of the Chicago Workers School, South Side
Branch, in which certain classes are scheduled and in which the
professors, the instructors, are listed. On Wednesday according to
this schedule of classes of the South Side Branch, a number of persons
are listed here as the professors and on Thui-sday there is to be an
"Institute on General Crisis of Capitalism," and the teacher there,
the instructor, is Leon Katzen.
Kindly look at this document which I display to you now and tell
this committee whether or not that refreslies your recollection and
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO 545
whether or not you are the Leon Katzen who was the instructor at
the Chicago Workere School ?
(A document was handed to the witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. Let the record show that witness and his counsel
are examining the document referred to by committee counsel.
Mr. IvATZEN. Mr. Chairman, among the many grounds which I
have cited for my refusal to answer earlier questions, was one which
I shall be very happy to repeat and that is the lack of pertmency
and relevancy.
If my glasses are properly shined up, it appears to me that this or
the original of this was published 10 years ago. I cannot see how
even if this were in fact a facsimile reproduction of an original which
in fact did exist, how it could possibly have any pertinency or rele-
vancy either to this hearing or to me.
Secondly, I see nothing about the identification of a workers school
which would, in fact, establish that such a workers school existed. I
understand that there are printing processes whereby these things
can be reproduced in wholesale without any date or any type of copy
on them.
However, further than this, I should like to state as my original
grounds for refusing to answer this question, those which I have al-
ready in addition cited, that is, in addition to the one concerning the
lack of relevancy and pertinency.
(Document marked "Katzen Exhibit No. 2" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. Do you presently, this instant, have information re^
specting the techniques, strategy, and operation of the Communist
conspiracy in the greater Chicago area ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. Let us proceed. Do you wish to decline to answer
that question ?
Mr. Katzen. Mr. Chairman, I am sorry. Either I have lost the
question or I have
Mr. Moulder. There is a question pending.
Mr. I^TZEN. Was the last a question on the part of-
Mr. Arens. Yes. The question is, do you, this instant, have in-
formation respecting the operation in the greater Chicago area pres-
ently of the Communist Party and the Communist conspiratorial
operation ?
Mr. Katzen. Sir, I must refuse to answer that question on the
grounds that it tends to violate the guarantees provided by the first
amendment to the Constitution of the United States. I must fur-
ther refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it flows from
the general, nebulous procedure employed in a tenuous resolution
upon which this committee has been functioning, which is so lacking
in boundaiy and clarity as to be meaningless and unanswerable; on
the grounds of lack of relevancy and pertmency ; and on the grounds
that there is a lack of specific jurisdiction on the part of this commit-
tee; and- lastly on the grounds that the Constitution of the United
States in its fifth amendment provides me the privilege of refusing
to become a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
546 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Moulder. I do not want to prolong the hearing. I should
have asked this in the beginning. We did not have the opportunity^ to
go into this matter because your innnediate reaction to any question
was with a preconceived or determined intention of not answering any
questions. But I do not believe these questions were asked of you,
and I am sure the committee would like to know. Do you reside here
in Chicago ?
Mr. lO^TZEN. Sir, the record already bears, I believe, my earlier
statement in answer to the question of Mr. Arens, that I am a resi-
dent of the city of Chicago.
Mr. Moulder. Were you born and reared here ?
Mr. Katzen. Sir, I must refuse to answer that question upon ex-
actly the same grounds upon which I refused to answer all other
questions.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions, Mr. Willis ?
Any questions, Mr. Johansen ?
The committee will recess until 2 o'clock.
(Subcommittee members present: Kepresentatives Moulder, Wil-
lis, and Johansen.)
(Whereupon, the subcommittee recessed at 12:15 p.m., to recon-
vene at 2 p.m. of the same day.)
AFTERNOON SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1959
Mr. Moulder. The committee will come to order.
(Subcommittee members present: Representatives Moulder, Willis,
and Johansen.)
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Arens, the staff director for the committee, will
call the next witness, please.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Richard Criley, please come forward. Please re-
main standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Moulder. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony which you
are about to give before this subcommittee will be the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Criley. I so swear.
TESTIMONY OF RICHARD CRILEY, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
IRVING G. STEINBERG
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Criley. Richard Criley, 709 South Spaulding Street, Chicago
24.
Mr. Arens. And your occupa,tion, please, sir?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. My ancestor, Childs Corey, died in Salem, Massachu-
setts, in the year 1692, a victim of the Salem witch hunt. Mr. Arens,
I think you can understand if my family has a long aversion to witch
hunts of any kind and also if it is an article of faith in my family to
believe in tlie Bill of Rights, I cannot in conscience encourage a
further erosion of the Bill of Rights by answering your question.
Mr. Moulder, Tlie witness is directed to answer the question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 547
Mr, Criley. I am consulting with counsel, sir. It is irrelevant.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. The question is, What is your occupation?
Mr. Criley. First of all, in refusing to answer that question, I want
to give my reasons for so refusing. A subpena was issued to me on
April 30. I was not given a copy of the rules of this committee nor
any statement of the legislative purpose of this committee. I believe,
therefore, that that subpena is invalid and in view of this I am not
obligated to answer any questions of the committee.
Further, I believe that my being called here and the question asked
me is a violation of my rights under the first amendment which states
that Congress may make no laws abridging freedom of religion, free-
dom of speech, press, assembly, or the right to petition the Govern-
ment for redress of grievances.
Third, this committee lacks what might be called a legal mandate to
function, as was pointed out in the Watkins decision of the Supreme
Court. ^
The Constitution of the United States, Article I, states that the job
of Congress is to legislate. Article II states that the job of the Ex-
ecutive is assigned to the President. Article III states that the job
of the Judiciary is assigned to the Supreme Court and inferior Fed-
eral courts.
The mandate of this committee is so sreneral as to be meaningless
m the words of Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren. It think it is
clear that the meaning of "un-American" is subject to all manner of
interpretation.
Mr. Truman on April 30 in a lecture before Columbia University
stated that the most un-American thing in the United States is the
House Un-American iVctivities Committee. If one were to accept
Mr. Truman's construction of the word "un-American," then this
committee would properly be investigating itself.
I am sure that you gentlemen place a different construction upon
the word. But I state this only to illustrate the fact that legally one
can have no clear idea as to what is intended by "un-American ac-
tivities" and that there is, therefore, no legal mandate from the Con-
gress of the United States to this committee to conduct this hearing.
Further, I would like to ask Mr. Arens for a copy of the statement
which he has introduced, I believe, into the record of this hearing
with the previous witness.
Mr. Arens. W^e will supply that to you right now. It is being
supplied to you right now.
( A document was handed to the witness. )
Mr. Arens. Does that complete your answer, sir?
Mr. Criley. It does not complete my answer.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly proceed.
Mr. Criley. I am sorry. I was asking for Exhibit 1. I received
a copy of the statement of purposes of the committee. Needless to
say, I have had no opportunity to read this statement.
I would like to ask Mr. Arens again if I may have what has been
introduced into this hearing as Exhibit 1.
Mr. Arens. At an appropriate time we are going to display that
to you.
Would you please answer the question ?
548 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Criley. I would like to have that statement because it has the
bearing on the heart of the legal reason I am going to give for my
refusal to answer your question. I again request that Mr. Arens give
me a copy of Exhibit 1.
Mr. Arens. At an appropriate time I am going to display it to
you, if you will kindly answer the question now as to your occupation.
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, my legal defense is based upon that
document, and I request that you instruct Mr. Arens to let me have
a copy of the document.
Mr. Arens. We will interrupt your train of thought, if j^ou do not
mind, to present this to you.
(A document was handed to the witness.)
Mr. Criley. Mr. Arens, I am stating my legal reasons for refusing
to answer your question.
Mr. Moulder. Just a minute. This is an introductory question
asked you. You have given your name. The next question was to
state your occupation. You conferred with your attorney, who sits
beside you, and advised with him, and now you have made a long
argun:ient to state much of which is no valid reason whatsoever for
declining to answer the question. But we have been very tolerant in
giving you plenty of time. Now you are directed to answer the ques-
tion. You have refused and declined to answer it.
. Mr. Arens, proceed with the next question.
Mr. Criley. Mr. Moulder, may I state for the record of this hearing
that I have been cut off and have been prevented from stating my
legal reasons for refusing to answer the question which I was under
direction
Mr. Moulder. You are making a vexatious delay and dilatory argu-
ment and statement.
Proceed with the next question.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Criley, you are represented by counsel in this
proceeding today ?
Mr. Criley. Yes, I am represented by counsel.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, would you kindly identify yourself on this
record ?
Mr. Steinberg. My name is Irving G. Steinberg, 180 West Wash-
ington.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Criley, you said a few moments ago you were
vigorously opposed to witch hunts ; is that correct ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. Yes. I said I was opposed to witch hunts of all kinds.
Mr. Arens. Have you taken a position with reference to witch
hunting or characterized the present proceedings as witch hunting?
These hearings here today, have you characterized those as witch
hunting ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. I am going to decline to answer that question first of
all on the basis that the question itself has no valid legislative pur-
pose in connection with any purpose which this committee may have.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the wit-
ness be ordered and directed to answer that question or to invoke his
constitutional privileges for the reason that he instigated this line
of inquiry by protesting what he has characterized as witch hunts.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 549
Mr. Moulder. Yes. The witness is directed to answer the question
in order to test your good faith in claiming the reason which you
stated for declining to answer the question.
Mr. Criley. May I ask that that question be reread by the clerk?
Mr. Arens. I will give you the essence of the question. Have you
taken a position in the recent past, characterizing the instant pro-
ceedings here before this committee now as witch hunts ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. I am going to decline to answer that question, first of
all, on the grounds that I believe that this question, in particular,
is a direct violation of my rights under the first amendment to free-
dom of speech; secondly, that this committee lacks a valid mandate;
thirdly, for a reason that the subpena and the calling of me is not
pertinent to the purposes of this investigation, as I will show that
this question itself has no pertinency or relevancy to a subject of legis-
lation before this committee. And I would like to explain to the
committee why my being called here is precisely a violation of what
Mr. Justice Warren in the Watkins decision said may not be done.
Mr. Moulder. Proceed with the next question. Now wait
Mr. Criley. Mr. Warren
Mr. Arens. Mr. Criley, I display to you
Mr. Criley. May I say for the record-
Mr. Arens. Mr. Criley, you have invoked your reasons here.
Mr, Criley. I have not. My reasons
Mr. Arens. I lay before you an original document which has been
identified on this record as a document distributed by the Chicago
Committee to Defend Democratic Rights, the executive secretary of
which is listed on the document as Richard Criley. The document
itself proclaims that these instant proceedings are witch hunts and
questions the motives of the committee and attacks the committee.
Would you kindly look at this document and tell this committee
now, while you are under oath, in view of your adamant position
against witch hunts whether or not you are the Richard Criley whose
name appears here as the executive secretary of the Chicago Commit-
tee to Defend Democratic Rights ?
( A document was handed to the witness. )
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. Let the record show that the committee counsel
handed the document referred to, to the witness and the witness then,
in turn, is examining the document.
Mr. Criley. May I call to the attention of the committee that on
two occasions I have attempted to state my legal reasons for declining
to answer previous questions and that in both instances I have been
stopped from presenting my legal reasons for not answering the ques-
tions. And I want to make sure that this is a matter of the record
of this committee hearing.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer the question ? Are you the
Richard Criley who is listed here on this document as executive secre-
tary of the Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic Rights ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. I should like to read this letter around which appar-
ently a number of questions
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer the question ?
41635—59 4
550 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Chairman, I respectfully sutjjEjest. the witness be admonished to
answer the question. It is clear that the question is a pertinent ques-
tion, is a proper question, is within the scope of inquiry of this com-
mittee, and the witness has yet to give us a direct answer.
Mr. Criley. I have not yet been given the opportunity to cite my
legal rights for refusing to answer and these are very relevant to this
document, Exhibit 1, which I asked for previously.
Now, may I state my legal reasons for not answering the question
just asked me by counsel and be permitted to give my legal reasons
for so doing ?
Mr. Moulder. Yes, you have that right. But let us not be dilatory
or proceed to harass the committee and try to prevent a situation of
vexatious delay of our proceedings. You can decline to answer by
giving valid reasons for not answering.
Mr. Criley. Mr. Moulder, I am not a lawyer. I came here by your
invitation, not mine. I am stating to the very level best of my ability
what I believe are valid, legal reasons for not answering this com-
mittee.
Now if I may be permitted to proceed, I want to read this letter
because it is of cardinal importance to me that this be into the court
record, because my statement hinges upon the contents of this letter.
Mr. ]\IouLDER. Wait just a minute. If you answer the question,
identify the document, then read the letter. Is that your signature?
Are you the person referred to on the document ? If you so identify
it, read it.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. I will identify the signature on this document as my
signature.
Mr. Moulder. All right. Then read the document.
Mr. Arens. Are you the executive secretary
Mr. Criley. I was instructed by the chairman, Mr. Arens, that I
may read the document.
Mr. Moulder. Let him read the document after he identified it. He
said he signed it. I think that is fair enough,
Mr. Criley. The head of this document reads : "Chicago Commit-
tee To Defend Democratic Rights. Legislative Bulletin."
Headline: "House Un-American Activities Committee, Chicago
Hearing, Set for May 5-6."
The Un-Americans are at it again ! Two groups of Chicago unionists have
been subpoenaed to appear before it on May 5 and B. They include members
and former members of the United Packinghouse Worliers of America and of
Local #113 (Tool and Die) of the International Association of Machinists.
Additional unionists may still be called at a later date.
It is clear that the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing is a
direct intervention into the internal affairs of labor.
The House Committee .(whose general mandate to function was questioned
by the U.S. Supreme Court) has no specific authorization from Congress to
conduct such a hearing as that scheduled here. It is evident, also, that there
can be no legitimate legislative purpose for this hearing. On both counts,
the entire hearing is patently illegal, on the basis of the Supreme Court decision
in the Watkins case which stated that the Committee has no right to expose
"for sake of exjtosure."
Chairman Walter's public statement that the hearing is for the purpose of
"investigating subversive infiltration" into defense industries is camouflage for
a flagrant attack on unions and the constitutional rights of American workers.
It will be recalled that the last "labor investigation" of the Committee in this
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES^ — CHICAGO 551
area was in 1952 wheu it was timed to disrupt tlie strilce of International
Harvester workers and the negotiations for a new contract in the meat packing
industry.
The House Committee has just completed a witch-hunt against labor in the
I'irtsburgh area. In February in Los Angeles under guise of investigating
"legal subversion," it unfolded an attack on defense attorneys in civil liberties
cases, and on the constitutional right to be represented by counsel. In Atlanta,
Georgia, last year, the Committee was denounced by over 200 prominent Negro
leaders in the South for "trying to attach the 'subversive' label to any liberal
white Southerner who dares to raise his voice in support of our democratic
ideals."
The recent actions of the House Un-American Activities Committee are the
most potent ax-gument for its abolition, and the cutting ofC of all further
appropriations. (For 1959, it has already been voted $327,000 by the House of
Representatives. )
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION
1. Write your Congressman to support the bill introduced by Representative
James Roosevelt to abolish the House Un-American Activities Committee.
2. See and judge for yourself by attending the hearings on May 5 and 6 at the
Federal Building (Old Post Office) , Clark and Adams Sts.
Sincerely yours,
Leon Katzen, Chairman
Richard Criley, Executive Secretary
Mr. Akens. He has not completed yet.
Mr. Criley. There is a note on the bottom "PS : We depend on your
contributions." I think that was relevant to the point I wanted to
make.
(Document previously marked "Nelson Exhibit No. 1" also appears
on p. 521.)
Mr. Moulder. Just one moment. Speaking for myself and the
members of the committee, we want to make the record clear here and
now that our committee is not endeavoring to investigate or meddle in
union organizations as such.
I have, for my record in Congress, almost a 100 percent voting record
for organized labor, and I am enthusiastic and strong for organized
labor and its objectives and its rights. But we are interested in find-
ing out how the Communists are trying to dominate and destroy organ-
ized labor wherever they may be attempting to do so. That is one of
the purposes, one of the objectives of our hearings here in Chicago.
Mr. Criley. May I continue my legal i-easons for refusal to answer ?
You are finished, Mr. Chairman, yes ?
Mr. Moulder. Proceed.
Mr. Criley. I would like to submit in evidence four slips. They
are statements of mailing matter for permit mail from the Chicago
post ofHce. First one is dated April 14, 1959, and records that 3,100
pieces of mail were mailed on that date. The second one, dated April
15, records 1,500 pieces of mail were mailed on that date. The third is
dated April 16 and records that 1,115 pieces were mailed on that date.
The fourth is April 17 and records, that 1,800 pieces of mail were
mailed on that date. I would like to submit this as an exhibit before
i\\^ com.mittee, if I may.
Now, the relevance of this is precisely the following : I was served
with a subpena.
Mr, Moulder. What is the question pending ?
Mr. Criley. I am giving legal reason for not answering.
Mr, Arens, The pending question is whether he is the executive
secretary of the Chicago Committee To Defend Democratic Rights.
552 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
I was under the impression he said a few minutes ago this was his
signature as executive secretary. So he has answered the question.
Mr. Moulder. Proceed with the next question.
Mr. Arens. Do you know Mr. Leon Katzen, chairman of the group
of which you are executive secretary ?
Mr. Criley. May I again call to the attention of the chairman that
I was still attempting to cite the legal reasons for refusal to answer
from the very first question in this hearing that I did not answer,
and
Mr. Moulder. What question was that ?
Mr. Criley. The first question I did not answer was my occupation.
I was never given an opportunity to give my legal reasons of refusing
to answer that question. This was what I was attempting to do when
Mr. Arens interrupted me.
Mr. Moulder. You spent 10 minutes on that and were getting ready
to read at great length a Supreme Court decision which is out of
order in these proceedings or hearings.
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman
Mr. Arens. Mr. Criley, did you prepare this document which you
have just read?
Mr. Criley. May I state it takes me 15 minutes to state my legal
ground. I am possibly putting at stake a year of my life and I
believe I must be entitled to fully state my legal grounds why I am
refusing. May I continue where I left off ?
Mr. Arens. You satisfied the committee on your answer. We are
thoroughly satisfied.
Mr. Criley. I am not satisfied in my answer because in the record
I have not yet stated my legal reasons for not answering the first two
questions which I did not answer.
Mr. Moulder. We are not going to permit you to make a big, long
speech before this committee.
Mr. Arens. Did you prepare the document, from which you just
read, of the Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic Eights ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. To save some time, I have not been directed to answer
that question, so I am not answering.
Mr. Moulder. All right. You are now hereby directed to answer
the question,
Mr. Criley. I am not going to answer that question and I would
like to continue my discussion to give my legal reasons as to why I
am not answering. I pointed out that these slips, with the dates
running from April 14 to 17, represent the mailing of approximately
8,000 copies of this leaflet to which my signature is affixed. I was
served on April 30 with a subpena dated April 24. This subpena
is at least 4 weeks after all of the other subpenas were served. Only
two subpenas were served, to the best of my knowledge, or were issued
after the end of the month of March.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Criley
Mr. Criley. I am not
Mr. Moulder. That isn't responsive to the question as a reason for
refusing to answer at all.
Mr. Criley. I wish to say and these are grounds that are veiy
clearly borne out in the Watkins decision, Mr. Chairman, because I
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 553
wish to explain why I am contending that my subpena is a complete
afterthought to the purpose of this committee, which was announced
as being an investigation in certain industrial areas. I have no con-
nection with such areas and have not had any experience as an active
imionist for a period of over 12 years, and I wish to point out
Mr. Moulder. You are being argumentative, that is all.
Proceed, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. I suggest now I make a brief statement as to pertinence
so there will be no question on this record as to the pertinency of
these questions.
Mr. Criley, as announced by the chairman of this committee, this
committee is in Chicago for the purpose of develoj)ing factual ma-
terial on current Communist techniques and activities, including, but
not limited to, the Commmiist penetration of the meatpacking indus-
try. A man this morning took an oath, laid his liberty on the line,
and said that while he was a member of the Communist conspira-
torial apparatus, he knew you, sir, as a member of the Communist
Party. We have information, sir, that you are now, and have been
in the recent past, a hard-core member of the Communist conspiracy,
doing work of that conspiracy designed to overthrow the Constitu-
tion which you have been invoking- here today; that you have been
part of this deadly apparatus, which is designed to destroy liberty
and freedom on this continent.
Therefore, sir, with that information in the possession of this com-
mittee, the committee directed that a subpena be served upon you so
that you could be interrogated. We hoped that certain information
could be developed on this record — by direction, and if not by direc-
tion, by indirection — so that this committee could take this informa-
tion back to Washington, D.C., together with other information it
is collecting in other parts of the United States respecting this con-
spiratorial operation, so that it might legislate to protect this country
against the Communist conspiracy of which we understand you are
now, this instant, an integral part.
Now, sir, would you kindly answer this question ? Are you now,
this moment, a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. I would again like to point out for the committee
record that I have not yet been given an opportunity to summarize
the legal reasons why I have refused to answer certain questions, and
I believe that these are my rights before the committee. I am being
cut off. My train of thought is being interrupted. I have almost no
idea as to what legal rights I have been able to state before the com-
mittee at the present time. And I would like to ask leave of this
committee to finish my statement, which will not be a lengthy one, but
which I believe is absolutely essential and is my right as an American
citizen to so state before this committee.
Mr. Moulder. You have heard the question propounded by counsel.
You are directed to answer the question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. The question is, Are you now, this minute, a member
of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel. )
554 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Crilet, Mr. Chairman, I am going to refuse to answer that
question for the legal reasons that the question is a violation of my
right under the first amendment ; for the reason that the mandate of
this committee is not a legal one; for the reason that my subpena
is not a valid one, that I was called before this committee in almost
the identical fashion cited by the Supreme Court which said : "Inves-
tigations conducted solely for the personal aggrandizement of the
investigators or to punish those investigated are indefensible."
I have attempted to show that my subpena, together with that of
one other person who was on the stand here, is a complete exception
to all other subpenas that were issued ; that the subpena was for the
expressed purpose of punishing someone who issued a statement criti-
cal of this committee; that, therefore, the committee does not have
the legal right to ask me these questions, since the purpose of the
committee is not that of legislation as outlined by the Constitution,
but one of harassing and attempting to punish a critic of this
committee.
I wish to also state here that all of these things I have cited flow
from the due process clause of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Carl Nelson?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer the question ? Sir, do you
know a man by the name of Carl Nelson ?
Mr. Crilet. May I consult with counsel ?
Mr, Moulder. Yes.
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, am I instructed to answer that question ?
Mr. Moulder. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Crilet. I am going to refuse to answer that question on the
grounds that the question is entirely irrelevant, and I believe the word
is "is not pertinent" to the legislative purposes of this committee;
for the reasons also that it is a violation of my rights under the first
amendment; for the additional' reason that the committee's mandate
to function is not a legal one ; for the additional reason that the sub-
penaing of me was both not done in a legal manner and was not done to
further a legitimate, legislative purpose by this committee; for the
reason that I think I stated, that tlie question is not germane or perti-
nent to legislation ; for the additional reason that the committee is not
a legal committee, because functioning with the committee, for in-
stance, is a Mr. Willis who, under the fourteenth and thirteenth
amendment, is not constitutionally elected to office in view of the well
known denial of the rights to vote by the Negro citizens of his State.
For those reasons I am going to refuse to answer the question.
Mr. Willis. Let me say, Mr. Chairman, I am not replying to the
witness. I am not asking him a question. I do not want to engage in
a discussion with him. But in my district, the people I am sent to
Washington to represent, the eight parishes that I represent, every-
one who is entitled to vote, does vote, under identical and similar
circumstances.
Mr. Arens. This morning Mr. Carl Nelson took an oath before
this committee and stated that he served in the Communist Party
for a number of years; that the Communist Party is now a greater
menace tlian ever before ; that it consists of trained, hard-core agents
of a foreign power on American soil. Wliile he was under oath, sub-
jecting himself to prosecution for perjiuy if he stated a falsehood^
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 555
he stated that he knew you, to a certainty, as a member of the Com-
munist Party.
We would like to afford you now an opportunity to deny that iden-
tification, if you please, sir.
Mr. Criley. I believe
Mr. Arens. Do you care to avail yourself of that opportunity ?
Mr. Criley. I believe Mr. Nelson's statement was that he left the
Communist Party some 15 years or more ago. And I would like to
state that it seems to me that any such testimony is so remote as to
be completely irrelevant to any present purposes of legislation before
Congress at the present time.
Mr. Moulder. I don't believe that is correct. I believe you have
misunderstood his testimony.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Criley, do you know a man by the name of Louis
Rosser ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. Am I directed to answer that question ?
Mr. Moulder. Yes, you are directed to answer that question.
Mr. Criley. I shall refuse to answer the question because the ques-
tion is totally remote, has no pertinence whatsoever to any legislative
puii^ose that this committee may have; for the reason that the com-
mittee itself in subpenaing me has no relationship between my testi-
mony and the testimony of other witnesses who seemingly have some
relationship to what was stated to have been the purpose of these com-
mittee hearings. For the reason of my rights of freedom of speech,
freedom of assembly, freedom of press, and freedom to petition the
Government for redress of grievances under the first amendment ; and
for all other reasons which I have stated, and, by the way, all of these
as they relate to the due process clause of the fifth amendment, I am
refusing to answer that question.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Arens, may I interrupt at this point to ask the
witness this question : Do you have any knowledge or information
concerning the activities of any person which you deem to be subver-
sive or which endangers our internal sex?urity in the United States ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, in my opinion there are some people who
are seriously endangering the security of the United States. At the
moment I would place at Number 1 certain of the generals and other
people who are conducting a diplomacy backed by the threat to destroy
the entire world with atomic weapons. I would also state that the
democratic and constitutional Government of the United States today
faces a very serious threat, flowing as it does from certain groups and
includes highly influential persons who are attempting to undertake a
campaign of pressure of legislative action and other things to, so to
speak, curb and get the powers of the United States Supreme Court,
which have been exercised as perhaps the most important single
guarantee that the Bill of Rights written into the United States
Constitution shall remain as our guiding light in democratic gov-
ernment.
Mr. Moulder. All right. Do you have any information concerning
the activities of any Communist Party members whose actions and
activities endanger, or might endanger, the internal security of the
United States?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
556 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Moulder. And I might add our American way of life and our
constitutional form of government.
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, I know of no such people endangering
the American way of life.
Mr. Moulder. You don't know of any Communists ?
Mr. Criley. You are asking — and let me make sure I understand the
question — if I know any Communists who in my opinion are endanger-
ing the American way of life and subverting the American democratic
system, shall we say ? My answer is no.
Mr. Moulder. That you do not know.
Mr. Criley. I do not know any such people who are endangering
the American way of life or subverting the American democratic
process.
Mr. Moulder. That is, any such people who are members of the
Communist Party. That was my question.
Mr. Criley. That is correct. Of course you are consulting me in
terms of what my opinion is.
Mr. Moulder. Yes.
Mr. Criley. And this is my honest opinion, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Moulder. I am asking if you have any information which you
might give us of Communist Party members' activities which would
endanger our American way of life, our internal security, or whose
activities would be subversive. You say you 4o not know ?
Mr. Criley. No, I do not.
Mr. M0U1.DER. All right. Now, then, do you know any Communist
Party members who are active in any way in the upholding of the
American way of life or our democracy or our Bill of Rights that
you have referred to ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, if I knew of such cases where there were
Communists' activity in upholding, let us say, the Bill of Rights and
the American way of life, clearly such activities are legal and are
legally protected by the Bill of Rights, and therefore I cannot see
that the question bears any relevance to the legislative purpose of this
committee.
Mr. Moulder. Then the last question is. Do you know of any Com-
munists, active Communist Party members in the Chicago area?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, I believe again that this question moves
into an area which invades the guarantees of the first amendment,
guaranteeing freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of
press, and the right to petition for — the microphone is off.
Mr. Moulder. Do you have any information concerning the objec-
tives of Communist Party activities and infiltration of Communist
Party propaganda in labor unions within the area of Chicago?
Mr. Criley. I didn't finish.
Mr. Moulder. I am asking do you have any such information, do
you know about it ?
Mr. Criley. The microphone is dead, Mr. Chairman, and in the
course of it, I am afraid I missed the key part of your question, but I
would like to state for the record that I did not complete my previous
answer and this disturbed me a bit so that I didn't follow the second
question that you asked me.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO 557
Mr. Moulder. The second question ?
Mr. Criley. The question you just asked me, sir.
Mr. Moulder. The second question I just asked you — now, you un-
dei-stand these questions and you know what we are avSking — was
whether you have any information concerning Communist infiltra-
tion and Communist Party activities in any labor union within the
Chicago area. What we are trying to find out particularly at this
hearing is the activities and the work of the Communist Party to in-
filtrate and dominate and destroy organized labor in the Chicago area.
Now, do you have any such information ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. I am sorry, sir. It seems to me that there were several
different questions involved in one.
Mr. Moulder. Just a very simple question. Do you have any knowl-
edge or information concerning Communist Party activities in their
efforts to infiltrate and dominate a labor union, any labor union, in
the Chicago area ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Moulder. That requires just a simple yes or no answer.
Mr. Criley. Shall I proceed without the microphone ?
Mr. Moulder. You do know or don't know.
Mr. Criley. Should I proceed without the microphone ? It is off.
Mr. Chairman, the question may be clear and yet there is involved
a question of what we might call semantics, because the word in-
filtrate, like the word American or un-American, is subject to a multi-
tude of interpretations.
Mr. Moulder. All right. Let us make it simple, then. Leave out
infiltration. I think you understand what I mean. Then I will ask
you if you have any knowledge or information whatsoever concerning
Communist Party leaders, Communists, in other words, any informa-
tion concerning their efforts to dominate and control the functions of
any labor union in the Chicago area.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, I am bothered by this thing.
Mr. Moulder. We can hear you clear enough. The reporter can
hear you. First, it just calls for a very simple answer, yes or no, and
then we will proceed from there.
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, it isn't so simple because I cannot in
conscience answer that question because, in my opinion, it is a vague
question, a question that does not have a clear, legitimate purpose.
Mr. Moulder Let's proceed, Mr. Arens, with the next question.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Criley, have you been an author in the course of your
career ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
(Representative Moulder left the hearing room.)
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer the question ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis (presiding) . What is the pending question ?
Mr. Criley. I believe the question was asked of you, Mr. Arens.
Wliat is the pending question ?
Mr. Arens. The pending question is. Have you ever been an author
in the course of your career ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
558 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Criley. Will the record show, by the way, that Mr. Moulder has
left and that the Chair has been taken by Mr. Willis and that one of
the members of the subcommittee is absent ?
Mr. JoHANSKisr. Mr. Chairman, I suggest that the Chair direct the
witness to answer the question and that the instructions to the re-
porter be given by the Chair.
Mr. Willis. I must order you to answer the question.
Mr. Criley. I must refuse, sir, to answer that question, first of all,
because I cannot see any conceivable relationship between whether
or not I have been an author.
