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HARVARD COLLEGE
LIBRARY
GIFT OF THE
GOVERNMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA— PART 2
HEARINGS
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMEEICAN ACTIVITIES
HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
MAY 17 AND 18, 1956
Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities
(INCLUDING INDEX)
i^ARVARD COLLEGE LIBRAR*J
DEPOSITED BY THE
-UNITED SUTES GOVERmEHU
>lti6 29 1956
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79079 WASHINGTON : 1956
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
United States House of Representatives
FRANCIS E. WALTER, Pennsylvania, Cfiairman
MORGAN M. MOULDER, Missouri HAROLD H. VELDE, lUinois
CLYDE DOYLE, California BERNARD W. KEARNEY, New York
JAMES B. FRAZIER, Jr., Tennessee DONALD L. JACKSON, California
EDWIN E. WILLIS, Louisiana GORDON H. SCHBRER, Ohio
Richard Arens, Director
n
CONTENTS
Part 1
May 15, 1956:
Testimony of— P''^®
Norman C. Pixler 4075
Philip Reno 4081
Dwight Spencer 4088
Donald D. Plumb 4098
Afternoon session:
Arlyne Plumb (Mrs. Donald D. Plumb) 4105
Edward J. Scheunemann 4117
Bellarmino Joe Duran 4125
May 16, 1956:
Testimony of —
Bellarmino Joe Duran (resumed) 4145
Virgil Akeson 4150
Anthony Morton 4157
Graham Dolan 4169
Afternoon session:
R. (Ray) C. Moorehead 4179
Bernard W. Stern 4188
Harold C. Sanderson 4194
Eunice Dolan (Mrs. Graham Dolan) 4200
Part 2
May 17, 1956:
Testimony of —
Morris Wright 4205
Alfredo C. Montoya 4214
Rudolph B. Cookl 4229
Afternoon session:
Harold Page Martin 4237
Harold Meier 4248
Richard Aspinwall 4253
Irying Blau 4260
May 18, 1956:
Testimony of —
Arnold Berkens 4266
Dayid Bramhall 4267
Shirley Bramhall ( Mrs. Dayid Bramhall) 4273
Martha Correa 4278
Kenneth N. Kripke 4283
Alfonso Sena 4286
Fred Trujillo 4287
Eugene Deikman 4288
Morris Judd 4291
David Eakins 4293
Ann Eakins (Mrs. David Eakins) 4295
Jesus Bernardino Sauceda 4297
Judith Sauceda (Mrs. Jesus Bernardino Sauceda) 4298
Richard Demming 4298
Index I
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 hy 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
:^ ***** *
17. 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 vphole or by subcommittee,
is authorized to make from time 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
attaclis the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitu-
tion, 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 purpo.se 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.
V
RULES ADOPTED BY THE 84TH CONGRESS
House Resolution 5, January 5, 1955
* * ^ * * * ^
Rule X
STANDING COMMITTEES
1. There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Congress,
the following standing committees :
*******
(q) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members.
*******
RlTLE XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
17. 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
attaclis 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 autliorized to sit and act at such times
and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has
recessed, or lias 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.
VI
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA— PART 2
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1956
United States Holse or Representatives,
Subcommittee of the
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Denver^ Colo.
PUBLIC hearing
A subcommittee of the Committee on Uii-Americun Activities re-
convened, pursuant to recess, at 10 a. m., in the courtroom of the
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, Post OfKcc Building,
Hon. Francis E. Walter (chairman) presiding.
Committee members present : Representatives Francis E. Walter, of
Pennsylvania ; and Harold H. Yelde, of Illinois.
Staff members present: Richard Arens, director; Courtney E.
Owens, and W. Jackson Jones, investigators.
The Chairman. The committee will be in order.
Call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. Morris Wright.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please, and swear
that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, die wliole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God i
Mr. ^^^RIGHT. I do.
TESTIMONY OF MORRIS WRIGHT; ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
NATHAN WITT
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Wright. My name is Morris Wright. Address is Post Office
Box 08, Bayard. X. ]\[ex. I am business agent of the local union of
tlie International T'nion of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers. Local
890.
Mr. Arens. In passiuir, give us the area of local 890, please.
Mr. Wright. It has membership in four industrial properties in
Grant County, N. Mex., and lias one in Luna County, Xew ]\Iex.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you ?
Mr. Wright. Right.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Wright. I am.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kindly identify himself.
4205
4206 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Witt. Nathan Witt, Post Office Box 156, New York, N. Y.
Mr. Akens. Mr. Wright, \Yhere and when were you born ?
Mr, Wright. I was born in Oklahoma in 1908.
Mr. Witt. Excuse me, Mr. Arens. Can we have the picture taking
over with ?
The Chairman. Yes. Under the rules of the committee, photo-
graphs may be taken prior to the time the witness starts testifying,
and after that no pictures may be taken. It is disconcerting to the
witness and also to the committee.
Mr. Witt. We have no objection, since we have interrupted, if the
photogi^apher doesn't have all the pictures he wants maybe he can
get them out of the way now. He is trying to make a living.
Mr. Arens. Now, if you please, Mr. Wright, a word about your
early education prior to the time that you became self sufficient.
Mr. Wright. I attended public schools in the suburbs of Chicago
and in Newton, Mass. I attended Carlton College and the University
of Chicago.
Mr. Arens. When did you conclude your work at the University of
Chicago V
Mr. Wright. I tliink it was 1929.
Mr. Arens. Did you receive a degree there ?
Mr. Wright. No. I attended college for 5 years.
Mr. Arens. Kindly tell us your first employment after you com-
pleted your w^ork at Chicago University.
Mr. Wright. I worked for a short time in a toothpaste factory in
Highand Park, 111. Do you want me to continue with that ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, if you please. Just give us a brief chronological
sketch of your employments.
Mr. Wright. My next job was with the Billings Polytechnic In-
stitute, Billings, Mont.
Mr. Arens. Was that a teaching institution?
Mr. Wright. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Did you teach there ?
Mr. Wright. No, it was an institution that also runs industries
where students can earn a living as they are attending school. My
job was — the title was assistant to the president. I was principally
concerned with running these industries.
Mr. Arens. Tell us who the president was.
Mr. Wright. His name was Ernest T. Eaton.
Mr. Arens. What year or years w' as it that you were identified with
that institution ? Your best recollection.
Mr. Wright. I think I started there early in 1930 and was there
about a year and a half.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Your next occupation or employment'^
Mr. Wright. I worked for the next 3 years, I think it was, on farms
and ranches in Montana.
Mr. Arens. Did you own or operate the farms or ranches or
just
Mr. Wright. No.
Mr. Arens. Work for other people ?
Mr. Wright. I was employed.
Mr. Arens. What was your next employment?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4207
Mr. Wright. My next employment was in Chicago, 111. with the
La Salle Extension University, in the correspondence business.
Mr. Arens. Do you recall when you commenced with LaSalle?
Mr. Wright. I think that was in 1934.
Mr. Ari:ns. In what capacity did you serve?
Mr. Wright. At the beoinning I was classified as an instructor,
liandling correspondence lessons that came in. Then I was given an
assignment to organize the resident school there, a business school
leacliing the stenotypists- — the machine which is being used here —
and typing.
Mr. Arens. How long were you engaged with the LaSalle Institu-
tion in Chicago?
Mr. Wright. Until 1938.
Mr. Arexs. Was your disassociation from the LaSalle Institution
voluntary?
Mr. Wright. Yes, it was.
Mr. Arens. Kindly tell us now your next employment.
Mr. Wright. My next employment was with the Peoples Press.
Mr. Arens. First of all, tell us when that employment coimnenced.
Mr. Wright. At the same time that I left the last job, it was in the
spring of 1938, I believe.
Mr. Arens. Can you identify Peoples Press for us ?
Mr. Wr'Ght. It was a chain of labor newspapers, labor and com-
munity newspapers.
Mr. Arens. Who ran Peoples Press ?
Mr. Wright. Mr. Frank Palmer.
Mr. Arens. Can you identify him for us ?
Mr. Wright. No, I can't identify him further than that.
Mr. Arens. Was he president of the corporation that owned Peoples
Press ?
Mr. Wright. That I don't know. He was the executive editor.
Mr. Arens. How many papers did Peoples Press have ?
Mr. Wright. I think there were 56 editions at one time.
Mr. Arens. Were there 56 separate areas in which it circulated ? Is
that what you mean ?
Mr. Wright. Some of the editions were edited on behalf of local
and international unions, and others were community editions.
Mr. Arens. What was the total circulation of Peoples Press?
Mr. Wright. I can't recall.
Mr. Arens. What is your best estimate as to what was the total
circulation of Peoples Press?
jSIr. Wright. I have no basis for an estimate.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity were you identified with Peoples
Press ?
Mr. Wright. As reporter and rewrite man at the beginning. Later
I was editor of certain editions — various editions.
Mr. Arens. Is Peoples Press currently in publication?
Mr. Wright. No, it is not.
Mr. Arens. When did it go out of business ?
Mr. Wright. It went out of business — I think it was late in 1938
at the time that the CIO News began publication. It took over various
editions.
Mr. Arens. Does Peoples Press have a successor entity or organi-
zation ?
4208 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Wright. I don't think so, not that I know of.
Mr. Arens. How long were you with Peoples Press ?
Mr. Wright. Not quite a year.
Mr. Arens. Your next employment ?
Mr. Wright. ]My next employment was with the Townsend Na-
tional Weekly published by the Townsend old-age pension organiza-
tion.
]Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Wright. The same as in the last job, general editorial work.
Mr. Arens. How long were you associated with that publication^
Mr. Wright. I think it was about a year ?
Mr. Arexs. Your next occupation?
Mr. Wright. The next job was as editor of the Wisconsin edition
of the CIO News.
Mr. Arexs. When did that employment begin?
Mr. Wright. In 1940.
Mr. Arens. Where were you living ?
Mr. Wright. In Milwaukee.
Mr. Arens. Did I understand you to say you were the editor ?
Mr. Wright. That is right.
Mr. Arens. ^Yho was your superior?
Mr. Wright. Well, I was working under the direction of the execu-
tive board of the Wisconsin Industi-ial Union Council. Mr. Walter
Burke was the man I reported to. He was secretary of that council.
Mr. Arens. How long did you serve as editor of the Wisconsin CIO
News ?
Mr. Wright. From a year and a half until JNIarch 1942.
Mr. Arens. Tell us, your next employment, please
Mr. Wright. My next employment was as assistant editor of the
publication of the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter
Workers,
Mr. Arens. What was the name of it then?
Mr. Wright. At the time that I was hired there it was the Mine,
Mill, and Smelter Workers edition of the CIO News.
Mr. Arens. At that time was Mine-Mill identified with the CIO ?
Mr. Wright. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Who was the editor at that time ?
Mr. Wright. Graham Dolan.
Mr. xVrens. Where was the office ; where were you employed ?
Mr. Wright. It was in Denver, and that is where I was enxployed.
Mr. Arens. Did you report to or were you responsible to Graliam
Dolan?
Mr. Wright. Yes; he was my immediate superior.
Mr. Arens. Did you know him prior to the time that you assumed
your job as assistant editor?
Mr. Wright. Yes. I knew him as a member of the Newspaper
Guild in Chicago.
Mr. Arens. You knew him back when you were with the Peoples
Press, in 1938 ; is that right ?
Mr. Wright. I can't recall knowing him at that time.
Mr. Arens. Was he instrumental in engaging you with the Mine-
Mill organization?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4209
Mr. Wright. I made :i formal application to the executive board.
Mr. Arexs. I understand, but was he instrumental in procuring
your employment or assisting you in procuring your employment?
Mr. Wright. Well. I wrote to him at the time that I learned of his
appointment to that job, and I told him I would like to work in the
West and if he ever knew of an opening in Colorado or some State
in this area I would like to know about it.
Mr. xVrens. Tell us your next assignment within Mine-Mill. We
have gone now to 1942 according to the chronology.
Mr. Wright. At the time that Graham Dolan joined the Xavy in
1044, 1 became editor of the paper.
Mr. Arexs. How long were you editor of the paper?
]\Ir. Wright. I'^ntil November of 1955.
Mr. Arexs. "Wliat happened then?
Mr. Wright. I resigned to take my present position.
Mr. Arexs. During the time that you were editor of the Mine-Mill
paper did the format of the paper change; that is, the name of it?
i\Ir. Wright. The name changed from "The Union" to "The Mine-
Mill Union."
Mr. Arexs. T^Hiat was the circulation of the paper when you were
last editor?
Mr. Wright. Tlie circulation was about 80,000 up until the time
that the Canadian section of the union began publication of a separate
paper. So we discontinued sending the paper to the Canadian mem-
bership, and the circulation dropped to about 50,000,
Mr. Arexs, Are the editorials and articles of the Canadian paper
and of the American paper interchangeable?
Mr. Wright. Sometimes material from one paper is reprinted in
the other.
Mr. Arexs. Is the editorial policy the same, under the same
guidance ?
Mr, Wright. Not completely the same, because the Canadian sec-
tion of the union has its own executive board.
Mr, Arexs. Yesterday I believe we had a little explanation of the
relationship between the two organizations. What is your present
job?
Mr. Wright. My present job is business agent for Local 890 of the
Mine, jMill, and Smelter Workers.
Mr. Arexs. You have occupied that post since 1955 ?
Mr. Wright. December,
Mr. Arex'S. Who is your immediate superior?
Mr. Wright. Mr. Juan Chacon, J-u-a-n C-h-a-c-o-n.
^Ir. Arexs. In the course of your work as editor of the Mine-Mill
l)aper, did you have occasion to promote the motion-picture film. Salt
of the Earth ?
Mr. Wright. I wrote a good deal of material about it.
Mr. Arexs, Did you have aiwthing to do with the actual produc-
tion of the film?
Mr. Wright. No, sir. I wish I had, but I didn't.
Mr. Arexs. Was it promoted by the Mine-Mill organization?
Mr. Wright. I don't think it would be accurate to say it was pro-
moted by the Mine-Mill.
Mr. Arexs. It was endorsed or commended by Mine-Mill; is that
correct ?
4210 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Wright. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Though the Mine-Mill publications ?
Mr. Witt. Mr. Arens, will you take my ans\Yer to that? I think
it will save a little time.
Mr. Arens. I think I would prefer to have his response.
The Chairman. I think it was largely financed, wasn't it?
Mr. Witt. That is the problem. 1 will be glad to explain it.
The Chairman. Yes ; I would like to have it for the record.
Mr. Arens. Did it have financing from Mine-Mill ?
Mr. Wright. It had no financing at all from Mine-Mill.