Mr. Arens. Let us hesitate. I will display to you an exhibit.
Mr. Criley. And the legislative purpose of this committee. I also
wish to cite a fact that this is, I think, a clear-cut invasion of my right
under the first amendment to freedom of the press, in other Avords, to
write and publish as I so choose. I cannot see how tliis can, by any
stretch of the imagination, be made a proper subject matter for a
question to guide the committee for the purposes of making or seeing
about the execution of laws.
Mr. Willis. You properly invoked your right.
Mr. Criley. I would also
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Criley, you have been identified by a live
witness under oath before this committee as a member of the Com-
munist Party. I have in my hand now a document "Inform or Els^^."
The document says, "This pamphlet was written for the James Keller
Defense Committee by Richard L, Criley."
For the purpose of ascertaining what your activities may have been
in the dissemination and preparation of Communist propaganda, so
that this committee can adequtaely appraise the administration and
operation of the Internal Security Act of 1950, which undertakes to
cope with Communists and Communist propaganda, I now lay before
you this document and ask you whether or not you are the Richard L.
Criley who prepared the document entitled "Inform or Else."
(Document handed the witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Criley. Mr. Arens, may I have a glass of water ? If the micro-
phone is not working it is a little harder on my voice.
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir ; you surely may.
Mr. Criley. And counsel would like a glass of water, too.
Mr. Arens. Now, would you kindly answer the question ?
Mr. Criley. Mr. Chairman, this pamphlet that has been brought to
my attention signed by Richard L. Criley, deals with the supervisory
parole phase of the Walter-McCarran law. The pamphlet was highly
critical of this law, which by coincidence is a piece of legislation very
dear to the chairman of this committee, Mr. Francis Walter. And I
point to the very question as illustrating the validity of my refusal to
answer previous questions, in that the entire calling of me on this
witness stand becomes more and more clearly an act of harassment, be-
cause I have been a critic of this committee, of the Walter-McCarran
law, and other things which Mr. Francis Walter does not agree with
me.
I am., therefore, going to be compelled to refuse to answer the ques-
tion on the grounds that the questions are being not asked for a legis-
lative purpose at all, but are clearly intended as a harassment and
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 559
punishment of a critic of this committee and of Mr. Walter, and for
all of the other reasons which I have cited before which I will gladly
repeat if there is any question of the court record.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I insist that the record be clear on one
point.
Are you, in response to the question w^hich is last outstanding re-
specting your authorship of this pamphlet, invoking that part of the
fifth amendment to the Constitution of the United States which gives
you the privilege of declining to give testimony which might be used
to incriminate yourself ?
Mr. Criley. Mr, Arens, I think I stated quite clearly before — but
I shall gladly repeat it again — that I am invoking the due process
clause of the fifth amendment as it relates to the several different
grounds that I have given before for refusal to answer, all of which
are based upon the Watkins decision of the United States Supreme
Court.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest, so that
this record may be abundantly clear, that the witness not having in-
voked that part of the Constitution which gives him the privilege not
to give testimony which can be used against himself in a criminal
proceeding now be ordered to answer the question.
Mr. Willis. I order you to answer the question, and I will tell you
why. I disagree with the constitutional grounds that you referred to.
I do not want to debate on it. I am bound as chairman under court
decisions to indicate our disagreement. Now, you have not, as coun-
sel pointed out, invoked the provisions of the fifth amendment with
regard to giving testimony that might tend to incriminate you. As I
understand it, you have not invoked that, is that correct ?
Mr. Criley. Mr. Willis, you are correct ; and as a leader of the Civil
Liberties organization, I also want to make it clear that it is not the
purpose of debate with the ^iews on constitutionality of the committee,
but rather my desire to try to make the record clear as to what con-
stitutional grounds upon which I am standing in my refusal to an-
swer these questions. I would therefore like to have your permission
to, as briefly and concisely as possible, state them again. Because of
t.he many interruptions before, I am not surt how clearly I outlined
them and, not being a lawyer, do not know if I cited all the grounds.
Mr. Willis. You stated them so clearly that both counsel and I got
the point.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the docu-
ment which I have displayed to this witness, entitled "Inform or
Else," in which it says, "This pamphlet was written for the James
Keller Defense Committee by Richard L. Criley," be appropriately
marked and be incorporated by reference in this record so that this
committee, when it returns to Washington with this fund of informa-
tion, will be able to pursue its legislative objectives in undertaking to
appraise the administration and operation of the Internal Security
Act, the Communist Control Act, the Foreign Agents Registration
Act, and other legislation on the books dealing specifically with Com-
munist propaganda.
Mr. Willis. The document will be so marked.
(Document marked "Criley Exhibit No. 1" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
560 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully su<rgest that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
We will take a 5-minute recess.
(Subcommittee members present, Representatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
Mr. Moulder. Call your next witness, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Leslie Orear, please come forward and remain standing
while the chairman administers the oath,
(Mr. Johansen entered the hearing room.)
( Subcommittee members present : Representatives Moulder, Willis,
and Johansen.)
Mr. Moulder. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about
to give before this subcommittee will be the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing^but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Orear. I do, Mr. Congressman.
Mr. Moulder. Be seated.
TESTIMONY OF LESLIE OEEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELEOED V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Orear. My name is Leslie Orear. I live at 10931 Hermosa
Avenue, Chicago, 111. I am an employee of the United Packinghouse
Workers of America in the capacity of director of its department of
publications.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Orear, you are appearing today in response to a
subpena which was served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Orear. I am.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Orear. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. I am Belf ord Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Orear, how long have you maintained your present
position ?
Mr. Orear. Precisely since January 1957.
Mr. Arens. And what are your duties ?
Mr. Orear. I am the editor of the national publication of this union.
Mr. Arens. And the name of it, please, sir ?
Mr. Orear. Is The Packinghouse Worker.
Mr. Arens. And what was your occupation immediately prior to
your present occupation ?
Mr. Orear. What would "immediately prior" be — ^you mean just
before I assumed that title ?
Mr. Arens. Just before you assumed this job in 1957 as director of
publications of United Packinghouse Workers.
Mr. Orear. I was acting in the capacity of editor of The Packing-
house Worker.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time did you hold that position ?
Mr. Orear. Since approximately October 1953.
Mr. Arens. And what was your position prior to that ?
Mr. Orear. I was an international representative of the union.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 561
Mr. Arens. And for what period of time did you serve in that
capacity ?
Mr. Orear. If we may use the thing loosely I have been a representa-
tive of the imion since October 1938. We will come to the point.
Mr. Arens. Give us, if you please, sir, just a word about your per-
sonal life. When and where were you born ?
Mr. Orear. I was born May 11, 1911 in Marshall, Missouri.
Mr. Arens. And give us a word about your education.
Mr, Orear. I have been educated in the city of Chicago, and for 2
years at the University of Wisconsin.
Mr. Arens. When did you complete vour formal education ?
Mr. Orear. This would be 1931.
Mr. Arens. And what occupation were you engaged in between 1931
and 1938 when you became an international representative of the
UPWA?
Mr. Orear. I was an employee of Armour Co.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity, please ?
Mr. Orear. A laborer.
Mr. Arens. Where?
Mr. Orear. Chicago, 111.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Orear, are you now, or have you ever been, a mem-
ber of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Orear. I must decline to answer that question on the grounds
that to answer it may tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Orear. I am not, sir.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party any
time in the course of the last 5 years ?
Mr. Orear. I must — oh, last 5 years, what date would that be ?
Mr. Arens. Five years ago, 1954.
Mr. Orear. The answer
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Orear. No, I have not been a member of the Communist Party
since 1954.
Mr. Arens. Yes.
Mr. Orear. No indeed.
Mr. Arens. Did you resign technical membership in the Communist
Party ?
Mr. Orear. I decline to answer this question on the grounds to do
so may tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever signed a non-Communist affidavit ?
Mr. Orear. No, sir ; I have not.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Carl Nelson ?
Mr. Orear. Yes, I do know Carl Nelson.
Mr. Arens. Carl Nelson testified this morning that while he was
a member of the Communist Party he knew you as a member of the
Communist Party. Was he in error or was he telling the truth ?
Mr. Orear. I decline to answer this question on the grounds it may
tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Were you a member of the Communist Party 6 years
ago?
Mr. Orear. The precise date, 1953 ?
Mr, Arens. Yes, sir.
562 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Orear. I was not a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Were you a member of the Communist Party in 1952 ^
Mr. Orear. No, sir ; I was not.
Mr. Arens. Were you a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Orear. Check. If you specify what period of time you are
speaking of.
]SIr. Arens. In 1952, during any time, were you a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Orear. At tliis point I will assert the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Have you broken with the Communist Party ?
Mr. Orear. I decline to answer the question, sir, on the grounds
that it may tend to incriminate me. Not being very clear what the
question is.
Mr. Arens. Are you now against the Communist Party ?
Mr. Orear. Yes, I have a strong antipatliy to the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Do you know persons presently in the Chicago area
who, to your certain knowledge, in 1952 were members of the Com-
munist Party ?
]\Ir. Orear. I may ask you to rephrase the question; restate the
question.
Mr. Arens. Do you now know the names of persons who live and
operate in the Chicago area who, to your certain knowledge, were
members of the Communist Party in 1952 ?
]Mr. Orear. I decline to answer the question on the grounds that
to do so may tend to incriminate me.
]\Ir. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions, Mr. Willis ?
Mr. Willis. No questions.
Mr. JoHANSEN. No questions.
Mr. MoLTLDER. We thank the witness and the counsel for the ap-
pearance before the committee, and I commend you for your straight-
forward conduct and response to the questions that were propounded
to you.
Mr. Orear. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Moulder. Next witness.
Mr. Arens. Next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be Mr.
Leon Beverly.
Will you remain standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Moulder. Do you solenmly swear that the testimony which:
you are about to give before this committee will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Beverly. I do.
Mr. Moulder. Be seated.
TESTIMONY OF LEON BEVEELY, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mr. Beverly. Leon Beverly, 1807 South Harding. I am now field
representative for United Packinghouse Workers.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by this committee ?
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 563
Mr. Beverly. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Beatsrly. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belf ord V. Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Moulder. I didn't understand the witness' name.
Mr. Beverly. Leon Beverly.
Mr. Moulder. How do you spell that ?
Mr. Beverly. L-e-o-n B-e-v-e-r-1-y.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Beverly, how long have you maintained your pres-
ent job?
Mr. BE^^RLY. August.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity again ?
Mr. Beverly. Field representative.
Mr. Arens. Where are you located ?
Mr. Bea^erly. 4859 South Wabash.
Mr. Arens. What was your employment immediately prior to your
present employment ?
Mr. Beverly. Full time president of Local 347.
Mr. Arens. 347 of what?
Mr. Beverly. United Packinghouse Workers.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time did you have that job ?
Mr. Beverly. From 1951 up to January of this year.
Mr. Arens. What was your employment immediately prior to that ?
Mr. Beverly. Armour Co.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time were you employed at Ar-
mour & Co. ?
Mr. Beat3rly. 1937. I am still on leave from Armour Co.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity were you employed there ?
Mr. Beverly. Laborer.
jMr. Arens. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Beverly. I decline to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Why?
Mr. Beverly. Based on my previous miderstanding of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend that if you told this com-
mittee truthfully whether or not you have ever been a member of the
Communist Party, you would be supplying information that might be
used against you in a criminal proceeding ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Beverly. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Beverly. No.
Mr. Arens. Have you resigned technical membership in the Com-
munist Party so that you could deny membership in the Communist
Party, yet maintain yourself in the Communist operation?
Mr. Beverly. I decline to answer that question based on my rights
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Carl Nelson ?
Mr. Beverly. Sure.
Mr. Arens. Carl Nelson took an oath this morning and said that
while he was a member of the Communist Party he knew you as a
564 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
member of the Communist Party. Was he in error or was he telling
the truth?
Mr. Beverly. I decline to answer that question based on my rights
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you presently have information of persons who, in
the recent past, have been membei-s of the Communist Party active in
the Chicago area ?
Mr. Beverly. I don't understand your question.
Mr. Arens. Do you have information now, are you presently pos-
sessed of information respecting persons who are, or in recent past
have been, members of the Communist Party in the Chicago area?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Beverly. I have no knowledge. I have no knowledge, sir, to
my recollection.
Mr. Arens. Do you know persons who have been members of the
Communist Party in the Chicago area ?
Mr. Beverly. I refuse to answer that question based on my rights
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully submit that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. Just a moment, please. Mr. Willis, any questions?
Mr. Willis. No.
Mr. Johansen. No questions.
Mr. Moulder. I also want to commend you and counsel in the
manner in which you appear before this committee, not that I approve
or disapprove of your responses to the questions, but you certainly
have made no effort to delay the proceedings by dilatory speeches and
statements.
I also want to say this: That during more than 10 years I have
served as a member of this committee — and I am sure the other mem-
bers will concur with me — in spite of the greatest concentrated effort
on the part of the Communist Party leadership on the Negro race,
they have had, I would say, a minimum success, if any, and as far as
our proceedings in hearings have revealed, have had no success what-
soever in influencing your great race of people.
Mr. Lawson. Thank you very much.
Mr. Arens. Next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be Mr.
Samuel J. Parks, Jr.
Kindly come forward and remain standing while the chairman
administers an oath to you.
Mr. Moulder. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony which you
are about to give before this committee will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Parks. I do.
TESTIMONY OF SAMUEL J. PARKS, JR., ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Parks. Before you ask any questions there is one question I
want to know. I received this subpena. Here it is. Also I am losing
money by being here.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 565
Mr. Moulder. I am glad you bring that point up.
Mr. Parks. Let me finish. I got my car over in the garage. Been
there since 10 o'clock, and they do not charge lightly over there for it.
You know I just can't afford financial support for sitting here losing
money and then got to pay out money, you know, to be here.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer the question ?
^Ir. Parks, No, I would like to know am I going to be remunerated
for being here. That is my question.
Mr. Arens. Would you please answer the question ?
Mr. Moulder. Wait a minute. We should have announced at the
end of the testimony of each and every witness who has appeared
before the committee that they can claim witness fees and should sign
the vouchers for their attendance and the witness fees, as provided by
law, after the completion of their testimony.
Mr. Parks. Thank you.
Mr. Moulder. I don't know who on the staff is attending to that.
Mr. Parks. I will be around to see the gentlemen when I get
through.
Mr. Moulder. Yes, that is right.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Parks. My name is Samuel J. Parks, Jr., 614 East 62d Street.
I am the operator of a service station.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Parks. I didn't get what you said.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena ?
Mr. Parks. This subpena, yes.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Parks. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Laavson. Belf ord Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been engaged at the gas station ?
Mr. Parks. April 1957.
Mr. Arens. A^^iat was your employment inunediately prior to
that?
Mr. Parks. Director of the Anti-Discrimination Department,
UPW, AFI^CIO, District 1.
Mr. Arens. Plow long did you occupy that position ?
Mr. Parks. For around 3 years.
Mr. Arens. What was your occupation immediately prior to that
occupation ?
Mr. Parks. Secretary-treasurer of District No. 1.
Mr. Arens. Of what?
Mr. Parks. UPW, AFI^CIO.
Mr. Arens. How long did you occupy that position ?
Mr. Parks. Around 4 years.
Mr. Moulder, How long ?
Mr. Parks. Around 4 or 5 years. It has been so long ago. I don't
know approximately.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a candidate for public office ?
Mr. Parks. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds it may
tend to incriminate me.
■11635—59 5
566 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr Arens. I lay before you now a thermofax reproduction of a
leaflet or flyer, "Sam Parks for Congress," and ask you whether or not
the facts recited there respecting your candidacy for Congress are
true and correct.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr Parks. What is your question relative to that again ?
Mr. Arens. Are the facts recited in this document which I have
just displayed to you, this leaflet respecting the candidacy of Sam
Parks for Congress ; are those facts correct?
Mr. Parks. I refuse to answer that question for the same reasons
I have iust stated. .. , • ■, •
(Document marked "Parks Exhibit No. 1" and retained m commit-
tee files.) „ , ^ • . -r> i 1
Mr. Arens. Were you a member of the Communist Party when you
ran for Congress on the Progressive Party ticket ?
Mr. Parks. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds it may
tend to incriminate me. i <? j.i
Mr. Arens. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party ? . i i •
Mr. Parks. I refuse to answer that question on the same basis.
Mr! Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr.' Parks. I am not a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party ?
Mr. Parks. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds it may
tend to incriminate me. i • • ^-u /><
Mr. Arens. Did you resign technical membership m the Commu-
nist Party so you could take an oath and deny current membership
in the Communist Party and stay within the Communist Party
operation? . , , .,
Mr. Parks. I refuse to answer the question on the grounds it may
tend to incriminate me. , • .i ^ -n
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully submit that will con-
clude tlie staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions, Mr. Willis ?
Mr. Willis. No.
Mr. Johansen. No.
Mr. Moulder. Call your next witness, Mr. Arens. _
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will
be Mr. Jack Souther. Will you please come forward ?
Mr. M0UI.DER. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are
about to give before the committee will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Souther. I do.
#^-
TESTIMONY OF JACK SOUTHEE, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFOED V. LAWSOIT, JR.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation ? ^, . r. n 1 A T
Mr. Souther. Jack Souther, 5214 South Springfield Avenue. 1
am secretary-treasurer of District 1, United Packinghouse Workers
of America, AFI^CIO.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 567
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you?
Mr. Souther. I am.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Souther. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belford V. Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Souther, how long have you maintained your pres-
ent job with United Packinghouse Workers of America?
Mr. Souther. Since 1952.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Souther. I refuse to answer that question. It might tend to
incriminate me. ^ .
Mr. Arens. Mr. Carl Nelson testified this morning that while he
was a member of the Communist Party a number of people resigned
technical membership in the Coimnunist Party, but stayed within
the Communist Party operation as Communists so that they could
deny present technical membership in the Communist Party if they
were ever confronted with the question on that score. Did you re-
sign technical membership in the Communist Party but maintain
yourself in the Communist Party operation?
Mr. Souther. I refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Nelson said he knew you as a member of the
Communist Party. Was he in error on that identification, or was he
telling the truth ?
Mr. Souther. I refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully submit that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. Mr. Counsel, you should divide your general question
for this witness. I think, unless I misunderstand you, you said "Are
you now, or have you ever been." Divide the question.
Mr. Aeens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Souther. No.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Souther. I refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Did you resign technical membership in the Com-
munist Party but maintain yourself in the Communist operation ?
Mr. Souther. I refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. If you gave a truthful answer to that question would
you be giving us information which might be used against you in a
criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Souther. I refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully submit that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. I understand you decline to answer the last ques-
tions that have been propounded to you for the first reason previ-
ously stated, namely, that you claim the protection, your privilege
under the Constitution in declining to answer, is that right, Mr.
Lawson ?
Mr. Lawson. That is right.
Mr. Souther. That is right.
568 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF Vi'UAL INDUiSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Moulder. All right. , u •
Mr. Souther. No; 1 did not refuse to denounce my membership
now.
Mr. Moulder. Yes; you answered that. You denied present mem-
bership in tlie Communist Party.
Mr. Souther. I am not now a member.
Mr. Moulder. Eight. We understand.
Claim the witness fee by signing the voucher.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Gloria Wailes.
Please come forward.
Mr. Moulder. Please raise your right hand and be sworn. Do you
solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give before the com-
mittee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
so help you God ?
Mrs. Wailes. I do.
TESTIMONY OF GLOEIA WAILES, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFOKD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
Mrs.' Wailes. I am Mrs. Gloria Wailes and I reside at 6922 South
Prairie Avenue and I am a secretary.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this conmiittee ?
Mrs. Wailes. Yes ; I am.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel?
Mrs. Wailes. Yes ; I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself on this record (
Mr. Lawson. Belford V. Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. Where are you employed, Mrs. Wailes ?
Mrs. Wailes. I am em'ployed as a secretary at the international
office of the United Packinghouse Workers of America.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been so employed ^
Mrs. Wailes. Three and a half years.
Mr. Arens. Wliat was your employment immediately prior to your
present employment ''i
Mrs. Wailes. Secretary to Local No. 25 of the United Packinghouse
Workers of America.
Mr. Arens. Located in Chicago ?
Mrs. Wailes. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time were you so employed ?
Mrs. Wailes. Five years.
2ilr. Arens. xind what was your occupation prior to that ?
i!»Irs. Wailes. I refuse to answer that question. It might tend to
incriminate me.
Mr, Arens. Are you now, or liave you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party ?
jMrs. Wailes. Would you clarify yourself ?
Mr. Arens. Yes. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of
the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Wailes. I am not a member of the Communist Party.
COMMUNIST INFILTKATIOX OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 569
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs, Wailes. I refuse to answer that question. It might tend to
incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Did you resign technical membership in the Communist
Party but maintain yourself in the Communist operation so that you
could take an oath and deny current, present membership in a formal
entity knovn as the Communist Party '^
Mrs. Wailes. Would you please clarify yourself ?
Mr. Arens, Did you resign technical membership in the Commu-
nist Party but maintain yourself in the Communist operation?
Mrs. Wailes. I refuse to answer that question on the basis it might
tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Carl Nelson took an oath this morning and testified
respecting the teclinique and strategy and tactics, in the recent past,
being used by the Communist conspiracy whereby the comrades resign
technical membersliip in a formal entity known as the Commmiist
Party and maintain themselves in the Communist Party operation.
He likewise testified that while he was a member of the formal entity
known as the Commmiist Party he knew you as a member of the
Communist Party.
Was he in error in that identification, or was he telling the truth?
Mrs. Wailes. What is your specific question ?
Mr. Arens. Was he in error when he identified you as a person
who was known to him to be a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with counsel.)
Mrs. Wailes. I refuse to answer that question on the basis of the
fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you presently have information respecting persons
who, in the recent past, to your certain knowledge have been members
of the Co^umunist Party ?
Mrs. Wailes. I have no knowledge.
Mr. Arens. Do you know people who have been members of the
Communist Party ?
Mrs. Wailes. I refuse to answer that question and I have consti-
tutional right.
Mr. Arens. Why do you refuse to answer that question ?
Mrs. Wailes. Fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Whj^ do you refuse to answer that question ?
Mrs. Wailes. Because under constitutional rights which I also
have, even though I am a Negro ; I refuse to answer that question on
the basis of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully, submit that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions, Mr. Willis ?
Mr. Willis. No.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions Mr. Johansen ?
Mr. Johansen. No.
Mr. Moulder. I want to ask one or two questions.
Mrs. Wailes. Sorry I can't hear you.
Mr. Moulder. I want to ask one or two questions of you, Mrs.
Wailes.
I understood you to say you are not now a member of the Com-
munist Party.
570 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mrs. Wailes. No, sir.
Mr. Moulder. And you have no association or connection with any
of the Communist Party activities, is that correct?
Mrs. Wailes. That is correct.
Mr. Moulder. You are engaged now working where ?
Mrs. AVailes. A secretary.
Mr. Moulder. As a secretary ?
Mrs. Wailes. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. Are you married ?
]Mrs AVailes. Yes I am.
Mr. Moulder. Now I want to say this to you that your being sub-
penaed before the committee within itself, by itself, does not carry
with it any reflection or any questions as to your loyalty or patriotic
loyalty as an American citizen whatsoever, and I have every reason
to hope that you are.
You are excused as a witness and you may claim your witness fee.
Mi's. Wailes. Thank you.
Mr. Arens. Joseph Zabritski, please come forward and remain
standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Moulder. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are
about to give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Zabritski. I do.
TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH ZABEITSKI, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELPORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation ?
Mr. Zabritskl Joseph Zabritski, 4315 South Spaulding; I am a
plumber.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr. Zabritski. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Zabritski. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belford V. Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. Where are you employed, Mr. Zabritski ?
Mr. Zabritski. I am employed at the Hawthorne Plumbing Co.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been so employed ?
Mr. Zabritskl A little over 2 years.
Mr. Aeens. What was your employment immediately prior to your
present employment ?
Mr. Zabritski. Oh, I have jobs off and on ever since I left Wilson
& Co. in 1955.
Mr. Arens. Where were you employed ?
Mr. Zabritskl I had several jobs since then.
Mr. Arens. Give us the basic jobs that you held prior to your
present job, the principal employments.
Mr. Zabritskl Well, I worked for — Oh, I don't know the names
of all these companies. A little place on the North Side just on the
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO 571
other side of Chicago Avenue. I worked there about 2 months. And
I worked for the old pLant of Miller & Hart there for about 2 months
and then before that I was working for the Local 25.
Mr. Arens. Local 25 of what?
Mr. Zabritski. United Packinghouse Workers of America.
Mr. Arens. Were you ever president of Local 25 ?
Mr, Zabritski Yes, sir ; I w^as.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time were you president of
Local 25 ?
Mr. Zabritski. I think around — I think around 1953, 1954, and
1955.
Mr. Arens. Did you ever sign a non-Communist affidavit?
Mr. Zabritski. Yes, sir ; I did.
Mr. Arens. Wlien ?
Mr. Zabritski. Oh, I guess right when it first became the law of
the land.
Mr. Arens. Was that in 1948 ?
Mr. Zabritski. That is when it became the law of the land; yes,
sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you ever resign from the Communist Party ?
Mr. Zabritski. I take the fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Zabritski. I take the fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you now ?
Mr. Moulder. As suggested by the gentleman from Louisiana,
please divide that question. Give the witness an opportunity to
answer.
Mr. Arens. I was about to do that.
Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Zabritski. No, sir ; I am not.
Mr. Arens. Did you resign technical membership in the Communist
Party but maintain yourself in the Communist operation?
Mr. Zabritski. I take the fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Carl Nelson ?
Mr. Zabritski. I take the fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Nelson testified this morning that during his career
in the Communist Party a number of persons resigned technical mem-
bership in the Communist Party but maintained themselves in the
Communist operations, and he testified further that while he was a
member of the formal entity known as the Communist Party he knew
you, sir, as a member of the Communist Party. Was he in error in
that testimony, or was he correct ?
Mr. Zabritski. I take the fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully submit that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions, Mr. Willis ?
Mr. Willis. Counsel, did you ask him the direct question whether
he resigned technical membership in order to have the benefit of the
invocation of the constitutional privilege ?
Mr. Arens. I asked him that question.
Mr. Willis. For the record I think those questions are very im-
portant from my point of view and should be answered under oath.
572 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF \TTAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. I did ask him the question which you just repeated Mr.
Willis, and he invoked the constitutional privilejje in response to it.
Mr. JoiiANSEN. I believe you testified that you did on occasion sign
a loyalty oath ?
Mr. Zabritski. Yes, sir.
Mr. Moulder. A non- Communist affidavit.
Mr. JoHANSEN. A non- Communist oath?
Mr. Zabritski. Yes, sir.
Mr. JoHANSEN. Were you at the instant you signed that non- Com-
munist oath a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Zabritski. No, sir.
Mr. Moulder. May I ask you, going on farther 'so that the record
may be clear : When was the affidavit signed, in what year ?
Mr. Zabritski. That will be the first year that it became tlie law,
I don't remember wlien it was. I don't remember.
Mr. Moulder. More than several years ago, in other words ?
Mr. Zabritski. Yes, sir.
Mr. Moulder. Since that time have you contributed any dues oi'
made any contributions to any cell in the Communist Party or any
Communist Party activities ?
Mr. Zabritski. Since the time of
Mr. Moulder. Since 1948 or since you signed that affidavit that you
referred to ?
Mr. Zabritski. Not that I know of.
IVIr. Moulder. That is the question and I want to make the record
clear for your own protection so it will have the proper reflection upon
you.
During all that period of time, you have not in any way associated
yourself by participating in any Communist Party affairs; is that
correct ?
Mr. Zabritski. I just been trying to make a living so I could support
my family, that is about all.
Mr. Moulder. Insofar as you realize or know, you have not since
that time, in any way, associated with any activity of the Connnunist
Party?
j\Ir. Zabritski. No, sir.
Mr. Moulder. The witness is excused.
You may claim your witness fees with Mr. Collins by signing a
voucher, and Mr. Lawson I would suggest the other witnesses who
haven't signed the vouchers should see Mr. Collins about it.
Mr. Arens. We have no further witnesses for today, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Moulder. The committee will recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
(Whereupon, at 3 :40 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, the subcommittee ad-
journed to reconvene at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 6, 1959.)
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES
AND CURRENT COMMUNIST TECHNIQUES IN THE
CHICAGO, ILL., AREA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1959
United States House of Representatives,
Subcommittee of the
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Chicago^ III.
public hearings
The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities
met, pursuant to recess, at 10 : 15 a.m., in courtroom 209, United
States Courthouse, 219 South Clark Street, Chicago, 111., Hon. Mor-
gan M. Moulder (subcommittee chairman) presiding.
Subcommittee members present: Representatives Morgan M.
Moulder of Missouri, Edwin E. Willis of Louisiana and August E.
Johansen of Michigan.
Staff members present: Richard Arens, staff director, and Ray-
mond T. Collins, investigator,
Mr. Moulder. The committee will be in order.
I have received a telegram from Mr. Ralph Helstein, president
of the United Packinghouse Workers AFL-CIO, wherein he states
that Mr. Jesse Prosten has not been hiding out from the committee
somewhere in the southeast trying to avoid service of a subpena, that
he is in St. Paul and that he resents much, during the course of the
hearings, the statement that he is hiding out, that he has secured per-
mission to return to Cliicago on Wednesday, May 6, and that he will
be available as a witness to appear in the hearings on Thursday,^
May 7.
Call your next witness, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Mr, John Kackney, kindly come forward.
Please remain standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr, Moulder. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are
about to give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Hackney. I do,
TESTIMONY OF JOHN R. HACKNEY
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, if you would be good enough to bear
with us for a few seconds while this microphone system is being ad-
justed.
Mr. Moulder, Sure.
573
574 COMJVIUlSriST infiltration of vital industries CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Hackney. My name is John R. Hackney. I live at 7337
Calumet, Chicago. I am employed as an international representative
for the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America, AFI^CIO.
Mr. Arens. How long have you occupied that position ?
Mr. Hackney. Since March 24, 1952.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, sir, respecting previous oc-
cupations you have had since you reached adulthood, just the princi-
pal previous occupations.
Mr. Hackney. Previous occupations were
Mr. Moulder. The committee will stand in recess for a period of
10 minutes or until such time as the microphone can be adjusted.
( Committee members present : Representatives Moulder, Willis, and
Johansen.)
(A brief recess.)
(Committee members present : Representatives Moulder, Willis, and
Johansen.)
Mr. Moulder. The committee will be in order.
Mr. Arens. You were, as we suspended a moment ago, in the process
of giving the principal occupations which you have had since you
reached adulthood. Would you kindly proceed ?
Mr. Hackney. I would say in 1925 I started to work with Swift
& Company. In 1931 I went over to the G. H. Hammond plant and
worked there until the United Packinghouse Workers conducted a
campaign to organize the plant, in which I took an active part in the
campaign and subsequently became the president of that local. Local
26.
I took a leave of absence at the request of the district director to take
a job as a field representative for the United Packinghouse Workers,
approximately in the year 1944 or 1943 and remained in that position
until August 1948.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Hackney, have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes, I was a member of the Communist Party ap-
proximately from 1942 to 1948.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Hackney, why did you join the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. Well, I was led to believe that the Communist Party
was the spearhead of the rights of the Negro people.
Mr. Arens. The record caimot reflect it. You are a member of the
Negro race, is that correct ?
Mr. Hackney. Correct.
Mr. Arens. Would you proceed to tell us why you broke with the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. I found that they were misleading myself and my
people in regards to conducting campaigns for purposes of making the
Negro people believe that they were pioneering the fight for their
rights.
Mr. Arens. I expect to interrogate you at length in a few moments
respecting the details of your membership in the Communist Party
and undertake to solicit from you considerable information respecting
Communist operations. I want, if you please, first, however, in order
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 575
to place your testimony in perspective to ask you a few general
questions.
You told us that you were in the meat industry, in the packing-
house industry during the course of most of your adult life?
Mr. Hackney. Since I was 17 years old.
Mr. Arens, Does the Communist operation in the greater Chicago
area covet, seek to penetrate — is it in a position of penetration in the
meat industry ?
Mr. Hackney. It is now and always has been.
Mr. Arens. Wliy ?
Mr. Hackney. Because the party felt that the meat industry was
essential to the national economy and it was important that they
build the party within the meat industry in the event that we had war
with other nations, that we could control the meat industry and its
various outlets.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Hackney, based upon your extensive experience in
the Communist Party, how serious is the Communist operation in the
greater Chicago area on the basis of your most current information?
Mr. Hackney. From my most current information and my ex-
perience in my activity in the party I would say that the party is
stronger now in the meat industry than it ever has been.
Mr. Arens. The Communist Party as a formal entity has been re-
duced in size, has it not ?
Mr. Hackney. It has been reduced in size because of, well, there
are some people that they consider not good party material that
couldn't serve the purpose of the party and they were removed from
office one way or other, from position in the party, from membership
in the party.
Mr. Arens. Is there a distinction in your mind based upon your
experience in the Communist Party between a person who is a member
of the formal entity known as the Communist Party and a person who
is a Communist in the Communist operation but who, for reasons of
the conspiracy, is not a formal member of the entity known as the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. The distinction between an ordinary member and a
genuine Communist is that a member is just an ordinary member
where, in my opinion, a Communist is a leader and operates in leader-
ship of the union.
Mr. Arens. Are there any persons in the conspiracy as Communists
who have resigned technical membership in the formal entity known
as the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Now, yesterday, and I am using this only from the
standpoint of a simple illustration for the record which we are making
today, yesterday we heard witnesses, some of whom had been identified
as members of the Communist Party. TVlien they appeared before
this committee they said in effect that they were not then members of
the Communist Party. When I asked them if they resigned technical
membership in the formal entity known as the Communist Party in
order to maintain themselves in the Communist operation, they re-
fused to give us responses.
Do you have any recommendations, based upon your background
and information, which could establish a criterion or test that can be
576 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
appliftd to determine whether or not a person who has resigned from
technical membership in the formal entity known as the Communist
Party is, in truth and in fact, out of the conspiracy ?
Mr. Hackney. In my opinion if a person has resigned completely
from the Communist Party he would come before this committee and
he would say so and he would testifj'^, the same as I am, and as far as
experience I have had with members of the Communist Party resigning
for technical reasons, I can cite you one particular case that comes in
my mind and that was in the 1948 convention here in the city of
Chicago.
There was a caucus meeting held of top party officials and for the
purpose of deciding who was to resign from the party because of the
refusal to sign the Taft-Hartley oath and in one particular case there
was Meyer Stern, the district director of District 6 in New York,
whom I knew to be a member of the party, and to my surprise I
learned that he had resigned from the party the night before the elec-
tion of officers took place and that he was now eligible to run for office
and be reelected a district director of District 6 because he was now
not a member of the party and free to sign a non- Communist affidavit.
Mr. Arens. Did he maintain himself for all intents and purposes as
an active member of the conspiracy ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. Just to correct the record, Mr. Arens, I hope I am
not too technical.
But do you know from your own personal knowledge that that
reasoning ;ind application of tlie rensoning that Mr. Arens has stated,
applies to the witnesses who testified here yesterday ?
The reference was made to those witnesses and I wonder if you know
of your own personal knowledge anything about them in that respect?
Mr. Hackney. Most of them signed the affidavit after I left.
Mr. Moulder. Then you don't know of your own pei-sonal knowledge
that they are still active or associated with the Communist Party's
philosophy and activities ?
Mr. Hackney. No ; I don't. No.
Mr. Moulder. I see.
Mr. Arens. As of the time you left the Communist Party, how
intensive was the Communist penetration of the packinghouse in-
industry in the greater Chicago area?
Mr. Hackney. In the greater Chicago area most of the local unions
and the international positions in this organization were held by mem-
bers that I know who have been members of the Com.munist Party.
Mr. Arens. Before we get into the details of your participation in
the Communist movement, I should like to ask you if, since you have
broken from the Communist Party, you have been a consultant, a
witness for the United States Government in certain proceedings?
Mr. Hackney. Yes ; I have.
Mr. Arens. In other words, the Government of the United States
via the Justice Department and the Immigration and Naturalization
Service and other agencies have availed themselves of your services
in a public capacity giving the Government information respecting
the operation of the conspiracy ; is that correct ?
Mr. Hackney. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Now, kindly tell us, if you please, where and when you
joined the Communist Party.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 577
Mr. Hackney. Well, I signed the card at the district headquarters
of the UPWA. At that time it was located at 4758 South Marshfield.
I remained in until — during the 1948 strike, up until that time. Some-
time during 1947 I began to see through the conspiracy to mislead the
people of the industry and particularly Negro people and I became
fed up with it and I think that they suspected that I was becoming
inactive and after the 1948 strike I received a letter from President
Helstein that my services were no longer required because of the
financial strain that was on the international in regards to the 1948
strike.
It was necessary to cut the staff at this time. And that I was one
of those that had left the plant on a leave of absence, that I would be
requested to go back to the plant, maintain myself until at such time
the international saw fit to again increase its staff I would be given
consideration.
However, when they did increase its staff I was replaced by a man
from United Electrical Workers Union and I had left the party and
apparently for that reason I wasn't called when they decided to in-
crease the staff.
Mr. Arens. Now, may I inquire, did you attend Communist Party
training schools after your induction into the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes ; I did. That is one of the requirements. After
they recruit you into the party you are not considered just good
party material by simply joining the party. You have to be trained
to become an aggressive leader in the union.
Mr. Arens. Where were you trained ?
Mr. Hackney. I went to scliool in Des Plaines.
Mr. Arens. Des Plaines, Illinois ?
Mr. Hackney. Des Plaines, Illinois. I went to, I believe, at that
time it was called Abraham Lincoln Center on Oakwood Boulevard
and Langley Avenue. We had classes there in regard to parliamentary
procedure, public speaking, how to become a leader in the union. How
to stand out so people will recognize you as being a leader. This
would bring prestige to the party.
Mr. Arens. Did you go to any other schools ?
Mr. Hackney. That was all that I can recall at this time. I proba-
bly did. We had classes at 4848 Ashland Avenue at various times
but how many classes I could not remember.
Mr. Arens. Based upon your experience in the Communist Party
and as one who was trained in the Communist Party training schools
do you have any pronouncements to make respecting the connection
between the Communist Party and the Communist operation in the
United States and the international Communist conspiracy directed
from Moscow ?
Mr. Hackney. Well, they practically followed the same line.
Mr. Arens. Is there a direct line of control ?
Mr. Hackney. We always referred to our comrades in Russia and
the trade-union movement in Russia and they are our comrades and
naturally we all are in the same organization.
Mr. Arens. Tell us, please, the various entities within the meatpack-
ing industry to which you were connected as a comrade.
Mr. Hackney. I was connected as the chairman of the small house
branch of the Packinghouse Section.
578 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. What comprised the small house branch ?
Mr. Hackney. The small house branch consisted of small plants
that employed say 300 or 400 people, 100 people, and they were all
combined together in one branch of the section.
Mr. Arens. Could you tell us how the Packinghouse Section was
made up ?
Mr. Hackney. The Packinghouse Section was made up of three
or four branches. There were the Swift branch, the Armour branch,
the Wilson branch, and the small house branch.
Mr. Arens. AVho was chairman or in leadership capacity in the
Swift branch?
Mr. Hackney. Well, they had a problem in the Swift plant branch.
They were trying to find leadership. They had several that they tried.
They had tried Ramirez. They tried John Lewis. They tried Charley
Proctor.
Mr. Arens. Were all of them known by you to be members of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. Definitely.
Mr. Arens. Did you serve in closed Communist Party meetings
with them ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. How about the Armour branch. Who were in leader-
ship capacity at the Armour branch ?
Mr. Hackney. You had Leon Beverly, Joe Bezenhoffer. I have
several names if you care to. I have some notes in my pocket.
Mr. Arens. I want to get into the identities of a number of people
a little later on. I just at the moment want the leaders. The Armour
branch.
Mr. Hackney. Armour branch, Beverly, Bezenhoffer.
Mr. Arens. Give the full names, please ?
Mr. Hackney. Joe Bezenhoffer, Leon Beverly, Randolph Luke,
Charles Mitchell.
Mr. Arens. How about the Wilson branch ?
Mr. Hackney. Wilson branch consisted of Joe Zabritski, Carl Nel-
son, Sam Parks.
Mr. Arens. Were they the leaders ?
Mr. Hackney. They were the top ones.
Mr. Arens. How about the small house unit ?
Mr. Hackney. As to the small house unit, I was the head of the
small house unit. We had
Mr. Arens. Did you have associates in leadership ?
Mr. Hackney. I had associates in the Miller & Hart plant, James
Jesse Richards; in the Illinois Meat Co. we had a leader by the name
of Jack Sechrest, and
Mr. Arens. Did that pretty well include the leadership?
Mr. Hackney. That included the top leadership. There were
others but they were not considered leaders.
Mr. Arens. As of the time you disassociated yourself from the
Communist Party, who was the top leader of the Communist opera-
tion in the packinghouse industry in the greater Chicago area ?
Mr. Hackney. Jesse Prosten.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about Jesse Prosten.
Mr. Hackney. Jesse Prosten was known as the brains behind the
scene. He was considered the No. 1 party member in packing. He
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 579
is the comrade that had connections throughout the industry where
there were other members of the party and there were other people
that were not members of the party that he had good relationships
with.
Mr. Arens. What is his present job?
Mr. Hackney. I am told that his present job now is head of the
grievance department of the UPWA. However, when I was asso-
ciated with the United Packinghouse Workers he was head of the
grievance department in the Armour chain. I since learned he had
been promoted now to cover the entire grievance department there in
the national union.
Mr. Arens. Now, I should like, before we get into the identification
of additional persons known by you to be Communists in the packing-
house industry, to ask you about certain phases of the activities in
which the Communists were engaged, to your certain knowledge,
while you were in the party assigned to the packinghouse industry.
Do you have information respecting Communist Party activities in
political campaigns?
Mr. Hackney. Very definitely. There is one that stands out very
bold in my memory and that was the campaign to elect Pete Brown
for alderman of the Second Ward. We had several meetings at 4848
Ashland and discussed the problem. When I said several meetings I
don't mean meetings of the party itself, but I mean the top echelon.
I was considered what you might call part of the top brass by virtue
of me holding a chairmanship in the small house branch.
The top officials of the party would meet on various occasions and
discuss strategy and plans and this particular time we discussed the
possibility of running one of our people as an alderman of the Second
Ward.
Pete Brown lived in the Second Ward. We had a meeting and dis-
cussed it at 4848 Ashland. We came to agreement there and left
there and went to the South Side Branch of the Communist Party,
with Claude Lightfoot and discussed it with hmi
Mr. Arens. Who was Claude Lightfoot ?
Mr. Hackney. He was at that time the chairman of the South
Side Branch of the Communist Party. We discussed it with him and
reviewed the political work that took place in 1944 at which time we
had a very effective ward organization and it was discussed that we
sliould continue this ward organization because it was felt that we
could use it for some political influence. We conducted a good cam-
paign, showing progress.
Mr. Arens. Were union funds utilized in the campaign?
Mr. Hackney. Definitely. I would say it this way : I was a full-
time paid organizer for the UPWA. Pete Brown was a full-time
paid organizer for the UPWA. And Sam Parks was paid by his local
union, full time. And when we met these are the people that attended
that meeting and mapped the strategy out.
Yes, there were other funds raised for the campaign. People were
asked to come out of the plant on temporary leave to poll watchers
to do whatever assignment they had for them.
Mr. Arens. I would like to invite your attention to another area
of Communist Party activity and solicit from you your frank state-
ments and observations based upon your own experience. It has been
580 COMMUNIST INTILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
the experience of this committee, Mr. Hackney, as we go from area
to area trying to develop information respecting the operation of
the Communist conspiracy, that trained hard-core agents of the con-
spiracy sit opposite us here and surround themselves with an aura of
sanctity saying that they are the ones that are advocating the preser-
-.^ation of precious rights and that this committee is the one that is
destroying those rights, this committee is the witch hunter, this com-
mittee is the one that is trying to destroy the civil rights of the colored
people of our country, that this committee is the entity that is against
civil rights and the only reason why we have at any time a colored
man before this committee is because he is a colored man and because
we want to hold him up to ridicule and destroy him.
Now, based upon your experience in the Communist Party, are
these comrades sincere when they make those protestations and sur-
round themselves with that aura of respectability on their own
conduct ?
Would you just in your own way express yourself on this very
crucial issue?
Mr. Hackney. That vei-y definitely in my opinion is an outright
lie. They have portrayed themselves to be the pioneers for the rights
of Negro people and I know from experience and past experience
that they have used the many grievances of the Negro people for the
purpose of building the party. They cite certain cases that they
played an attractive role in getting some actions. One that comes in
my mind is the Scottsboro case, that they contend that they were
active in, well, the launching the forefront for the Scottsboro boys,
gaining them a hearing — what were results of the hearing I don't
know— but they contend they were in the forefront.
They contend they were in the forefront when the Negro people
were being evicted during the depression era, that they were active
in putting people back in their homes. Overall they contend that they
are the pioneers for the rights of the Negro people.
Mr. Arens. Are they sincere in those protestations?
Mr. Hackney. Definitely not.
Mr. Arens. Do you have any illustrations in your own mind from
your own experience in which the Communist operations have actu-
ally discriminated against people of the Negro race for the interest
of the advancement of the conspiracy ?
Mr. Hackney. Well, I would say if they were interested in Negro
people I can cite you — this microphone is oft' now.
Mr. Moulder. The committee will recess for a period of 5 minutes
or short period of time until the microphone can be properly adjusted.
(Members of the committee present: Representatives Moulder,
Willis, and Johansen.)
(A brief recess.)
(Members of the committee present after recess: Representatives
Willis and Johansen.)
Mr. Arens. Would you proceed on the matter which you were dis-
cussing and speak right into the microphone, please?
Mr. Hackney. I can think of cases where they have — it's not on now.
Mr. Arens, If you will kindly speak into the speaker and just pro-
ceed with the information wliicli you were in the process of supplying
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 581
to the committee when we had the inteiTuption because of the tem-
perament of the microphone system here.
Mr. Kackney. I woukl say that in many cases they have destroyed
Negro leaders in the union that they felt were detrimental to their
programs. I can cite a particular case of Phil Weightman. In my
opinion Phil Weightman was a fighter for the rights of Negro people,
who was vice president of the United Packinghouse Workers at the
time I was there, and it seems that Phil Weightman would oppose them
on certain issues, I imagine in the international executive board meet-
ings, and for that reason Phil Weightman was, you might call, extermi-
nated.
I can think of some other Negro leaders. It comes to my mind,
Oscar Wilson was one time a field representative. Apparently he
didn't go along with the program and eventually he was exterm-
inated.
Mr. Arens. May I just ask you your observation as to why the Com-
munist Party has created such fronts as the National Negro Congress
and others of like stripe with a front at least of attempting to beguile
the American people into believing that they actually in truth and
in fact are sincere in seeking betterment for the Negro citizenry ?
Mr. Hackney. They set up these front organizations so that they
cannot be connected with the party itself. The purpose of these or-
ganizations is to try to prove to the Negro people that this committee
is fighting for the rights of the Negro people. They are not identified
as a Communist organization. They are fronted through certain
names like the Negro peoples' National Negro Congress, a few other
names.
Mr. Arens. Could you from your own experience give us an il-
lustration or so of a front group in which you as a Communist par-
ticipated on behalf of the Communist Party within a front group ?
Mr. Hackney. I was active in the National Negro Congress.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Hackney. I was just active in the community in regards to get
people out to vote, using the people that we had in the Negro National
Congress to set up our ward organization.
Mr. Arens. Were you also active in the Midwest Committee for
Protection of Foreign Born ?
Mr. Hackney. No, but that name came up many times when they
were asked contributions to be sent to this organization.
Mr. Arens. Would you give us just a few words respecting the tech-
nique of the Communist operation, what we will in this session char-
acterize as the self-criticism discussions? Can you give us a word
about that, the Communist technique ?
Mr. Hackney. We had several of these sessions, they were called —
sometime we called them bull session and sometime just have a
meeting.
"VVliere people are not too aggressive, it seems like they had fallen
by the wayside and at these sessions you were to get up and point out
your weaknesses, what you thought was wrong with you, criticize
yourself and then you in turn would turn around and state what you
thought you could do to correct your weaknesses.
At the same tim.e you were to point out your own weaknesses you
had an opportunity to criticize other people that you saw that had
41635—59 6
582 COMMUNIST INTILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
certain weaknesses. We had several of these sessions for the pur-
poses of, well, in their opinion you were not being active enough to
reactivize you, make you more aggressive.
Mr. Arens, Could you give us a further word with respect to the
techniques of collection of money for the operation of the conspiracy ?
Mr. Hackney. For example, there were mass rallies to raise money,
to say tight for something that happened down South. I have in
mind that there was a lynching down South. A big rally was heid
for the purpose of raising funds to see that people responsible for
certain crimes in the South were brought to justice. We had many
of these rallies.
Mr. Arens. Did the Communist Party have anything to do based
upon your information with the financing of the present headquarters
of the United Packinghouse Workers in the Chicago area ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Canyon tell us about that?
Mr. Hackney. I happened to be at the ground-breaking ceremonies,
I think the summer of 1947, and at that time I was standing in the
crowd a man came up to me that I recognized as Seymour Siporin
and he recognized me and we shook hands.
Mr. Arens. Was he a Communist ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes. He told me that he had designed this build-
ing and was in the process of building it.
Mr. Arens. Did he tell you about the processes of financing it?
Mr. Hackney. No, he didn't tell me.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us about any city- wide Communist Party
meetings in the course of your experience in the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. We had several citywide meetings, where we would
meet Communist Party members from other organizations otlier than
the packinghouse workers. They were at no particular time, just
whenever the occasion called for it. We would have one of these
citywide meetings and we would discuss problems on a citywide basis
and statewide basis.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Hackney, of course it is obvious I know nothing
about the meatpacking industry, but since we have been studying
the Communist operation in this area I have learned just a little about
it. I have learned tliat there has been in the course of the last few
years a sort, of a decentralization or a scattering of some of the meat-
packing plants from the Chicago area on out into the Midwest and
up into the Northwest to a degree at least, so we understand.
Has the Communist operation been following this decentralization
operation, do you know ?
Mr. Hackney. No, I don't know of that. But in the city I would
say that they remain with the industry as it stands. However, I
learned that the packing industry in Chicago is only a shadow of
what it was in 1048, in wliich I was president
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us wliat the Communist means in Com-
munist lingo or jargon by the word "colonizing"?
Mr. Hackney. Colonizing means tliat you send a person into various
localities where the party is weak, wliere they have very little party
influence. I can cite one particular case that comes to my knowledge.
The party was weak in the Swift plant and there was a Victoria
Kramer sent into that plant for the purpose of activizing.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 583
Mr. Arens. Was Victoria Kramer a Communist?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
She Avas planted in the Swift pLant for the purpose of activizing
the white women in the phmt. I know Carl Nelson was sent from
the Armour plant over to the Wilson plant to build the party in the
Wilson plant. There might be some other instances that don't come
to my memory at this time.
Mr. Arens. Do you have information respecting the creation and
operation by the Communist Party or the Communist operation in
the greater Chicago area of a publication known as the Chicago Star ?
Mr. Hackney. Oh, yes.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us about that, just the highlights of it,
please?
Mr. Hackney. We had several meetings of it — the section or sec-
tion committee and we discussed that some people would shy away
from subscribing to the Daily Worker because it was a known Com-
munist paper, whereby if w^e had a local paper that could be classified
as a labor paper, put out for the people of Chicago, that the people
would be more apt to subscribe for it and read it, where w^e could still
get our message over to the people without putting it in the Daily
Worker.
Mr. Arens. Was it absolutely controlled by the Communist con-
spiracy ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. I should like to ask you respecting the information you
have in regard to each of several persons and I want you to be excep-
tionally cautious, and not give us any indication of any suggestion
even though you thought they may or may not have been members
of the Communist Party unless you are absolutely certain, based
upon your membership in that conspiracy and based upon absolute
information that came to you from closed party meetings.
Did you in the course of your membership in the Communist Party
know as a Communist, Leon Beverly?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about Leon Beverly, please.
Mr. Hackney. Leon Beverly was in the Armour plant. He was on
the executive board until the president of that local, wlio wns Sam
Curry, was pushed upstairs, given a job on the international payroll
as assistant to the director or the wage rate department, and P)everly
who later became the president of that local union, the Armour
Local 347.
Mr. Arens. In the course of your membership in the Communist
Party, can you tell us to a certainty while you are under oath, wliether
or not you knew Hazel Gray as a member of the Communist Party,
if so in what capacity Hazel Gray served?
Mr. Hackney. I met Hazel Gray, who w^as with the Farm Equip-
ment Union. I first met her in the South Side Section of the Com-
munist Party at which time I learned that she was in the Farm
Equipment Union, an active leader in that union.
Mr. Arens. Did you w-hile you w^ere a member of the Communist
Party know as a Communist Charles Hayes?
Mr. Hackney. Yes, I knew Charles Hayes. When I first met
Charley Hayes he was in the Wilson plant and he was on the slate
584 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
of Sam Parks that were successful in defeating the president at that
time who was a man at that time by the nsune of Dock Williams.
And Charley Hayes was later the chairman of the gi'ievance commit-
tee in the Wilson local, which was Local 25 at that time.
And I was at several meetings where Charley Hayes was present
and at one meeting it was stated that Charley Hayes had been sent
aAvay to school, a school where I don't know, and that also was one of
the requirements. When you are a party member you are sent to-
leadership schools to be educated,
Mr. Arens. When you say educated, do you mean trained in Com-
munist Party techniques ?
Mr. Hackney. That is what I mean.
Mr. Arens. Could you give us a further word with respect to
Jesse Prosten. I believe you said a few moments ago that during
your experience in the Communist Party he was the top director of
Communist Party activities in the meatpacking industry.
Mr. Hackney. Jesse Prosten was the No. 1 Communist in the
packing industi*y. He was the one that got his directions from some
place I don't know of and brought them back to the packinghouse
workers and he proposed programs, he suggested campaigns to
strengthen the party, he led discussions in how to build the party
and he sat in on all the top meetings of the top party people in the
packinghouse section.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, William Rix ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes, I know William Rix. lie is from New York
District 6. I attended caucus meetings with Rix in meetings that we
had prior to convention or during conventions. In Montreal I recall
we had a caucus meeting at which Bill Rix was in attendance where
only party people were present.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist, Donald H. Smith ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes, I knew Donald Smith. He is also from New
York and I met him through the same way I met Bill Rix.
Mr. Arens. Could you tell us a word about his activities in the
Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. Hackney. Well, Bill Rix was considered one of the party peo-
ple in the New York area.
The only occasion I had to be in the presence of Bill Rix in party
meetings was when we had these various caucus meetings except the
one we had in Chicago in 1947 prior to the 1947 convention at which
time party people throughout the country were present and the sub-
ject of discussion at that time was to get rid of Phil Weightman, that
Phil Weightman was leaning too far to the right, you can't work
with him, can't do anything with him and therefore he must go.
Mr. Arens. To what extent are the comrades trained in these train-
ing schools to use noncomrades for the accomplishment of Commmiist
Party objectives?
Mr. Hackney. That is one of the purposes of the school is to
teach the comrades how to work with nonparty people. One of the
things that comes up quite frequently in party meetings is to keep
the party member aware that he must know how, know the techniques
of working with nonparty people.
Mr. Arens. Do the party people in these days make it known that
they are members of the conspiracy or do they pose as great humani-
tarians ?
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 585
Mr. Hackney. They don't say they are members of the Communist
Party. They naturally portray themselves as trade union leaders,
apt trade union leaders.
Mr. Arens. Would you tell us whether or not you knew as a com-
rade, as a member of the Communist Party, Jack Souther ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes, I knew Jack Souther. He also came out of
the Wilson local, Local 25.
Mr. Arens. Tell us a little of his activities, if you please.
Mr. Hackney. Well, Jack was on the executive board of Local 25.
He wasn't too active until after the 1948 strike, at which time I had
left the industry.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a comrade, as a member of the Com-
jnunsit Party, Meyer Stern ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes ; Meyer Stem was district director of District 6
in New York City.
Mr. Arens. District 6 of the meatpacking ?
Mr. Hackney. Of the United Packinghouse Workere. Not meat-
packing industry because that perhaps embodied some other organi-
zation. I want to make it clear we are referring to the United Pack-
inghouse Workers.
Mr. Arens. Kindly tell us did you know as a comrade, as a member
of the Communist Party, Olga Zenchuk ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes ; I met Olga Zenchuk in Detroit. I was assigned
to work in District 7 and I was told when I get in District 7 to look up
Olga Zenchuk and she could help me getting to the right people in
Detroit.
Mr. Arens. Did she do so ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Did she identify herself in Communist Party tech-
niques to you as a member of the conspiracy ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a member of the Communist Party
Leslie Orear.
Mr. Hackney. Yes, Leslie Orear was on the section committee of the
Packinghouse Section. His job was to advance educational program,
come up with the proper literature that he felt that we needed to edu-
cate the party members within the Packinghouse Section.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a member of the Communist Party,
Eachel Ellis?
Mr. Hackney. I don't know lier by that name at the time. Her
name was Carter. She was from Local 453.
Mr. Arens. Apparently Ellis is her married name ; is that correct ?
Mr. Hackney. I have since learned she married a man by the name
of Ellis.
Mr. Arens. Then her maiden name was Rachel Carter and her mar-
ried name was Rachel Ellis ; is that correct ?
Mr. Hackney. As I understand it. I knew her as Carter, when I
knew her.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about her, please.
Mr. Hackney. I met her in one of the citywide meetings at Van
Buren and Ashland. At that time she was secretary of UAW, Local
453. I since learned that she is now employed at District 1, secretary
to Charles Hayes, the district director of that district.
586 CORIMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr, Arens. Can you tell us by what devices the Communist opera-
tors within the packinghouse industry were able to control and influ-
ence the rank-and-file. It is obvious to us. It ought to be obvious
to any thinking person that the Communists within any organization
are numerically in the minority. How did the Communists within
the packinghouse operation control the majority and conceal from the
majority the fact that they were hard-core members of a conspiracy?
Mr. Hackney. A party person is always trained to be aggressive
union leader, to always be in the forefront fighting for the rights of the
working people. Naturally when the worker sees a certain man is out
there fighting for decent wages, working conditions for the packing-
houes worker, well, he naturally is influenced by that particular man.
Whenever there is an opportunity to run a slate of officers, they get out
and work real hard, they get the people elected, not only members of
the Communist Party but people that are influenced by the party on
their slate of officers and usually are elected to office.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully submit if it is agreeable
with the Chair that we have about a 5-minute recess.
Mr. Willis. That will be agreeable. We will stand in recess for 5
minutes.
(Members of the committee present at the time of recess: Repre-
sentatives Willis and Johansen.)
(A brief recess.)
(Members of the committee present after recess: Representatives
Moulder, Willis, and Johansen.)
]Mr. Moulder. The committee will be in order.
Proceed, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Hackney, as I commented earlier it has not been
our intention on this record to exhaust the subject matter with you.
You have testified in executive session, have you not?
jNIr. Hackney. Yes, I have.
Mr. Arens. And you have also been in repeated consultation with
representatives of this committee, the staff, at wdiich time you have
supplied considerable information on numerous items of the operation
of the Communist Party here, have you not?
Mr. Hackney. I have.
Mr. xA.RENS. Just so that we may not trespass unduly upon other
areas, may I ask if there are any items of information germane to the
subject matter here, which you would like on this record to reveal to
the committee ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes, I would like to reveal that I was a witness in
the deportation hearings of Jose Ramirez, who my understanding is
a field representative of the United Packinghouse Workers. This
hearing took place in the headquarters of the Immigration Service
at which hearing I was a witness and I testified for the Government
in that case.
Mr. Arens. Are there any other key persons, and I am not asking
you on this record for the rank-and-file, are there any other key per-
sons in the Communist operation in the meatpacking industry in the
Chicago area concerning whom you should like to comment ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes, I would like to comment on Charles Proctor,
who I understand now that he is a field representative for the United
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 587
Packinghouse Workers and I know him well because I signed him up
in the party myself.
Mr. Arens. Does he spell his name Charles P-r-o-c-t-o-r?
Mr. Hackney. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Give us just a word then, please, about his activities
in the Communist Party in the meatpacking industry ?
Mr. Hackney. Well, Charles Proctor came from the local at which
time I was president. He later became chairman of the grievance
committee of Local 26 which I was the president. After much dis-
cussion and letting him read the Daily Worker I told him what the
intention of the party was and he was sold to idea and signed appli-
cation card with me. I since learned he is now a full-time paid
organizer for the United Packinghouse Workers.
Mr. Arens. Are there any other key persons who to your certain
knowledge were members of the Communist Party assigned to and
working in the packinghouse industry ?
Mr. Hackney. I have in mind a John Lewis who, I understand, is
now the president of the Swift local,
Mr. Arens. I believe you commented with respect to John Lewis?
Mr. Hackney. Did I?
Mr, Arens. So that the record may be absolutely clear you, of
course, are at liberty to comment again.
Mr. Hackney. I was president of Local 26, At that time John
Lewis was vice president and when i leit the industry to take a full-
time job, John Lewis became president and when the operation of his
department closed down he was transferred, to the Swift plant and
at that time the party was much concerned because now they had a
potential leadership in the Swift plant and John Lewis was the party
member in the Swift local.
Mr. Arens. Is there another key person ?
Mr, Hackney, Yes ; there is Milton Gilmore, who at the time I was
there was president of Local 23, the Teddy Brennan local. There was
James Keller who was secretary.
Mr, Arens, Do you here and now testify that you knew each of
these men to a certainty to be members of the Communist Party ?