Mr. Arens. What participation did Mine-Mill as an organization
have in the production, distribution, promotion, or publicity of the
Salt of the Earth films?
Mr. Wright. The international union had no participation beyond
agreeing to formal arrangement as cosponsors of the film. The local
union with which I am connected now was the one that participated
in making the film. Their contribution was that some of their mem-
bers acted in the film.
Mr. Arens. May I interrupt here to be sure this record is clear.
Although you have asserted, JNIr. Wright, that the international did
not finance or promote the film, do I understand you correctly that the
local with which you are currently identified did so promote the film?
Mr. Wright. It did not in any wa3' help finance the film.
Mr. Arens. ^^Hiat did the local do toward the production?
Mr. Wright. The local cooperated in the preparation of the script
by holding meetings at which the drafts of the script while it was
in preparation were read. Since the story was based pretty largely
on a strike which had taken place there, the people who had been in-
volved in that strike heard the script and made their criticisms and
comments so as to bring it into line with the actual reality of the
strike.
Mr. Arens. With whom did the local cooperate? You say it co-
operated. With whom did it cooperate ?
Mr. Wright. With the people who were preparing to make the
film.
Mr. Arens. Who were they ?
Mr. Wright. "Vyell, they are organized as Independent Produc-
tions, Inc.
Mr. Arens. Could you tell us who are the leaders of Independent
Productions, Inc., the principal people in it ?
Mr. Wright. The people that I knew were Herbert Biberman,
Michael Wilson, who wrote the script, Paul Jarrico. B-i-b-e-r-m-a-n,
W-i-1-s-o-n.
Mr. Arens. Paul Jarrico, you say ?
Mr. Wright. Yes.
Mr. Arens. He was the producer ?
Mr. Wright. Yes. J-a-r-r-i-c-o.
Mr. Arens. Did Mine-Mill or did any of the individual officers of
IMine-Mill have anything to do with the'immigration problems of cue
of the actresses in the film whose name was Rosaura, last name
R-e-v-u-a-1-t-a-s ?
Mr. Wright. That isn't the correct spelling.
Mr. Arens. How do you spell it correctly, then ?
Mr. Wright. You used an "'a" in place of an "e."
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4211
Mr, Arexs. Could 3'ou spell the actress' name for the record ?
Mr. Arens. Would you give your spellino; again, please ?
Mr. Arens. Rosaura R-o-s-a-u-r-a. The last name, R-e-v-u-a-1-t-a-s.
Mr. "Wright. It should be e-1-t-a-s.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. What did you or what did any of the
officers of Mine-]\lill have to do with the immigration problems of this
actress ?
Mr. Wright. To my knowledge, nothing.
Mr. Arens. Did you as editor of the Mine-Mill publication run
articles respecting her problems and defend her ?
Mr. Wright. I think we did.
Mr. Arens. Do you know whether or not she was a Communist ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Wright. I have no information on that.
Mr. Arexs. Thank you, sir.
How manv of the cast of Salt of the Earth were members of local
890of Mine-lMiir^
Mr. Wright. I couldn't say offhand. There were several hundred
people who were filmed in some of the scenes.
Mr. Arens. Were most of the cast from the standpoint of just num-
bers of people in Mine-Mill ?
jNIr. Wright. Yes.
The Chairman. The Princpal roles were played by professional
actors and actresses ? Is that correct ?
jNIr. Wright. Not entirely. The male lead was played by a mem-
ber of the local union there.
Mr. Arens. Who was he ?
Mr. Wright. Juan Chacon; the man I mentioned a few minutes
ago.
]\Ir. Arens. Do you know whether or not the man whom you ]ust
mentioned, Juan Chacon, was a Communist?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Wright. I decline to answer that question under my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Did Mine-Mill take credit for the production of the
film? Did Mine-Mill assert in articles by you that this full-length
film story had been made by Mine-Mill ?
Mr. Wright. As I remember it, we said we cosponsored it. That
was the fact.
Mr. VeI;DE. You said that Juan Chacon — is that the name?—
who played the lead in the theater is a nonprofessional actor ?
Mr. Wright. That is right.
Mr. Velde. Had he had any experience at all in acting?
Mr. Wright. No. He had training prior to the time that the film-
ing of the picture began.
Mr. Velde. What kind of training?
Mr. Wright. Training as an actor by the people, by the director of
the film.
Mr. Arens. Do you know wdiere Salt of the Earth has played?
Mr. Wr ght. I couldn't answer that question.
Mr. Arens. That is beyond your scope of knowledge ?
]\Ir. Wright. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Has it been, however, circulated pretty well over the
Nation ?
4212 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr, Wright. I don't think so.
Mr. Arens. Has it been played on a free basis to the various locals
of the organization ?
Mr. Wright. To most of them.
Mr. Arens. Has it been on loan to other organizations or groups?
Mr. Wright. I think a fee has been charged for it.
Mr. Arens. Do A'Ou know who actually has had charge of the
distribution of the film, Salt of the Earth ?
Mr. Wright. I had charge of it at one time. This was on 16 mm.
As far as the 35 nun. distribution I had nothing to do with that.
Mr. Arens. On the 16 mm. distribution which you had charge of,
what did you do ? Where did you play it !'
Mr. Wright. Mostly we furnished it to our — we had one copy of
it and sent it around to various local unions which wanted to show it.
Mr. Arens. Local unions of what organization ?
Mr. Wright. Mostly of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers.
Mr. Arens. What other organizations received the film?
Mr. Wright. There are too many for me to attempt to name them.
Mr. Arens. Enumerate some of the principal ones.
Did United Electrical, Radio, and ^Machine Workers of America
receive them ?
Mr. Wright. UE was one of the organizations.
Mr. Arens. Did Distributing, Processing, and Office Workers of
America receive them ?
Mr. Wright. Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Arens. Did Harry Bridges' boys receive them ?
Mr. Wright. Who is Harry Bridges' boys ?
Mr. Arens. The longshoremen.
Mr. Wright. I don't recall its being shown there, but I couldn't
say positively. I know a number of congregations of the Quaker
Church have shown it.
Mr. Arens. Were you instrumental in promoting the display of
the film to the members of the Quaker Church, and the congregations
of the Quaker Church ?
Mr. Wright. No; I just arranged for them to get a copy of the
film when they wrote and asked for it.
Mr. Arens. How many times was it displayed to various congre-
gations ? How many congregations ?
Mr. Wright. I couldn't give you a figure on that.
Mr. Arens. When was the film actually finished, ready for re-
lease. What was the date of it ?
Mr. Wright. I don't know the exact date.
Mr. Arens. Was it in 1955? What year? That is what I really
meant.
Mr. Wright. I believe the film was made in 1953.
Mr. Arens. When was it actually distributed throughout the
country ?
Mr. Wright. I think it was about February or March of 1954 that
it was completed.
Mr. Arens. What are your duties as business agent? Give us a
brief summary of your duties.
Mr. Wright. Principally to meet with representatives of the com-
panies with which the local union has contracts and settling grievances.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4213
Mr. Arens. Are you regarded technically as an official, so as to be
within the purview of the non-Conununist affidavit
Mr, Wright. Xo ; I am not an elected official.
Mr. Arens. Yon are an appointive employee ?
Mr. Wright. I am an employee.
Mr. ARf:Ns. AVho actually appointed you?
]\Ir. Wright. I was appointed by vote of the executive board of
the local union, and followino; that by vote of three membership
meetings.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Wright, would you look over to the right, at this
gentleman in the blue suit seated here? Would he please stand.
Will you tell us whether or not you have ever seen him before?
Mr.' Wright. I will take my privilege under the fifth amendment
on that.
Mr. Arens. The gentleman standing there is Mr. Bellarmino
Duran, who testified under oath a day or so ago before this com-
mittee that while he was an undercover agent in the Communist con-
spiracy serving his government and reporting to the Federal Bureau
of Investigation he, to a certainty, knew you as a member of the
Communist Party.
Mr. Wright. He also said here that I was responsible for socialist
content in Salt of the Earth. It so happens there is no socialist
content.
Mr. Arens. I assume you take issue with him on that. His inter-
pretation of what you did on Salt of the Earth was in error, is that
correct ?
Mr. Wright. He had no basis for interpretation. He knew noth-
ing about it.
Mr. Arens. Did he have any basis for asserting that you were a
member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Wright. I will take the fifth amendment on that.
The Chairman. By that you mean you refuse to answer ?
Mr. Wright. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arexs. Do you honestly apprehend that if you told this com-
mittee whether or not Mr. Duran was telling the truth with respect to
your Communist Party affiliations, you would be supplying informa-
tion which might be used against you in a ci'iminal proceeding ?
Mr. Wright. I don't think I have to explain my reason for taking
the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arexs. I am not asking you to explain your reason. I am only
asking you whether or not you honestly apprehend that the answer to
that principal question might give information which could be used
against you in a criminal proceeding.
Mr. Wright. I refuse to answer that on the same basis.
Mr. Arexs. I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that the witness be ordered
and directed to answer.
The Chairman'. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Wright. I refuse to answer on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. We have no further questions of this witness at this
time.
Mr. Velde. I have just one question.
As a person being in charge of the i-elease of the Salt of the Earth
film, can you tell me whether it had any foreign outlets i
4214 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Wright. I have read in the press that it has been shown in
foreign countries.
Mr. Velde. Didn't you have anything- to do vith that ?
Mr. Wright. I have had nothing to do ^yith the distribution of the
film aside from one 16 mm. copy which I helped to get around to our
various local unions. I would be very happy to arrange a showing of
Salt of the Earth for the members of this committee if you would like
to see it.
Mr. Velde. We have access to it, of course. I am just interested in
finding out how wide a distribution it had. It is a pro- Communist
film. There is no question about it. You know that as well as I do.
The Chairman. I saw the copy that the FBI had.
Mr. Arens. If you want to accommodate the committee I might
suggest you could accommodate the committee by telling us the names
of the Communists who participated in the production of the film and
the script and the distribution of this film. Would you care to do
that?
Mr. Wright. Is that a serious question ?
The Chairman. Yes, indeed.
Mr. Velde. Certainly it is.
Mr. Wright. I Avill take the fifth amendment on that.
The Chairman. Who was in charge of the distribution of the film ?
Mr. Wright. There was a corporation set up called IPC, dis-
tributors.
The Chairman. What does that mean ?
Mr. Wright. Independent Productions Corp. was the name of the
company which produced the film, and then they set up Independent
Productions Corp. as distributors.
The Chairman. Under the laws of what State was the organization
incorporated ?
Mr. Wright. I don't know that.
The Chairman. It was a corporation ?
Mr. Wright. I don't know that, either.
Mr. Witt. Would you take my answer on that, Mr. Walter? It
was set up under the laws of tlie State of California.
The Chairman. No further questions.
The witness is excused from further testimony under the subpena.
Mr. Arens. Alfredo Montoya, M-o-n-t-o-y-a.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Montoya. I do.
The Chairman. Be seated.
TESTIMONY OF ALFEEDO C. MONTOYA ; ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
NATHAN WITT
Mr. Arens. Please identify your self by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Montoya. My name is Alfredo C. JNIontoya. My address is
Post Office Box 382, El Paso, Tex. I am business agent of the El
Paso mine-mill locals in El Paso, Tex.
Mr. Arens. What locals please?
Mr. Montoya. Locals 501, 509, and 903.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4215
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today, Mr, Montoya, in response to
a subpena which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-
American iVctivities?
]Mr, MoNTOYA. Yes.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel?
Mr. MoNTOYA. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel identify himself, please.
Mr. Witt. Nathan Witt, Post Office Box 156, New York, N. Y.
Mr. Arens. Where were you born ?
Mr. MoNTOYA, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
Mr. Arens. When ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. The 18th of February 1921.
Mr. Arens. Tell us a word, if you please, about your education.
Mr. MoNTOYA. I attended the primary schools in central New Mex-
ico. I completed high school in Silver City, N. JSIex. I completed
about 3 years of college.
Mr. Arens. A\^iere did you attend college?
Mr. MoNTOYA. At the University of New Mexico.
Mr. Arens. When did you discontinue your studies with the Uni-
versity of New Mexico ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. About the first time I went with my first employment
I think it was about either the latter part of 1943 or the early part of
1944, sometime thereabouts.
Mr. Arens. Your first employment, please.
Mr. MoNTOYA. I worked for the Government.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Montoya. As a farm labor supervisor.
Mr. Arens. In what agency ?
Mr. Montoya. At the time I was first employed by a wartime agency
called the War Food Administration.
Mr. Arens. 'Wliere ?
Mr. Montoya. I started here in Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. What was your job ?
INIr. Montoya. I believe at that time my title was farm labor super-
visor.
Mr. Arens. What were your duties ?
Mr. Montoya. My duties were to assist in the importation of Mexi-
can labor, in the transportation to the farm-labor camps, in housing,
medical attention, relations with their employers, farmers, farmers'
associations.
Mr. Arens. Did you so cause Mexican labor to be imported and
made available to the planters and growers in the area ?
Mr. ISIoNTOYA. No. No; this was handled by another division of
the agency.
Mr. Arens. Then I don't quite understand what your specific duties
were.
Mr. MoNTOYA. For example, the first assignment I got was at Fort
Logan, Colo., where they had a farm-labor camp. I was assigned to
that camp and my duties were to assist, for example, in handling prob-
lems which arose between the employees and
Mr. Arens. Who was your immediate supervisor in the War Food
Administration ?
79079—56 — pt. 2 2
4216 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. ]\JoNTOYA, I don't recall his name. My immediate supervisor
■was a district farm labor supervisor, and I don't recall his name.
Mr. Arexs. I don't c[uite understand why it would be called the War
Food Administration in 1934.
Mr. MoNTOYA. No ; not 1934 ; 1944.
Mr. Arens. 1944. When did you graduate from the University of
New Mexico ?
]Mr. MoNTOYA. I didn't graduate.
Mr. Arens. AA^ien did you complete your studies there?
Mr. MoNTOYA. As I said, about the same time that I took this job.
Mr. Arexs. About 1943 or 1944 ?
Mr. MoxTOYA. Thereabouts ; that is right.
Mr. Arexs. I just had the wrong date down here.
ITow long did vou occupy this job with the War Food Administra-
tion ?
Mr. MoxTOYA. The War Food Administration either went out of
existence or was dissolved some time in 1945 or thereabouts, and as I
recall the farm labor importation program was then transferred to
some other department in the Department of Agriculture. I stayed
with the Department until December of 1947.