Mr, Hackney, Definitely,
Mr. Arens. All right, sir, proceed. So the record may be clear
do not give us on this record the name of any person unless you know
to a certainty from your experience in the Communist Party and your
association with that person in a closed party meeting, that that
person was a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Hackney. There was James Keller, who was a full-time paid
organizer for the Communist Party who was the section organizer
for the Packinghouse Section of the party at which I was a member
of the section committee.
Mr. Arens. Is there another ?
Mr. Hackney. Those are the important ones.
Mr. Arens. That is what I mean. I do not want to encumber the
record just with a number of names. We want only the pattern as
the chairman announced in the opening statement. If we go into the
names of all of the comrades who have been identified for us either
in executive session or consultation, we would have quite a lengthy
list.
588 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Is there any other item of information which I may not have elicited
from yon ?
Mr. Hackney. I don't think there was any mention of keeping
records of dues-paying members.
Mr. Arexs. Would you comment on that, please ?
Mr. Hackxey. Joe Zabritski, who was a member of the section
committee, kept records of dues-paying members. He later eventu-
ally became president of Local 25, the Wilson local.
Mr. Arens. Was he a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Spell his name for us, so the record is clear.
Mr. Hackney. Z-a-b-r-i-t-s-k-i.
Mr. Arens. You have commented with respect to him, I am certain.
Mr. Hackney. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Is there any other item of information that you would
like to make available to the committee ?
Mr. Johansen. Mr. Chairman, when the witness refers to dues-
paying members is he speaking of the union or of the party ?
Mr. Hackney. I am speaking of the party.
Mr. Johansen. Thank joii.
Mr. Arens. Is there any other item of information you would like
on this record which is germane to the scope of our inquiry ?
Mr. Hackney. I can't think of any offhand.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, under these circumstances I respect-
fully submit that will conclude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Willis, do jou have any questions ?
Mr. Willis. No questions.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Johansen, do you have any questions?
Mr. Johansen. I would like to ask you to comment a little further
on one point you made. You said early in your testimony that you
found that the Communists were misleading the Negro people. I
would like to have you just comment, if you care to, briefly, on your
feelings as to the disservice done to the colored people through the
efforts of the Communist leadership to exploit them for both publicity
and financial purposes, and particularly if you have any knowledge
of the extent, if any, to which funds collected ostensibly for the aid of
the rights and the causes of the Negro citizens were diverted to party
uses.
Mr. Hackney. Well, for example, if some incident like a Ijmcliing
took place in the South it would eventually have a mass rally some
place, oh, maybe around the Wilson plant or maybe around the
Armour plant or maybe in Washington Park. A mass rally for the
purpose of raising funds to bring the people responsible for such
tragedy to justice and they would have these big rallies and they
would ask local unions to make contributions. They would ask in-
dividuals to make contributions and they would take up collections at
these various rallies for the purpose they said for defending and
bringing to justice these people that were responsible for these crimes.
Mr. Moulder. May I interrupt ? In that connection, I believe our
hearings have revealed and the record will sIioav that in a number of
instances, under Communist Party leadership, they have agitated dis-
crimination and cases of that sort in order to bring uj) the proposition
that there was discrimination. I believe our hearings have revealed
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 589
instances of that kind, where shootings and other mistreatment of
members of the Negro race were actually brought about through Com-
munist Party conspiracy and plans to arouse prejudice and the cry
of discrimination.
Mr. Hackney. In manj' cases of that sort. I don't have any par-
ticular one in mind.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Hackney, we are certainly deeply grateful for
your testimony. And the information you have given us will be of
great value in our legislative program of protecting our national de-
fense and the internal security. We sincerely commend you for
your courage. You are an honest and patriotic citizen of the greatest
comitry in the world. You and your people have made great con-
tributions to our progress and success as a great Nation. Your testi-
mony corroborates my statement yesterday that even though the
Negro race has suffered in many ways and although the Communists
have concentrated their attentions to take advantage of that fact to
recruit and to gain the support of the Negro people, they have had
little success. In fact, less success than they have had with all other
races of people.
Therefore, under these trying circumstances you and your people
deserve proper credit and public commendation and respect and un-
derstanding ; and to you personally, I want to say that you are an able
and outstanding man, who shows great leadership ability. And I re-
peat, you are an honest man and although a few may criticize you,
they will be a very few. But I predict that no one will appear before
this committee or at any other place to dispute one word or any part
of your testimon}^ given to this committee today. And with our sin-
cere thanks and best wishes you are excused as a witness.
Thank you.
Call the next witness.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Charles Hayes, please come forward.
Mr. Moulder. Will you hold up your right hand and be sworn,
please ?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Hayes. I do.
TESTIMONY OF CHARLES A. HAYES, ACCOMPANIED EY COUNSEL,
BELFORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Hayes. Name, Charles A. Hayes. Address, 5471 Ingleside
Avenue, Chicago, 111. Occupation, director of District 1 of the United
Packinghouse Workers of America, AFL-CIO.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena wliich
was served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Hayes. I am.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Hayes. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, please identify yourself on the record.
Mr. Lawson. Belf ord Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hayes. Would you care to have the subpenas ?
590 COMMUNIST INPILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. No, you don't need to return the subpena. You may
keep that.
Mr. Hayes. All right.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Hayes, do you know the man who preceded you to
the witness stand, John Hackney ?
Mr. Hayes. I do know John Hackney.
Mr. Arens. How long have you known him ?
Mr. Hayes. Well, I would say since about 1945 or thereabouts.
Mr. Arens. Was he correct in his testimony a few moments ago
when he said that he knew you as a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hayes. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that it
might incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Would you repeat the position you occupy and how long
you held it ?
Mr. Hayes. I have been elected — I was originally elected as direc-
tor of my union in 1954, 1 think in May.
Mr. Arens. Have you maintained the position as a director con-
tinuously since then ?
Mr. Hayes. I have. Not only am I a director of my union, I am
also the first Negro vice president of the AFL-CIO here in the State
of Illinois and a member of the Industrial Union Council Board.
Mr. Arens. Wliere and when were you born ?
Mr. Hayes. I was born February 17, 1918 in Cairo, 111.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about your education.
Mr. Hayes. I am a high school graduate as of 1935 from the Sumner
High School in Cairo.
Mr. Arens. Did you receive any further education ?
Mr. Hayes. I did not.
Mr. Arens. Have you gone to any training schools ?
Mr. Hayes. What training schools ?
Mr. Arens. Any kind of training schools.
Mr. Hayes. I refuse to answer that question on the ground it might
incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Give us, if you please, the first principal occupation
you have had since you concluded your formal education.
Mr. Hayes. It is quite a long time back.
Mr. Arens. Just the principal occupations.
Mr. Hayes. Any occupation I had was principal. After finishing
high school I worked for a while with Bruce & Co. in Cairo, 111.,
and then the next job I had was an employee with Wilson & Co.
here in Chicago.
Mr. Arens. How long did that employment last ?
Mr. Hayes. I worked initially, started in 1942 and I worked at
Wilson & Co. until — well, I was severed from the employment of
Wilson & Co. as a result of the plant closing down in 1955. However,
I wasn't all that time working for Wilson & Co. I was on leave of
absence from the company part of the time.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever signed an affidavit under the National
Labor Relations Act ?
Mr. Hayes. I have.
Mr. Arens. And what year was that, do you recall ?
Mr. Hayes. In 1954.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 591
Mr. Arens. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
'Communist Party ?
Mr. Hayes. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that
it might incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hayes. I am not.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party at
tmy time in the last 5 years ?
Mr. Hayes. I have not.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party at
any time since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1948 requiring
a non-Communist affidavit ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Hayes. Could you kindly tell me the date when the Taft-
Hartley law was passed ?
Mr. Arens. In 1948.
Mr. Hayes. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it might incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Is your declination to answer based upon a state of
iacts created by yourself in response to the passage of the Taft-Hartley
Act in 1948?
Mr. Hayes. Will you restate your question, and don't do it so fast,
please.
Mr. Arens. We have just agreed that the Taft-Hartley Act was
passed in 1948 and you have declined to answer as to whether or not
you have been a member of the Communist Party at any time since
the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act and its requirement of an affi-
davit of non- Communist union officers. I am now asking you is
your declination to answer based upon a state of facts created by
yourself in order to avoid the impact of the Taft-Hartley affidavit ?
Mr. Hayes. Certainly not.
Mr. Arens. Were you a member of the Communist Party at any
time since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act ?
Mr. Hayes. I decline to answer that question on the ground that it
might incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Did you at any time, since the passage of the Taft-
Hartley Act, resign technical membership in the formal entity known
as the C^ommunist Party ?
Mr. Hayes. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that it
might incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Did you at any time take any action at the direction of
the Commmiist Party in order that you could truthfully sign a non-
Communist affidavit stating in effect that you were not then a member
•of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hayes. I decline to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, that will conclude the staff interroga-
tion of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions, Mr. Willis ?
Mr. Hayes. I would like, Mr. Chairman, for the benefit, if I may,
for the benefit of the congressional leaders who are members of this
•committee, and for the staff members who represent that department
■of that committee, to make a statement on behalf of my union.
592 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Moulder. On what?
Mr. Hayes. On behalf of my organization.
Mr. Arens. We are not exploring the nnion. We are exploring
Communists. We wonld like to ask j^on have yon been a member of
the Communist Party at any time since 1954?
Mr. Hayes. I certainly have not, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Moulder. Any questions?
Mr. Johansen. Did I understand the Avitness to say that he was the
first member of his race to be vice president of the Illinois AFL-CIO ?
Mr. Hayes. Illinois State Federation of Labor and the Industrial
Union Council of the State of Illinois.
Mr. Johansen. You are that at this time ?
Mr. Hayes. I am that.
Mr. Johansen. I thought I detected considerable pride in that.
Mr. Hayes. Yes.
Mr. JoiiANSEN. Mr. Chairman, to me it is a deep tragedy that that
pride has to be diluted by the invoking of the fifth amendment in this
hearing.
Mr. Moulder. I believe I understood you to say vou were born in
Cairo, 111.
Mr. Hayes. Cairo, 111.
Mr. Moulder. And you are a married man ?
Mr, Hayes. lam.
Mr. Moulder. Family ?
Mr. Hayes. Wife and two kids.
Mr. Moulder. Did you serve in the Armed Forces ?
Mr. Hayes. I did not.
Mr. Moulder. You did not serve in the Armed Forces?
Mr. Hayes. No.
Mr. Moulder. In comiection with what Mr. Johansen said, I want
it thoroughly understood, speaking for myself and I believe the other
members of the committee, that your efforts at work in coimection with
the improvement of the working conditions, wages, and welfare of
organized labor and its members are certainly not to be branded as
Communist Party activities.
Mr. Hayes. Most certainly not, Congressman.
Mr. Moulder. Also I want to congratulate you in your statement
that you certainly are not, as I understand it, in any way associated
with the Communist Party or Communist Party activities.
Mr. Hayes. That is right.
Mr. Moulder. And you are, if I understand it, clearly in accord
with the AFL and CIO program in ridding their membership of
the Communist Party.
Mr. Hayes. I would like to have this committee know very well
that my organization has lived up to, and is living up to, the codes
of ethical practices of AFL-CIO.
Mr. Arens. May I inquire a moment, then, please? Are you now
against the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hayes. I most certainly am.
Mr. Arens. Then why not give this committee, while you are under
oath now in this public session, the knowledge that we know you have
respecting the Communist Party, respecting Communists, respecting
the Communist operation in the meat industry?
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 593
Mr. Hates. The reason I don't answer that question, Counsel, is
because I am afraid that if I do it might incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend, if you told this committee
truthfully while you are under oath information of which you are
presently possessed respecting the Communist operation in the meat
industry among the packinghouse workers and the like, you would
be supplying information which might be used against you in a crim-
inal proceeding?
Mr. Hayes. I refuse to answer that question, too.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest that will conclude the staff inter-
rogation of this witness.
(Witness excused.)
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will
be Kachel Carter Ellis.
Rachel Carter Ellis, please come forward.
( Represent ative Moulder left the room.)
Mr. Willis (presiding). Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?
Mrs. Ellis. I do.
TESTIMONY OF HACHEL CARTEU ELLIS, ACCOMPANIED BY
COUNSEL, BELFORD V. LAWSON, JE.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mrs. Ellis. My name is Rachel Ellis. I live at 7140 South
Mr. Arens. Would it be convenient for you to keep your voice up
a little bit or get closer to the mike ? The acoustics are very poor in
here.
Mrs. Ellis. My name is Rachel Ellis. I live at 7140 South Michi-
gan Avenue, Chicago. My occupation is secretary.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mrs. Ellis. Yes.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel?
Mrs. Ellis. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belford Lawson, Wasliington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. Give us, if you please, ma'am, a word about your occu-
pation-
Mrs. Ellis. I am employed as a secretary to the District Director
of the United Packinghouse Workers, District 1.
Mr. Arens. And who is your immediate superior?
Mrs. Ellis. That is Mr.'Charles Hayes.
Mr. Arens. That is the man who just left the stand ?
Mrs. Ellis. That is he.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been so employed ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have been employed since Marcli of 195G in that
capacity.
594 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. What was your employment immediately prior to yom'
present employment?
Mrs. Ellis. I was employed as a secretary at the office of Local 453,
United Automobile Workers.
Mr. Arens. Wliere?
Mrs. Ellis. In Chicago.
Mr. Arens. For how long ?
Mrs. Ellis. Possibly a year.
Mr. Arens. What was your employment immediately prior to that?
Mrs. Ellis. I was employed as manager of a printing establishment.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, about your education.
Mrs. Ellis. I attended junior college in the city and the Art Insti-
tute in this city.
Mr. Arens. Raise your voice, please, ma'am. We couldn't hear you.
Mrs. Ellis. I attended the junior college and Art Institute in this
city.
Mr. Arens. Have you received any other training? Have you at-
tended any other training schools ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have attended — would you repeat that question ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, ma'am. Have you received any other training,
other than the formal education which you have just described?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it may tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of John Edward
Cooke?
Mrs. Ellis. I do not know a man by that name.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of John Hackney.
Mrs. Ellis. I know John Hackney.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity have you known John Hackney ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have known him only as a trade union member.
Mr. Arens. Have you known him in any other capacity?
Mrs. Ellis. No, I have not known him in any other capacity.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Hackney testified this morning that while he was
a member of the Communist Party he knew you as a member of the
Communist Party. Was he in error on that testimony or was he
correct ?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer that question on the basis that it
may incriminate me.
]Mr. xVrens. Have you ever been connected witli the Chicago Com-
mittee of Negro Youth?
Mrs. Ellis. I don't recall that.
Mr. Arens. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mrs. Ellis. I am not now a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever resigned technical membership in the
Communist Party so that you could take an oath and deny member-
ship in the Communist Party yet maintained yourself in the Com-
munist operation?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer that question on tlie basis that it
may incriminate me.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 595
Mr. Moulder. Were you a member of the Communist Party at any
time since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act ?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer that question on the grounds it
may tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever signed a non-Communist affidavit ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have never signed a non-Communist affidavit.
Mr. Arens. Have you any time in the last two years been a mem-
ber of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. Would you repeat the question ?
Mr. Arens. Have you any time in the course of the last two years
been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer that.
Mr. Arens. Have you at any time in the course of the last year
and a half been a member of the Communist Party ?
(The wdtness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Ellis. I have not.
Mr. Arens. Have you any time in the course of the last fourteen
months been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have not.
Mr. Arens. Have you any time in the course of the last sixteen
months been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have not.
Mr. Arens. Have you any time in the course of the last seventeen
months been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have not.
Mr. Arens. Are you now against the Communist Party?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it may tend to incriminate me.
(Representative JMoulder reentered the room.)
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the stall' interrogation of this witness.
(Witness excused.)
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will
be Leo Turner.
Mr. Moulder. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony which
you are about to give before the committee will be the truth, the
wholes truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Turner. I do.
TESTIMONY OF LEO TTJRNEE, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Turner. Leo Turner, 5342 South Ivimbark, Chicago; field,
representative of the United Packinghouse Workers of America.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today, Mr. Turner, in response
to a subpena which was served upon you by the House Committee on
Un-American Activities ?
Mr. Turner. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belford Lawson, Washington.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Turner, where are you employed ?
596 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Turner. I am employed in District 1 of the United Pack-
inj^house Workers.
]\Ir. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Tur>7ER. As a field representative.
Mr. Arens. How Ions: have you been so employed?
Mr. Turner. I was hired by Mr. A. T, Stephens on November 8,
1949.
Mr. Arens. Where and when were you born ?
Mr. Turner. June 24, 1913, Aberdeen, Wash.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, about your formal education.
Mr. Turner. I left high school in Aurora, Minn., at the end of 3
years of high school.
Mr. Arens. Did that complete your formal education?
Mr. Turner. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. And then give us the principal occupations you have
had since 3'ou completed j'^our formal education.
Mr. Turnp:r. Well, I got out of high school into the Hoover de-
pression, and I would say that most of the time prior to going to
work for the unions I was working on WPA.
Mr. Arens. Did you have any other principal activity in addition
to your WPA work until you went to work for the unions?
Mr. Turner. No, sir.
Mr. Arens. "WTien did you complete your foniial education in
high school ?
Mr. Turner. 1931.
Mr. Arens. Did you shortly thereafter become educational direc-
tor of the Young Com.munist League ?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the ground that
it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now a photostatic reproduction of
the Communist Daily Worker of July 28, 1936, in which an article
appears entitled "Youth to Aid C.P. Ticket in Elections." It tells
about a number of people who are in official capacity with the Young
Communist League, including Leo Turner, educational director of
the league. I now display this document to you and ask you to look
at it and tell us w^hether or not that refreshes your recollection, and
whether or not you are the Leo Turner referred to in the Communist
publication, the Daily Worker, as educational director of the Yoimg
Communist League.
(Document handed to witness.)
(The witness conferred witli his counsel.)
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer on the ground it might tend to
incriminate me.
(Document marked "Turner Exhibit No. 1" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. I display to you a photostatic reproduction of the
Communist Daily Worker of New York, May 25, 1936, in which
an article appears, "Youth March May 30 in Fight Against W^ar,"
signed by Leo Turner. Would you kindly look at this article and
tell us while you are under oath whether or not you are the Leo
Turner who authored that article appearing in the Daily Worker?
(Document handed to witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 597
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer on the grounds that it might tend
to incriminate me.
(Document marked "Turner Exhibit No. 2," and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. I display to you a photostatic copy of an article ap-
pearing in the Sunday Worker, January 25, 1942, in which a num-
ber of persons are petitioning for the release of the then secretary
of the Communist Party, Earl Browder, including a man listed as
Leo Turner of Oakland, Calif. Kindly look at this document as I
display it to you and tell this committee while you are under oath
whether or not you are the Leo Turner that participated in that
enterprise.
(Document handed to witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer on the grounds that it might tend
to incriminate me.
(Document marked "Turner Exhibit No. 3," and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. Did you participate in the picketing on behalf of the
11 Communists who were convicted before Judge Medina in New
York City?
(The witness conferred with liis counsel.)
Mr. Turner. I did not.
Mr. Arens. Did you lend your name and your position on behalf
of the intervention for the 11 Communist leaders?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the ground it
might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now a photostatic reproduction of the
Communist Daily Worker of October 18, 1949 respecting the inter-
vention by a number of people on behalf of the 11 Communists who
were convicted in New York City, including, according to this listing
in the Daily Worker, one Leo Turner. Kindly look at this article
and tell tliis committee whether or not it refreshes your recollection,
and whether or not you are the Leo Turner who was listed there
and, if so, if you consciously made your name available for that
enterprise.
(Document handed to witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer on the grounds that it might tend
to incriminate me.
(Document marked "Turner Exliibit No. 4," and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. Mr. Turner, what is the principal law on the statute
books of the U.S. Government against Communists? Do you know?
Mr. Turner. I believe it is the Smith Act.
Mr. Arens. What have you done, can you tell us, to cause the repeal
of the Smith Act?
Mr. Turner. I don't know.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now, if you please, a photostatic repro-
duction of the Communist Daily People's World, January 2, 1952,
in which a number of persons are listed as participants in an assembly
of delegates for the repeal of the Smith Act, including Leo Turner,
41635—59 7
598 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
identified in this publication as field representative of the CIO United
Packinghouse Workers. Kindly look at this document and tell tliis
committee while' you are under oath whether or not that refreshes
your recollection and whether or not you consciously participated in
that enterprise.
f Document handed to witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer on the grounds that it might tend
to incriminate me.
(Document marked "Turner Exhibit No. 5," and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Lee Lundgren ?
Mr. Turner. Yes, I do.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity have you known him ?
Mr. Turner. I knew him when I worked with the United Electrical,
Radio and Machine Workers.
Mr. Arens. Have you known him in any other capacity ?
Mr. Turner. I believe later he became a representative of the In-
ternational Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers.
Mr. Arens. And have you known him in any other capacity ?
Mr. Turner. I don't believe so.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Hackney ?
Mr. Turner. Very slightly.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Carl Nelson ?
Mr. Turner. I know him so casually that the testimony he gave
here yesterday was false with respect to some of my activities.
Mr. Arens. Was his testimony correct when he said he knew you as
a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Turner. I am not a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party
at any time since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act requiring that
certain union officials must sign a non-Communist affidavit?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Did you resign technical membership in the Communist
Party but maintain yourself in the Communist operation so that you
could take an oath and truthfully deny membership in the formal
entity known as the Communist Party ?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you now against the Communist Party ?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Turner. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a statement. A
statement made here yesterday that I was in Spain by one of the
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 599
witnesses that was produced here. I want to categorically state under
oath that that statement was false.
Mr. Arens. Is that the only part of the testimony with respect to
yourself that was false ?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that on the grounds that it might
tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Was the rest of the testimony true when you were
identified as a member of the conspiratorial apparatus known as the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that on the grounds it might tend
to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Do you presently have information which you can
supply the United States Government via this committee respecting
the techniques and operations of this conspiratorial organization
designed to overthrow the Government of the United States known
as the Communist Party ?
^ Mr. Turner. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it might tend to incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest that will conclude the staff inter-
rogation of this witness.
Mr. Moulder. I want to announce for the record that it will be
necessary for me to return to Washington and I will be unable to
be present for the rest of the hearings. Mr. Willis is designated chair-
man to preside at the conduct of the hearings.
The committee will recess until 2 p.m.
(Wliereupon, at 11:50 a.m., the hearing was recessed until 2 p.m.
of the same day.)
AFTERNOON SESSION, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1959
Mr. Willis. The subcommittee will please come to order.
^ (Subcommittee members present: Eepresentatives Willis, presid-
mg, and Johansen.)
Mr. Willis. Counsel, please call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, may the record show, if you please, sir,
the presence of yourself as chairman of the subcommittee and the
presence of the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Johansen, constituting
a quorum of the subcoimnittee ?
Mr. Willis. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Dency, Albert P. Dency, please come forward.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear
that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Dency. I do.
TESTIMONY OP ALBERT P. DENCY
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation. '
Mr. Dency. My name is Albert Dency. I live at 2453 North Tripp
Avenue, Chicago, 111.
Mr. Arens. And your occupation ?
Mr. Dency. My occupation is tool and die maker.
Mr. Arens. Where are you employed ?
600 COMMUNIST INTILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Dency. Mr. Arens, I will be very pleased to answer this ques-
tion. However, I would like to be assured that if I do answer and
give you the name of the company, that I will not be fired from the
place where I am employed at present,
Mr. Arens. You are appearing todav in response to a subpena that
was served upon you by this committee f
Mr. Dency. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. You are not represented by counsel apparently.
Mr. Dency. No, I am not.
Mr. Arens. You know you have the privilege of counsel.
Mr. Dency. I know I have, but I don't have $500 to pay for the
counsel.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Dency, where and when were you born ?
Mr. Dency. I was born February 15, 1921, in Yugoslavia.
Mr. Arens. When did you come to the United States?
Mr. Dency. I came to the United States on December 7, 1937.
Mr. Arens. Are you a naturalized citizen ?
Mr. Dency. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Wliere and when were you naturalized ?
Mr. Dency. I was naturalized in Waukegan, 111., approximately
early part of 1943.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever used any name other than the name
Albert P. Dency, D-e-n-c-y ?
Mr. Dency. Yes, sir, I did; my name origmally spelled, Z-d-e-n-
c-a-j.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, about your education.
Mr. Dency. I have very little formal education. I attended Cath-
olic seminary school for 2 years in Europe. And here I have attended
night school for a while at University of Chicago and also Lake
Forest.
Mr. Arens. Is that the only education you have had ?
Mr. Dency. It is the only education in the formal sense.
Mr. Arens. Have you received any training in any training schools
of any kind ?
Mr. Dency. I have attended Abraham Lincoln School.
Mr. Arens. Where was that ?
Mr. Dency. Extension courses I attended at Waukegan, 111.
Mr. Arens. Wlien did you live in Waukegan, 111., over what period
of time ?
Mr. Dency. I did not live in Waukegan excej)t for a very short
period of time. I lived in North Chicago, which is a part or at least
close by Waukegan.
Mr. Arens. Does the figure E-88239 register with your mind on
any score, E-88239?
Mr. Dency. Yes.
Mr. Arens. What was that?
JSIr. Dency. That is my — I think that is my number, union card
number.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Dency. No, I have never been a member of the Communist
Party.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been knowingly under discipline of the
Communist Party ?
COMMUNIST rNFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES; — CHICAGO 601
Mr. Dency. I have not been knowingly under discipline of the
Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. It is the information of this committee that you were
a member of the Communist Party in Waukegan, 111., that you were
chairman of the Waukegan Communist Party Club in 1949, 1950, and
1951. If that is in error, please set the record straight while you are
under oath.
Mr. Dency. I have been the chairman of the American Veterans
Committee in Waukegan, a chapter of American Veterans Commit-
tee. As far as the time that you have given I have not lived in
Waukegan for the year 1951 at all.
Mr. Arens. Do you say now categorically without equivocation,
that you have never been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Dency. Yes, sir, I so state.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. We appreciate your appearance.
Mr. Dency. May I make a statement, if I possibly can ?
Mr. Willis. Well, if you make it short.
Mr. Dency. I will make it very short, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Willis. Let me say this. You are not represented by counsel,
and therefore I want to be as liberal with you as possible. But please
do not make an extended statement.
Mr. Dency. I will not make any derogatory statement at all. How-
ever, I want to point out to one fact, that I as a chairman of the com-
mittee to lift suspension of Local 113, which is the rank and file union
in my union, feel that by being called before this committee, this com-
mittee willing or unwilling, I do not know, has served a purpose con-
trary to the objectives for which the membership of Local 113 or at
least a very great segment is striving for, namely to lift suspension of
their organization. And in view of that fact, I feel that the com-
mittee
Mr. Willis. I would not enter into that field if I were you. It will
not do you any good and counsel will perhaps have to reexamine you
and if I were you I would not pursue that. That is my advice, my
sincere advice.
Mr. Dency. Thank you.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Francis William McBain.
Please come forward. Please remain standing while the chairman
administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are
about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help you God ?
Mr. McBain. I do.
TESTIMONY OF FEANCIS WILLIAM McBAm, ACCOMPANIED BY
COUNSEL, PEARL M. HART
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. McBain. My name is Francis McBain. I live at 3116 West
Montrose Avenue, Chicago, I am a model maker by trade.
602 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Wliere are you employed ?
Mr. McBain. Well, I would rather not state where I am employed.
Mr. Akens. We will hold that for the time being.
Mr. McBain. I would also
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subj)ena
which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr. McBain. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. McBain. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mrs. Hart. Pearl M. Hart, 30 North La Salle Street, Chicago 2,
111.
Mr. Arens. Mr. McBain, where and when were you born?
Mr. McBain. Could I — I would like to raise a question before —
I have appeared before this committee before, seven years ago. I
requested my lawyer to draw up a letter to send to the chairman
of this committee. Honorable Mr. Walter, in regard to me being pub-
lically exposed to this committee again. I would like the privilege
of reading this letter into the record, if I could. I think it is very — —
Mr. Arens. The rules of the committee provide you must submit
any written statement of any kind in advance.
Mr. Willis. You may submit it to counsel, and we will examine it
and give it consideration. We can't permit you to read a letter we
know nothing about. Submit it to counsel. It will serve the same
purpose.
Mr. McBain. Could I ask if Mr. Walter has received this letter?
Mr. Arens. Mr. Walter is not here.
Mr. McBain. I see.
Mr. Arens. Now kindly tell us where and when you were born.
Mr. McBain. I was born in Bottineau, N.D., July 31, 1905.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about your education.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. You want my
Mr. Arens. Just a word about your education.
Mr. McBain. I have 4 years of high school, 2 years of engineering.
Mr. Arens. And when did you complete your formal education and
where ?
Mr. McBain. One year I went to North Dakota State Engineering,
that was 1923 and 1924. Then in the meantime there was a 2-year
college in my hometown which was the qualified State college. And
I went there 1 year in 1930, I believe, and finished a 2-year course
which was like
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. About a junior degree in engineering A A or some-
thing.
Mr. Arens. Wliat year was that, please ?
Mr. McBain. I think that was 1930, within the year of that.
Mr. Arens. Had you received any other training or schooling other
than the training or schooling which you have just recited?
Mr. McBain. Yes, I have. I put 33 months in the Navy. I was
an airplane mechanic on a flattop. I went through 4 months' training,
16 weeks here in Chicago at an advanced airplane school where I
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 603
studied complete, all-around airplane mechanic training, and from
there I was assigned to a squadron and went into the Pacific.
Mr. Arens. Were you discharged from the Navy then ?
Mr. McBain. I was discharged right after the war in 1945.
Mr. Arens. Give us the principal employments you have had smce
you were discharged from the Navy.
Mr. McBain. Well, I am trying to think back. One thing I was
questioned
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. I would like to raise a question on the fact that it is
quite a while ago and this
Mr. Arens. Just the principal employments that you recollect.
Mr. McBain. I was going to make the request that since this is
already in the record the last time I appeared before this committee
I was a little fresh in my memory then. It was 7 years ago.
Mr. Willis. Just do the best you can.
Mr. McBain. To repeat it ?
Mr. Arens. Let us go back and get the more current ones then.
How long have you been employed in your present employment?
Mr. McBain. About, I would say, 5 months, I suppose.
Mr. Arens. What was your employment immediately prior to your
present employment?
Mr. McBain. This is going to be involved. I have to stop and
think because since I was before this committee 7 years ago I have
been blacklisted by the results, the publicity in the papers was used
as a blacklist against me every time I got a job. All you have to do is
refer me to what it said in the newspapers in 1952 and for me to start
back and remember all the places I have worked in the lapsed years,
it is impossible.
Mr. Arens. Do you recall just the first place you worked prior to
your present employment ?
Mr. McBain. Let me think. I believe it was Models for Industry,
I believe.
Mr. Arens. How long did you work there ?
Mr. McBain. Probably 6 or 7 months. I am not so sure.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. McBain. First I would like to raise some things.