Mr. Arexs. In what capacity did you serve under the Department
of Agriculture ^
Mr. MoxTOYA. I was promoted from farm labor supervisor to dis-
trict labor supervisor. That was the title that I had when the pro-
gram went out of existence.
Mr. Arexs, What district did you have?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I was first assigned a district in Grand Junction,
Colo. Then I was assigned to another district in eastern Oregon.
Then after that I was assigned to a district in the State of Utah.
Mr. Arexs. I take it a district is less in geographical area than a
State, then; is that correct?
Mr. MoxTOYA. For example, in Colorado and Oregon it was limited
to a certain area, but in the State of Utah, although I still had the
same title I covered camps all over the State.
Mr. Arexs. You had, I take it, substantially the same duties and
obligations as district supervisor as you had previously in a lower
eclielon in the work ; is that correct?
Mr. MoNTOYA. That is right, with the one exception that I was
responsible for labor supervisors under my direction.
Mr. Arexs. How many labor supervisors were there under your
direction?
Mr. MoxTOYA. I think in the State of Utah there might have been 2,
possibly 3. I don't remember exactly.
Mr. Arexs. Substantially the same number in the other States in
which you had districts ?
]Mr. 'Montoya. I didn't have any others under me in other States.
Mr. Arens. Were you responsible for these people's employment
or were they just employed and assigned to you ?
Mr. MoxTOYA. They were just assigned to me.
Mr. Arens. A'^Tiat occasioned your disassociation from this
program ?
]\Ir. MoxTOYA. The program went out of existence in December of
1947, and I was terminated.
COMMXJNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4217
Ml-. Arens. Then what did you do, beginning in December of ID-lT ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I went back to Albuquerque, N. ISIex.
Mr. Arens. What did yon do there?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I enrolled at the University of New Mexico.
Mr. Arexs. In wliat type of work did you engage?
Mr. MoNtova, 1 attended. 1 was a student.
Mr. Arens. What courses did you take '. What were you pursuing?
Mr. MoNTOYA. My major is what they call inter-American affairs.
Mr. Arens. Inter- American ali'airs?
Mr. MoNTOYA. Inter- American affairs.
Mr. Arens. Did you complete the course ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. No, I didn't.
Mr. Arens. How long were you there ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I think I was there about a semester.
Mr. Arens. How were you sustained financially during that period ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. JSIy wife and I had both been employed by the Gov-
ernment, and we had saved some money.
Mr. Arens. You didn't complete the course, is that correct ?
Mr. MoNTOYA, No, I didn't.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. What did you do next?
Mr. MoNTOYA. You mean employment?
Mr. Arens. Yes.
JNIr. jMoNTOYA. The next job I had was as manager of a stoi-e in
northern New Mexico.
Mr. Arens. What type of store?
Mr. MoNTOYA. A small general goods store.
Mr. Arens. How long did you have that employment ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I was on that job for maybe about 5 or 6 months.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir; then where did you go?
]Mr. JMoNTOYA. Then my next employment was in Los Angeles,
Calif., where I worked first in the construction trades as a laborer,
and I worked at that for 5 or 6 months. Then I worked in the i)ack-
inghouse industry.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity, just as a worker?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I i)artly worked on the shapeup as a swamper, as a
truck driver, as a meat lugger, as they call them.
Mr. Arens. Tell us about your next employment, please.
Mr. MoNTOYA. Then my next employment on a part-time basis was
as a translator.
Mr. Arens. For whom ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. For a newsj^aper.
Mr. Arens. What newspaper?
Mr. MoNTOYA. The Spanish page of the Mine-Mill Union.
Mr. Arens. Was that your first employment wath Mine-Mill?
Mr. JNIontoya. It was part-time employment, yes.
Mr. Arens. When did that occur ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. This occurred, I believe the early part of 1953.
Mr. Arens. Where Avas that em[)loymeut i
Mr. MoNTOYA. Here in Denver.
Mr. Arens. How did you hap])en to get that jol)?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I applied for the job through the editor.
Mr. Arens. Did you know the editor ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Who was he?
4218 COMIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. MoNTOYA. Mr. Wright.
Mr, Aeens. How long had you known him ?
(The witness conferred with his counseL)
Mr. MoNTOYA. I had known him for a number of years. I don't
recall the exact number.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us where you first made his acquaintance-
ship?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I really don't recall where I fii*st met him.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us the nature of your acquaintanceship
with him ? Was it social or business or what was its nature ?
Mr. ]\IoNTOYA. It was social. I am from Grant County, N. Hex.,
where the union has a local, and I believe at some time or another I
met him socially.
Mr. Arens. Was that the exclusive nature of vour acquaintanceship
with Mr. Wright?
Mr. MoxTOYA. I don't understand that.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Does that completely encompass the relationship which
you had with ]\Ir. Wright before you became a translator in 1053 with
the Mine-Mill paper?
]\Ir. Witt. Will you give us half a minute so I can try out our sound
system here.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that question on the basis of my
privilege under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. When did you first know Mr. Wright?
Mr. Wright. I don't recall.
Mr. Arens. How many years prior to 1953 was it that you knew
him ?
Mr. MoNTOYA, I really don't recall. No; it was a number of years.
Mr. x\rens. How long were you employed as translator for this
paper, Mine-Mill Union, beginning in 1953 ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. About a year. It was a part-time job.
Mr. Arens. Did you have some other employment on the side ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOYA. I will respectfully decline to answer that question
on the basis of tlie reason previously stated.
]\Ir. Arexs. AMien was it that you began the employment concern-
ing which you decline to comment?
Was that concurrently with your employment as a translator?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. Did you receive remuneration or compensation for this
employment concerning which you decline to comment?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOYA . I decline for the same reason.
Mr. Arens. How long did you serve as a translator ?
Mr. Montoya. About a year.
Mr. Arens. Then what happened?
Mr. Montoya. Then I was appointed as an international repre-
sentative of the Mine, Mill.
Mr. Arens. That was about 1954, international representative?
Mr. Montoya. Some time in the spring of 1954.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY jMOUXTAIN AREA 4219
Mr. Arens. "\Yliat was your duty or responsibility ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I was first assigned to Leadville, Colo., Gilman, I
believe.
Mr. Arens. What were your duties?
Mr. MoNTOYA. The duties were the routine duties of an inter-
national representative, to represent the union at orievances, to assist
the local officers in the administration of the local union affairs.
Mr. Arexs. Did you sign a Taft-Hartley affidavit at any time?
Mr. MoNTOYA. No.
Mr. Arens. Did you in the course of your duties as international
representative perform any function other than the functions which
you have just recounted to us?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOYA. The only other thing that I was involved in was we
were having a representation election in Gilman at the time and I
assisted in that. That is the extent of my duties.
Mr. Arens. A little while ago when we were talking about your
employment beginning in 1953, Mr. Montoya, you told us about your
employment as a translator and then invoked the fifth amendment
with reference to some other employments. How long did this other
employment concerning which you have invoked the fifth amendment
endure ; how long did it last ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that on the basis of the privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Did this employment concerning which you have in-
voked the' fifth amendment endure into 1954?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. Does it endure at the present time ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. The answer to that is no.
Mr. Arens. Did it endure last year ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. Were you, in January of 1956, engaged in this em-
ployment concerning which you have invoked the privilege of the
fifth amendment not to testify ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previous stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. Were you, in January of 1956 engaged in this em-
ployment concerning which you have invoked the privilege of the
fifth amendment?
Mr. Montoya. I also respectfully decline to answer that for the
previously stated reason.
Mr. Arens. Were you engaged in the employment, concerning which
you have invoked the fifth amendment, yesterday ^
Mr. Montoya. I also decline to answer that for the previously
stated reason.
Mr. Arens. Are you engaged in this employment concerning which
you invoke the fifth amendment now, at the present time ?
Mr. Montoya. As I answered that before, the answer is no.
4220 COMIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNT >VIN AREA
The Chairman. "Will you resume that employment tomorrow ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoisTTOYA. No.
IVIr. Arens. How many members are there in the locals which you
currently represent as business agent?
Mr. MoNTOYA. Between 1,600 and 1,700.
Mr. Arens. When did you become the business agent of these locals
as distinct from your job as an international representative which you
said you started in 1954 ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. In November of last year.
Mr. Arens. Were you an international representative of the Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers up until November of last year?
Mr. MoNTOYA. Up until about August.
Mr. Arens. "V^^iat happened between August and November?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I continued assisting the locals.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity?
Mr. MoNTOYA. In assisting them in the usual work that I have been
doing.
Mr. Arens. Why did you no longer carry the title of international
representative there ?
ISIr. MoNTOYA. There was a reduction in force in the international
union and I was reduced from the staff.
Mr. Arens. But you were carried on the payroll, is that correct?
Mr. MoNTOYA. No.
Mr. Arens. How did you sustain jourself during those several
months ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. Well, there was a gap in between there of about 2
weeks during which the locals covered about 2 weeks of the month
and the other was on my own. I received no compensation for 2
weeks.
Mr. Arens. Mr. INIontoya, have you l)een president of the National
Association of Mexican-Americans ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. You are not ashamed of any affiliation you may have
had with such an uplift organization as the National Association of
Mexican- Americans, are you?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. I lay befoi-e you now, Mr. Montoya, a document, the
Communist Daily People's World, Tuesday. October 25, 1949, page 3,
in which there is an article entitled ''125 Delegates Hail Step in Fight
Against Bias." I am going to mark this document "Montoya Ex-
hibit No. 1."
The Mexican-American National Association was firmly established in this
community today following a founding convention that drew 125 delegates from
trade unions and fraternal groups in many parts of California.
The date line is Los Angeles.
Alfredo Montoya, national president of the organization, termed the well
attended convention and the rapid jrrowth of ANMA throughout the Southwest
"a tremendous step forward for the Mexican-American people."
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4221
I lay this article before you now, Mr. Montoya, and ask you if you
are the person alluded to in that article and identified as the national
president of the organization.
Mr. MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you mean to tell this committee that if you truth-
fully responded to the question as to whether or not you are the person
who was president of this organization, you would be supplying in-
formation which might be used against you in a criminal proceeding?
Mr. jNToxtoya. 1 decline to answer that for the i)reviously stated
reason.
Mr. Arexs. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that the witness
be ordered and directed to answer that question.
The Chairman. You are directed to answer the question, Mr.
Montoya.
Mr. MoNTOYA. I respectfully decline to answer that on the basis of
my privilege under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. ]\Iontoya, I lay before you a photograph which
appears in that article, identified as Alfredo Montoya and I ask if you
will identify that photograph as that of yourself.
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend that if you identified that
photograph as one being of yourself, you would be supplying informa-
tion which might be used against you in a criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that on the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that the witness
be ordered and directed to answer this question.
The Chairman. You are diiected to answer the question. That is
a public paper, Mr. Montoya.
Mr. Montoya. I respectfully decline to answ-er that for the pre-
viously stated reason.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this docu-
ment, ''Montoya Exhibit No. 1'", be incorporated by reference in this
record to be retained in the committee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered. May I see it please ?
Mr. Arens. Mr. Montoya, have you participated in conferences on
civil rights in Los Angeles in the course qf the last few years?
(The witness conferred watli his counsel.)
]\[r. Montoya. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you a document which is a photostatic copy
of the Daily People's World of Thursday, April 6, 1950, and invite
your attention to an article —
L. A. conference called on civil rights. A call to a conference and convention
initiated by the Civil Rights Congress and sponsored by more than 80 leading
trade unionists, writers, ministers, lawyers, and oflBcers of organizations, was
mailed today to 2,000 organizations and individuals —
and so forth.
Included in the list of the sponsors of this conference is a person
identified here as Alfredo Montoya, national president, Mexican-
American National Association. I ask you to look at that article, if
you will do so, sir, and tell us whether or not you are the person iden-
4222 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
tified in that article as one of the sponsors of this conference on civil
rights.
Mr. MoNTOTA. I decline to answer that on the basis of the previously
stated reason.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfuly suggest that this docu-
ment be marked "Montoya Exhibit No. 2", and be incorporated by
reference in this record to be retained in the committee files. May the
record also show at this time that the Civil Rights Congress has been
repeatedly cited as subversive and Communist.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been identified with the American Com-
mittee for Protection of Foreign Born ?
]\Ir. Montoya. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. How many of the people who were imported into this
country in this farm labor program did you actually come in contact
with when you were with the Federal Government in this supervisory
capacity ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. I wouldn't know the exact number, but there were
thousands.
Mr. Arens. How many thousand would you say you actually worked
witli during the course of several years from 1944 until 1947 and 1948?
]\Ir. Montoya. I don't think I could give you
Mr. Arens. Well, did you work with as many as, say, ten or fifteen
thousand ?
Mr. Montoya. I don't know. I could just pull a figure out of the
air.
Mr. Arens. How many were imported under this program ; do you
recall ?
Mr. IVIoNTOYA. Xo, I don't,
Mr. Arens. "Would it be as many as a half million ?
Mr. Montoya. I really wouldn't know.
Mr. Arens. Wliat is the McCarran Act ; do you recall ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Witt. Perhaps counsel can identify that a little more closely.
Mr. Arens. I just wondered if he had a recollection as to what act
it was he was talking about when he and others attacked the act
which, in this photostatic copy of an article appearing in the Daily
People's World of December 21, 1950, is identified as the McCarran
Act. There are really two McCarran Acts. One which carries the
name of the ISIcCarran Act, with some other sponsor, is the Internal
Security Act, and then there is the Immigration and Nationality Act,
which was cosponsored by Senator ^IcCarran and by Representative
Walter. I wondered which one you had in mind. Perhaps you could
help us.
Mr. Witt. Counsel hasn't shown the witness the exhibit.
Mr. Arens. I will do that if the witness would like to see the exhibit,
and tell us which act he has in mind. Look at that article, Mr, Mon-
toya, and tell us which of these laws you were attacking ?
Let the record show the above-mentioned document will be marked
"Montoya Exhibit No. 3."
Mr. Montoya, I decline to answer that question on the basis of my
previously stated gromids.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4223
Mr. Arens. Didn't the article help yoii refresh your recollection as
to which act it was counsel was talking about ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. There is a picture in this Daily People's World, Mon-
toya exhibit No. 3, of a person identified as Alfredo C. INIontoya, who
is giving a warning to all people that "the Government under the law
is going to deport thousands of Mexicans without due process of law
and in complete violation of the Constitution, said Montoya,"
Was it you who said that?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. If you were this person who was making all of these
assertions here in defense of innocent people who might be illegally
and unconstitutionally deprived of their rights, you certainly wouldn't
want to deny that assertion before this committee, would you?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. You made a statement on this before the Los Angeles
Committee for Protection of Foreign Born, did you not?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that this docu-
ment, which has been marked "Montoya Exhibit No. 3," be incorpo-
rated by reference in this record and retained in the committee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell this committee what the Smith Act is ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. All I know is that it is the law of the land.
IMr. Arens. Do you know what it is ?
Mr. Montoya. I am really not too familiar with it.
Mr. Arens. It appears that back in 1951 you had a better compre-
hension of what the Smith Act is. I lay before j^ou now a document
which is a reproduction of the Daily People's World for Tuesday,
November 6, 1951, calling for repeal of the Smith Act as a law that
is designed to destroy trade unions and a law that is out to have mass
deportations and deprive people of their rights and make victims of
innocent citizens and all that sort of thing. The key speaker was a
man by the name of Alfredo Montoya who orated on this subject. I
lay that document before you now and see if you can help this com-
mittee and help your (jovernment by telling us whether you are that
individual identified as Alfredo Montoya who was telling the people of
tlie West all alxnit the Fascist laws that were passed destroying human
rights and liberties, laws which only, incidentally, were designed to
destroy the Comnumistic conspiracy in this country. Tell us whether
or not you are that Alfredo Montoya.
Mr. Witt. Shouldn't counsel break that question down a bit ?
Mr. Arens. I think he gets the point, Mr. Witt, as I think you do.
Would you tell us whether or not you are the Alfredo Montoya re-
ferred to in this article ?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
The Chairman. I was hoping when you were making that explana-
tion that you would remind the people that no one can be deported
4224 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
without a hearing, after which there can be an appeal to the Board of
Immigration Appeals, and from there to the court; and that is the
Supreme Court of the United States. If they still feel that their
riofhts have been violated, they have access to the courts on a writ of
habeas corpus.
Mr. Arens. And the Supreme Court of the United States has tested
this act and found it sound and constitutional in every respect.
The Chairmax. I just wanted to clarify the atmosphere because
there has been a campaign of misrepresentation that I am afraid a few
of the gullible may have believed.
Mr. Areks. You haven't been part of this campaign that the Con-
gressman is speaking of to ensnare the unwary against the Smith Act,
the Internal Security Act, and the McCarraii-Walter Act, have you,
Mr. Montoya ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Witt. Mr. Chairman, I don't see how a lay witness can possibly
answer a question like that.
The CiiAiR^EAx. I think that is correct, and I wish you would stop
talking about the McCarran-Walter Act. It is the "Walter-McCarran
Act. The McCarran Act was never reported out of the committee.
Mr. Witt. We give you all the credit for it, Mr. Walter. Don't
worry about that.
The Chairmax. I am very happy to receive it from this source.
Mr. Witt. I know you are.
Mr. Arexs. May this document. Daily People's World, November 6,
1951, be marked "Montoya Exhibit No. 4," and be incorporated by
reference in this record to be retained in the committee files.
The Chairmax. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the citations
of the American Committee for Protection of Foreign Born be in-
corporated in the printed record at this point.
The Chairmax. It is so ordered.
(The citations referred to above follow :)
American Committee for Protection of Foreign Born
1. Cited as subversive and Communist.
{Attorney General Tom Clark, letters to Loyalty Review Board, released
June 1, 19-',8, and September 21, 1948.)
2. "One of the oldest auxiliaries of the Communist Party in the United States."
(Special Committee on Un-American Activities, Report, March 29, 19fiff,
p. 155; also cited in Report, June 25, 19Jf2, p. IS.)
3. "Among the Communist-front organizations for racial agitation" which also
serve as "money-collecting media" and "as special political organizing cen-
ters for the racial minority they pretend to champion." "Works closely
with the International Labor Defense, legal arm of the Communist Party,
in defense of foreign-born Communists and sympathizers."
{California Committee on Un-American Activities, Reports, 194", V- ^^ >
1948, p. 113.)
Mr. Arexs. Now, Mr. Montoya, I lay before you still another docu-
ment marked "Montoya Exhibit No. 5," which is a photostatic copy
of the Daily People's' World, December 26, 1951, containing an ad-
vertisement respecting a celebration to be held at North Star Auditor-
ium, the Chanukah, C-h-a-n-u-k-a-h, celebration — I can't quite pro-
nounce that, and perhaps you will help us — at which one of the orators
was a person identified here as Alfredo Montoya. Can you tell us
about that meeting?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4225
Mr. AViTT. I think that is Chanuk.ih, the Jewish holiday wliicli prob-
ably counsel is referring to.
Mr. xVrens. Is that what it is ?
Mr. AViTT. I would think so, Mr. Arens. Shall I look at it and
tell you (
The Chairsian. The committee will stand in recess for 5 minutes.
( Brief recess. )
(Members of the committee present: Representatives Walter and
Velde.)
The Chairman. The committee will be in order. Proceed, Mr.
Arens.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, in the course of the identification of
this exhibit, especially in view of counsel's comment of the celebration
being a religious one, I invite specifically the attention of the witness
to the notation in the exhibit that this session is under the auspices of
the Jewish People's Fraternal Order, which, as the record will show,
has been repeatedly cited as a branch of the Communist conspiracy.
Mr. Montoya, look at the exhibit, please, and tell us whether or not
that prompts your recollection as to any celebration in which you par-
ticipated on the occasion indicated in the exhibit.
Mr. MoxTOYA. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that "Montoya
Exhibit No. 5'' be incorporated by reference in this record, and re-
tained in the connnittee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
yiv. Arens. Mr. Montoya, you have not only been a great humani-
tarian working among the Mexican nationals, but j'ou have also been
a strong advocate of peace, have you not, a partisan of peace in your
career?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. I believe in peace, and my answer to that question
is "Yes.''
Mr. Arens. "What have you done in pursuit of your l)elief in peace ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. I have si)oken in favor of peace and advocated peace.
^Ir. Arens. You have done that in sucli commendable fashion I
would like to call your attention to an exhibit in connection w-ith one
of your orations on this subject, which w^e are marking "Montoya Ex-
hibit Xo. 6."' It is a reproduction of an article in the Daily People's
AVorld, of December 10, 1951, entitled "Progressive Party Opens
Peace Campaign for 1952.*'
Among the speakers for peace is a person whose picture appears,
Alfredo ^lontoya. Tell this connnittee and the American people
whether or not you are the person who was there as a peace partisan.
Mr. Wi'iT. Perhaps we can save a minute. Will you direct his
attention to where the name is mentioned.
Mr. Arens. The ])hotograph. His name is under it there.
(The Avitness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. ]MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
The Chairman. Since when is it a crime to advocate peace?
4226 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Witt. Mr. Chairman, if you will look at that exhibit I think
you will understand why the witness in the light of his previous answer
has refused to answ-er.
The Chairman. All right.
Mr. Arens. In the course of your public service, Mr. Montoya, you
have not only been a partisan of peace and the uplift of the community
but you have also been against w-itch hunts, have you not?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOTA. Yes, I have been against witch hunts.
Mr. Arens. And you have been a firm foe of the House Committee
on Un-American Activities, have you not?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOYA. I have been.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you a document marked "Montoya Exhibit
No. 7," and ask you if you are the same Montoya who was urging
folks, as recounted in this article in the Daily People's World of
Friday, September 26, 1952, to combat the probers, to speak out and
stand up and combat the House Committee on Un-American Activi-
ties. Are you the same person who is identified in that document as
one of the public figures who is determined to destroy the witch-hunt-
ing House Committee on Un-American Activities?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya, Yes.
My. Arens. You are the same person who is identified here, is that
correct.
Mr. Montoya. Yes.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr, Chairman, that this docu-
ment be incorporated by reference in this record and retained in
the committee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arens. Also, Mr. Montoya, you have been active in the confer-
ence of the National Negro Labor Council, have you not?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montoya. I decline to ans^Yer that for the previously stated
reason,
Mr. Arens, I lay before you now a document which is a photo-
static copy of page 2 of the Daily People's World of January 25,
1952, in which an Alfredo Montoya's photograph appears — a striking
likeness to your own — as a guest speaker at a NLC meeting. The
article says:
"Alfredo Montoya, president of the Mexicnn-American Association, ANMA,
will be one of the suest speakers at the regional conference of the National Negro
Labor Council this weekend."
I lay that before you now and ask you if you will stand up and tell
this committee whether or not you are the person wdio is identified
there as Alfredo Montoya.
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, this document be
marked "Montoya Exhibit No. 8" and incorporated by reference in
this record to be retained in the committee files.
The Chairman, It is so ordered.
Mr, Arens. You have not only participated in all these movements
w^e have been describing, ]Vii\ Montoya, you have also been what we
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4227
might call a progressive, have you not, in your activities? Have you
been what you might characterize as a progressive in your public
service?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTOTA. I guess I have been generally known as a progressive.
Mr. Arexs. I would like to lay before you a document which is
a photostatic copy of a letterhead of the Young Progressives of
America, in which among the vice chairmen appears a person whose
name is Alfredo Montoya, of New Mexico, and I ask you if that is
the type of progressive activity in which you have been engaged dur-
ing your career of public service.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Witt. Mr. Arens, we have a bit of a difficulty with the form
of the question. The witness is prepared to answer this
Mr. Arens. Is he the person identified ?
Mr. "Witt. That is different. You asked about the types of activity.
He is prepared to answer this question.
Mr. Arens. All right. Are you the person whose name appears on
tliis letterhead as one of the vice chairmen of the Young Progressives
of America ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. The answer is "Yes.*'
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, tliat this docu-
ment be marked "Montoya Exhibit No. 9" and be incorporated by
reference in the record to be retained in the committee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Montoya, do you recall a couple of years ago your
local there in El Paso w-as calling for international trade with Red
China?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Witt. Also there is a little difficulty with the form of that.
He wasn't the business agent for the local at that time, and there is
more than one local.
Mr. Arens. Do you recall whether or not the locals of the Mine-
Mill at El Paso back in 1954, in January of 1954, called for resump-
tion of the United States trade with Soviet Russian and Red China?
Mr. Montoya. I don't recall.
Mr. Arens. If you don't recall, that is satisfactory.
I am going to ask you to look at a man over here. Mr. Duran, will
you please stand up. Look him in the face. Tell us whether or not
you have ever seen him before.
IMr. Montoya. I decline to answer that on the basis of my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. This man, Bellarmino Duran, took an oath and testi-
fied before this committee that he knew you as a member of the Com-
munist conspiracy or Communist Party. Was he lying or was he
telling the truth?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
IMr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Montoya. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
Mr. Arens. Are you currently under Communist Party discipline?
Mr. JMoNTOYA. I decline to answer that for the previously stated
reason.
4228 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. Have you ever publicly or to the members of the Inter-
national Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers denied being a
member of the Communist conspiracy?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoxTOTA. As far as I can recall, no.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever confessed to them that you were a mem-
ber of the Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. MoNTOYA. I decline to answer that on the basis of the previously
stated reason.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I suggest that concludes the interroga-
tion of this witness by the staff.
The Chairman. Mr. Montoya, you are located now at El Paso ?
Mr. Montoya. Yes ; I am.
The Chairman. And connected with what local?
Mr. Montoya. I am actually emploj^ed by three locals.
The Chairman. How many locals are there?
Mr. Montoya. Three locals.
The Chairman. What are they ?
Mr. Montoya. Locals 501, 903, and 509.
The Chair]\ian. They are all the locals that are in El Paso?
Mr. Montoya. That "is right.
The Chairman. Can yan give us the names of the officials in those
locals ?
Mr. Montoya. I will try to remember. The executive })oard of each
or just the presidents ?
The Chairman. Xo ; the executive board of each of the three.
Mr. Montoya, I will try to remember them.
Tlie Chairman. To the best of your recollection.
Mr. Montoya. In local 509 the president is Juan Aranda, Jr.,
A-r-a-n-d-a; the vice president is George Escalante, E-s-c-a-1-a-n-t-e;
the financial secretary is Carlos Becerra. B-e-c-e-r-r-a ; the recording
secretary is Jesus Rodriguez, R-o-d-r-i-g-u-e-z. That is the executive
group.
The Chairman. Now the next local.
Mr. Montoya. Local 903. The president is Fred Molina, M-o-
1-i-n-a ; vice president — I believe the name is George Jasso, J-a-s-s-o ;
financial secretary, Salvador, S-a-1-v-a-d-o-r, Castillo, C-a-s-t-i-I-l-o;
the recording secretary is a Mr. Morales. I don't recall his first name
at the time. M-o-r-a-l-e-s.
The executive officei-s of local 501 are : President, Lorenzo France
Ware, W-a-r-e; the vice president is Gilbert Maldonado, M-a-1-d-o-
n-a-d-o; the financial secretary is — I believe they just had a change
in financial secretary a few days ago and I don't recall the name of the
new financial secretary, but the incumbent was — rather, the last one
was Manuel Arizpe, A-r-i-z-p-e; the recording secretary is Emmet
Johnson.
That constitutes the executive officers of the locals.
The Chairman. How many of these people live in Mexico?
Mr. Montoya. I don't really know. To my knowledge I believe
they live in El Paso, but I am not certain.
The Chairman. All right. Thank you.
The witness is excused from further attendance at this hearing.
Mr. Witt. Thank you.
The Chairman. Call the next witness.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4229
Mr. Arexs. Mr, Rudolph Cook, please.
The Chair3Lvn. Will you raise your right hand ? Do you swear the
testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Cook. I do.
TESTIMONY OF RUDOLPH B. COOK; ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
CLIFFORD W. MILLS
^Ir. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Cook. Rudolph B. Cook, BoOl Dexter Street, Denver.
I am an employee of the International Union of Mine, Mill, and
Smelter Workers.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr. Cook. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Cook. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kindlv identif}^ himself ?
Mr. Mills. Clifford W. Mills, 302 Majestic Building, Denver.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity do you serve with the Mine-Mill
organization ?
Mr. Cook. I am in the supply department, handling supplies, ship-
ping, in the mailing room, mimeographing.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been employed by Mine-Mill ?
Mr. Cook. Since they moved their headquarters from Chicago, I
believe. I believe it was 1951.
Mr. Arens. Have you since 1051 been continuously engaged in this
type of work ?
Mr. Cook. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. For Mine-Mill ?
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Mr. Arens. What was your employment innnediately prior to the
employment Avhich 3'ou presently occupy ?
Mr. Cook. I worked in a broom factory.
Mr. Arens. Where was that ?
Mr. Cook. In Denver.
Mr. Arens. Have you lived here most of your life ?
Mr. Cook. I have lived here 35 years.
Mr. Arens. How did you get your job with Mine-Mill ?