Mr. Arens, Would you kindly answer the question? Are you a
member of the Communist Party?
Mr. McBain. I just want to raise the point first. I have no idea
of what this committee has in mind. I have nothing to do with the
packing workers. I understand your position on the packing workers.
Mr. Arens. I would be glad to explain that to you.
Mr. McBain. I would like to know.
Mr. Arens. I would very gladly explain it to you. You are going
to answer the question, I take it. The basis, the reason I am going
into this question is this, sir : The Committee on Un-American Activi-
ties has a double mandate from the Congress of the United States.
One is to maintain a surveillance, a supervision as it were, over the
administration and operation of the Internal Security Act, the Com-
munist Control Act, and all security laws within the purview of this
committee. In order for this committee to do that it must find out
604 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
who are the Communists, what are the Communists doing, where are
the Communists engaged, what are the Communist techniques, what
are their strategies, what are their tactics.
The second general jurisdiction of this committee is to constantly
develop recommendations, proposals to amend and change the exist-
ing security laws so that we can cope with this conspiracy so far as it
is legislatively possible.
We have summoned you before this committee because on the basis
of confidential information we believe that you have current informa-
tion respecting the tecliniques, the strategies, the tactics, the opera-
tion of this conspiratorial force which is sweeping the world and
which threatens security and liberty everywhere, known as the Com-
munist Party.
Now, with that as a point of departure in our discussion, kindly
tell us, are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. First, I would like to know if this question — I
think that I understand your position, I have heard that before.
That hasn't specificity to my notion clear enough if I am going to
answer this question
Mr. Arens. If I may go one step further, while you are under oath
tell us
Mr. McBain. Let me finish my sentence.
Mr. Arens. I solicit from you now, as to whether or not you are
a member of the Communist Party, and if you tell us, "Yes, I am now
a member of the Communist Party," then I intend to pursue that and
ask you about present techniques, present strategies, present tactics
of the Communist Party, so that this subcommittee can return to
Washington with this information and appraise it along with other
information which we are gathering from the four comers of this
Nation, with the end in view of appraising proposed changes in the
security laws in order to cope with this conspiratorial force, known
as the Communist Party.
Now for the third time, sir, would you kindly tell this committee,
while you are under oath, are you now a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. McBain. My answers to questions certainly should be based
in general on things now
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered and directed to answer the last outstanding principal ques-
tion, namely, are you now a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Willis. Yes. I direct you to answer the question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. I have answered that.
Mr. Arens. Sir, you are reading from a prepared statement?
Mr. McBain. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Tell us who prepared that statement.
Mr. McBain. This was prepared
Mr. Arens. Was that statement prepared by any person known
by you to be a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. McBain. Look, I have no way to know whether my lawyer is
a rnember of the Communist Party or not, and I am not going to be
intimidated trying to Red-bait my lawyer. I asked my lawyer, "Wait
a minute. I don't like getting pushed around here." I have a right
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 605
to have my lawyer tell me the standard answers. I am not a lawyer,
I don't
Mr. Arens. You are reading standard answers I take it.
Mr. McBain. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. That was prepared by your lawyer.
Mr. McBain. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Go right ahead and read it.
(The witness conferred with his lawyer.)
Mr. McBain. These are constitutional answers. Now this I think
that I
Mr. Arens. Go ahead and read, if you please.
Mr. McBain. Read this. I want it for the record.
Mr. Arens. Go right ahead and read them, please.
Mr. McBain. What I stated before, I answered these questions
before in 1952. So that the requirement to answer the same again
now can serve no useful purpose, and I regard it merely as an effort
on the part of the committee to expose me for the purpose of exposure.
I therefore refuse to answer the questions for the following constitu-
tional reasons :
(a) I am unenlightened as to the subject to which this question is
pertinent. I therefore am unable to answer it because it is not perti-
nent to any issue which your committee has been directed to inquire
into.
I also decline to answer on the grounds of the first amendment to
the Constitution of the United States which guarantees me the freedom
of speech that I can talk to who I want, it wasn't meant that I talk to
myself ; the freedom of press, to read what I want and what should be
printed; and so assemble and meet people without being pried into.
That is my personal affair guaranteed by this first amendnient. Now
I resent this committee overriding the first amendment.
(c) For the reason that the inquiry infers an encroachment upon
the judicial power of the United States.
And for the reason that the question constitutes an unreasonable
search under the fourth amendment. You have me out in public
probing into my brain. I don't think you have the authority to dig
into what I am thinking about.
(e) For the further reason that the question denies me due process
under the fifth amendment to the Constitution in that it deprives me
of property without due process of law. I lost a day's pay to come
down here. I have been blacklisted, blackballed by this committee,
and this is my living. This sort of thing is depriving me of my prop-
erty, my paycheck, the right to make a living, support my family.
For the further reason that under the fifth amendment to the
Constitution I have been twice placed in jeopardy, by reason of the
fact that I appeared before this committee resulting in the loss of my
jobs over and over again, directly tied up with the blacklisting of me;
my picture all over the newspapers so I can be blackballed and black-
listed, that I have a problem to support my family.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. And last and finally, the further reason is that under
the fifth amendment to the Constitution of the United States this
unauthorized committee has absolutely no power to make me or to
force me to testify in any way against myself.
606 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arexs. Do you honestly apprehend, sir, that if you gave us
a truthful answer while you are now under oath as to whether or not
you are this instant a member of the Communist Party, you would be
supplying information which might be used against you in a criminal
proceeding ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. I think I made my statement.
Mr. Aeens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
ordered and directed to answer that question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis. That is a perfectly good request because it is a test
of your sincerity in the invocation of the plea, so I order you to answer
the question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. I would like to have him repeat that question, please.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend, sir, that if you told this
committee truthfully while you are under oath whether or not you are
this instant a member of the Communist Party, you would be supply-
ing information which might be used against you in a criminal pro-
ceeding?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. I don't believe this committee has the right to make
such a test against me but in answering this I use the same answer I
have before. If you want me to read this or if you want to show it in
the record that this is my answer, either way it is the best, but I chal-
lenge the committee the right to make any test on me, the authority.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. McBain. And I am refusing to answer for the same reasons as
I heretofore
Mr. Arens. Do you presently have knowledge respecting the current
operation of the conspiratorial force, known as the Communist Party,
in the Chicago area ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer the question ?
Mr. McBain. This committee is again trying to probe into my mind,
what is in my mind, and so forth, which as I stated before
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. You are excused. And you may claim your voucher,
and you are so reminded.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Mr. Edwin Alexander.
Kindly come forward, Mr. Alexander.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?
Mr. Alexander. I do.
Mr. Chairman, my counsel has asked me, Mr. Chairman, that you
furnish him with a copy of the statement of purposes of the committee
and the rules of the committee, since he was not present yesterday
when they were read.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES^ — CHICAGO 607
Mr. Arens. We will make them available in just a second as soon
as we dig them out here, after you have been sworn.
Mr. Alexander. Yes.
Mr. Chairman, may I ask one other thing in regard to the taking of
pictures during the conduct of testimony ?
Mr. Willis. Yes. If you object to it, then it will be stopped right
now.
Mr. Alexander. Yes, I do. Thank you very much.
TESTIMONY OF EDWIN A. ALEXANDER, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
WILLARD J. LASSEES AND E. RAYMOND MARKS, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Alexander. My name is Edwin A. Alexander. I live at 2211
East 97th Street, Chicago, 111. My occupation, I am a member of the
professional staff of a philanthropic social work agency, the Jewish
Federation, Metropolitan Chicago. I am responsible for raising the
deficit funds and the capital building funds for a group of some H
social agencies in Chicago which I consider to be very worthwhile
organizations.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
served upon you by the Committee on Un-American Activities?
Mr. Alexander. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Alexander. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, would you kindly identify yourself ?
Mr. Lassers. My name is Willard J. Lassers, of Chicago, 111.
Mr. Marks. F. Eaymond Marks, Jr., of Chicago, 111.
Mr. Arens. Wliere and when were you born ?
Mr. Alexander. On June 25, 1917, Bronx, New York City.
Mr. Arens. Give us, please, a word about your education.
Mr. Alexander. I went to high school, DeWitt Clinton High School,
New York City, and attended the College of the City of New York.
Mr. Arens. When did you graduate from the College of the City
of New York?
Mr. Alexander. I did not graduate from the College of the City of
New York.
Mr. Arens. When did you complete your education there ?
Mr. Alexander. Approximately 1933 or 1934.
Mr. Arens. Did that complete your formal education ?
Mr. Alexander. My formal education ?
Mr. Arens. Yes.
Mr. Alexander. Well, it all depends what sense you want to take
that in. I attended the Allied Technical Institute in Chicago about
1949, studying machinist trade and this last, just recently within the
past few months I was a student at Roosevelt College extension pro-
gram creative writing workshop.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been employed at your present
place of employment ?
Mr. Alexander. Since January 13, 1958.
Mr. Arens. What was your employment immediately prior to your
present employment ?
608 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Alexander. Immediately prior to that I have been unemployed
for close to a month. Before that I was engaged in the tool and die
makers trade. The last company I worked for specifically was the
Zeitergraf Co., for which I worked until 3 days before Christmas 1958,
at which time I was laid off because the company went out of business.
Mr. Arens. Were you living in New York at the time that you ob-
tained your degree there — excuse me, completed your education there,
what training you did receive ?
Mr. Alexander. At the College of the City of New York ?
Mr. Arens. Yes.
Mr. Alexander. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Where did you next live, where was your next place
of residence ?
Mr. Alexander. City of Chicago.
Mr. Arens, And over what period of time were you then in con-
tinuous residence in the city of Chicago ?
Mr. Alexander. Chicago? That was so long ago that it would be
hard — I wouldn't like to be held to its accuracy. I would estimate
approximately 6 months.
Mr. Arens. Then where did you go ?
Mr. Alexander. Los Angeles.
Mr, Arens. How long were you there?
Mr. Alexander. Again approximately 6 months.
Mr. Arens. What occasioned your trip to Los Angeles ?
Mr. Alexander. My job from 1934 approximately, the time I left
City College, after a few months, later I was employed as a field organ-
izer, as a regional organizer, first for the National Student League and
then for the American Student League. This required that my first
area of activity was Chicago, where I went, and then I was sent by the
national committee of that organization to the Los Angeles area to
be the California representative.
Mr. Abens. About what year are we in now ?
Mr. Alexander. What is that ?
Mr. Arens. About what year are we in now ?
Mr. Alexander. Well
Mr. Arens. Roughly speaking?
Mr. Alexander. Roughly speaking 1934r-35.
Mr, Arens. All right, sir. Wliat was your next employment?
Mr. Marks. Counsel, do you mind if he smokes ?
Mr. Arens. It is proliibited in the courtroom.
What was your next employment ?
Mr. Alexander. My next employment after that was as a full-time
official for the district office of the Young Communist League of
California.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time did you serve in the district
office of the Young Communist League?
Mr. Alexander. There was one interruption. I would say again it
is difficult to say exact dates, approximately 1935 to about somewhere in
the early 1940's. During that period there was one interruption. I
was for a period of approximately 2 years out of that period, I was a
restaurant worker in the city of San Francisco, and I was elected to
two full-time posts in the Restaurant Workers' Union of the AFL. I
served as assistant secretary of the Miscellaneous Employees' Union,
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 609
the Hotel Restaurant Employees' International Alliance, and I served
as business agent of the Hotel Restaurant Employees' International
Alliance and Miscellaneous Employees' Union in San Francisco for
a short period during that time.
Mr. Arens. Would you tell us the specific title you had with the
Young Communist League, please ?
Mr. Alexander. I believe while I was in California that I had two
titles. One was a district educational director. One was a district
organizational director.
Mr. Arens. When did you become disassociated from the full-time
work with the Young Communist League ?
Mr. Alexander. Again I couldn't be certain of the exact date. I
moved from California
Mr. Arens. Was it in the early 1940's ?
Mr. Alexander. From the Young Communist League ?
Mr. Arens. Yes.
Mr. Alexander. Yes. I graduated from the Young Communist
League and became a full-time official in the Communist Party.
Mr, Arens. When did you become a full-time official in the Commu-
nist Party, just roughly speaking ?
Mr. Alexander. Very roughly in the early 1940's.
Mr. Arens. Tell us, when did you join the Communist Party ?
Mr. Alexander. I believe I joined the Communist Party in approxi-
mately 1934 or 1935. I was a member of the Young Communist League
for a short period without being a member of the Communist Party
and then joined tlie Com.munist Party.
Mr. Arens. Tell us how long you maintained your membership in
the Communist Party.
Mr. Alexander. I maintained my membership in the Communist
Party from approximately 1934 until 1948.
Mr. Arens. May I inquire, have you ever made available to a con-
gressional committee or any agency of the Government, facts respect-
ing your membership in the Communist Party ?
Mr. Alexander. I have never been asked by any Government agency
these facts before. This is the first occasion at which I have been asked
them, and I gladly volunteered them.
Mr. Chairman, may I state something surrounding the circumstances
of withdrawing from the Communist Party in 1948 ?
Mr. Arens. I expect to take you over the whole ground so we can
take in a uniform pattern here which I think would be easier for you
and be more clear for us, if you please.
Mr. Alexander. Hope you will. Very relevant why I
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir. Very delighted to pursue tliis with you.
Now, tell us where and when you joined the Communist Party and
in your own words, and I will try to restrain myself until I have a par-
ticular question to fill in, where and when you joined the Communist
Party and in your own words the various posts that you held in the
Communist Party. Then we will come back and get additional infor-
mation.
Mr. Alexander. All right.
Mr. Arens. I want to say now, so there will be no sense of us being
at all other than completely open and aboveboard
Mr. Alexander. Right.
610 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. We did not, until you just said so, know that you were
going to tell this committee of your Communist career. We did know
of your Communist career. We did not know, had no basis on which
to suspect that you would tell us of your Communist career.
Now, proceed at your own pace, sir, to tell us where and when
you joined the Conmiunist Party and the various posts you held in
the Communist Party up until you disassociated yourself from the
Communist Party until 1948.
Mr. Alexander. I did not disassociate myself from the Communist
Party in 1948.
Mr. Arens. We will ^et up to that in a little while.
Mr. Alexander. I joined the Communist Party in approximately
1934 or 1935. I have already detailed to you the posts i held in the
Young Communist League. I was requested to go to Seattle, Wash.,
by the national committee of the Young Communist League, serve as
district organizer of the YCL for the States of Washington, Oregon
in the early 1940's. This I did. I accepted it. I accepted the re-
quest and went.
For a short period I was requested by the national committee of the
Yomig Communist League to return to New York City and serve
as assistant editor of the Young Communist League national news-
paper, which I did. The Young Communist League at this point
was dissolved itself by a national convention. I can't remember the
exact year. But at this time I returned to the State of Washington,
the city of Seattle, which I then considered my home. And I assumed
a full-time post in the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. May I interrupt just there
Mr. Alexander. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. To ask you a question. Upon the dissolution of the
Young Communist League
Mr. Alexander. Right.
Mr. Arens. There was formerly an entity known as either the Lea-
gue for Industrial— it was the American Youth for Democracy, was
it not, as a successor organization?
Mr. Alexander. In one sense, in another sense it was not comj)letely
a successor organization. In one sense it was. In one sense it was
not. ^ ^
Mr. Arens. The AYD, American Youth for Democracy, was con-
trolled by the Communist Party, was it not, by Communists?
Mr. Alexander. Well, I graduated from the youth movement at
that point. I would say that I think the Communists themselves
greatly regretted that the American Youth for Democracy was con-
trolled by Communists. They felt that the need had passed for a
specifically Communist youth organization, and this is why they dis-
solved this Young Communist League in the hope that a non-Com-
munist youth organization could be established. However
Mr. Willis. As a front actually ? -it
Mr. Alexander. Well, some people would prefer to call it that. I
don't think they meant it in that sense at all. I think they meant
that our country was in a serious degree of danger from Hitler at that
time, and from internal fascism, and I think they wanted to create- —
no matter how much I am opposed to the Communist Party today,
I want to be as fair and objective about the thing as I can. I think
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES— CHICAGO 611
they wanted at that time to create a youth movement which was
genuinely opposed to fascism and which would extend far beyond the
Communists.
They felt that the Young Communist League had the limitation
that in order to be a member of it you would have to subscribe to the
principles of communism. They felt at that time that as the Com-
mmiist Party continued to exist that any young person who wished
to subscribe to the principles of communism could become a member of
the Communist Party itself. And that the interests of preserving
democracy and fighting against fascism in our country could better
be served by a non-Communist anti-Fascist youth organization which,
although it included Communists, would not be Communist in its
program.
I don't think the Commimists themselves believed that they suc-
ceeded very well, and they were constantly dissatisfied with the fact
that far too great a proportion of the leadership, membership of the
American Youth for Democracy, were continuing to be Communists.
However, I don't have too much expert knowledge on that since at that
time I left the youth movement and became an official of the Com-
munist Party itself and was more concerned with adult problems.
Mr. Arens. Now would you proceed with a chronology of your
posts in the Communist Party itself, which, I understand, from what
you said a few moments ago began about
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander, Pardon me. Would you repeat that question ?
Mr. Arens. Proceed, if you please, with the chronology of the
assignments and posts that you held in the Communist Party.
Mr. Willis. He had just entered.
Mr. Alexander. Yes. I was getting to that. You got me off on
the track of the AYD.
Mr. Arens. Let us date this now so our record is clear. You left
the Young Communist League,
Mr. Alexander. In early 1940's.
Mr. Arens. Entered the party ?
Mr. Alexander. Right,
Mr. Arens. Now proceed there, please, sir.
Mr. Alexander. I then returned to Seattle, Wash., and held several
posts. I am not quite certain which posts I held before I entered the
Army. I was either district organizational director or district edu-
cational director.
Mr. Arens. Were you a paid functionary of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Alexander. Yes ; I was.
Mr, Arens. Who was your immediate superior ?
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I would respectfully like to decline
to answer that question for the following reasons: I am extremely
willing to be cooperative and frank and candid about my own
activities.
Mr. Arens. We will come back to that in a little while. I would
like to get your chronology on here. We will pursue that question
with you a little while later. You are in the early 1940's and going
into the Army.
Mr. Alexander. I was either district educational director or dis-
trict organizational secretary of the Communist Party on a full-time
612 COMMUNIST mriLTRATION OF VITAL mOUSTRIES CHICAGO
basis until I was inducted into the Army in approximately May of
1944, I believe. As was the requirement in the Communist Party at
that time I dropped my membership in the Communist Party in order
to become a soldier in the United States Army. I served in the Army
until May 1946.
Mr.ARENS. Just a word as to where you served, please.
Mr. Alexander. Most of that time was spent overseas in the China,
Burma, India theater. There I held the post of associate editor of
the CBI Kound-Up, which was the equivalent of Stars and Stripes
for the CBI theater. It was the official Army paper in that theater.
Mr. Arens. We have some exhibits of yours in the CBI Kound-Up
operation. I will not pursue them now except to ask you this ques-
tion : You said you dropped your Communist Party membership ?
Mr. Alexander. Right, that
Mr. Arens. That was what was a technical disassociation only, was
it not?
Mr. Alexander. No, not altogether. Not altogether.
Mr. Arens. Did you do it at the direction of the party ?
Mr. Alexander. Well, everything I do, I do voluntarily, I may agree
with the party.
Mr. Arens. Did the party direct you to do it ?
Mr. Alexander. I do what I think.
Mr. Arens. It was party policy ?
Mr. Alexander. It was policy of the party, yes, because the party
believed that the United States in fighting against fascism needed
support, that the United States Army was an Army fighting against
fascism. It had to be a unified military organization and that for one
to be a member of the Communist Party within the Army, as lawyers,
for example, sometimes say there might be a problem of allegiance
or loyalties and so on. They felt someone in the United States Army
ought to obey the discipline only of the United States Arniy.
Mr. Arens. May I inquire just a word? I don't want to interrupt
any more than necessary. This is an important theme from the stand-
point of the fund of knowledge of this committee. During your
service in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946, you still main-
tained yourself as a Marxist, did you not, even though you were dis-
associated from the formal organization known as the Communist
Party ?
Mr. Alexander. At that time I was a Marxist, yes. I considered
myself a Marxist.
Mr. Arens. Would you pick up the theme in 1946 and go right on ?
Mr. ALEXANDER. In 1946 I was honorably discharged from the
Army.
Incidentally, when I entered the Army it was with the knowledge
of the United States Army that I was an officer of the Communist
Party and when I went into the Army my special number given to
me by the Army was that of organizer because I told them that my
occupation was Communist Party organizer.
Mr. Arens. At that time they had a movement on in which they
were commissioning people who were known as Communists in the
United States Army ; isn't that correct ?
Mr. Alexander. Yes. To the best of my knowledge.
Mr. Arens. Pick up the 1946 date.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 613
Mr. Alexander. In 1946 I was discharged from the Army. I re-
turned to Seattle, Wash., and I again assumed fuUtime work in
the district office of the Communist Party, either in the role of educa-
tional director or organizational director, I don't recall which. In
1948 I was publicly expelled by the district committee of the Commu-
nist Party of Washington on the grounds that I was an enemy of
the party, an enemy oi the working class, an accomplice of the FBI.
Mr. Arens. The party made a mistake then, didn't it ?
Mr. Alexander. I think so. I think it has been disproven. Do
you want me to go ahead, or ask me questions ?
Mr. Arens. I want you to hesitate there just a moment.
Mr. Willis. I am interested in that. You were not an undercover
agent for the FBI?
Mr. Alexander. Most assuredly not. I am not undercover about
anything for anybody.
Mr. Arens. In 1048 the Communist Party started becoming secu-
rity conscious, was it not?
Mr. Alexander. Yes.
Mr. A^ns. And they were expelling from the party anyone they
suspected of being either an informant for the FBI or informant for
this committee or informant for any Government agency ; isn't that
so?
Mr. Alexander. Generally speaking.
Mr. Arens. You were just caught in the net of the Communist
Party itself ; is that correct ?
Mr. Alexander. In a sense. It is a great deal more complex mat-
ter than that, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arens. I do not want to get into too much detail in this par-
ticular session.
Mr. Alexander. Neither do I.
Mr. Arens. Then tell us what happened.
Mr. Alexander. When I was expelled from the Communist Party,
I moved to the city of Chicago and began to learn the trade of
machinist and tool and die-maker. I worked at several shops, went
to the Allied Institute to learn that trade. In 1950 — pardon me, in
approximately 1951 1 was reaccepted into the party.
Mr. Arens. Excuse me a minute. I want to get that date down
here. In 1951 you got back into the party ?
Mr. Alexander. Approximately.
Mr. Arens. Where was that, here ?
Mr. Alexander. In the city of Chicago.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Alexander. May I ask, Mr. Chairman — there has been a great
deal of prior newspaper publicity ; the previous witness has testified
and so on that it is a well-known public fact that there has been a
great commotion in Local 113 in Tool and Die Makers Union in the
last 3 years. While I am perfectly willing to be candid and honest
about all my affiliations, sometimes the establishment of a half-truth,
as any of you well know, can give the exact opposite appearance.
I want to testify either at this point or I would like to receive
assurances that I can testify at some other point as to the exact and
true relationship between the Communist Party and the rank and
file caucus in Local 113.
41635—59 8
614 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. We will get into that in a little while.
Mr. Alexander. Otherwise the simple parallelism of my Commu-
nist membership and my union membership would give exactly the
opposite picture of the truth. Mr. Chairman, may I be Eissured I
will have full opportmiity of hearing that ?
Mr. Willis,, I am not so sure I followed what you have in mind.
I am afraid you have things in mind that you didn't make clear to me.
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arens. We will give you an opportunity to pursue anything
you want to say here in a little while. We do and insist in a little
while on some information we don't think you are going to want to
give us.
Mr. Alexander. All right. I may have some information which
you do not know and may not wish to hear, I don't know. It will
be
Mr. Arens. We have considerable. On the basis of what you said
and basis of what I have before you now, the identification and rank
we know you have held in the party and the instructorship you had
in the Cormnunist Party training schools and the like, leadersliip
schools, we think you have considerable information.
I am just sorry jou didn't make yourself available to us prior to
this particular session if your attitude is one of thorough cooperation,
because we feel you have considerable information that can be of serv-
ice to this Government.
Now, in 1951 you are back in the party. Tell us now the rest of
your career until you became completely disassociated.
Mr. Alexander. I was in the Communist Party from approxi-
mately 1951 until 1956. During this period I was working.
Mr. Arens. Where?
Mr. Alexander. Here in Chicago. I was working in various shops,
a good number of them as a first machinist and then a tool and die
maker. To become a good tool and die maker you have to work in
a lot of shops, believe me.
In 1956 I resigned from the Communist Party voluntarily. Again
I might say about one step ahead of being expelled for the following
reasons: I was a member of Local 113 at this time and a member of
the Communist Party. In December of 1955 a rank-and-file move-
ment began in Local 113 aimed at the very things which the United
States Senate is now trying to embody in legislation, clean unionism,
the abolition of undemocratic procedures in the local, the ending of
corrupt financial practices on the part of the business agents, and so
on. I voluntarily as an individual took part in this movement be-
cause I thought what now all the newspaper editorials urge, what now
the Kennedy committee urges is correct.
Mr. Willis. Wliat?
Mr. Alexander. I will establish the connection very soon.
Mr. Willis. I just wanted to
Mr. Alexander. Why I left the Communist Party
Mr. Willis. Local 113 is in what area of industry ?
Mr. Alexander. Local 113 tool and die makers union.
Mr. Willis. What?
Mr. Alexander. The tool and die makers local of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 615
Mr. Willis. Oh.
Mr. Alexander. I became interested in this rank-and-file movement
because I felt, and a great number of other people felt in the local,
with the Kennedy committee, and what the Chicago newspapers now
say editorially is right, that if labor is going to avoid crippling legis-
lation it is up to the membership of the unions to take matters into
their own hands in a democratic fashion and clean house. The rank
and file movement in this union did this. So effective was the ex-
posures to some of the practices of the business agents that all the
business agents of the local voluntarily resigned and left Chicago. I
participated in this rank-and-file movement. I was never a leader of
it. I wasn't the very steady and consistent member of it, but because
I participated in this rank-and-file movement, which has been made
out by somebody, somewhere, sometime, to be an alleged Communist
subversive plot, seizure of power in the union, which it most emphat-
ically was not, because I participated in this rank-and-file movement,
the club of the Communist Party to which I belonged issued, forbade
me or any other Communist to participate in this rank-and-file move-
ment.
The Communist Party then put me on suspension and said that if
you participate in this rank-and-file movement any longer as you
have been doing, you will be expelled from the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. For how long were you on suspension ?
Mr. Alexander. Oh, I don't think I was on suspension for more
than 5 minutes.
Mr. Arens. Go right ahead.
Mr. Alexander. As soon as that happened my mind about the (Com-
munist Party was quite well made up. This was just about the time
that events in Hungary were transpiring and so on. By now things
were quite clear. I quit the Communist Party because had I stayed
in I would have been expelled from the Communist Party for taking
part in this honest unionism, clean-up unionism, rank-and-file move-
ment.
To me there was a clear conflict of interest there. The Commimist
Party branch to which I belonged, I think, by this time was so weak
and so impotent and had become so dogmatic and so removed from the
membership of the union, that they took what I think was a very
mistaken position. They took the position that Al Hayes repre-
sented the best section of the labor movement, that there was an in-
ternal political struggle going on in the labor movement.
Mr. Arens. This committee is not interested in the internal strug-
gles of any particular labor organization. We are interested solely
and exclusively in Communists, Communist activities, the Communist
Party, the Communist conspiracy, and the like.
Mr. Alexander. I am trying to establish simply by this testimony
that the rank-and-file caucus movement in Local 113 was not, as has
been alleged, a part of the Communist conspiracy at all. Quite the
contrary, I was going to be expelled from the Communist Party be-
cause I participated in it.
Mr. Arens. You were expelled in 1956 ?
Mr. Alexander. I was not expelled. I resigned before I could be
expelled, let's put it that way.
616 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. When did your connection with the Communist Party
terminate ?
Mr. Alexander. 1956.
Mr. Arens. Did you participate in Communist Party activities after
1956?
Mr. Alexander. No.
Mr. Arens. You are confident of that ?
Mr. Alexander. I did not. I did not. I attended many Socialist
affairs for 6 months or a year after leaving the Communist Party. I
still was hopeful that a leftwing movement might be reconstituted in
this country. I attended meetings of various Socialist groups that
were attempting to do something of this sort. But I never attended
any meetings of the Communist Party for members of the Communist
Party only. I am certain that if I put in an appearance at the door
I would have been excluded.
Mr. Arens. Are you now completely, irrevocably, against the Com-
munist Party?
Mr. Alexander. That again, I am not trying to dodge the answer
to that question. Yes. I am against the Communist Party. But
that is a big question. I happen to be writing a book about my atti-
tude on that question. So far I have written 150 pages, and I am not
near done, so I can hardly hope to do justice to it.
Mr. Arens. Do you care to tell us whether or not you are still a
Marxist ?
Mr. Alexander. No, I am not.
Mr. Willis. Let us take a recess for 10 minutes at this point.
(Subcommittee members present: Representatives Willis and
Johansen. )
^ A brief recess was taken.)
(Subcommittee members present: Representatives Willis and
Johansen.)
Mr. Willis. The subcommittee will please come to order.
Counsel may proceed.
Mr. Arens. Now, for the next several minutes I should like to in-
quire respecting some of your own functions and activities in the
Communist Party. Did you ever teach in any leadership training
school in the Communist Party ?
Mr. Alexander. Yes, certainly.
Mr. Arens. Where ?
Mr. Alexander. In the Seattle, Wash., area when I was educa-
tional director; possibly in California. I can't quite remember.
Mr. Arens. Wliat did you teach, what courses ?
Mr. Alexander. I can't remember the specifics. As educational di-
rector of the district organization I was the director of the district
party training school. I probably taught several courses, but after
eleven years I can't remember the specific titles of them.
Mr. Arens. Can you remember any of the courses which you
taught?
Mr. Alexander. I can't remember specifications.
Mr. Arens. Did you teach any courses on revolution, techniques of
revolution, or were these public courses ?
Mr. Alexander. I taught courses on Marxism, Leninism, certainly.
Mr. Arens. And over what period of time did you teach Marxism
and Leninism ?
COMMUNIST INFILTKATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 617
Mr. Alexander. I am certain scattered through the period from
1940 to 1948 I taught some courses many times, oh, many times that
I can't recall the individual dates or titles or courses.
Mr. Arens. Now, your disassociation from the Communist Party
did not thus far from your explanation include a disassociation from
the ideology of communism. Have you disassociated yourself or have
you developed an antipathy to the ideology of communism; namely,
that there is no God, that we are controlled by materialistic forces,
that there must be a world revolution? Are you disassociated from
the ideology of communism ?
Mr. Marks. Are you talking about now ?
Mr. Arens. I am talking to the witness, if you please.
Are you disassociated now from the ideology of communism ?
Mr. Alexander. Honestly, Counsel, I disassociated myself now
from the ideology of communism but I could not state as a person who
tried to read some books in my life that your descriptions of the
ideology of commmiism — I don't believe that to be quite exact or
fair — although I do disassociate myself from the conception of
ideology of communism that I had gotten from some 20 to 25 years
of study of it and a great number of other subjects.
Mr. Arens. Have you been educational director of the Communist
Party for the State of Illinois ?
Mr. Alexander. No.
Mr. Arens. Wliat have you done in educational work in the State
of Illinois ?
Mr. Alexander. Nothing that I can recall. In the State of Illinois,
as I stated, way back in 1934 or 1935 I was not an oflScial of the Com-
munist Party or the Young Communist League, and when I was a
member of the Conununist Party of the State of Illinois from ap-
proximately 1951 to 1956, having recently been reaccepted into the
Communist Party, I was certainly not a leader of the Communist
Party.
Mr. Arens. Was your acceptance in the Communist Party at your
solicitation ?
Mr. Alexander. Yes. Having been accused of personal dishonesty
by the Communist Party in 1948, perhaps quixotically, looking back on
it I was very anxious to clear my own record and my own conscience
but I felt it was the wrong way to do so.
Mr. Arens. Did you become cognizant of the Communist in the
1950's — of the treachery of the Communist operation ?
Mr. Alexander. Well, in 1956, when I left the Communist Party,
as I say, I left it because there was a clear conflict of interest between
the membership of Local 113 and the rank and file caucus of 113 and
the Communist Party. That is why I left.
Mr. Arens. Were you cognizant of the control of the Communist
Party of the United States by the Kremlin ?
Mr. Alexander. That control, again, Mr. Chairman, that is a simple
word which covers up a complex problem. One of the reasons why I
left the Communist Party was because I felt that the Communist
Party in the United States attempted much too much to pattern itself
upon policies formed by the Soviet Communist Party and that the
Soviet Communist Party attempted too much to a great extent to
guide the policies of the American Conununist Party.
618 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Were you cognizant of the-
Mr. Alexander. As a consequence, the American Communist Party
became futile and ineffective.
Mr. Willis. May I ask a question at this point?
Along the lines of direction and control of policies of the American
party by the Soviets, and picking up your thoughts with reference to
the policy of the American Communist Party during World War II,
when there was a common fight, as you said, against fascism, I would
be interested to have as frank a statement from you as
Mr. Alexander. Certainly.
Mr. Willis. as you would kindly inform us on what was the
policy of the Communist Party during the Korean war as to righteous-
ness of our cause or what was the official line? Would you care to
talk about that ?
Mr. Alexander. Would you please refresh my memory about the
year of the Korean war ?
Mr. Willis. The Korean war was June 1950, 1 think it started and
lasted a year or so. You were not in the party ?
Mr. Alexander. I was not in the party in 1950, no. I rejoined in
approximately 1951 or 1952.
Mr. Willis. The war was on to 1953, actually. Do you have any
knowledge on that, because we have our own opinions on it and we
have some executive information that we received in the committee and
I am curious to know if you have any judgment on that.
Mr. Alexander. I have knowledge, not expert knowledge, because
I was not a leader of the Communist Party at that time. My knowl-
edge of Communist Party policies is based on the same sources as your
own, publicly printed statements and so on.
Mr. Willis. Wliat is your knowledge ?
Mr. Alexander. My knowledge of it is that the Communist Party
opposed the position of the American Government in entering that
war and felt that tlie North Koreans represented the trend among
all the colonial peoples of the world toward their national independ-
ence and that the United States was intervening against themselves
on the side of a rather reactionary and corrupt old gentleman by the
name of Syngman Rhee, who the people of South Korea didn't like
any better than the people of North Korea, who himself was what
we attempted to call a Fascist dictator.
I think that was the position of the Communist Party at that time.
I am not stating that that is my opinion or my position at the present
time. I am not stating that it is or isn't. You simply asked me to
state what I remember of the position of the Communist Party at
that time.
Mr. Johansen. Mr. Alexander.
Mr. Alexander. Yes, sir.
Mr. Johansen. I understand you to testify that the party at least
because of the guidance, I think was the word you used, of the Kremlin
in the affairs of the Commimist Party of the United States being
too extensive, in consequence of that the Communist Party of the
United States became futile and ineffective.
Mr. Alexander. Yes, sir.
Mr. Johansen. In respect to what goals or objects or purposes did
you feel that it had become futile and ineffective?
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 619
Mr. Alexander. I thought it became futile and ineffective in re-
gard to the goals for which I joined it and that was social progress
and advancement of democratic rights in the United States, the crea-
tion of a more equitable social and economic order in the United
States. I think that the Soviet Communist Party having no first-
hand knowledge of the American political scene was in a very poor
position to make suggestions to American Connnunists about what
political strategy and so on they should employ and that the Ameri-
can Communists were very ill advised in, so to speak, hanging on the
word of every Pravda and Izvestia editorial that came out to try to
catch the latest slant and how they should apply that to the American
situation. And the ideals for which I joined the Communist Party
were effective social progress, work for social legislation, the unifying
of the labor movement and all the liberal people in the United States
to achieve these immediate goals and a more equitable social order.
I think the Communist Party went way off the track because the
way, for example, the new social order had been achieved in Russia or
in China, I don't thinlc has hardly any relevance to the United States
with its constitutional form of democracy, and that is the only way,
the only effective way of making improvements in the social and
economic order of the United States which I do think could bear
improvement, and I think everybody could agree, I don't think that
Russians or Chinese can be of much help to anybodj^ in understand-
ing how to improve our setup here under our type of government.
Our type of government, they just haven't been brought up, they are
not familiar.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact that in the ascendancy
of communism in Soviet Russia an estimated 20 million human souls
have been liquidated, crushed.
Mr. Alexander. I don't know the exact number. I am certainly
cognizant of the fact that millions of people have suffered very deeply
and many have been illegally murdered in the Soviet Union. That is
one of the reasons why I quit the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact that in Red China an
estimated 40 million human lives have been snuffed out in the ascend-
ancy of this force known as communism?
Mr. Alexander. I am no expert on China and I don't know whether
that is true or not. I might say this— that all
Mr. Arens. What is your estimate on the number of human soids
that have been destroyed in Red China?
Mr. Alexander. I have no estimate. I have no way of estimating
at all.
Mr. Arens. Have you any doubt but what millions of human souls
have been destroyed by this force laiown as communism in Red China ?
Mr. Alexander. It is highly possible and I am opposed to those
methods of bringing — may I answer ?
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact right now, while I am
talking to you, in Red China
Mr. Alexander. May I finish answering ?
Mr. Arens. They have a system known as the spread eagle where
they take people who are against the regime and they tie one hand
to a horse, another hand to a horse, their head to a horse, a foot to a
620 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
horse, and the other foot to a horse and then they pull them bodily
apart. Are you cognizant of that going on now m Red China ?
Mr. Alexander. I have no expert knowledge of these facts.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant
Mr. Alexander. I have read in the newspaper and I have no way
of evaluating.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact that Stalin, who over
the course of a generation was the leader of this force of communism,
was by his own colleagues, the present leader Khrushchev condemned
as one who was brutal, a murderer, who destroyed hundreds of thou-
sands of his colleagues in the ascendancy of this force in Soviet Rus-
sia ? Are you cognizant of that fact ?
Mr. Alexander. Very cognizant of it. That is why I left the
Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact that Khrushchev, the
present leader of the Kremlin, is dripping in blood, that during the
regime of Stalin, Khrushchev had charge of liquidation of an esti-
mated 8 to 10 million of the Kulak class that he just mowed down,
had mowed down and destroyed as a Kansas farmer would wheat?
Are you cognizant of that fact ?
Mr. Alexander. I am cognizant of all the brutalities committed by
the Stalin regime. That is why I left the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact
Mr. Alexander. I have no expert knowledge of any of these
questions.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact that that same force is
the force that has been let loose of which you were a part and parcel
for 20 years in this country, under whose flag you have protection?
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I recall that the first question along
this line of questioning I did not finish answering when counsel inter-
rupted me. I would like that first question restated so I might finish
answering.
Mr. Arens. Let's finish this question first and then go back to it.
Are you cognizant of the fact that you have dedicated 20 years of
your life to the promotion, the development, and the activity of this
awful force on the soil of the country under whose flag you have
protection ?
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I will be glad to answer this ques-
tion after I finish completion of the first question.
Mr. Willis. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Complete your answer.
Mr. Willis. I think he is entitled to have that first question read,
if that is what he wants.
Mr. Arens. Which question is it you are in doubt about?
Mr. Alexander. I think it was the first in this line of questions.
It had something to do with Red China.
Mr. Arens. Yes. Are you cognizant, in a word, of the horror now
in vogue in Red China ?
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I would request that the question
as stated in the record be read back.
Mr. Willis. I think you remember it substantially, don't you?
Mr. Alexander. I am not certain.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 621
Mr. Arens. Tlie essence of it, then, I shall now repeat, are you
cognizant of the fact that in Ked China now they are separating
families, that they are digging up the graves of the ancestors to use
them for fertilizer, they are taking those people who are no use any
longer to this machine and killing them off as you and I might
slaughter hogs, all for the purpose of the ascendancy of this force
in its awful terrorism, the like of which this planet has yet to see?
Are you cognizant that now in Ked China
Mr. Willis. Let him answer that question fully, Counsel.
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman
Mr. Arens. Go ahead and answer it.
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I am advised by my counsel that
I have the right to have the text of the question as originally asked
to be read back to me from the record. I will be glad to finish answer-
ing it.
Mr. Arens. If there will be an answer we will strike the question
and use the question I just asked.
(The witness conferred with liis counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. Will you please restate it so I may answer accu-
rately the question before.
Mr. Arens. In essence, are you cognizant of the horror beyond
human comprehension that is now in vogue in Red China ?
Mr. Alexander. Yes. I am cognizant of it and I am very much
opposed to it. I am also cognizant of a great number of things that
go on in the colonial world. I spent almost two years as an enlisted
man in the American Army in India. I saw a great deal of all of
southeast Asian nations. The first year I was in India under British
rule, some 2 million people died of starvation in the streets of the
city of Calcutta. Certainly I think this is a very difficult problem
to solve. If you don't have rapid industrialization of these colonial
countries, millions of people die of starvation each year as they used
to in old China. If you do have the rapid pace of industrialization
that is necessary to stop this slow daily starvation among the people
of Asia and Africa, so far it appears that the only way that it has
been successfully done has been through the rapid brutal methods
now being used in China. I am against them but it is a genuine
dilemma, believe me.
Mr. Willis. Pardon me. I don't want to interrupt you. We have
instructions from the Federal judge not to permit smoking during
hearings.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant, sir, and this is the crucial question
I want to pose to you now in all sincerity, that the force which has
caused the destruction of an estimated 20 million people in the Soviet
Union, that has caused an estimated millions upon millions to be
destroyed in Red China, the force that cut loose in Korea, the force
that cut loose in Hungary, the force that now has 33 million agents
over the world in this Godless, atheistic communism, which is dedi-
cated to the destruction of this Nation under whose flag you have
protection is the same force to which you dedicated your life, your
energies, your talents for 20 years ?
Mr. Alexander. Well, I think, Mr. Chairman, in all honesty, I
would respect the staff director's description and ideals about com-
622 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
munism. I hope that he will respect my own. I am opposed to
the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly just answer that question ?
Mr. Alexander. It is a very bad thing. I am answering it. I an-
swered it by leaving the Communist Party. However
Mr. Arens. If you want to answer it, then tell us.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis. I think
Mr. Alexander. May I finish this question ?
Mr. Arens. Go right ahead.
Mr. Alexander. Much as I am now opposed to the Communist
Party, I don't think that the Communist Party quite fits the descrip-
tion staff counsel gave and I think a good number of other people
think so.
Mr. Arens. Do you think communism
Mr. Alexander. May I finish answering the question ?
Mr. Arens. Go right ahead.
Mr. Alexander. I think the problem might be stated in a nutsheU
like this, that there are people who are opposed to — both the Com-
munists and the committee I think have an unfortunate habit of try-
ing to force a person either to be a Coimnunist or a supporter of the
position of, well, one might call what might be called the modern
know-nothing position. I think most of the people in the United
States are in the middle between the two. And I think I share that
position. I am opposed to communism, but I am not so naive as to
subscribe to the devil theory of history. I am opposed to commu-
nism, but by being opposed to communism I don't think that I have
to become a know-nothing, a witch hunter and that type of thing.
Mr. Arens. We don't want you to become a know-nothing.
Mr. Alexander. I think I can have an honest, dispassionate, objec-
tive, intellectual opposition to communism.
Mr. Willis. I understand.
Mr. Alexander. Without becoming a witch hunter.
Mr. Willis. I think that answers the question adequately.
Mr. Arens. Now, would you kindly tell us if you are opposed to
communism, if you think it is an evil force, would you tell us, please,
sir^ the names of persons who to your certain knowledge are now par-
ticipants as members of the Communist Party in the greater Chicago
area?
Mr. Alexander. You asked me knowledge of people who are now
members of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Wlio as of 1956 when you left the Communist Party.
Mr. Alexander. As of 1956 ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I would beg respectfully to de-
cline to answer that question because I have been going through the
unfortunate experience, very possibly losing my own job, by virtue of
being summoned up here because I was a Conmiunist in the past
though I am not any longer, and I am conscious while I have been
freely willing to testify about myself, my own activities, in con-
science I can't subject anybody else to the things I have been sub-
jected to the past few days.
Mr. Arens. May I ask you this question ?
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 623
Mr. Alexander. I decline to answer any questions concerning names
of other people.
Mr. Willis. Let liim complete. He has a right to explain his decli-
nation.
Mr. Alexander. Matter of conscience.
Mr. Arens. Just a matter of conscience in his case.
Mr. Alexander. Kight.
Mr. Arens. Now, if you had been a member of a narcotics ring
which was selling narcotics to destroy the bodies and souls of people
in the Chicago area, and you for reasons of your own had decided,
"Well, this narcotics ring isn't for me, I am now decidedly opposed
to it," would you come forward and tell the Government of the United
States or its authorized agency the names of other persons in that
narcotic ring, so that the Government of the United States might
develop factual information with which to protect this society against
the machinations and marauding of the narcotics ring ?
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I would like your advice. I think
that we are discussing subversive activities, not a narcotics ring. I
believe the question would be irrelevant. Pretty hard to discuss the
parallel because it is a big philosophical argument here.
Mr. Arens. Do you feel the Communist operation in the United
States today now is a vile force ?
Mr. Alexander. The Communist operation in America now an evil
force ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
Mr. Alexander. Well, hardly. I think the Communist operation
now is an impotent force, a sterile force, and in my own opinion that
if it were not given all the publicity that it is given by committees like
this one and a few others, that within a few months the Communist
Party would be reduced to the same type of sterile impotency as the
Social-Labor Party, the IWW have, and they would cease to be any
factor at all in America.
Mr. Arens. Are you cognizant of the fact that the best brains and
best intelligence sources in the Government of the United States
undercover agencies serving in the Communist Party, indeed people
who testified m these very hearings, as well as undercover agents who
have been giving information to this committee, unanimously without
a sense of dissent profess that the Communist operation in the United
States today now is a more serious, more deadly fifth column on
American soil than ever before in the history of this Nation ?
Mr. Alexander. I am conscious of this fact. However, being an
American citizen brought up on the Bill of Eights, I have long ago
decided that when it comes to questions of making up my own mind,
the realm of philosophy, politics, and moral ideas, as an American
and while I can read what Government experts or anybody else say,
my duty is to study these problems as carefully as I can from objective
sources and come to my own conclusions. In the realm of philosophy,
politics, I hardly consider police agents and people of that sort as
experts. I would much rather go back to the original sources of
Marx, Engels, Lenin, make objective decisions for myself, whether I
am for or against them. People in Nazi Germany fell into the habit
of letting their minds be made up for them by the official decisions
of their government. I think it has been the whole spirit of our coun-
624 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
try that you should listen to what experts in your government say but
read the stuff yourself and make up your own mind for yourself and
that is what I tried to do.
Mr. Arens. Have you made a study, then, of the operations out of
the consulates and embassies of this Government of espionage agents
in the pay and under the discipline of the Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. Alexander. I have no expert information. I read the news-
papers like anybody else.
Mr, Arens. Have you made a study of the current Communist
political subversion campaign?
Mr. Alexander. No ; I have no expert information. For the last
year and a half I have been quite disinterested in politics.
Mr. Arens. Have you made a study of any Communist colonization
program, whereby they are now sending into heavy industry, people
who have been trained in training schools of revolution who efface all
identities of themselves for the purpose of colonizing in heavy indus-
try ? Have you made a study of that ?
Mr. Alexander. I have no expert information, I read what was
reported in newspapers of this committee. But for the last year, a
year and a half I have become much more disinterested in politics than
I used to be. I have occupied myself in the field of literature and I
expend most of my time writing a book so I have no expert knowledge
on this.
Mr. Willis. Let me ask you this question^ and I am not going to
debate or characterize it, either way, for the information of this com-
mittee. You are aware of the fact that they use colonization without
putting any interpretation on it. You are aware of that, aren't you ?
Mr. Alexander. Yes ; I am aware of it.
Mr, Willis. In fact, let me ask you this, very frankly. I meant to
ask you it a while ago ; I am going to ask you now. With your educa-
tional background that you related, and your laiowledge of theoretical
communism, everything else, did you consider yourself in later years
engaged in the ty[)e of work that you performed — you said you studied
to be a machinist — is that something of a definition of colonization,
isn't that about the type they use? If you were not one, isn't that
about the thing they use, in all honesty ?
Mr, Alexander, No, In ail honesty I could not have been colonized
in 1949 when I became a machinist, because I had just been expelled
from the Communist Party. The Communists had orders not even to
associate with me, but I will answer about colonization as I knew it
when I was a leader of the party.
Yes, certainly, a Communist urged members to go to work in im-
portant factories and things of that sort, they could persuade them
to do so and the reasons for it were quite simple and obvious. There
was a big unionization drive going on in this country at that time and
the Communist Party was, I think it is now, judged to be true by all
labor historians, the Communists played quite a big role in organizing
the CIO in the beginning, although they were kicked out, and Com-
munists made every attempt to get their members to go to work in big
factories where organizations were ahead, when organizers were
needed, and so on.
Mr, Willis. And place them in posts of leadership, and so on.
Mr. Alexander, Not necessarily.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 625
Mr. Willis. I think that is the essence of what we have been
Mr. Alexander. I think in all honesty the Communists are quite
willing to say, "Let the weight of the chemicals fall according to their
weight." If the workers would elect somebody who happened to be
a Communist to an office, fine ; if they wouldn't elect them, that guy
wasn't doing a very good job.
Mr. Willis. Proceed, Counsel.
Mr. Arens. Did you teach in your training school force and vio-
lence as a means to obtain the objectives of communism?
Mr. Alexander. No.
Mr. Arens. Does the Communist Party ?
Mr. Alexander. Not in America.
Mr. Arens. Does the Communist Party stand for the overthrow
of the Government of the United States by force and violence ?
Mr. Alexander. I don't know what the Communist Party stands
for now, sir.
Mr. Arens. Now don't equivocate with me. Did the Communist
Party stand for it ?
Mr. Alexander. When I was a member ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
Mr. Alexander. Did it stand for overthrow of the Government by
force and violence ?
Mr. Arens. Yes.
Mr. Alexander. No.
Mr. Arens. Then were the 11 Communist traitors down in Foley
Square convicted erroneously for advocating the overthrow of the
Government of the United States by force and violence ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. I am sorry, sir ; I don't have any legal qualifica-
tions to give an answer to that question, not a lawyer.
Mr. Arens. You said you spoke, you taught Marxism and Leninism.
Mr. Alexander. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Lenin advocated, did he not, that in essence we must
use deceit, lies, anything that will further our cause ? Isn't that the
essence of the technique used by Lenin and advocated by Lenin ?
Mr. Alexander. Well, this is one of the reasons why I resigned
from the Communist Party, because writing
Mr. Arens. When were you taught that ?
Mr. Alexander. May I continue to answer that question when I am
finished ?
Mr. Arens, Go ahead.
Mr. Alexander. That the writing of Lenin, Lenin having been a
Russian and living in Kussia most of his life, were not applicable to
an open democratic system such as we had in the United States. When
Lenin wrote about deceit and lies and all that sort of thing, he was
talking about an underground revolution, antimonarchist movement
in a Czarist country, Russia. When I was in the United States Army,
I know of people who employed deceit, lies, all that sort of thing, to
an incredible extent, the OSS. Our American and British under-
ground agents in occupied countries, and certainly we, when you are
fighting
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer this question? It is not
responsive at all to the question. You are giving a recitation.
626 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Willis. I think you have given an adequate explanation.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, when you taught Marxism and Leninism in
this leadership training school of the Communist Party, did you teach
Marxism and Leninism absent, minus, without encompassing in your
instructions the deceit, the lies, and the treachery that Lenin taught
and advocated and wrote ?
Mr, Alexander. I never advocated deceit, lies, treachery. When I
began to feel that the Communist Party was engaging in that sort of
thing I left it.
Mr. Arens. You taught in Marxism, Leninism out in Seattle back
in the early 1940's, didn't you ?
Mr. Alexander. That is right.
Mr. Arens. At that time you knew from Lenin that he taught
deceit, lies, and the like, did you not ?
Mr. Alexander. I taught that the
Mr. Arens. Answer my question. Don't equivocate with me.
When you taught
Mr. Alexander. Wliat is the question, please ?
Mr. Arens. When you taught Marxism and Leninism in Seattle in
the leadership training school of the Communists, did you then know
that Lenin's techniques, his advocacy, his teachings encompassed and
embraced lying and deceit and misrepresentation as part of the tech-
nique of communism ?
Mr. Alexander. I knew that to be true when operating, when Com-
munists were working in an underground, illegal organization de-
voted to the overthrow of the Russian czar and that is the only way
anybody has ever accomplished anything against a complete dictator-
ship. That is why I am so much in favor of maintaining democracy
and the Bill of Rights in the United States so that I hope it will never
have to have any movements that resort to lies and deceit here. People
only do that when they have a complete dictatorship as our under-
ground agents had to do.
Mr. Arens. Did you, as of the time that you were teaching in the
Lenin school, have this revulsion toward Lenin's teachings of force
and violence and of deceit and treachery ?
Mr. Alexander. I never taught in the Lenin school, sir.
Mr. Arens. I say when you taught in the training school.
Mr. Alexander. Did I have a revulsion against lies, deceit, violence ?
Mr. Arens. Against Lenin teaching of lying, deceit, and treachery.
Mr. Alexander. Yes. I had a revulsion against them. I am sure
that most men in the OSS had a revulsion against the methods they
had to use. They certainly would have preferred to use the kind of
methods that we can use in political life in the United States under
our Bill of Rights but revulsion or no revulsion they were operating
in an occupied country against Hitler. They had to use them.
Mr. Willis. Wait a second.
Mr. JoHANSEN. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arens. Do you
Mr. Willis. Wait a minute.
Mr. Johansen. As I understand you to testify you said that one of
the reasons that you left the party was because of, and was timed to
your discovery of, the advocacy and use of deceit and treacheiy and
the advocacy of force and violence.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 627
Mr. Willis. Is that right?
Mr. JoHANSEN. Is that correct ?
Mr. Alexander. Yes.
Mr. JoHANSEN. Was it the fact that it was used in Russia that
prompted you to develop that revulsion or was it the fact that it was
practiced, preached, and practiced in the United States which caused
that?
Mr. Alexander. Well, the use of it in Eussia certainly forcibly
brought it to my attention and I don't think it was used exactly in
that way in the United States because the Communist Party never had
government power in the United States like they had in Russia. But
I certainly began to consider, for example, that my own expulsion
from the Communist Party in 1948 was a rather inhuman and dis-
honest thing to do. I think the people who expelled me from the
Commmiist Party knew quite well that I was not a FBI agent or a
FBI accomplice and yet they called me that in order to expel me be-
cause I was a critic of theirs. I think this was dishonesty and deceit
on their part, yes. But I don't think the Communist Party in the
United States ever practiced it on any grand scale like they did in
Russia, to the extent of having people killed and so on. They were
never in power. It is an altogether different situation. I don't think
the Communist Party, the Communist Party is made up of human
beings, and no matter where you go, in what walk of life the people
are rather queer ducks, with a great number of brothers — ambitions
and deceit, and all that sort of thing.
Mr. Willis. Of course, what we are interested in is information with
regard to current operations and techniques of the Communist con-
spiracy in America.
Mr. Alexander. Yes, sir.
Mr. Willis. As I understand, you will not reveal names of people
with whom you were associated or go into those details today ; is that
correct ?
Mr. Alexander. Not today, or I am afraid at any time, sir, at least
I hope not at any time. I hope I will never bring injury to innocent
people. I don't think I ever will.
Mr. Willis. In doing so, I want to get the record perfectly straight
for all purposes, and I hope your counsel will listen, in taking that
position I do not recall that you have invoked any specific constitu-
tional provision. You do it on the basis of conscience ; is that correct ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. I am declining to answer this type of question, sir,
on the grounds of conscience, and on the advice of my attorneys, also
on all constitutional grounds which might pertain to it, except that
portion of the fifth amendment which speaks of protection against self-
incrimination.
Mr. Willis. You do not invoke ?
Mr. Alexander. I do not invoke that section of the fifth amend-
ment which offers immunity against self-incrimination. That is the
only one I do not.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I will make this record absolutely clear
because I expect to propound a very important question on this specific
issue, and I invite your attention to the explanation that I want to
make now of pertinency.
628 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
This subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities is
here in Chicago to develop factual information which will be of as-
sistance to it in appraising the adequacy of our existing security laws
and their administration, also for the purpose of accumulatmg infor-
mation which might be of use to it in devising amendments to existing
security laws to cope with the ever-changing tactics and strategy ot
the Communist Party. It is obvious, sir, from your testimony here,
and I will say I have all kinds of exhibits I was going to display to
you respecting your own Communist Party activities, information and
knowledge and techniques— it is obvious, sir, that you have a fund
of knowledge of current Communist Party techniques and activities
in the greater Chicago area. I say by current up to and including
1956. In order for us to determine
Mr. Willis. 1956 according to his testimony.
Mr. Aeens. According to his own testimony.
According to your own testimony up until 1956. Now, it is obvious
that before this committee could summon persons before it, in order
to solicit from them information respecting Communist Party tech-
niques, activities and the like, we must know the identity of those
persons. I therefore now am going to ask you in a moment to give
this committee the names of persons who to your certain knowledge —
I don't want any innocent people that you talked about — only those
persons who, to your certain knowledge in 1956, were members of the
Communist Party, in the greater Chicago area, so that this committee
can with that information either confirm partially or in toto, other
bits of information respecting those persons and their activities or
summon those persons before this committee to get additional infor-
mation, all for our legislative purposes of appraising the adequacy
of existing legislation and its administration or to devise amend-
ments to existing laws.
Now, sir, with that explanation, I now ask you while you are under
oath to name before this committee now the names of persons who,
to your certain knowledge, were in 1956 members of the Communist
Party and active as Communists in the greater Chicago area.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman
Mr. Arens. Sir, so there will be no misunderstanding on this rec-
ord, after I had just made this explanation and posed this question,
you have been in consultation now with two of your lawyers ; is that
correct ?
Mr. Alexander. Correct.
Mr. Arens. Wlio are appearing here with you today.
Now, would you kindly respond to the question.
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I would willingly stay here all
day, all night, as long as the committee wants, to give them all infor-
mation in my possession about Communist activities. Communist tech-
niques up to 1956 when I had knowledge of these things. However,
when it comes to identifying pei-sons whom I knew as Communists up
to 1956, 1 can't evade the point that I might cause those people to go
through the same thing I have had to go through for the past few
days, including possible loss of a job. Most people who were in the
Communist Party at that time, as the committee well knows, have left
the Communist Party, and are now opposed to it. The Communist
Party, in your own words — pardon me, sir.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 629
Mr. Willis. You see, permit me to interrupt you. I think I catch
your point.
Mr. Alexander. Certainly.
Mr. Willis. It is for the very statement you just made, that argu-
ment cannot possibly be accepted by us. You say as we well know,
it is meaningless today. But, let us form a judgment on that by dig-
ging into and being informed as to the teclmiques and so on. So, do
you not see it is inconsistent, A^ery difficult and unpleasant a task to
permit a witness, not necessarily you, any witness to talk about his
activities in his own way, believing perhaps all that that witness is
saying is true, but not giving us an opportunity to check upon the
truth or falsity of the witness on the stand, being questioned. And
then painting a picture his way and stopping sliort and not permitting
us to form a judgment. I am implying nothing by what 1 have said as
to the truth or falsity of your own statement. We are now discussing
a very serious question of law, believe me, and I \\i]\ have to order you
to answer that question for that reason and let me say this, as I indi-
cated, we appreciate your appearance, we appreciate your task, we
appreciate the position you are hi. On the other hand, here is our
position : This committee has been formed many years ago. The talk
about its lack of legislative purpose is not uncommon to us. We hear
that all the time. We have to bear the brunt of criticism and all that
goes with it. But from year to year we are directed to make a report
to the Congress and Ave did tliat just last January on tlie work of last
year, calendar year 1958. We Avere reconstituted and ordered to do
tliis job. In the reformation of the committee through its financing,
as far as I knoAV out of 435 Congressmen, I don't think there — I really
don't recall one \^ote against ordering us to continue our legislative
purpose.
As to legislation, as the opening statement indicates, this commit-
tee has made recommendation after recommendation. Some of the
most delicate and penetrating security laAvs for good or bad according
to the judgment of various people have been passed and as a result of
our Avork. The Smith Act, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the
Communist Control Act, as I say, for good or bad, Congress voted
them. We are directed to appraise them from year to year. That is
our job, Avhich is unpleasant.
Now, when they talk about legislative purpose of this committee,
let us see Avliat it means, Avliether it is or is not the business of Con-
gress to legislate upon this subject of communism.
It is a painful truth that Avithin your and my lifetime this ideology
has taken over perhaps one-fourtli of the population of the earth,
of tlie Avorld and perhaps in physical land mass perhaps a third or
more Avithout firing a shot. We are in trouble today. We have to
A^ote something like $40 billion a year for national defense, national
defense against Avhom and Avhat ? ^^Hw are the troublemakers ? Who
nnist we defend the taxpayers against, have to bleed through the
nose? The Communists, of course.
NoAv, anyone can, Avith a serious face, take an oath before this com-
mittee and say, "Well, Congress is powerless to inquire into these
things, the resolution is too vague for us to talk about it." I make this
lengthy statement to try to impress upon you that in ordering you to
ansAver that question I am forced to. You go half way — your way —
41635—59 9
630 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
without giving us an opportunity to recheck, to check, on wliat you
say. Then we are led into this blind alley and then you have this
warning. The committee appreciates the extent to which you have
gone l)ut witli this explanation, I will order you to answer the ques-
tion, unless, of course, you wish to take advantage of the invocation of
the constitutional grounds, then it ends the matter. You have a per-
fect right to do it.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. May I consult with counsel on this? It is obvi-
ously a serious matter.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. ]Mr. Witness, so I just pose a question to you, and your
counsel might well listen because we wanttliis record to be absolutely
clear.