Mr. C(WK. Most of my experience in recent years has been in union
work, which brought me in contact with members of that union and
officers of that union.
Mr. Arens. What is this experience in union work which vou have
had?
Mr. Cook. It goes back. I have been a member since 1934.
Mr. Arens. Of Mine-Mill?
Mr. Cook. No, of different unions.
Mr. Arens. Trace your employment since you became an adult, if
you don't mind, Mr. Cook. Just in brief resume form as you probably
nave heard others give us. Tell us first of all where were you born.
Mr. CooK. I was born in Arkansas, Buffalo, Ark.
4230 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arexs. a word about 3'our education.
Mr. Cook. I went to school in Arkansas and the last place I went to
school was in Joplin, Mo.
Mr. Arexs. Where ?
Mr. Cook. Joplin, Mo.
Mr. Arens. What school in Joplin, Mo. ?
Mr. Cook. Jackson, I think it was the name of the grade school,
eighth grade.
Mr. Arens. Trace very briefly and succinctly j'our employment
record.
Mr. Cook. We came to Denver in about 1921, and the first 4 or 5
years I didn't have any real steady work, odd jobs around. I played
ball a little. I worked at various jobs, moving company, furniture
house, cleaning establishment, and odd jobs up until about I would say
1926, when I went up in the mountains for a couple of years with a
nursery. Then in 1928 I went to work for the Denver Rio Grande
Railroad.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Cook. As a laborer first and then almost immediately as a
helper, machinist's helper, and then very soon, ^'ery shortly, as a ma-
chinist apprentice or helper apprentice and welder. My employment
there covered approximately from about 1928 to 1939.
Somewhere in the early days of that, about the middle of that em-
ployment I became a member of the union and active in union work.
Mr. Arens. What union was that?
Mr. Cook. The machinists union.
Mr. Arens. Then in 1939 what happened ?
Mr. Cook. In 1939 I went to work as business agent for the ma-
chinists union.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us the specific name of the union? The
exact title.
Mr. Cook. It was District 86 of the International Association of
Machinists. At that time it covered only machinists who were em-
ployed in contract shops, outside the railroad industry, and auto
mechanics. Then later it was expanded to cover other locals in Denver
and out in the State.
Mr, Arens, How long did you serve in that capacity with this dis-
trict 86?
Mr. Cook. About 5 years.
Mr. Arens. That gets up to about 1944, doesn't it ?
Mr. Cook. That is right.
Mr. Arens. What did you do in 1944 ?
Mr. Cook. In 1944 I went to work for the War Manpower Com-
mission.
Mr. Arens. May I ask you if your disassociation from District 86
of the Machinists organization was wholly voluntary ?
Mr. Cook. Well, it was an elected job, and I wasn't reelected.
Mr. Arens. In 1944 then you went to work for the Federal Govern-
ment, in what capacity?
Mr. Cook, With the War Manpower Commission in the State of
Colorado,
Mr. Arex'S, In what capacity did you work?
Mr, Cook, I don't remember the exact title at the beginning, but the
primary job was labor-relations consultant, a sort of liaison job be-
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4231
tween the labor movement and the War Manpower Commission which
had charge of employment offices, as you recall.
Mr. Arens. Did you b^- any chance know Xorman Pixler?
Mr. Cook. I knew him when I worked for the machinists.
Mr. Arens. Did you know him when you worked at the "War Man-
power Commission?
Mr. Cook. I don't think so. I don't remember whether he was with
the War Labor Board at that time or not. I remember cases that I
handled in the War Labor Board.
Mr. Arens. Did you know Philip Reno ?
Mr. Cook. Not at that time.
Mr. Arens. You met him later ?
Mr. Cook. In view of certain circumstances I would assume that I
would like to exercise my privilege under the provisions of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Arens. Did you know Philip Reno ?
The Chairman. Just a moment. And for that reason you decline
to answer the question ?
Mr. Cook. That is right ; yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you know Philip Reno back in 1944? Wlien I
asked you that question a few moments ago you said something a little
later. I didn't quite understand what you said.
Mr. Cook. I can't recall any specific time knowing him.
Mr. Arens. How long were you with the War Manpower Com-
mission?
Mr. Cook. I believe about a year and a half, about the middle of
1945, 1 think.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Then what happened ?
Mr. Cook. I resigned from the War Manpower Commission to re-
sume employment with the trade-union movement and became the
secretary of the Denver Trades and Labor Assembly, which is the
city federation of the A. F. of L.
Mr. Arens. Was your resignation completely voluntary ?
Mr. Cook. That is right.
Mr. Arens. How long did you occupy that post as secretary of the
Denver Trade and Labor Assembly ?
Mr. Cook. I think about a year and a half there.
Mr. Arens. Was that an elective post ?
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Mr. Arens. You were elected secretary ?
Mr. Cook. Yes; I was first appointed by the executive board in
order to complete an unfinished term, and then elected.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Tell us what happened next.
Mr. Cook. Subsequent to that I became a local representative for
the combination of two unions, the State, County, and Municipal
Employees Union
Mr. Arens. Was that the union that subsequently merged to become
the United Public Workers under Abram Flaxer ?
Mr. Cook. No ; this is the A. F. of L.
Mr. Arens. This is the competing union; is that correct?
Mr. Cook. I guess that is so.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir.
79079— 56— pt. 2 3
4232 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Cook. It is the A. F. of L., of which Earl Danner is president.
Mr. Arens. What year was it that you became secretary of this
State, County, and Municipal Employees organization ?
Mr. Cook. That must have been 1946.
Mr. Arens. You had two jobs. Wliat was the other one ?
Mr. Cook. This was a shared job between the two organizations, the
State, County, and Municipal Employees Union and the Office
Employees Union.
Mr. Arens. Were they two separate organizations?
Mr. Cook. That is right.
Mr. Arens. You were secretary of both ?
Mr. Cook. I wasn't secretary. I was just an employed representa-
tive. About the same as a business agent.
Mr. Aeens. How long did you continue in that relationship ?
Mr. Cook. A little more than a year, I believe.
Mr. Arens. That gets us up to 1947 or 1948 ; does it not ?
Mr. Cook. Yes; in 1947 I was elected as a delegate to rewrite the
charter for the city and county of Denver, and somewhere in that
period, either during that period or immediately afterward, I severed
connections with the two organizations.
Mr. Arens. Was it completely a voluntary severance ?
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Mr. Arens. When you were elected a delegate to rewrite the charter
of the city of Denver was that a full-time job ?
Mr. Cook. Not completely. It is something like the legislation was,
for 90 days.
Mr. Arens. How long did that last ?
Mr. Cook. Ninety days, with an opportunity to do some of your
union work before and after the sessions.
Mr. Arens. How many people besides yourself participated in re-
writing the charter for Denver?
Mr. Cook. Tw^enty-one altogether.
Mr. Arens. You were one of the 21 ?
Mr. Cook. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Was the charter rewritten ?
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Mr. Arens. You participated in that process ?
Mr. Cook. That is right. But it was subsequently failed of adopt-
tion by the people. Our job was to rewrite it and then refer it to
the people.
Mr. Arens. I understand.
Mr. Cook. They voted it down.
Mr. Arens. Then what happened after you completed this work on
the charter or the proposed charter ?
Mr. Cook. I might say that as a result of my work with the State,
county, and municipal employees and political contacts during that
time, I became acquainted with the then new administration that was
elected. Consequently, when this charter convention report was over
and my other job was terminated, I then applied for employment with
the city and county of Denver.
Mr. Arens. Did you procure that employment?
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4233
Mr. Cook. I worked in the assessor's office for some time and in
the bicycle bureau for some time.
Mr. Arexs. That would be about 1948 or 1949?
Mr. Cook. About the middle of 1948, 1 guess.
Mr. Arens. Then what liappeued after that 'i
Mr. Cook. Then I went to work for the Progi-essive Party. That
was the campaign year.
Mr. Arexs. Excuse me just a moment, please. AVas your disassocia-
tion from the city administration completely involuntary ?
Mr. Cook. Involuntary 'I
Mr. Arens. Completely voluntary ?
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Mr. Arens. You weren't fired. You just had a better opportunity,
you thought, economically.
Mr. Cook. That is right.
jNIr. Arens. You then went to work for the Progressive Party?
Mr. Cook. That is right.
Mr. Arens. Do you recall when you began that ?
Mr. Cook. I don't recall the exact time or the month.
Mr. Arens. Would it be perhaps in 1949 ?
Mr. Cook. No; this was before the election. The election was in
1948.
Mr. Arens. It would be some time, then, in the middle of 1948.
Would that be your best recollection 'I
Mr. Cook. Yes.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity did vou serve in the Progressive
Party?
Mr. Cook. It was a sort of coordinating job. I think I was the
secretary, maybe executive secretary.
Mr. Arens. Who employed you?
Mr. Cook. It was just a general agreement of the executive board.
Mr. Arens. Who was on the executive board who had this general
agreement to employ you ?
Mr. Cook. Visiting here yesterday I have tried to recall some of
the people who were on it at that time and for the life of me I can't.
I I'emember, I think, Mr. Rinn was chairman.
Mr. Arens. Do J'Ou remember his full name ?
Mr. Cook. Mike Rinn.
Mr. Arens. How does he spell it ?
Mr. Cook. R-i-n-n.
Mr. Arens. He was, you think, chairman of the executive board?
Mr. Cook. Yes. He was chairman.
Mr. Ajiens. Did you know him prior to the time that you assumed
this job with the Progressive Party ?
Mr. Cook. I had been on the board myself and I had known him
to that extent.
Mr. Arens. How long did you serve with the Progressive Party as
secretary or executive secretary?
Mr. Cook. It wasn't very long.
Mr. Arens. Just through the campaign?
Mr. Cook. Shortly after the campaign. I would say at the maxi-
mimi the first of the year or maybe less than that.
4234 COMIVIUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Aeens. How many people in official capacity were identified
with the Progressive Party in the Denver area where you served as
executive secretary ?
Mr. Mills. What do you mean by official capacity ?
Mr. Arens. How many people besides yourself were either an offi-
cial or an employee of the party here ?
Mr. Cook. Paid employees '?
Mr. Arexs. First of all, how many paid employees.
Mr. Cook. As far as I know, I was the only one.
Mr. Arens. How mam^ officials of the party were here ?
Mr. Cook. I think it was just about the normal type of organization
with a chairman and vice chairman and secretary and a number of
members of the board. As I say, I just don't recall.
Mr. Arens. Did you have precinct workers ?
Mr. Mills. May I inquire are you talking about the national or-
ganization or the State and local organization 'i
Mr. Arens. I am talking about the organization by which he was
employed. Were there workers with credentials ?
Mr. Cook. Mine was primarily the State organization. Most of the
precinct work and that type of thing was under a separate city
organization.
JNIr. Arens. Tell ns now what you did after you completed this
assignment with the Progressive Party.
JNIr. Cook. I went to work in a broom factory.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr, Cook. Because of my machinist experience I helped to set up
quite a bit of machinery. They were converting from a sort of hand
operation to mechanized operation, and I helped to set up the
machinery. I worked in that capacity for a while, and then later
became supervisor in charge of the plant.
Mr. Arens. How long were you with the broom factory ?
Mr. Cook. Up until the time I went with the International Union
of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers.
Mr. Arens. You began there when, again, please, sir? In 1951?
Mr. Cook. 1951.
Mr. Arens. '\A'1io procured your job with mine-mill for you?
Mr. Cook. Well, as I say. I had known many of these people, and
the previous 3'ear I believe they had a convention here and I had met
some of them and learned that later either by convention action or
whatever authorized it, thej had agreed to move back to Denver.
Since I was not in too good health, and this job was pretty rough,
and also the possibility that I might make more money, I applied to
the office manager, I believe it was.
Mr. Arens. Were some of these people whom you knew in mine-mill
also active in the Progressive Party ?
Mr. Cook. They weren't here at that time. They were in Chicago.
Mr. Arens. Have you been active in the Colorado Legislative
Council?
Mr. Cook. Wliat ? I don't recall the name.
Mr. Arens. Have you also been known by the name of Rudy Cook?
Do people call vou Rudy ?
Mr. Cook. That is right.
Mr. Arens. For the purpose of refreshing your recollection I lay
before you a document which I shall mark, for identification only,
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4235
"Cook Exhibit No. 1." It is a photostatic copy of a newspaper item
respecting the formation of an organization known as the Colorado
Legislative Council. In the course of this article appears the fol-
lowing :
Heading the organization is Leslie Morlan, of the Leadville, Colo., mine group ;
Charles McKenna, international representative lor the Colorado Mine, Mill, and
Smelter Workers Union ; Rudy Cook, former Vi^allace party official, and several
others.
Would you glance at that article, please, Mr. Cook, and see if it
refreshes your recollection as to any participation you may have had
in the organization alluded to in the article ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Does that refresh your recollection, Mr. Cook?
Mr. Mills. Give us just a second, please.
Mr. CooK. In view of the content of this article, I must decline to
answer on the basis of my privilege under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. What is there about the article that causes you to have
this apprehension?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question, sir, under my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
]\Ir. Arens. Were you a member of the Colorado Legislative
Council ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer that, sir, under the privilege.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly fear if you told this committee whether
or not you were a member of the Colorado Legislative Council you
w^ould be supplying information which might be used against you in
a criminal proceeding?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer that question under the privilege.
Mr. Arens. I suggest, Mr. Chairman, the witness be ordered and
directed to answer that question.
The Chairman. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Cook. I decline respectfully, sir, under the provisions of the
fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Cook, look over here to your left. Will you please
stand up, Mr. Duran? Look this man in the face, please, sir, and
tell us whether you have ever seen him before.
Mr. Cook. I have seen his picture.
Mr. Arens. Where did you see his his picture ?
Mr. Cook. Under the heading of Government stool pigeon in the
paper.
The Chairman. You never saw that in the paper at all.
Mr. Cook. That is my interpretation.
The Chairman. You would be very proud if somebody would put
that title on your name if you had done what this man has done.
;Mr. Arens. Perhaps you saw his picture in the mine-mill paper?
Is that where you mean ?
Mr. Cook. I saw it in the paper yesterday.
Mr. Arens. What paper was it ?
Mr. Cook. The Post, Denver Post.
Mr. Arens. Did you see "stool pigeon" under his name ?
Mr. Cook. Maybe I
The Chairman. Did you see "stool pigeon" ?
Mr. Cook. No.
The Chairman. You know you are under oath, don't you ?
4236 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Cook. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Wlien you said you saw his name with "stool
pigeon" under it, you knew you were lying, didn't you ?
Mr. Cook. I think maybe the word was "informer."
The Chairman. All right.