Mr. Alexander. There is a question pending.
Mr. Arens. I want this to go on the record now.
Do you understand, Mr. Witness, that your declination is not
accepted by the committee and that the chairman of this subcom-
mittee has ordered and directed you to answer the outstanding prin-
cipal question ? Do you understand that ?
Mr. Marks. Yes.
Mr. Alexander. I understand.
Mr. Willis. I am required to make that order under the decisions
of the Supreme Court.
Mr. Alexander. I understand that. I think you have been re-
spectful of my sincerity and I am certainly respectful of yours, sir.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully must decline to
answer on the grounds of conscience. In doing so I invoke all con-
stitutional grounds for refusing to do so, including, but not limited
to, the first amendment and the due process clause of the fifth amend-
ment relating to scope of this inquiry and the power of the committee
and the pertinence of the questions. There is only one constitutional
ground that I am not invoking and that is the privilege against
self-incrimination.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, just so the record can be so clear it will be
ludicrous to say it is not clear, you have just conferred with your
two counsel, have you not, before you gave that response ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr, Alexander. Yes, certainly.
Mr. Arens. And you have set forth the grounds for your refusal
after your consultation with them, indeed, I believe you have read it
after you have prepared the exact answer, is that correct ?
(The witness conferred w^ith his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. I decline to answer that question. I think it is
irrelevant. The matter of the lawyer-client privilege is involved.
Mr. Akens. All right. You still understand, now, do you not,
that the committee as of this instant is continuing to insist upon the
information, it is not accepting vour declination? Do vou under-
stand that?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Alexander. I understand that and T ho]5e tliat I will stand
by my position for the rest of my life.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO 631
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
The committee will take an informal recess of 5 minutes.
(Committee members present: Representatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
(Brief recess.)
(Committee members present: Representatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
Mr. Willis. The subcommittee will please come to order.
Counsel, please call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, sir, will be Mr. Ber-
nard Angert.
Please come forward and remain standing while the chairman ad-
ministers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Mr. Meyers. Mr. Chairman, my client objects to the taking of
photographs here.
Mr. Willis. You are not under our jurisdiction until you have
taken the oath.
Do you solemnly swear — please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?
Mr. Angert. I do.
Mr. Willis. Now, if you invoke the rule, no photographs.
Mr. Meyers. Would you be good enough to ask that man to take
the plate?
Mr. Willis. No. That was before he was administered the oath.
I have no-
Mr. Meyers. You know I made an attempt to stop it.
TESTIMONY OF BERNARD ANGERT, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
IRVING MEYERS
Mr. Arens. Now, would you kindly identify yourself by name, resi-
dence, and occupation ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I am Bernard Angert.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly keep your voice up a little bit. It is
difficult to hear you.
Mr. Angert. Bernard Angert. I live at 934 Fowler, in Evanston.
I am a moldmaker.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing here today, Mr. Angert, in response
to a subpena Avhich was served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Angert. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Angert. By counsel.
Mr. x\rens. Counsel, would 3'ou kindly identify yourself on this
record ?
Mr. Meyers. My name is Irving Meyers, Chicago, 111.
At tliis time, Mr. Chairman, I addressed a telegi\am on April 30
to the chairman of 3^our committee, Mr. Walter, and I would like to
632 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
know if I can have an answer (o tlie request tliat I made there for an
executive session. The reason 1 made that request was to prevent my
client from sutl'erino- from public scorn and stigma that was de-
nounced in the AVatkins case and to preserve his whole interest and
to prevent him from feeling the injury that attaches to anybody that
appears at this hearing in open
Mr. Akens. Now, would you kindly tell us where and when you
were born ?
Mr. Meyers. Mr. C'hairman, may I have an answer?
Mr. Arens. No. (^ounsel understands the rules of the committee,
a copy of which I see before you. Your sole and exclusive preroga-
tive is to advise your client.
Now, kindly tell us where and when you were born.
Mr. Meyers. You do not see a copy of the rule. You see a copy
of the DAR manual for citizenship.
Mr. Akicns. It looked like the rules, same color.
Mr. Meyers. I might add you didn't furnish us with a copy of the
rules and I request one.
Mr. Arkxs. I will kindly advise you now, sir, your sole and exclu-
sive prerogative, as the chairman said in his opening statement yester-
day, is to advise your client. Kindly tell us where and when you were
born.
Mr. AxGEKT. Mr. Chairmaii, I would like to request, as a matter of
record as I did request this as of my counsel, this telegram be read into
the record. I would like to read it, if I may.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly answer the question where and when
you were born ?
^Ir. Willis. You may hand it to counsel.
Mr. Arens. We will be glad to receive anything you want to tender
there.
(The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Air. Angert. One moment, please.
Mr. Arens. Now^, would you kindly tell us where
Mr. Angert. Just a moment. I would like to make this request
again of the chairman. This telegram was sent some time ago, a week
ago, and this request was made most sincerely and I want this as a
matter of record, please, and now I feel that in the situation as
outlined by my counsel, that any service I can do this couLmittee I can
do them equally well in executive session without the stigma of public-
ity attached.
Mr. Arens. We don't want to be accused any more of star-chamber
procedures.
Now, would you kindly tell us where and when you were born ?
Mr. Angert. I made the request of the chairman.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered and directed to answer the question where and when he was
bom.
Mr. Willis. The telegram is received and you may proceed.
Mr. Arens. Will you kindly answer the question ?
Mr. Angert. What is your question ?
Mr. Arens. Wliere and wdien were you born ?
Mr. Angert. I was born October 19," 1910, in Chicago, 111.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 633
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, sir, respecting your formal
education.
Mr. Angert. As I can remember it, I graduated from high school
'here in Chicago, and I attended Central YMCA College, the city
colleges, and the University of Illinois, over a 4- or 5-year period, not
continuous attendance, I did not graduate and there may have been
other things as well.
Mr. Arens. Did that complete your formal education ?
Mr. Angert. No; that did not complete my formal education. I
don't know. Formally, yes. I also attended trade schools and took
courses in keeping with information as regards my trade as a mold-
maker. I took courses in machine-shop practice, courses in mechani-
cal drafting, engineering drawings, and things of that kind.
Mr. Arens. When did you complete your formal education in the
school that you told us about a moment ago, please, sir?
Mr. Angert. I would say that in the sense that I answered it previ-
ously I would say it was 1940, 1941, although I might point out that
I have taken courses after I got out of the Army as well, very recently,
again in courses related to my trade.
Mr. Arens. Now, give us, if you please, sir, just the principal
employments which you have had since you completed your formal
education.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I worked after finishing my education as you point
out, I went to work in a machine shop ; left for the services and then
Mr. Arens. Where did you serve in the armed services ? Could you
help us on that, please, sir ?
Mr. Angert. Certainly. Trained in this country and I served over-
seas in Italy.
Mr. Arens. Wlien were you discharged ?
Mr. Angert. End of 1945.
Mr. Arens. Did you have a commission ?
Mr. Angert. No.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Beginning about 1945 when you were
•discharged would you kindly give us just your principal employments?
Mr. Angert. I can tell you then again because of the type of work
that I do and the fact that it is common practice for moldmakers, spe-
cial type of tool and diemaking, to jump from shop to shop, you can-
not pin me on exact dates because I could not possibly remember.
Mr, Arens. We don't want to do that. Just your best judgment.
Mr, Angert, All right. Immediately after getting out of the armed
services I worked for United Electrical, Kadio & Machine Workers
of America,
Mr, Arens, In what capacity ?
Mr, Angert, As a field representative of a local union, and I worked
for them between a year and a half and 2 years.
Mr, Arens. All right, sir. And then your next principal employ-
ment ?
Mr. Angert. And then I went into a machine shop and I have
Tvorked in a number, I would say a dozen in rounding out the figure,
small machine shops or jobbing shops of that kind.
41635—59 10
634 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Have you been active in I AM ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. What do you mean by lAM ?
Mr. Arens. International Association of Machinists,
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I would like to know what the pertinency of my mem-
bersliip in that union is to this committee and its purpose.
Mr. Arens. I will then hold that question for just a few minutes.
Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I decline to answer that question, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. Arens. Why ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. For the reasons that I will enumerate, if I may.
Mr. Arens. I didn't hear you, sir.
Mr. Willis. For the reasons he will enumerate.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I decline to answer the question because I believe it is
for violating the first amendment, which insures me the right of free-
dom of association.
Mr. Arens. You are reading now from a prepared statement, is
that correct ?
Mr. Angert. I am reading now, Mr. Counsel, from a statement that
I prepared with my attorney because I am a layman and I wanted to
make very sure that there would be no question in the mind of this
committee exactly what my position is. It is not a lengthy statement ;
it is a simple position. I want to be heard on it.
Mr. Arens. Go ahead. I want to be clear.
Mr. Angert. I am doing now. I would like to read, if I may.
I believe you are violating the first amendment, which insures to me
the right of freedom of association and belief in assembly and right
of privacy. Further, I don't believe that you are authorized to make
the inquiry you are making for the reason that your powers are vague
and indefinite and have no legitimate relationship to legislative pur-
poses. Further, I don't fully understand or know the purposes of this
hearing.
Further, whatever your purpose may be I do not think the question
is pertinent to those sole purposes. And further, I w^ish to assert the
fifth amendment for the reason publicity attached to these hearings
have made me reprehensive.
I therefore feel the answer to certain questions here such as the one
you proposed may be a link in a chain of testimony that may subject
me to criminal prosecution and the answer to the question propounded
may tend to incriminate me.
For these reasons and for others I would like to decline to answer
the previous question.
Mr. Arens. Sir, are you now, this very moment, a member of the
Communist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I decline to answer, Mr. Counsel, the same reasons just
previously given.
COMMUNIST INFILTKATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 635
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly tell us whether or not you are engaged
in Communist Party work in the International Association of Ma-
chinists as a colonizer or as an agent of the Communist Party in any
capacity ?
( The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, so there may be no misconstruction to
this particular question, I should like to make an observation on the
record that through the years, over a generation's experience in this
work on congressional committees, in fighting communism, it has been
my personal observation that the International Association of Ma-
chinists is one of the strongest anti-Communist organizations in the
Nation, and the fact that 1 have just posed the question should not in
any sense be used as any reflection upon the very splendid program of
that organization to rid itself of Communists and to keep Communists
out of it.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I would appreciate, Mr. Counsel, if you would repeat
your question.
Mr. Arens. I must confess at this late hour of the day, the tiring
work w^e are doing here, I have forgotten the specifics of the question.
Mr. Willis. Are you now engaged
Mr. Arens. Oh, yes. Are you now engaged in Communist Party
activities as a Communist in the International Association of Ma-
chinists ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. This is not the question you posed. Counsel. As I re-
member it wasn't even vaguely that way. In this instance I wish to
take the same position I took previously.
Mr. Arens. Are you connected with the International Association
of Machinists in any capacity ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I think you are invading — I think I made this clear —
you are invading an area which is a question of interference and I don't
think you have authority to do that. If you want to ask me specific
questions, ask them.
Mr. Arens. Will you kindly answer the question outstanding.
Mr. Angert. What is your specific question ?
Mr. Arens. Are you connected in any capacity with the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I am a member,
Mr. Arens. How long have you been a member ?
Mr. Angert. For 11 years, a little over.
Mr. Arens. Have you held any office in the International Associa-
tion of Machinists ?
Mr. Angert. No office in the International Association of
Machinists.
Mr. i^RENS. Have you ever attended Communist Party training
schools ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Angert. I decline to answer that question and any similar ques-
tions you may liave for the reasons I have already given.
636 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
The committee will stand in recess until tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock.
(Committee members present: Kepresentatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
(Wliereupon, at 4:32 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, the subcommittee
adjourned to reconvene at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 7, 1959.)
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES
AND CURRENT COMMUNIST TECHNIQUES IN THE
CHICAGO, ILL., AREA
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1959
United States House of Representatives,
Subcommittee of the
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Chicago, III.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities
met, pursuant to recess, at 10 :04 a.m., in courtroom 209, U.S. Court-
house, 219 South Clark Street, Chicago, 111., Hon. Edwin E. Willis
(subcommittee chairman) presiding.
Subcommittee members present : Representatives Edwin E. Willis,
of Louisiana (presiding) and August E. Johansen, of Michigan.
Staff members present : Richard Arens, staff director, and Raymond
T. Collins, investigator.
Mr. Willis, The subcommittee will please come to order.
(Subcommittee members present: Representatives Willis and
Johansen.)
Mr. Willis. Counsel will call the first witness.
Mr. Arens. Joseph Poskonka, kindly come forward. Remain
standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear
that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Poskonka. Yes, sir, I do.
TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH A. POSKONKA
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mr. Poskonka. My name is Joseph A. Poskonka. I reside at 5019
South Loomis, Chicago, 111. Occupation at present, unemployed.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, are you right now in the Communist
operation ?
Mr. Poskonka. Yes, up to the present minute I have been a
functionary.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, have you in addition to participating
as a functionary in the Communist operation been a part and a mem-
ber of that formal entity known as the Communist Party ?
Mr. Poskonka. Yes, sir.
637
638 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. When did you join the Communist Party ?
Mr. PosKONKA. It was in 1943 at the time when our Nation was
involved in the campaiijn of returning back to the Philippine Islands,
when we first attacked Guadalcanal.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, have you ever been in sympathy with
the Communist Party, ideologically with the Communist Party?
Mr. Poskonka. No, sir. At no time did I ever believe in Commu-
nist Party principles or today or will ever. That is nothing but a
threat worse than a rattlesnake.
Mr. Arens. All of your service in the Conmiunist operation, up
to and including this very instant has been as a person who went into
the Communist movement at the behest and with the cooperation of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of supplying
information to your Government, is that not correct ?
Mr. Poskonka. That is right.
Mr. Arens. I expect to interrogate you on several items in the
course of your testimony this morning, but I should like at the outset
to ask you first of all, based upon your background and experience
since 1943 until this instant in the Communist operation and your
participation in the Communist Party as a formal entity, to tell this
committee now, while you are under oath, how serious is the Commu-
nist movement, the Communist operation in the United States this
instant.
Mr. Poskonka. It is very, very serious.
Mr. Arens. Wliy?
Mr. Poskonka. Because of being undercover. They are using the
scheme which instead of using openly the Communist Party, they
are using front organizations and labor, and people think they are
strictly a decent organization, fighting for labor. And at the same
time today what they are trying to do is demoralize everybody and
if anybody doesn't go along with their program they denounce them
as a traitor and union-buster and everything under the sun, and also
their aim is to demoralize not only the entire membership, but mor-
ally the entire public organization in the case of strike. They can
cut out food entirely from the entire public of the United States
as well as everybody else and then cut out of the Army food and sup-
plies which is most necessary in order to win the war.
Mr. Arens. Mr, Poskonka, may I inquire what distinction do you
make between the Communist Party and the Communist operation?
Mr. Poskonka. The Communist Party is an organization which
gives directly the rulings and as far as the definition is concerned the
people are functionaries.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Poskonka, may I pursue with you just a
little bit some of the highlights of your career in the Communist
operation? "Wliere and when did you join the formal entity known
as the Communist Party ?
Mr. Poskonka. Upon entering the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion, when I heard a teacher from the Abraham Lincoln School, which
happened to be attending a class or teaching a class speaking on the
subject of the Guadalcanal invasion. At that time I couldn't digest it
because they said the invasion the United States had been making
and return to the Philippines was all in vain.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 639
In other words, the blood that was shed by our Armed Forces at
Guadalcanal or any other front was in vain altogether. At the same
time my kid was in there as well. But I am not only speaking for
my kid but the entire Armed Forces or anybody who served in the
Armed FoTces of the United States.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, could you just tell us the date ?
Mr, PosKONKA. As far as the date exactly, it was in the month of
May. But when I called in to the Bureau and they sent two men and
asked me if I would voluntarily serve the United States, and I said
I sure would do anything to help the United States.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, may I suggest from the standpoint of
the committee being able to interpret your comments, if you would
speak just a little slower, please, sir.
Mr. PoSKONKA. OK.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, where did you join the formal entity
known as the Communist Party ?
Mr. PosKONKA. I was signed up at 4758 Marshfield Street, which
was the headquarters of District No. 1 of the United Packinghouse
Workers of America.
Mr. Arens. How long did you serve that entity ?
Mr. Poskonka. Just a moment. Let me explain I was signed into
the branch — 24th Chicago ward. From there I was transferred to
Back-of-the- Yards Club which served the entire southwest section
of the city of Chicago.
Mr. Arens. Then what was your next unit to which you were
assigned ?
Mr. Poskonka. From that — that unit was broken up into the Pack-
inghouse Section from the Communist Party — also the Joseph Hill
Club, which served the Campbell Soup Co. I remained in the Pack-
inghouse Section because of being employed by the packinghouse.
Mr. Arens. How long did you remain in the Packinghouse Section ?
Mr. Poskonka. Until 1948, as long as it had been in force.
Mr. Arens. From 1948 on you continued as a functionary of the
Communist operation, disassociated from the fonnal entity known as
the Communist Party ?
Mr. Poskonka. Correct. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Tell us just a w^ord, just the identification of the Com-
munist front groups that you served in as a functionary of the Com-
munist operation.
Mr. Poskonka. Well, there were quite a few.
Mr. Arens. Just name the principal ones, please.
Mr. Poskonka. The Midwest Committee for Protection of Foreign
Born was one. I happened to be treasurer.
Mr. Arens. Was it controlled by the Commimist operation ?
Mr. Poskonka. That is right, strictly Communist. They did not
protect anybody else at any time but the Communists.
Mr. Arens. Your next assignment, please ?
Mr. Poskonka. Next, Civil Rights Congress.
Mr. Arens. What post did you hold in the Civil Rights Congress?
Mr. Poskonka. Member of the Illinois executive board of the Civil
Rights Congress.
Mr. Arens. The next one, please ?
640 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. PosKONKA. Then at that time was also Slav Congress.
Mr. Arens. The American Slav Congress ?
Mr. PosKONKA. That is right.
Mr. Arens. What post did you hold there?
Mr. PosKONKA. National vice president.
Mr. Arens. Was that controlled by the operation ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, sir. It was also controlled by the Communists-
Mr. Arens. Your next operation ?
Mr. PosKONKA. There were National Negro Labor Council and
Mr. Arens. Was that controlled by the Communist operation?
Mr. PosKONKA. That is right, strictly Communist.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir.
Mr. Poskonka. The one following I just mentioned was the-
NAACP. That was not dominated yet, but well infiltrated.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, may I inquire on the basis of your
service in the Communist operation up to and including the present
instant, and your particular service in the packinghouse segment of
the Communist operation, how serious is the penetration by Com-
munists of the packinghouse industiy in the greater Chicago area?
Mr. Poskonka. It is very serious because they are dominating and
any decent person of any kind that might be a decent American citi-
zen that would want to represent labor as a decent leader or decent
citizen, if he is not a member of the Communists or in sympathy he
could not be elected to office because he would be slammed as a union
boss or racketeer of some kind.
Mr. Arens. During all of your service in the Communist operation
you have been reporting regularly to the Federal Bureau of Investi-
gation ?
Mr. Poskonka. Right.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Poskonka, kindly tell this committee whether
or not during your service in the Communist Party, as distinct now
from the operations as such, did you know as a Communist a man by
the name of Charles Hayes?
Mr. Poskonka. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Give us just a word about him, please, sir.
Mr. Poskonka. Charles Hayes happened to be one of the very per-
sons— when the Packinghouse Section happened to be formed he was
one of the jEirst secretaries of the Packinghouse Section and he served'
in the Communist Party ever since.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a man by the name of
Sam Parks?
Mr. Poskonka. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Just a word about him, please, sir ?
Mr. Poskonka. He also worked on the same basis. He was also
one of the representatives.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, may I interrupt you ? It is obvious tO'
me and it must be to the committee that you are a little tense today,
and I don't condemn you for it at all because it was a tense life you
led in the Communist operation at the behest of your Government. I
wonder if in your presentation here, if you could slow down a little-
bit.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 641
Did you know as a Communist a person by the name of Leon
Beverly ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, sir, also.
Mr. Arens. Just a word about Leon Beverly, please ?
Mr. PosKONKA. He also was one of the leaders of this Communist
Party in section of Armour & Co. branch.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name
of Jesse Prosten, P-r-o-s-t-e-n ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes. He belonged to the Back-of -the- Yards Club
and then also was transferred into the Packinghouse Section.
Mr. Arens. To your certain knowledge was Jesse Prosten a mem-
ber of the Communist Party ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, sir ; he was a member and a cardholder at the
same time.
Mr. Arens. What was liis status within the packinghouse operation
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. PosKONKA. He was a top ax. Anybody that didn't meet his
approval, nobody could get a job or even serve on any committee or
serve the union.
Mr. Arens. What miion ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Packinghouse union.
Mr. Arens. You mean the United Packing;house Workers?
Mr. PosKONKA. That is right. I am referring to the United Pack-
inghouse Workers.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name
of Jack Souther ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, sir ; he served as the treasurer to the Packing-
house Section.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name
of Leslie Orear?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, sir. From the very beginning he also was a
member of the Back-of -the- Yards Club.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name
of Joe Zabritski ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, sir. He was a treasurer, the very first treas-
urer of the Packinghouse Section, Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Did you know as a Communist a person by the name of
Jolui Lewis ?
Mr. PosKONKA. John Lewis happened to be a schoolmate. We were
attending the Communist Party Workers School in August of 1945.
He attended the school along with me, the class.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Poskonka, you have been interrogated extensively,
both formally and informally in private sessions by this committee,
have you not ?
Mr. Poskonka. I sure have.
Mr. Arens. I do not want at this time, if the chairman please, to
go into matters that would either duplicate information that has been
presented to this committee by other witnesses or matters which are
not germane to the immediate subject of inquiry.
Therefore, I have only a few more questions to pose to you.
Based upon your background and experience in the Communist
operation, do you have information respecting the dissemination into
642 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
other areas of Communist agents who will be following the meat
packing decentralization program into other States ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes. As far as I know^ from the time, teaching in
our class, they were to cover all food industry or anything that is
allied, any concerns, regardless, not only Chicago but any part of the
country.
Mr. Arens. It is our infoiTnation, and we are not by any means
experts, or even amateurs, on the meatpacking industry, but that
there are, in addition to the meatpacking operations in the greater
Chicago area, smaller operations in the adjoining States. Are you
cognizant of that ?
Mr. PosKONKA. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Has the nest of Communist agents in the greater
Chicago area in the meatpacking industry undertaken to penetrate in
the adjoining States?
Mr. PosKONKA. Their aim is to cover every part of the country,
every industry that is allied with food.
Mr. Arens. What areas, what States, what localities have been the
targets of the operation from the Chicago center by the comrades?
Mr. PosKONBLA. From Chicago, our Chicago district right now,
before used to cover, Indiana, Illinois, and part of Wisconsin. Now
it has been enlarged. So we are covering Ohio, Michigan, Illinois,
Indiana, and I don't know, one other State. I don't know exactly
what the district covers, all States. But anyway they are to cover
all the States there are in District No. 1.
Mr. Arens. Now have the comrades here in this centralized, focal
point of Communist operation in the meat industry sent some of
their membership as colonizers or as agents to these other localities?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, sir, they did. That is a part of their job.
Mr. Arens. You have discussed that in detail in executive session
with this committee ?
Mr. PosKONKA. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Have you received communications from the Commu-
nist operation since this committee has been in town on these
hearings ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes, I have. Do you want this or want me to
read it or what ?
Mr. Arens. Just allude to them, please, sir. I don't want at this
time to get into the extraneous matter beyond just the reference to
the fact that you have been currently contacted by the conspiracy or
the operation to do certain things.
Mr. PosKONKA. This is an invitation.
Mr. Arens. Would you just tell us the various organizations con-
trolled by the conspiracy which have been in communication with
you in the course of the last few days ?
Mr. PosKONKA. This is Midwest. Committer for Protection of For-
eign Born. They invited me to attend their conference that is going
to take place May 12.
^Ir. Arens. Are there any other similar commmiications that have
come to your attention in the last few days ?
Mr. PosKONKA. There was another one. Just a minute. This is
an open letter, religious piece, invites you to second public conversa-
tion. A meeting was taking place Thursday evening April 30, 1959.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 643
Mr. Arens. Have you received similar communications ?
Mr. PosKONKA. That is it.
Mr. Arens. These communications relate to the surface operations
of the conspiracy, do they not ?
Mr, PosKONKA. That is right.
IMr. Arens. Have you over the course of the last few years been
concentrating on behalf of the conspiracy in the surface work ?
Mr. PosKoxKA. Oh, yes, yes. That is what I was asked to do, and
I go out and do a good job. Not only that but the most important
part lately which is a long-range program is the farm labor unit
covering various fairs. State fairs, county fairs, and so on, using
propaganda to get the farmer and labor, in order to get them in one
political party, the same as is taking place in Russia.
Mr. Arens. I do not think there are other areas wliich are pres-
ently germane to the scope of inquiry which the committee has at this
time. We want to thank you for the information which you have
supplied to us, not only here, but principally in executive session and
in consultation with the staff on a vast array of activities.
Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude the staff
interrogation of this witness.
Mr. AViLLis. May I ask a couple of questions ?
Where were you bom ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Chicago, 111.
Mr. Willis. Did I understand you to say you have a family?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes. I have a family, wife and eight children.
Mr. Willis. How many children ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Wife and eight children. Fifteen grandchildren.
Mr. Willis. And you have been reporting to the FBI regularly
in connection with the work you have been doing ?
Mr. PosKONKA. From 1943 on until last September of 1958.
Mr. Willis. I suppose the reports are not regular. There might
be many reports at one time and fewer reports at other times.
Mr. PosKONKA. Correct, it depends on the amomit of activity.
Mr. Willis. I want to say this to you, sir, that we have had ex-
perience with American citizens who were asked by the FBI to assist
the Government in assembling facts and data and information con-
cerning the machinations of the Communist conspiracy. I do not
know whether you know it, but I suppose you do, you have been
with that organization long enough that before they picked you out
they thoroughly investigated you. If you are good enough for J.
Edgar Hoover, you are good enough for me. And I want to ex-
press the thanks of the committee on our own behalf and on behalf
of the Congress of the United States.
Mr. PosKONKA. May I say something? I would like to coiTect
something. I mean not correct, but I want to add on, that I wish to
thank the United States Governmerit in tlie first place for giving me
this chance. Also at the same time I wish to state there are a couple
of errors that had taken place previously wliere I had been pin-
pointed as a Communist. The hearings in 1952, at the time when I
was pinpointed out by Roy Thompson, a guy which testified for the
Bureau.
Mr. Willis. He was testifying truthfully.
644 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. PosKONKA. But at the same time my family and myself have
been discriminated very badly and hurt, cut up to pieces because peo-
ple pointed and thrown bricks and slapped me in the face and done
everything imaginable because the neighborhood I lived in, there are
no Communists and they can't stand a Communist.
Mr. Willis. That is always the case.
Mr. PosKONKA. Just a minute. Also in 1956, the same thing, the
kid was going to school, was pointed out; and I was coming home
from church. People out of the church would come out and say,
"Here goes a Communist."
Mr. Arens. You stayed in the operation ?
Mr. PosKONKA. Yes. Serve our country and American flag. There
is nothing better, worth fighting for.
Mr. Arens. Thank you very much.
Mr. Willis. Some of the very people critical of you were also peo-
ple working under the auspices or at the behest of the Government ?
Mr. PosKONKA. That is right.
Mr. Willis. Thank you so much.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Mr. John P. T^wis.
Please come forward.
Mr. Lewis. Mr. Chairman, would you call the name given you ? It
is John Lewis, plain John Lewis.
Mr. Arens. John Lewis ?
Mr. Lewis. That is right.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear
that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Lewis. I do.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN LEWIS, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFOED V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mr. Lewis. John Lewis, 5400 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago,
111. ; work at the Swift packing plant.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Lewis. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Lewis. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belf ord Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been employed at your present
place of employment ?
Mr. Lewis. Since 1924.
Mr. Arens. Have you in the course of your employment been active
in the United Public Workers ?
Mr. Lewis. I remember — no.
Mr. Arens. Excuse me. The United Packinghouse Workers ?
Mr. Lewis. Right.
Mr. Arens. What office have you held?
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 645
Mr. Lewis. I have held vice president, president, and chief steward..
Mr. Arens. Of what?
Mr. Lewis. Of the United Packinghouse Workers of Americay
AFL-CIO.
Mr. Arens. Was that of a local?
Mr. Lewis. One local.
Mr. Arens. What local, please?
Mr. Lewis. Local 28.
Mr. Arens. Where does it operate?
Mr. Lewis. At the district headquarters, 4859 South Wabash Ave-
nue, and we have a suboffice at 4306 South Ashland.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time did you hold these various
offices to which you have just referred ?
Mr. Lewis. 1949, I was first elected in 1949, 1950, and 1951. I was
president. In 1952 I was chief steward of the local. In 1953 I didn't
run for anything. In 1954 I went back for vice president. In 1955
I went back for vice president ; in 1956, 1957, 1958 I went back again
for president, and 1959 1 ran back for president.
Mr. Willis. And were you elected?
Mr. Lewis. And was elected; yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you presently then the president of this local ?
Mr. Lewis. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Where and when were you born?
Mr. Lewis. February 11, 1905.
Mr. Arens. Where?
Mr. Lewis. In Natchez, Miss.
Mr. Arens. Give us just a word, please, about your education?
Mr. Lewis. Finished the elementary school.
Mr. Arens. When?
Mr. Lewis. About 40 years ago.
Mr. Arens. Since about 1924 you say you have been working at the
packinghouse here?
Mr. Lewis. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Lewis. Never — I refuse to answer that question. Strike that.
I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amendment of the Con-
stitution of the United States and on the ground in may incrim-
inate me.
Mr. Arens. Do you know the man who just preceded you on the
witness stand, Joseph Poskonka?
Mr. Lewis. I do.
Mr. Arens. He testified a few moments ago that he knew you as a
member of tlie Communist Party. Was he in error or was he accurate ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question because it may in-
criminate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. No.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever resigned from the Communist Party?
Mr. LE^VIS. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amendment
Mr. Arens. Did you resign technical membership in the Communist
Party and maintain yourself in the Communist operation so that you
646 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
could deny current membership in the Communist Party, if and when
interrogated under oath?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Lewis. No.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party at
any time since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Lewis. No.
Mr. Arens. Are you against the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. Yes.
Mr, Arens. Do you have information respecting persons who to
your certain knowledge are or have been members of the Commu-
nist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question, fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. If you are now against the Communist Party, why do
you not tell this committee ?
Mr. Lewis. Strike the answer — repeat that question again.
Mr. Arens. Do you have information respecting persons who to
your certain knowledge are now or have been members of the Commu-
nist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Lewis. I have no such knowledge.