Mr. Cook. I may have used the wrong name.
Mr. Arens. Is that the only place you have seen this gentleman's
picture ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question under my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you regard him as a stool pigeon ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question on the same basis.
Mr. Arens. This man served his country for several years as an
undercover agent in the Communist conspiracy, which is designed to
overthrow this Government by force and violence, designed to create
political subversion in this Nation, designed to poison the minds of
the people with a treacherous philosophy of life. In the course of
that service he testified under oath before this committee that he
knew you as a member of that treacherous conspiracy and as a mem-
ber of the Communist Party. Look this man in the face now in front
of these people before this committee and tell us whether or not he
was lying or telling the truth.
Mr. Cook. I would say that the matter of his lying is strictly be-
tween him and the good Lord.
Mr. Arens. Is that your answer to my question ?
Mr. Cook. As far as the question, I will answer it by declining to
answer it on the basis of my privilege.
Mr. Arens. Was he lying when he said under oath before Almighty
God that he knew you as a member of the Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question under my privilege
under the fifth amendment to the United States Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Are you presently a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer that question under the same privi-
lege.
Mr. Arens. Are you presently a member and operator of this treach-
erous conspiracy ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question under my privilege
under the United States Constitution, the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend if you gave a truthful
answer as to whether or not you have ever seen this man before, Mr.
Duran, you would be supplying information which might be used
against you in a criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Cook. Could you put that in workingman's language?
Mr. Arens. Let's just start over again. Have you ever seen this
man, Mr. Duran, before ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question under my privilege
under the fifth amendment to the United States Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Why ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question.
Mr. Arens. Do you feel if you told this committee now, under oath,
whether or not you have ever seen Mr. Duran before in person, that
you would be supplying information which might be used against
you in a criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Cook. I decline to answer the question.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4237
Mr. Arens. I suggest, Mr. Chairman, the witness be ordered and
directed to answer that question.
The Chairi^ian. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Cook. I respectfully decline, sir, as is my privilege under the
fifth amendment to the United States Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that concludes
the staff interrogation of this witness.
The Chairman. Any questions?
Mr. Velde. No questions.
The Chairman. You are excused from further attendance under
the subpena.
The committee will stand in recess until 2 o'clock.
(Whereupon, at 12 o'clock noon, the committee was recessed until
2 p. m. the same day.)
AFTERNOON SESSION— THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1956
(Members of the committee present : Representative Walter.)
The Chairman. The committee will be in order.
Call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Harold Page Martin.
Please remain standing while the chairman administers an oath to
you, ]Mr. Martin,
The Chairman. Do you swear the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?
Mr. Martin. I do.
TESTIMONY OF HAROLD PAGE MARTIN
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence and occupa-
tion.
Mr. Martin. My name is Harold Page Martin. I live in Pueblo,
Colo. I am employed by the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corp.
Mr, Arens. Where were you born, Mr. Martin ?
Mr. Martin. I was born in Boulder, Colo.
Mr. Arens. When?
Mr. JM4RTIN. July 20, 1923.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to subpena which
was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Give us, if you please, a brief sketch of your early life
up until the time j-ou became self-sufficient, a word about your educa-
tion, please, first,
Mr. INIartin, I attended grade school, junior high, and high school
in Boulder, Colo. I attended 2 years at the University of Colorado.
I spent 3 years in the armed services in the Army. Following that I
attended -i more years under the GI bill of rights at the University of
Colorado. Upon receiving my master's degree in 1949 I went into
education.
Mr. Arens. Then what did you do after you received your master's
degree in 1949 ?
Mr. Martin. I taught school for 5 years, high school in different
parts of the country.
4238 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mv. Arens. All ri2:ht, sir, for how long did you do that?
Mr. Martin. For 5 years.
Mr. Arens. Then what did you do ?
Mr. Martin. My last teaching job was in Pueblo County High
School, Pueblo, Colo. Upon leaving there I took my present employ-
ment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Martin, have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Martin. Yes; I have.
Mr. Arens. Will you tell us first of all when you joined the Com-
munist Party, just the date?
Mr. Martin. I joined the Young Communist League in June of
1942.
Mr. Arens. Then when did your association with the Communist
Party end ?
Mr. Martin. In the late winter of 1949.
Mr. Arens. Tell us, if you please, the circumstances surrounding
your joining of the Young Communist League in 1942. Where was
that and how did you happen to join it ?
Mr. Martin. In my last year of high school, Boulder High School,
I became interested in the general subject of socialism, and read a
number of books on the subject. At the same time I became acquainted
with several other people, several of them high school students, and
others students at the university, who were interested in the same sub-
ject, and who I became aware at a later date were already members of
the Young Communist League.
Through association with these individuals over a period of about a
year and in discussions with them I finally determined to join the
Young Communist League myself. I was invited to do so, as I said, in
June of 1942.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us the branch of the Young Communist
League with which you were identified?
Mr. Martin. That was a branch at the University of Colorado, 1
believe it was named the Allen Merrick Branch.
Mr. Arens. Did you hold any post in that organization?
Mr. Martin. No ; I did not. At one time I signed a letter to the
Silver and Gold, the student newspaper, signing my name as chairman
of the branch of the Young Communist League. However, this was
done because the actual chairman at that time was an individual who
the group felt should not reveal himself. I was not actually chairman
at that time.
Mr. Arens. AVill you give us the names of other persons who were
known by you to have been members of the Young Communist League?
Mr. INIartin. At the time I was a member of the Young Communist
League I recall some of the most active members to have been Richard
Aspinwall, Glen Fisher, Kurt Benster.
Mr, Arens. B-e-n-s-t-e-r?
Mr. ML^rtin. Yes.
Mr. Arens. And Kurt is K-u-r-t ?
Mr. Martin. Yes. And Kenneth Mundt.
Mr. Arens. M-u-n-d-t?
Mr. Martin. Yes. Fay Berman, Jean Harbeit.
Mr. Arens. Jean what ?
Mr. JMartin. Harbert, H-a-r-b-e-r-t.
coMLiinsriST activities in the rocky mountain area 4239
Mr. Arexs. Is that a man or a woman ?
Mr. JVIartix. That is a woman. Gene Gartinkel.
Mr. Arens. Eugene Garfinkel?
Mr. Martin. Eugene, yes.
Mr. Arens. Were these the principal people in the Young Commu-
nist League when you were a member ?
Mr. ]\Iartin. Those are all that I can recall at present who were
members then.
Mr. Arens. Were there also branches of the Young Communist
League at other schools in this area to your knowledge ?
Mr. Martin. During the time that I was in the league I was not
aware of other branches in the area, no.
Mr. Arens. Or was there a cutout system or security system which
precluded you from knowing about other schools?
Mr. Martin. No, not particularly.
Mr. Arens. That was back in 1942?
Mr. Martin. Yes. I think it's likely that there were not branches at
other schools at that particular time.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us what the Young Communist League did
when you were a member, some of its activities ?
Mr. Martin. Its activities were mainly in the form of education
and discussion. That was during the war, of course. As I recall, the
main activity of a political nature was in working publicly on the
campus for the idea of aid to the Soviet Union and friendship with
Russia, aid to Russia campaign, opening the second front, that type
of activity.
Mr. Arens. How long were you in the Young Communist League?
Mr. JNIartin. From June of 1942 until March of 1943, when I went
into the Army.
Mr. Arens. How long were you in the xlrmy ?
Mr. Martin. 3 years.
Mr. Arens. Then upon your return from the Army what did you
do from the standpoint of Communist Party activities?
Mr. Martin. Shortly, a few months after returning from the Army,
I joined the local branch of the Communist Party. During that time
the Young Communist League had been dissolved. It was no longer
in existence.
Mr. Arens. What local branch did you join?
Mr. Martin. I was first assigned to a group known as the Town
Branch.
Mr. Arens. Where ?
Mr. Martin. In the Boulder community, near and around the Uni-
versity of Colorado.
Mr. Arens. Can you give us the names of the principal people who
were active in the Town Branch of the Communist Party at Boulder,
Colo.?
Mr. Martin. As I recall, the branch was small at that time. The
members who I recall are Mrs. Florence Dittmer
Mr. Arens. D-i-t-t-m-e-r?
Mr. Martin. Yes. Sally Folawn.
Mr. Arens. F-o-l-a-w-n?
Mr. Martin. Yes. James Boratgis.
Mr. Arens. Spell "Boratgis."
Mr. Martin. B-o-r-a-t-g-i-s. JoeScherrer.
4240 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. Spell "Sclicrrer."
Mr. Martin, te-c-h-e-r-r-e-r, I believe.
( Representative Velde entered the hearing room. )
Mr. Arens. Was there a Marjorie Zeiger also connected with that
branch ?
Mr. Martin. Yes ; Marjorie Zeiger I believe the name was.
Mr. Arens. Z-e-i-g-e-r %
Mr. Martin. I believe it is Z-e-i-g-e-r.
Mr. Arens. What were your assignments? What did you do in
the town branch of the Communist Party of Boulder, Colo. ?
Mr. Martin. I was only in the Town Branch a very short time. The
main activity of the Town Branch at that time, as it was with most of
the other branches, was the sponsorship and spreading of a publica-
tion, a newspaper, known as Challenge. Members of the group took
the newspaper Challenge and went around the community of Boulder
door to door, especially in the student sections, and also to outlying
communities such as Louisville, Lafayette, Coal Camp, and even up
around the northern part of the State, Greeley. That is the only
major activity that I recall during the time that I was in that branch.
Mr. Arens. Did you have knowledge of the existence of other
branches of the Communist Party in Boulder A\hile you were a member
of the Town Branch ?
Mr. Martin. Yes ; I d i d .
Mr. Arens. What other brandies were in existence to your
knowledge ?
Mr. Martin. There were three branches in Boulder at that time.
The Town Branch, the Student Branch, and a group known as the
Graduate Branch.
Mr. Arens. Do you know who were in the other two branches ?
Mr. Martin. I did not at that time. I became aware of it at a later
date.
Mr. Arens. Were you at any time a member of either the Student
or the Graduate Branch?
Mr. AL^RTiN. I was never a member of the Graduate Branch. Very
shortly after joining the party I was transferred to the Student Branch
and I was a member of that branch from that time until leaving the
party in 1949.
Mr. Arens. Who else was in the Student Branch of the Communist
Party besides yourself?
Mr. Martin. The membershii) of the Student Branch was constantly
changing as new students appeared and others left school. There
was a constant liux. Among those who were most active during that
period were Jerry and Judy Goodman, Leonard Perlmutter, Gene
Deikman, Joseph Scherrer.
Mr. Arens. Is that Eugene Deikman ?
Mr. Martin. Yes. Stan Smith, David Bramhall, Shirley Bramhall.
Mr. Arens. Plusband and wife?
Mr. Martin. Yes. Eileen Sasajima.
Mr. Arens. Spell that, please.
Mr. Martin. S-a-s-a-j-i-m-a, I believe.
Kenneth Kripke.
Mr. Arens. How do you spell "Kripke" ?
Mr. Martin. K-r-i-p-k-e, I think.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4241
Mr. Arens. These are people known by you to have been members
of the Communist Party in this brancli ?
Mr. Martin. Yes, in tlie Student Branch over a period of time.
There are a good many others. The Student Jiranch averaged in
membership between I would say uO and 50 during months of that
period, with the group continually changing.
Mr. Akexs. That is the Student Branch just within one section of
the Boulder area ; is that correct ?
Mr. Martin. Yes, the Student Branch.
Mr. Arens. At Boulder.
Mr. Martin. Yes. I am afraid it would take me a considerable
amount of time to recall all of them.
Mr. Arens. Have you covered the principal people in the Student
Branch?
Mr. IMartin. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Did you have occasion during the course of your mem-
bership in the Communist Party to ascertain the personnel of the State
board of the party ?
Mr. ]\Iartin. Yes, I did. I was elected to the State board.
Mr. Arens. "Wlien?
Mr. Martin. At the convention of the Communist Party in 1948,
in the summer of 1948, held in Denver.
Mr. Arens. AAHio were the other members of the State board of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Martin. The other members were Arthur Bary, the chairman,
Patricia Blau, Harold Zepelin, Tracy Rogers, Charles Gwynn.
Mr. Arens. Would you spell that last name for us so we are sure
we have that accurately ?
Mr. Martin. G-w-y-n-n, I think.
Mr. Arens. His first name?
Mr. Martin. Charles.
Mr. Arens. Was Eobert Trujillo on that board too?
Mr. ]S£4rtin. He was a member of the State board previously. I
don't believe he was following these elections. There was one other
member from Denver whose name I am trying to recall. I can't think
of his name.
INIr. Arens. Did you ever hold a post on a Youth Commission of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Martin. Yes, I did.
Mr. Arens. First of all, tell us what the Youth Commission of the
Communist Party was and what it did.
Mr. Martin. The Youth Commission was a commission authorized
by the State board, made up of representatives of the party who were
primarily engaged in youth work, either youth groups in the commu-
nity or in college groups, which would meet and following under the
direction of the State board would carry out the policy of the board in
laying definite plans in designing projects for the youth groups to
carry through.
Mr. Arens. Who else was on the Youth Commission when you were
on it?
Mr. JVIartin. Harold Zepelin was chairman of the Youth Com-
mission. Other members were Jerry Goodman and myself, and
Arnold Berkens of the University of Denver, a girl whose name 1
can't recall, Larry Small representing youth work for the party in the
Denver community.
4242 communtist activities in the rocky mountain area
Others attended from time to time, but I believe that was the regu-
lar membership.
Mr. Akens. Do you have a recollection of a State convention of the
Communist Party held in 1947 in Denver at the home of Edward
Bronstein ?
Mr. Martix. Yes, I have. I was thinking it was in 1948, the sum-
mer of 1948.
Mr. Arens. Wliether it was in the summer ?
Mr. Martin. Yes ; I recall the State convention.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us who were the principal participants in
the State convention of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Martin. The convention was chaired by Arthur Bary as the
district organizer of the party. The national committee of the Com-
munist Party was represented by Sid Stein, who gave what might be
termed the keynote address. There was a large attendance at the
convention. Almost all those delegates were active in party leader-
ship.
Mr. Arens. What was the line of the Communist Party announced
at that State convention from the standpoint of concentrating mem-
bers in basic industry ?
Mr. Martin. The party at that time was developing the line of
what was known as the concentration policy; that is, concentrating
party members in areas in certain basic industries.
Mr. Arens. "VVliy?
Mr. Martin. There was a feeling that by concentrating the party
forces and party members and party energies in a certain few large
industries where the larger number of workers would be present, that
party propaganda would be more successful and the recruiting and
general building of the party would be carried on more effectively.
Mr. Arens. "VVliat did the party do from the standpoint of causing
the students to find themselves in basic industries or to locate them-
selves in basic industry?
Mr. Martin. The party leadership locally felt at that time following
out the line of concentrating party members in industry that all
students who could be persuaded to do so and who were considered
sufficiently politically developed and able to do so, should leave school
and go into industry of some kind or other.
Mr. Arens. Were they required to do so ?
Mr. Martin. They were not exactly required, but those students who
the party felt had the capability and had sufficient training and
indoctrination really to be effective as party organizers in industry
were very strongly urged to do so, so strongly that it was practically
a requirement.
Mr. Arens. What were some of the activities of the young Com-
munists under the direction of the Youth Commission of the Com-
munist Party ? T^^iat did they do ?
Mr, Martin. The main goal, of course, of the youth groups within
the Communist Party, as of the whole party, was building the party
itself. In order to do this it was necessary to come into contact with
as many young people as possible. In order to carry out this plan
it was necessary to find young people in large groups, either in organi-
zations which were already existing in which young people were
active or else by starting organizations which would draw the interest
of young people.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4243
Mr. Arens. "WHiat did the party do from the standpoint of trying
to capture or in capturing existing organizations?
Mr. Martin. The party branch, as for example the Student Branch,
would discuss various organizations and if it was decided to enter
an organization certain party members would be assigned permanently
to that organization. They would attend the meetings of the organi-
zation legally. The party branch would meet and decide ahead of
time what part they were to take in that organization, what role
they were to play, and at each branch meeting the party members
assigned to the organization would report on recent meetings, the
success of their activities, particularly as to other young people they
had come in contact with, possible recruits they had met, and the
general success of their activity.
Mr. Arens. Did you know members of the graduate group in this
cell that you were telling us about a little while ago?
Mr. Martin. Yes; I did. As chairman of the party at Boulder I
became aware of the entire membership.
Mr. Arens. Tell us the principal members of the Graduate Branch.
Mr. IMartin. The graduate group was always a small one. Prin-
cipally their members were Dr. Irving Goodman and his wife.
Mr. Arens. Identify him further, please, sir.
;Mr. ]\L\RTiN. He was a professor in the chemistry department of
the university.
Mr. Arens. Do you know where he is now ?
jNIr. Martin. I am not sure.
Mr. Arens. Do you have another name ?
Mr. Martin. Morris Judcl and his wife.
Mr. Arens. Identify him, please.
Mr. Martin. He was an instructor in the department of philosophy.
Mr. Arens. Do you know where he is now ?
Mr. Martin. No ; I do not.
Mr. Arens. Was he a Communist ?
Mr. Martin. Yes ; he was.
jNIr. Arens. "Who was the gentleman whose name you gave just prior
to Dr. Judd ? Was he a Communist ?
Mr. ]Martin. Yes ; he was.
Mr. Velde. May I ask how you know that he was a Communist ?
]Mr. Martin. At the time of which I speak I held the position of
chairman of the Boulder Section Committee ; in other words, chairman
of the entire party in Boulder, at which time the collection of dues,
keeping track of the entire membership of all the branches in the area,
was my responsibility. While it is true that the membership of one
branch was carefully guarded from another during this time for
security reasons, I was one of the few people who would be aware at
this time of the entire membership.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us some names of other principal people
who were members of the Graduate Branch of the Communist Party?
Mr. Martin. I believe Jack Fox and his wife, Ruth, were members
of the graduate group at that time.
Mr. Arens. Could you identify them further for us?
Mr. Martin. Jack Fox was an assistant in the chemistry department.
i\Ir, Arens. Do you know where he is now ?
Mr. jNLa.rtin. No ; I do not.
4244 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. Was he to your certain knowledge a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Martin. Yes ; he was.
Mr. Arens. Are there any others whose names you can recount to us ?
Mr. Martin. Kenneth Mundt and his wife.
Mr. Arens. Identify him further for us, please, sir.
Mr. JVIartin. His wife held a position in the library at the university.
Mr. Arens. Is she there now ?
Mr. Martin. I don't know. Kenneth Mundt was not directly
connected with the university faculty.
Mr. Arens, All right, sir, are there any others whose names occur
to you ?
Mr. Martin. Those are all that I recall in that branch.
Mr. Arens. What organizations did the party create as distinct
from the organizations that they moved into to try to capture or con-
trol or direct ; among youth I am speaking of, of course ?
Mr. Martin. The party created the organization known as AYD
or American Youth for Democracy.
Mr. Arens. Where was that created so far as you know?
Mr. Martin. As far as I know it was a decision of the national
committee.
Mr. Arens. I mean, was there a cliapter at the University of
Colorado?
Mr. Martin. Yes; there was. It was decided upon by the State
board and carried out by the Youth Commission that AYD chapters
should be established at Boulder and at Denver University if possible,
and also in the Denver community.
Mr. Arens. And was tliat done?
Mr. Martin. Yes ; it was.
Mr. Arens. What was the membei-ship of the AYD at the Uni-
versity of Colorado ?
Mr. Martin. Oh, I would guess at one time maybe about 75.
Mr. Arens. Not all 75 were members of the Communist Party, were
they?
Mr. Martin. No ; certainly not.
Mr. Arens. How many of the 75 would you say were members of
the party ?
Mr. Martin. I would say varying between perhaps 25 and 30.
Mr. Arens. Were there AYD chapters elsewhere in the State to
your knowledge besides the University of Colorado ?
Mr. Martin. There was one in the community of Denver and there
was an attempt to establish one at Denver University. It was never
officially sanctioned, but I believe it did meet off the campus as a sort
of unofficial group.
JNIr. Arens. What was the total membership of AYD in the State
to your knowledge?
Mr. Martin. I am afraid I couldn't give an estimate.
Mr. Arens. Are there any other organizations that the Communist
Party created for youth, youth groups?
Mr. Martin. The pai'ty played a very major role in the creation of
the Young Progressives, the youth or younger generation of the Pro-
gressive Party. I wouldn't say the party created the group, but it
was one of the major factors.
Mr. Arens. Did the Communist Party control the group ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4245
Mr. Martin. Locally, yes; it did.
Mr. Arexs. How many Avere in the group ?
Mr. ]\L\RTiN. The group started originally at the university
at Boulder as the Students for Wallace Club, and that group was
started locally by the Communist Party. Later it affiliated with the
Progressive Party and became the Young Progressives. At the high
point of the party campaign in the sununer of 1948 and early fall,
it may have had a couple of hundred membership.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Martin, you were ideologically identified with the
party, were you not ?
Mr. ]NL\RTix. Yes ; I was.
Mr. Arexs. You were a true Communist, were you not, that is, a
conscientious member of the Jjarty, were you not :?
Mr. Martix. That is true.
Mr. Arens. You eventually broke with the party, did you not ?
Mr. JSL^RTiN. Yes ; I did.
Mr. Arexs. Tell us first of all what makes a Communist? Why did
you join the Communist Party?
Mr. Martix. That is a difficult question. People join the party
for many reasons. One certainly was a kind of intellectual curiosity
and a genuine desire to do something about the many things that
are troubling us in the world today. Partly it was a social contact.
The way I was recruited into the party was the way almost everyone
else was recruited, following a regular policy of every party member
getting to know other people personally, working with them, talking
with them, discussing things with them, convincing them through per-
sonal contact.
Mr. Arexs. Is communism a disease of the heart or of the head in
your judgment?
Mr. Martin. I believe it is a disease of the head.
Mr. Arexs. Why?
]Mr. ]\L\RTiN. I think that the heart is in the right place, there
is a desire to do something about the ills of the world. It is a mistaken
path, a kind of intellectual egotism, I believe. The idea that a small
group can hold the key to the answer to the whole thing within a small
formula.
Mr. Arexs. It is based on a materialistic philosophy of life?
Mr. ]Martix\ Yes ; it is.
Mr. Arexs. To what extent does the Communist Party use as a
facade for its operations the great humanitarian issues such as peace,
bi-otherliood. and that sort of thing ?
Mr. Martix. The Communist Party uses every issue imaginable,
large, or small, that tliey feel will appeal to people at a particular time,
that will draw people forward. The party always desires to have
people in groups, the larger the groups the better, because in these
groups they can reach tliem, influence them, work with them, recruit
them, or at least mold them to their own ends.
Mr. Arexs. What caused you to break with the Communist Party?
Mr. Martix. More than anything else the concept the party calls
and refers to as democratic centralism. The concept of strict, abso-
lute authoritarianism. It is something that the beginning recruit in
the party does not see very clearly. It does not manifest itself so
clearly within the branches throughout tJie membership of the party
as a whole.
4246 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
As one climbs higher in the party into higher and higher levels of
activity it becomes more and more pronomiced until it becomes clear
that as you get up to the highest levels, the dedicated Communist,
the genuine bolshevik, regards himself and is regarded by the party
simply as an instrument for carrying out party decisions and party
activities, with any other considerations, personal or otherwise, en-
tirely subjected.
Mr. Akens. The party as you said masquerades behind a facade of
great humanitarian principles and ideologies. To what extent does
the party itself practice the respect for human personality of the in-
dividual comrade?
Mr. Martin. I would say very little within its own organization.
Mr. Arens. Did the Communist Party have any effect on your par-
ticular personal life ? Do you have any illustrations from your own
experiences in the party ?
Mr. Martin. Yes ; I have. At the time I left the party at a time
when they were carrying out this concentration policy to the fullest
possible extent, students with a great deal of talent and ability and
intellect were being taken from school and sent into industries or sent
out as truck drivers or mill workers or workers in the mines. I saw
families broken up, homes uprooted, party members sent here and
there, to different parts of the country on a moment's notice.
In my ow^n personal case I would say the deciding factor was a per-
sonal situation. My wife developed a very serious illness. At that
time I had a great deal of party responsibility. I was a member of
the State board, chairman of the Boulder Section Committee. I re-
quested from the State board that I be relieved of a great many of
my duties in order to meet the situation, that is, my wife's illness. It
was suggested to me in no uncertain terms that a real party member
cannot allow such personal considerations to interfere with his party
work and party assignments.
In a situation of that kind it would be much better to leave the
personal situation, get out of it, in other words, get a divorce, leave any
considerations of wife or children or family or other personal con-
siderations, in order to continue to carry out my party functions.
This to me brought home more clearly than anything else, I think,
the example of other things I could see going on throughout the party
on a higher level all the time, namely, that the higher level party func-
tionary is in reality and is expected by the party to be simply a tool,
an instrument of party policy, party decisions. He may be told to
travel here, to travel there, to live in this place, to work in that place.
He has no personal life whatsoever. I could not see continuing in an
organization of that kind, much less seeing an organization of that
kind controlling the country.
Mr. Arens. On the basis of your experience, does the Communist
Party of the United States seek to overthrow the Government of this
country by force and violence?
Mr. Martin. I believe very sincerely that it does ; yes.
Mr. Arens. Is the Communist Party of the United States allied
with the international Communist conspiratorial apparatus?
Mr. Martin. Yes; it is.
Mr. Arens. Wliat is the relationship ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN" THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4247
Mr. Martin. There is no direct tieup, official tieup at the present
time between the American Communist Party and those of other
countries.
Mr. Arens. You mean technically?
Mr. Martin. Technically, yes. However, it is taught from the
very beginning in Communist education that Communists have a bond
throughout the world, particularly an allegiance to the Soviet Union
as the founder of communism. One of the primary requirements of a
Communist is to be prepared to defend the Soviet Union at all times.
This was taught in the Student Branch. We were prepared at all meet-
ings or lectures or classrooms and were expected to stand up and de-
fend the Soviet Union at any time it was attacked.
]Mr. Arens. What does communism do to the human soul, the hu-
man personality?
Mr. M\RTiN. I would say that it more or less imprisons it in a little
box, so that any one w^ho falls into that type of thinking is imprisoned
intellectually. He is almost unable to see outside or to see any normal
or objective viewpoint.
Mr. Arens. Are there any other observations you would like to
make, for this committee, Mr. Martin? Any items of information
that you feel are important to be brought to the attention of the House
Committee on Un-American Activities and by it to the American
people, on the basis of your rather limited and yet somewhat extensive
experience in the Communist Party ?
Mr. Martin. I can think of nothing in particular. I would like
just to point out the extreme danger which has always existed and
exists even at the present time, the danger of a very small group of
people so thoroughly integrated and working together so completely
and in complete secrecy within what in other respects may be a com-
pletely good, wholesome American organization.
Mr. Arens. We have in this country the equivalent of an excess
of a whole division of foreign controlled conspirators, do we not ?
Mr. Martin. Yes. I have seen examples over and over again of
organizations taken over, controlled completely by a very small num-
ber of people, with such a situation remaining completely unknown
to the average membership. I feel that is a very dangerous situation
to exist.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I suggest that concludes the staff inter-
rogation of this witness.
The Chairman. Any questions?
Mr. Velde. I have nothing in particular to ask, except that since I
have been here and listened to your testimony, it is evident that you
are a very capable and intelligent witness, and I think you have the
situation well in hand. I was going to elaborate a little on the question
which our very good counsel asked you about, the danger in numbers
of the Communist Party, as to the danger of their strength other than
numbers.
Could you elaborate a little more on that ? I don't Imow whether you
understand what I mean or not. Mr. Hoover of the FBI reported
that there were less than, I believe. 22,000 Communists in the country
today, whereas a few years ago we had more than 100,000 Communists.
Do you think that the reduction in quantity in this country is a good
omen as far as our progress in fighting Communists is concerned, or
79079 — 56 — pt. 2 4
4248 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
do you feel that the increase in the quality of the Communists is a bad
omen ?
Mr. Martin. I feel it is a good omen, but I think that the strength
of the party has never lain in its numbers and in quantity, but in two
things — in the fact that it works absolutely as a unit under absolute
discipline, and that it works in absolute secrecy.
Three people within an organization who know exactly what they
are going to do and who is going to do it, and who are unknown to
everyone else, can control that organization.
I feel that is where the danger lies, and not so much in the numbers.
Mr. Velde. Did you get any idea while you were in the Communist
Party that the party line was being distributed to the United States
Communist Party through the New York Daily Worker or the Daily
People's World?'
Mr. Martin. Both these newspapers were regarded as official organs
of the Communist Party.
Mr. Velde. Of course, you were taught to abide by and believe in
anything that those newspapers' put out, I suppose.
Mr. Martin. Yes; that is true. Every member was expected to
read the Worker and to buy it if possible, and to sell it to everyone he
could, if possible.