Mr. Arens. Do I understand you to say you have no knowledge of
anyone who at any time has been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. No such knowledge.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you know whether or not Poskonka has been a mem-
ber of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question, fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of John Hackney ?
Mr. Lewis. I do.
Mr. Arens. John Hackney testified that he knew you as a member
of the Communist Party. Was Hackney in error when he made that
statement ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question, fifth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, on the grounds it may incriminate
me.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever served in the Communist Party with
Hackney ? . r- <• i i i.
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question, fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever served in the Communist Party with
Joseph Poskonka?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. If you are against the Communist Party as you pro-
fessed a few m.oments ago, why do you not tell this committee, now,
wliile you are under oath, whether or not Hackney and Poskonka were
in the Communist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amendment
to the Constitution.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 647
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us whether or not a man by the name of
Charles Hayes has ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us whether or not to your certain knowl-
edge a man by the name of Sam Parks has ever been a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amend-
ment.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us whether or not to your certain knowl-
edge a man by the name of Leon Beverly has ever been a member of
the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amend-
ment.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us whether or not to your certain knowl-
edge a man by the name of Jesse Prosten has ever been a member of
the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer this question on the fifth amend-
ment.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us whether or not to your certain knowl-
edge a man by the name of Jack Souther has ever been a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us whether or not to your certain knowl-
edge a man by the name of Leslie Orear has ever been a member of
the Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer the question on the fifth amendment
to the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us to your certain knowledge whether a
man by the name of Joe Zabritski has ever been a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Lewis. I refuse to answer that question on the fifth amendment
to the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens, The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Charles Proctor.
Please come forward and remain standing while the chairman ad-
ministers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?
Mr. Proctor. I do.
TESTIMONY OF CHARLES PROCTOR, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Proctor. Charles Proctor, Post Office Box 302, Covert, Mich.,
presently hired as manager of the Packinghouse Labor and Community
Center.
648 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American Ac-
tivities.
Mr. Proctor. That is right.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Proctor. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Comisel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belf ord Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. How long have you occupied your present position ?
Mr. Proctor. Since January of this year.
Mr. Arens. What was your position immediately prior to your
present position ?
Mr. Proctor. Unemployed.
Mr. Arens. For how long ?
Mr. Proctor. Approximately a couple of months.
Mr. Arens. Then what was your employment?
Mr. Proctor. Prior to that time ?
Mr. Arens. Yes.
Mr. Proctor. Prior to that time I worked for Local 28 for awhile,
full time.
Mr. Arens. Local 28 of what ?
Mr. Proctor. United Packinghouse Workers of America, AFL-
CIO.
Mr. Arens. Were you employed then, when you worked for Local
28, in Chicago?
Mr. Proctor. That is right.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Proctor. I don't understand your question.
Mr. Arens. You worked for Local 28 of the United Packinghouse
Workers in Chicago, you said. And I asked you in what capacity.
Wliat was the job you had with them ?
Mr. Proctor. As chairman of the grievance committee.
Mr. Arens. How long did you have that job ?
Mr. Proctor. I have held that job since 1954.
Mr. Arens. What was your job prior to that time ?
Mr. Proctor. Prior to that time I was working, just working in
the plant at that time.
Mr. Arens. Did you have any connection prior to that time with the
United Packinghouse Workers of America ?
Mr. Proctor. I didn't hold office. I was only a member. I did hold
office once before from 1949 up until 1951.
Mr. Arens. Wliere and when were you born ?
Mr. Proctor. I was born in Jackson, Miss., January 21, 1913.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been employed in the general
Chicago area ?
Mr. Proctor. Around approximately 16 years.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever traveled abroad ?
Mr. Proctor. I have.
Mr, Arens. And where did you go and when ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question for fear it may in-
criminate me.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 649
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now three documents, the first of which
is a photostatic reproduction of the January 7, 1951, issue of The
WorKer Magazine. I invite your attention to the photograph under
which is captioned "Part of the American Peace Delegation visiting
one of the cathedrals inside the Kremlin," listing a number of visitors,
including Charles Proctor, of Chicago. Kindly look at that article
and particularly that photograph and tell this committee while you
are under oath whether or not you are the Charles Proctor whose
photograph appears there and who was a member of this delegation
described in The Worker Magazine.
(Document handed.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based upon it may
incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you a second document, a photostatic re-
production of the Communist Daily Worker of March 21, 1951, in
which a number of people are quoted as lauding the Soviet Union and
commending its progress and desire for peace at a rally held in Cleve-
land, Ohio, including a person here identified as Charles Proctor, who
had returned to the United States from Soviet Russia.
Kindly look at this document and tell the committee whether or
not it refreshes your recollection, whether or not you are the Charles
Proctor who participated in that rally and lauded the Soviet Union.
(Document handed.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based upon the fact
it ma}^ incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now a booklet entitled "Americans in
the U.S.S.R., November-December 1950," containing a statement
signed by the American Delegation to the Soviet Union, including
Charles Proctor, of Chicago. A photograph also appears at the end
of the statement.
Kindly look at that document and tell this committee whether or not
you were a participant in that enterprise and loaned your name and
your then title to the enterprise on behalf of the Soviet Union.
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based upon the fifth
amendment to the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. I put it to you as a fact, sir, and ask you to affirm or
deny the fact that you did participate in the Second World Peace
Congress, that you did go, not only to the Soviet Union, but to War-
saw, Poland, for the propaganda purposes of the international Com-
munist movement. If that is not true, please deny it while you are
under oath.
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based on the fifth
amendment to the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that these three
exhibits which I have displayed to the witness be grouped and marked
as "Proctor Exhibit No. 1" and incorporated by reference in the
record.
Mr. Willis. Let them be so marked and incorporated.
(Documents marked "Proctor Exhibit No. 1," and retained in com-
mittee files. )
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Poskonka ?
416,35—59 11
650 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Mr. Proctor. I do.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of John Hackney?
Mr. Proctor. I do.
Mr. Arens. Both of those men took an oath before this committee
and testified that while they were members of the Communist Party
they knew you as a Communist. Were they in error or were they
telling the truth ?
Mr, Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based upon the fifth
amendment of the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Proctor. 1 am not a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based upon the fifth
amendment of the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party
at any time in the course of the last 5 years ?
Mr. Proctor. No ; I have not.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever resigned technical membership in the
Communist Party and maintained yourself in the operation so that
you could deny party membership ?
Mr. Proctor. No, I have not.
Mr. iVRENS. Do you presently have information respecting persons
who to your certain knowledge are, or in the past have been, members
of the Communist Party ?
INIr. Proctor. I certainly do not.
Mr. Arens. You do not know any persons who have ever been mem-
bers of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based upon the fifth
amendment to the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Are you now against the Communist Party ?
Mr. Proctor. I am.
Mr. Arens. If you are against the Communist Party then speak
up now, please, sir, and tell this committee the names and activities
of persons, to your certain knowledge, who have been members of the
Communist Party.
Mr. Proctor. I refuse to answer that question based upon the fifth
amendment of the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Mr. Donald H Smith.
Please come forward, Mr. Smith, and remain standing while the
chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Would you please raise your right hand ?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?
Mr. Smith. I do.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 651
TESTIMONY OF DONALD H. SMITH, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELEORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Smith. Donald H. Smith, 9711 South Indiana, Chicago, in-
ternational representative. United Packinghouse Workers of America,
AFL-CIO.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr. Smith. That is right.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Smith. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Counsel,,kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lawson. Belf ord Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. Where and when were you born ?
Mr. Smith. Denver, Colo., May 6, 1913.
Mr. Arens. And a word about your education, please.
Mr. Smith. Well, eight grades.
Mr. Arens. Give us the principal employments which you have had
since you reached adulthood.
Mr. Smith. Oh, I worked as a truckdriver, laborer, packinghouse
worker.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time have you worked as a pack-
inghouse worker ?
Mr. Smith. From 1938 up until about 1946, then was on leave of
absence from Swift & Co., which later was severed on the account of
the plant closing down or reduction in the plant. And I have been
working for the Packinghouse Workers from 1946 up until now.
Mr. Arens. Did you work for the Packinghouse Workers in New
York at any time ?
Mr. Smith. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time did you work for the Pack-
inghouse Workers in New York ?
Mr. Smith. I would say from 1946 up until 19 — well, working in
and out of New York up until 1956, 1 believe.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Smith. Field representative and international representative.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a candidate for public office?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Smith. I have.
Mr. Arens. And where was that ?
Mr. Smith. New York.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of John Hackney?
Mr. Smith. I do.
Mr.ARENS. Do you know a man by the name of Carl Nelson ?
Mr. Smitpi. I do.
Mr. Arens. Each of these men has testified here under oath that
he knew you as a member of the Communist Party. Were they in
error on that or were they telling the truth ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
652 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
Mr. Arens. Can you tell this committee whether or not in 1948 you
participated in a movement on behalf of the 11 Communists who were
tried in New York City ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now a photostatic reproduction of
the Communist Daily Worker of New York, Friday July 23, 1948,
in which a number of persons are listed here with statements on behalf
of the 11 Communists who were being tried, and in the article the
following appears :
Don Smith, New York subdistriet director, United Packinghouse Workers, CIO,
and ALP candidate for State senator, fifth district, Queens :
"The indictment and arrest of the leaders of the Communist Party is the next
monstrous step in the direction of the suppression of freedom and toward war."
Kindly look at that article as I display it to you, and tell this com-
mittee if it refreshes your recollection and whether or not you loaned
your name and your status as a leader of the United Packinghouse
Workers on behalf of the 11 Commmiists.
( Document handed. )
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
(Document marked "Smith Exhibit No. 1" and retained in committee
files.)
Mr. Arens. Have you been one of the sponsors of the May Day
celebrations of the Communist operation ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
Mr. Arens. Have you been one of the sponsors and promoters of
the Action Conference for Freedom ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to
Mr. Arens. Under the auspices and control of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Smith. I am not.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party any
time in the coui*se of the last 5 years ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever resigned from the Communist Party ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
Mr. Arens. Are you against the Communist Party ?
Mr. Smith. I am.
Mr. Arens. Have you information respecting persons who to your
certain knowledge are or have been members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 653
Mr. Arens. If you are against the Communist Party, why do you
not give this committee information which you may have respecting
the Commmiist Party and respecting persons who to your certain
knowledge have been members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Smith. I refuse to answer that on the grounds it may incrimi-
nate me.
Mr. Arens. Have you been in conference since you have been
subpenaed to appear before this committee with persons respecting
your appearance who to your certain knowledge are, or in the past
have been, members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Smith. Come again on that. I didn't quite follow.
Mr. Arens. Since you were subpenaed to appear before this com-
mittee, have you been in conference respecting your appearance here
today with persons who to your certain knowledge are, or have been,
members of the Communist Party ?
( The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr. Smith, I will take the fifth amendment on the grounds it may
incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. The ne^rt witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Jesse Prosten. Please come forward.
Mr. Lawson. If Your Honor pleases, may I say pursuant to the
telegram you received Jesse Prosten is available. I don't know
whether he is in the courtroom or not. He has not been subpenaed
and we would prefer that he be subpenaed in order to make sure that
his rights are protected. But he is available to this committee and
he told me he would be here around this time. Maybe this is he coming
up here now.
Mr. Lewis. No, it isn't. It is John Lewis.
Mr. Lawson, a little differences there. He is available and I be-
lieve he will be here.
Mr. Arens. May I just make this observation, that as we pointed
out here 2 days ago we have been trying to place this prospective wit-
ness under subpena and have been unable to do so. A telegram came
from Kalph Helstein, I don't have it before me at the instant, saying
in effect that Mr. Prosten wanted to be heard and would be here. We
have no other witnesses who are under subpena for this particular
session and in anticipation that he might be here we are calling him
as a witness.
Mr. Lawson. But he is not under subpena.
Mr. Arens. No. We would like very much to have had him under
subpena.
Mr. Lawson. And he has not been hiding out. I have talked with
him and he assured me that he had been on this assignment for some
time. But out of an abundance of caution the union undertook to
notify him and he has come here and I have talked with him. Now,
I think that is all we can do. And I do know he will be here.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, do you represent him ?
Mr. Lawson. Yes, I do.
Mr. Willis. Let me say this, as presiding member. We will be
glad to have him officially summoned if he presents himself during
654 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
a 5-miiuite recess that I will call. We would like very much to ques-
tion him. He is not under compulsion to voluntarily come and be
summoned and receive the subpena and I am not suggestmg that
at all. . ,.-.,11
On the other hand, we plan definitely on adjournmg by 12 o clock
and I would be glad to have him summoned.
In other words, on two conditions; one, he is not under compulsion
to appear. If he wants to, we would be very happy to follow that
course with the understanding that it will have to be done promptly.
Mr. Lawson. We are desirous of cooperating with the committee
and i think I can assure this committee that he will be here within
a few minutes. I think not within 5 minutes. But he will be here
shortly and we would like to have him summoned for the record.
Mr. Willis. I will say this. You have been most cooperative and
I understand your position.
Mr. Lawson. Thank you very much.
Mr. Willis. We will stand in recess for a few minutes.
(Committee members present: Representatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
(Brief recess.)
(Committee members present: Representatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
Mr. Willis. Kindly raise your right hand, please, sir.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God ?
Mr. Prosten. I do.
TESTIMONY OF JESSE E. PROSTEN, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BELFORD V. LAWSON, JR.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Prosten. Jesse E. Prosten, 5109 South Cornell. I am an inter-
national representative for the United Packinghouse Workers of
America.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee?
Mr. Prosten. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Prosten. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Prosten. Belf ord Lawson, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Arens. How long have you occupied your present position ?
Mr. Prosten. Approximately 13 years.
Mr. Arens. What was your employment immediately prior to your
present employment ?
Mr. Prosten. I worked for the same union out of New York.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Prosten. In a capacity of a field representative.
Mr. Arens. And for how long ?
Mr. Prosten. Approximately a year.
Mr. Arens. And your employment immediately prior to that ?
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIESi — CHICAGO 655
Mr. Prosten". I worked for the same union in Boston.
Mr. Arens. For how long and in what capacity ?
Mr. Prosten. As a business agent of a local union for approxi-
mately 6 or 7 years.
Mr. Arens. And then give us, if you please, the preceding employ-
ment.
Mr. Prosten. Odd jobs, WPA, jobs of that kind.
Mr. Arens. Where and when were you born, please ?
Mr. Prosten. Born in Brookl5^n, N.Y., in 1912.
Mr. Arens. Just a word about your education.
Mr. Prosten. Grade school and a year and a half of high school.
Mr. Arens. Did that complete your formal education ?
Mr. Prosten. That is correct, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Prosten. Beg your pardon ?
Mr. Arens. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Prosten. I will take the fifth amendment on that, tend to
incriminate me.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend if you told this committee
truthfully while you are under oath whether or not you have ever
been a member of the Communist Party you would be supplying in-
formation which might be used against you in a criminal proceeding?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Prosten. Will you repeat that question, please ?
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend that if you told this com-
mittee truthfully while you are imder oath whether or not you have
ever been a member of the Communist Party you would be supplying
information which might be used against you in a criminal proceed-
ing?
Mr, Prosten. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Prosten. No, sir.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party at
any time in the course of the last 5 years ?
Mr. Prosten. Fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now a photostatic reproduction of
the Communist Daily Worker of May 16, 1952, in which a number of
persons are urging the repeal of the Smith Act and attacking the
various security laws of this Government, including, Jesse Prosten
of Local 11, Boston.
Kindly look at this document and tell this committee whether or
not you participated in that enterprise.
(Document handed.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Prosten. Fifth amendment.
(Document marked "Prosten Exhibit No. 1" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now a document petitioning for the
freedom of Earl Browder, then Secretary of the Communist Party,
signed by a number of persons, including Jesse Prosten.
656 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES CHICAGO
Kindly look at that document and tell this committee while you
are mider oath whether or not you participated in that enterprise.
Mr, Prosten. I will take the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. I beg your pardon ?
Mr. Prosten. I will take the fifth amendment on this, sir.
(Document marked "Prosten Exhibit No. 2" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of John Hackney ?
Mr. Prosten. I knew a member of the union by the name of John
Hackney ; yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you know John Hackney in any other capacity
other than in his capacity as a member of the union?
Mr. Prosten. Fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you know Carl Nelson ?
Mr. Prosten. I knew him as a member of the union.
Mr. Arens. Did you know him in any other capacity ?
Mr. Prosten. Fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you know Joseph Poskonka ?
Mr. Prosten. Would you repeat that ?
Mr. Arens. Joseph Poskonka.
Mr. Prosten. I think he worked at the Armour plant in Chicago.
Mr. Abens. Did you know him in any capacity other than as a
person who worked at the Armour plant ?
Mr. Prosten. Fifth amendment, sir.
Mr. Arens. Each of those men has testified under oath before this
committee in the course of the last 2 or 3 days that he loiew you as
a member of the Communist Party. We would like to afford you now
an opportunity to deny their testimony while you are mider oath. Do
you care to avail yourself of that privilege ?
Mr. Prosten. I can't be responsible for anything they say and I will
take the fifth amendment on that.
Mr. Arens. Did they tell the truth when they said they knew you as a
Communist ?
Mr. Prosten. Fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. You are excused. The committee will take a recess for
3 minutes.
(Committee members present: Eepresentatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
(Brief recess.)
Mr. Willis. The subcommittee will please come to order.
(Committee members present: Representatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
Mr. Willis. In concluding the hearings in Chicago, I should like
to make a few brief comments.
In the first place I want to commend those witnesses whom we have
heard, who by direct testimony from their experience in the Communist
Party have supplied this committee with valuable information respect-
ing the operation of the Communist menace. Were it not for loyal
citizens of that type, such as Carl Nelson, John Hackney, and Joseph
Poskonka, this committee and the Government of the United States
would be at a great disadvantage.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF VITAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO 657
The information which these men have supplied to this committee
takes on added significance when it is considered in connection with
similar information which we are constantly assembling in other areas
on different facets of the conspiracy. We have seen here a verification
and confirmation of similar techniques and strategies practiced at
nerve centers throughout our country. With reference to those wit-
nesses who in varying degrees refused to answer questions posed by the
committee, may I say that by indirection they, too, have contributed
to our work, even though unwillingly or miwittingly.
We will return to Washington with the information which has
been developed here and use it as part of the fund of knowledge which
we are gaining to assist us in the discharge of our duties, which,
under a mandate of the Congress are, in essence, to maintain a con-
tinuing surveillance over the operation of our various security laws,
and to recommend, when necessary, amendments to those laws, or en-
actment of new laws.
I wish it were possible for the Congress of the United States to
pass a single law which would for all time end the Communist con-
spiracy. Unfortunately, however, this cannot be done because Com-
munists constantly seek new devices to accomplish their objectives, all
of which require new legislative weapons.
Long ago it was proclaimed that eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty. One of the very objectives of the Communist conspiracy in
the United States is to create an attitude of apathy — it can't happen
here, as the saying goes.
But here are words of J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, on this subject.
Public apathy is the sure way to national suicide— to death of individual
freedom. It allowed the Communists to penetrate and make satellites of once-
free countries, and it is presently enabling them to honeycomb and weaken the
structures of the remaining countries, and there is today a terrifying apathy
on the part of Americans toward the deadliest danger which this country has
ever faced. Some of that apathy is deliberately induced.
That is the end of Hoover's quotation.
Before concluding I should like to express the thanks of the subcom-
mittee to Federal Judge Campbell, to Mr. Frank Allen and the mem-
bers of his office staff, who have most courteously made available to
us this courtroom.
We should like also to thank United States Marshal William Kipp
and his capable deputies for their very splendid cooperation in per-
mitting these hearings to go on smoothly without a ripple of public
disorder.
And, finally, we should like to express our sincere thanks to the
members of the press and of the radio and television profession who
have been most courteous to us.
We deliberately planned our completion of our work at this time
because members of this committee are due to board a plane as soon
as possible to try to get on record late this afternoon on a very im-
portant vote in the Congress.
Does my colleague care to make some observations ?
Mr. JoHANSEN. Just Very briefly, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, I want to most emphatically associate myself with the
statement made by the chairman. As the representative of the mi-
nority I want to emphasize one fact, which is familiar to every Mem-
658 COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF MTAL INDUSTRIES — CHICAGO
ber of Congress, and I hope it is to the American people, and that is,
that the problem we are attempting to deal with here, the solutions
we are attempting to bring, and the efforts that we are making to
carry out the legislative mandate and aid in the legislative functions
of the Congress is a completely bipartisan effort. It is the effort of
the responsible elected officials acting in accordance with the mandate
of the Congress to aid in the performance of legislative functions.
Because of one type of testimony that we have had in these hearings
in which it was stated that there was a willingness to tell all about
the activities of the Communist conspiracy, but a refusal to identify
the actors, I do want to make this one observation. It is highly un-
fortunate but inescapably true that the actors cannot be divorced
from the activities and it is impossible for the Congress to have the
information it needs and for this committee to provide that informa-
tion without identifying the actors and directly linking them with
the activities. Therefore, that which impedes the effort to identify the
actors impedes the effort to describe and define the activities and
so impedes the legislative functions of this committee.
I have just one other conunent. In view of the fact that there
appears on the record of this testimony a reference to a recent
prominent criticism of this committee as being the most un-Amer-
ican thing in America today, I think it ought also to be a matter of
record that the source of that comment has since made it very clear,
Mr. Chairman, that it was not with reference to the committee as
today constituted and as today functioning, and I am appreciative
of that responsible comment which indicates an awareness of the re-
sponsibilities this committee has and the conscientious effort it is mak-
ing to perform them.
I do express my appreciation for those who have cooperated with
the committee and to the chairman for the eminently fair way in
which he conducted it.
Mr. Willis. The hearings here in Chicago will be now closed.
(Committee members present: Representatives Willis and Johan-
sen.)
(Whereupon, at 11 : 36 a.m., Thureday, May 7, 1959, the hearings
were closed.)
INDEX
Individxjals
A Page
Alexander, Edwin A 510,607-631 (testimony)
Allen, Tranli 657
Angert, Bernard 510, 631-636 (testimony)
Beverly. Leon 508. 527, 562-564 (testimony), 578, 583, 641, 647
Bezenhoffer, Joseph 523, 527, 578
Born, Blanche 523
Bornstein, Mannie 522, 523
Brennan, Teddy 587
Browder, Earl 597, 655
Brown, Pete (Peter B.) 579
C
Campbell (William Joseph) 657
Carter, Rachel. {See Ellis, Rachel.)
Cerda, Bill 528, 529
Cerda, Ray 523
Cooke, John Edward 594
Criley, Richard 520-522, 525, 536, 546-560 (testimony)
Curry, Samuel - 583
D
Dency, Albert P. (born Albert P. Zdencaj) 510,599-001 (testimony)
E
EWis, Hilliard 529
Ellis. Rachel (nee Carter; Mrs. Hilliard Ellifi) 509,
529, 585, 593-595 (testimony)
Engels (Friedrich) 623
F
Fischer, Charles H 527
G
Gilmore, Milton 587
Gray, Hazel 583
H
Hackney, John R 509,
511, 512, 573-589 (testimony), 590, 594, 598, 646, 650, 651, 656
Hart, Pearl M 601
Hayes, Al 615
Hayes, Charles A 509, 529, 583, 585, 589-593 (testimony), 593, 640, 647
Helstein, Ralph 516, 518, 573, 577, 653
Hitler (Adolf) 610, 626
Hoover, J. Edgar 643,657
J
Jay, Norman 522
Johnson, LeRoy 530
11 INDEX
K
Page
Katzen, Leon (also known as Mike Samuels) 507,
520-522, 532-546 (testimony), 551, 552
Keller, James 526, 558, 587
Khrushchev (Nikita) 620
Kipp, William 657
Kramer, Victoria 582, 583
L
Lassers, Willard J _ 607
Lawson, Belford V., Jr__ 560, 562, 564, 566, 568, 570, 589, 593, 595, 644, 647, 651, 654
Lenin (V. I.) 623,625,626
Lewis, John 511, 530, 578, 587, 641, 644-647 (testimony)
Lightfoot, Claude 579
Luke, Randolph 578
Lundgren, Lee 598
M
March, Herb 523, 527
March, Jane 523, 527
Mariani, Sam 529
Marks, F. Raymond, Jr 607
Marx (Karl) 623
Mates, David 523, 527
McBain, Francis William 510,601-606 (testimony)
Medina ( Harold ) 597
Meyers, Irving 631
Mitchell, Charles 578
N
Nelson, Carl 507-509, 511, 518-532 (testimony), 537 (testimony),
538, 554, 555, 561, 563, 567, 569, 571, 578, 583, 598, 651, 656
O
Orear, Leslie 507, 508, 523, 526, 527, 530, 560-562 (testimony), 585, 641, 64T
P
Parks, Samuel J., Jr 508, 524, 525. 527-529,
564-566 (testimony), 578, 579, 584, 640, 647
Poskonka, Joseph A 510-512, 637-644 (testimony), 645, 646, 649, 656
Proctor, Charles 511,512,528,530,578,586,587,647-650 (testimony)
Prosten, Jesse E 512, 526, 529, 573, 578, 584, 641, 647, 653, 654^656 (testimony)
R
Ramirez, Jos6 578, 586
Rhee, Syngman 618
Richards, James Jesse 578
Rix, William 584
Roosevelt, James 521, 551
Rosser, Louis 555
S
Samuels, Mike. (See Katzfen, Leon.)
Sechrest, Jack 578
Siporin, Seymour 582
Smith, Donald H 511, 530, 584, 651-653 (testimony)
Souther, Jack 508,527,566-568 ( testimony ), 585, 641, 647
Stalin (Joseph) 620
Steinberg, Irving G 532, 546
Stephens, A. T 596
Stern, Meyer 576, 585
nsTDEX lii
T
Page
Thompson, Roy (543
Truman (Harry S.) Z_"ZI~ I~ ZI_~ 547
Turner, Leo 509, 529, 530, 595^599 (testimony)
W
Wailes, Gloria 508, 528, 568-570 (testimony)
Warren, Earl 534^ 547^ 549
Weightman, Philip 532 554
Williams, Dock ~"SS SS _ ' 584
Wilson, Oscar III_III ~ _~I_~ 581
Zabritski, Joseph 508, 524, 529, 570-572 (testimony), 578, 588, 641 647
Zenchuk, Olga _ ' 535
Organizations
A
AFLr-CIO, Illinois 59O 592
Industrial Union Council Board II^I^.I I 590592
Abraham Lincoln Brigade ~_Z I_" ' 530
Abraham Lincoln Center Z Z_Z Z__ _ 577
Abraham Lincoln School, Waukegan, 111 Z_ZZ Z_~ 600
Aluminum Corp. of America ZZ ~ 5'>3
American Excelsior Co . ZZ Z__ _Z ~ 5^2
American Slav Congress Z_Z ZZZ_ZZ ~_Z 640
American Student Union
American Veterans Committee, Waukegan fjOl
American Youth for Democracy _ ~ _ ~qiq qh
Armour & Co — 523Z~56"lZ'563~, 579, oSs', 656
Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
CIO, Local 453 529, 535, 594
C
Campbell Soup Co g39
Chicago Committee of Negro Youth Z Z_Z_Z__~ Z~~ 594
Chicago Committee to Defend Democratic Rights Z__Z__ZZ 507
^. .,„.,, ^ .„. 520^522, 536, 542, 549Z55I, 552
Civil Rights Congress, Illinois executive board _ _ _ 639
Communist Party, USA :
Trade Union Commission _ _ 539
District 8 (Illinois and part of Lake County," Ind.)_~ __Z_ Z~ ZZZ_ 530
District 12 (Northwest District) r_~611 613 616
Illinois : - . >
Chicago- _ 613 gi4
Fourteenth Ward branch 539
Packinghouse Section _~529, 578, 587, 639-641
Armour branch _ 523, 526, 578, 641
Back-of-the-Yards Club ___ 639 641
Joseph Hill Club I~.__I~___ ' 639
Section Committee 520, 522, 524, 526, 527, 530, 585, 587, 588
Small house branch 577-579
Swift branch ~ 503 573
Wilson & Co. branch _"_ — _Z.__Z.~__~_Z.__ 524, 526Z 527,' 578
Section 5, Section Committee 529
Section 5, Unit 10. (See Unit 5-10.)
South Side branch 579 533
Thirty-fourth Ward branch Z Z ' 599
Twenty-eighth Ward branch Z ~_ 530
Twenty-fourth Ward branch ~ - - - -
Unit 5-10 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ~ 522
Waukegan ~ ^-^i
~ Washington State Z Z Z ZZZZZZZ~ZZ 613
iV INDEX
E
Page
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of Amercia, United 530, 598, 633
F
Farm Equipment and Metal Workers of America, United CIO 583
Freedom of the Press Committee, Chicago 525, 531
H
Hammond, G. H. & Co 525,530,574
Hawthorne Plumbing Co 570
Hotel and Restaurant Employees' International Alliance and Bartenders'
International League of America, AFL : Miscellaneous Employees' Union
(San Francisco) 608,609
I
Illinois Meat Co 578
J
James Keller Defense Committee 558
Jewish Federation, Chicago 510, 607
M
Machinists, International Association of 510, 634, 635
Lodge No. 113 (Tool and Die Makers) 521, 601, 613-615, 617
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Amalgamated,
AFD-CIO 509, 574
Midwest Committee for Protection of Foreign Born 581, 639, 642
Miller & Hart 571, 578
N
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 640
National Negro Congress 581
National Negro Labor Council 525, 528, 531, 640
National Student League 608
Packinghouse Labor and Commimity Center 511, 647
Packinghouse Workers of America, United, AFL.-CIO_ 508, 509, 511, 516, 518, 521.
526, 527, 560, 562, 567, 568, 573, 574, 577, 579, 581, 582, 586, 587, 641, 651, 654
District 1 508, 509, 565, 566, 585, 589, 593, 595, 639, 642
District 6 : 576, 584, 585
District 7 585
Local 11 (Boston) 655
Local 23 587
LcK-al 25 (Wilson & Co.) 508, 528, 568, 571, 584, 585, 588
Local 26 (G. H. Hammond & Co.) 574, 587
Local 28 (Swift & Co.) 511, 512, 528, 587, 645, 648
Local 347 (Armour) 527, 563, 583
Public Review Commission 517
Price, Walter, Co 525
Progressive Party, Chicago 566
S
Swift & Co 511, 523, 530, 574, 582, 583, 587, 644, 651
W
Wilson & Co 524, 529, 570, 583, 500
Workers School, Chicago 544, 641
World Peace Congress, Second Congress, Nov. 16-22, 1950, Warsaw,
Poland 649
Wyckoff Steel Co 523
INDEX V
Y
Page
Young Communist League 596, 610, 611
California 510, 608, 609
Northwest District (Washington State, Oregon) 610
PtTBLICATIONS
CBI Round-Up 612
Chicago Star (newspaper) 525, 527, 528, 583
Daily Worker 524, 525, 583
Packinghouse Worker, The 1 507, 560
o
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