Mr. Velde. Do you have any other information as to how party line
was distributed to American Communists from Soviet Russia?
Mr. Martin. No; I have no direct information on that point.
Mr. Velde. I personally want to thank you for your very fine tes-
timony. I appreciate the fact that you have done the American people
a great service, and we are very proud of your testimony here.
The Chairman. I. too, want to congratulate you. It always has
been a very distressing thing to me ever since I have found myself in
this position, to see how few Americans liave the courage to do what
you have done. It is not an easy thing to do. It is lots easier to
invoke the fifth amendment. But you have made a great contribution
to the preservation of the very document that most of the witnesses
who have appeared here have taken refuge behind.
I think the American people as a whole recognize that and feel a debt
of gratitude to you. You are discharged from further attendance
under the subpena.
Call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Harold Meier, M-e-i-e-r.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please. Do you
swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Meier. I do.
TESTIMONY OF HAROLD MEIER, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
CHARLES D. MONTEORT
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Meier. My name is Harold Meier. I live in Boulder, Colo. I
am presently occupied on a part-time basis at the University of
Colorado.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity?
COMIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4249
Mr. Meier. I work at the group process laboratory in the psychol-
ogy department.
Mr. xVrens. Are you an employee of the University of Colorado?
Mr. Meier. That is right.
Mr. Arexs. Are you appearing today, Mr. Meier, in response to a
subpena which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-
American Activities?
Mr. Meier. That is right.
Mr. Akens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mv. Meier. I am.
Mr. Arexs. Will counsel kindly identify himself ?
Mr. MoxTFORT. Charles D. Montfort, attorney at law, 611 E. & C.
Building, Denver, Colo,
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Meier, where were you born and when ?
Mr. Meier. I was born in De Kalb County, 111., July 28, 1926.
Mr. Arexs. A word, please, sir, about your education.
Mr. Meier. I attended several grammar schools in De Kalb County,
111., also 3 years of high school in 2 high schools in that same county.
I quit high school after the third year and on the day after I became
17 years of age I enlisted in the United States Navy, in 1943.
I served 4 years, including combat duty in the Pacific in the United
States Navy. I was discharged July 20, 1947.
Mr. Arexs. All right, continue from there, if you please, sir, in the
chronology of your life. What did you do then?
Mr. Meier. After being honorably discharged from the Navy I
took advantage of the GI bill of rights and I enrolled in the Northern
Illinois State Teachers College in De Kalb County, and I attended
that college for I think 2 years, after which time I transferred to the
University of Colorado where I completed my undergraduate educa-
tion and received a bachelor of arts degree in August of 1951.
I then entered graduate school at that same university. Through
the remainder of 1951, 1952 — incidentally, I was not a professor any-
where during those years — 1953 and 1954 and up to June 1955 when I
received my master of arts degree.
The CiiAiRMAx. What is the size of the student body at the Uni-
versity of Colorado ?
Mr. Meier. Olihand I would guess around between seven and eight
thousand.
Mr. Arexs. You received your master's degree in 1955 ?
Mr. Meier. That is right.
Mr. Arexs. In what subjects?
Mr. Meier. In sociology.
Mr. Arexs. What month in 1955 did you receive your degree?
Mr. Meier. June.
Mr. Arexs. About a year ago ?
Mr. Meier. Yes, about a year ago.
Mr. Arex^s. "\^^iat have you done in the last year?
]Mr. Meier. My plans were uncertain after graduation as to whether
I could go on to graduate school or find permanent work or employ-
ment. I have been vacillating between those ever since, so I haven't
had any regular job since that time. I have had some casual employ-
ment. Do you want me to list the casual employments?
4250 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. I was under the impression that you said you were
teaching at the University of Colorado. Am I in error in inter-
preting your testimony ?
Mr. Meier. I said nothing about teaching.
Mr. Arens. What do you do at the University of Colorado?
Mr. Meier. I work in the group process laboratory in the Psychol-
ogy Department. What I do there is to assist in conducting social
psychological experiments and tabulate data and various kinds of
clerical work around the laboratory office.
Mr. Arens. You receive pay for that from the university?
Mr. Meier. I work on an hourly basis. I receive pay.
Mr. Arens. Who is your immediate superior?
Mr. Meier. My immediate superior is Prof. Jack Gibb.
Mr. Arens. How do j^ou spell that, please?
Mr. Meier. G-i-b-b.
Mr. Arens. Is he the person who actually engaged you?
Mr. Meier, Not exactly, because I was hired while he was on a
trip, so I was actually hired by his secretary, a Mrs. Helen Alexander.
Mr. Arens. Could you tell us just a word, not a scientific exposi-
tion, but a w^ord about these experiments which you are conducting.
Mr. Meier. They have to do with experiments on group percep-
tion. You get people together in small groups and test their percep-
tion of various kinds of situations, test their reactions to various kinds
of stimuli.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Meier. I decline to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Why?
Mr. Meier. I have several reasons why, and I wish to state them.
In the first place, the law under which this committee's activities are
authorized is in clear violation of the first amendment.
Mr. Arens. What amendment is that?
Mr. Meier. The amendment that says that Congress shall make no
law abridging freedom of speech.
Mr. Arens. Do you feel that by this committee's interrogating citi-
zens with respect to knowledge they may have of a conspiracy in this
country it is violating the first amendment to the Constitution?
Mr. Meier. As I understand it, the law which authorized this com-
mittee authorized it to investigate propaganda, and propaganda is the
press and speech. Therefore, I regard it as in clear violation of the
first amendment.
The Chairman. You don't agree with the Supreme Court, then;
do you ?
Mr. Meier. I am not legally equipped to answer that.
The Chairman. That is obvious. Proceed,
Mr, Meier. The second reason
Mr. Arens. You are reading all this from some notes you made
there ?
Mr. Meier. I have some notes. I am not reading it.
Mr. Arens. You may place those notes before you, please. Who
prepared the notes from which you are now reciting?
Mr. Meier. I prepared them.
Mr. Arens. Proceed.
Mr. Meier. I am not reciting from these notes. These are re-
minders.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4251
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Proceed, if you please.
Mr. Meier Also, in view of the first amendment, I don't believe that
you have the right to ask questions concerning associations, assem-
blies, and political beliefs, and I decline to answer on those grounds.
The third ground on which I decline to answer is that this commit-
tee did not provide me with any advance information at all specifying
|:he purpose, subject, and scope of the hearing or inquiry for which
my testimony was commanded.
Mr. Akens. You had a pretty good idea what we were going to ask
you about ; did you not ; really ?
Mr. Meier. 1 was not informed, and therefore I don't believe you
have the right to inquire into my private affairs on that ground.
Another ground is that I have been attending these hearings the
last few days and it has come to my attention that I have been put
in the position of an accused person, and in view of that and in view of
the fact that the committee does not respect due process, which I regard
as elementary fair play, I decline to answer on those grounds.
The fifth ground is, consistent with the position of innocence, I can-
not be compelled to be a witness against myself.
The Chairman. You are not charged with anything. This is not
a trial. You are not under indictment. We are conducting an in-
quiry in accordance with instructions given to this committee by the
Congress of the United States.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of an organization designed to
destroy the Constitution of the United States ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. I decline to answer that on the grounds that I have
already given.
Mr. Arens. I understood you to say something about your innocence
a moment ago. Are you innocent of membership in a conspiratorial
apparatus?
(The w^itness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. You put words in my mouth, in the first place.
Mr. Arens. Just answer that question. Ai-e you innocent of mem-
bership in a conspiratorial apparatus ?
Mr. Meier. I decline to answer that question on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Duran, will you stand up, please.
Mr. Meier, so there can be no question in your case of the faintest
suspicion of faceless informers, as sometimes is alleged, would you
look at the face of the gentleman standing to my right there in the
blue suit, Mr. Bellarmino Duran, and tell us whether you know that
man?
(The wntness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. MoNTFORT. Mr. Chairman, may we at this time have the oppor-
tunity of cross-examining Mr. Duran ?
The Chairman. This is not a trial. This is a congressional in-
quiry. We are merely asking the witness the question if he ever has
seen this man before.
Mr. MoNTFORT. Yes, sir ; I appreciate that.
The Chairman. You advise your client. Go ahead, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Will you answer the question ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. I decline to answer on the grounds that I have already
given.
4252 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. This man standing here took oath before this committee
and laid himself open to any })ossible criminal action against him-
self if he lied, and told this conmiittee that he knew yon as a member
of the Communist Party. We are giving yon an opportunity to look
him in the eye and deny it. Was he lying or was he telling the truth
when he said he knew you as a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. I decline to answer that on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. When were you served with your subpena, do you
recall ?
Mr. Meier. I don't remember the exact date oflfhand.
Mr. Arens. It has been some few weeks ago ; has it not ?
Mr. Meier. Approximately three, I believe.
Mr. Arens. Since you have been served with this subpena did you
have any conversation with any of the officials of the school ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. Will 3'ou specify what kind of conversations you are
talking about ?
Mr. Arens. Conversations respecting your proposed appearance
here. I am sorry. I meant to be more specific.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. I did have a conversation with my employer at the
university. Professor Gibb.
Mr. Arens. What was the essence of that conversation ?
Mr. Meier. The essence of the conversation was that I informed
him of the subpena and I informed him that, although I had not yet
had advice of counsel, I probably would stand on my constitutional
rights and that if this should in any way embarrass him I would be
willing to disassociate myself voluntarily.
Mr. Arens. Will you tell me, did you tell him whether or not you
have been a member of the Communist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. That didn't come up in the conversation.
Mr. Arens. Do you propose to tell him whether or not you have been
a member of the Communist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Meier. Would you restate that question?
Mr. Arens. Do you propose to tell him whether or not you have
been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. ]\Ieier. I have no intentions on that question right now.
Mr. Arens. You recognize of course that when you are released
here from your subpena you are also released from your oath. If you
have any further conversation with the superintendent of your activ-
ities you will not then be under an oath.
We have no further questions of this witness, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. No questions.
The Chairman. There are no questions. The witness is discharged
from further attendance at this hearing.
We will stand in recess for 5 minutes.
(Brief recess.)
The Chairman. The committee will be in order.
Call 3'our next witness.
(Members of the committee present: Kepresentatives Walter and
Velde.)
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIfIS IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4253
Mr. Akens, Mr. Arnold Berkens, please.
Mr. Irvixg Blau. He is phoning his lawyer who hasn't yet arrived.
Mr. Arens. Then I suggest, Mr. Chairman, in view of that situa-
tion we take another witness and then we can come back to him.
The Chairman. All right.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Richard Aspinwall.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please. Do you
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. Aspinwall. I do.
Mr. Alperstein. Mr. Chairman, may I request that the photog-
rapher be instructed concerning the committee rules.
The Chairman. He knows the rules, and he will abide by them, I
am sure.
TESTIMONY OF RICHAED ASPINWALL, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
ARNOLD ALPERSTEIN
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself, sir, by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mr. Aspinwall. Richard Aspinwall, address 5837 "West 29th Ave-
nue, Denver 14. I am with Armour Co. as a laborer.
Mr. Arens. Are 3^011 appearing today in response to a subpena
^\ Inch was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr. AspiNw^ALL. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. AspiNw^ALL. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kindly identify himself ?
Mr. Alperstein. Arnold Alperstein, A-1-p-e-r-s-t-e-i-n, 7580 West
16th, Lakewood, Colo.
Mr. Arens. Where and when ^\•ere you born, Mr. Aspinwall?
Mr. Aspinwall. Vermillion, S. Dak., November 24, 1919.
]Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, sir, about your early life, your
education particularly.
Mr. Aspinwall. Educated principally in the public schools in
Boulder, Colo., approximately S years at the University of Colorado.
Mr. Ajiens. What years were you at the University of Colorado?
Mr. Aspinwall. From 1939 through 1943.
Mr. Arens. Did you graduate from the University of Colorado ?
Mr. AspiNW' ALL. No.
Mr. Arens. Did your period of education there terminate in 1943 ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Yes, that is correct.
Mr. Arens. Did you have any further education at any other in-
stitution ?
Mr. Aspinw^all. Not at a — I wouldn't consider it an educational
institution. I took some training from the maritime service during
the war.
Mr. Arens. When did that commence ?
Mr. Aspinavall. It commenced in November 1953.
Mr. Arens. Was that your first significant activity after you left
the university in 1943 ?
Mr. Aspinwall. I don't understand what you mean.
4254 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. Did you have any job or do anything of any conse-
quence
Mr. AspiNWALL. Yes. Before I left the university I worked at
Montgomery Ward in Denver.
Mr. Arens. You were in the maritime service ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Were you drafted ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. No.
Mr. Arens. "Wliere did you serve ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. You mean where did I take my training ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
Mr. AspiNWALL. I took my training at one of their bases on Cata-
lina Island, and then from there I went to their radio training school
in Boston.
Mr. Arens. How long did you serve in the maritime service ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. All told, from 1943 until 1946, August.
Mr. Arens. I am not familiar with the setup in the maritime serv-
ice. Did you receive an honorable discharge ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. No ; the maritime service during the war was op-
erated very much like it is now or before the war. It was operated by
a civilian agency under the direction of the Government, I guess you
would say.
Mr. Arens. Am I correct in my impression that you were a radio
operator ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. And did you operate radio on vessels or on land ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. On board ship.
Mr. Arens. Where did you operate radio ?
Mr. AspiNALL. All over the world. I saw service in the North
Atlantic and the South Pacific.
Mr. Arens. Then what did you do after you were disassociated
from the maritime service ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. After I got out of the maritime service I took a
job with the University of California.
Mr. Arens. What job was that and when, please, sir ?
Mr. AspiNALL. I find at times it is difficult to remember some of
these dates.
Mr. Arens. Approximately^ how long was it after you left the mari-
time service ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. A few months.
Mr. Arens. It must have been, then, in 1946 or early 1947.
Mr. AspiNWALL. Late 1946 or early 1947 ; yes.
Mr. Arens. The University of California ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. That is right.
Mr. Arens. What did you do there?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I was employed as a draftsman.
Mr. Arens. By the university itself ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Yes.
Mr. Arens. For what purpose ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. They were operating a research laboratory.
Mr. Arens. What kind of a research laboratory ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Radio propagation.
Mr. Arens.. I didn't get that.
Mr. AspiNWALL. Radio propagation.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4255
Mr. Arens. "What is radio propagation ?
Mr, AspiNWALL. The study of various types of radios, antennas,
and associated equipment.
Mr. Arens. Was that in any sense connected with any of the mili-
tary of the Government ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Yes. It was operated for the Navy, I believe. The
university operated it for the Navy. I don't really understand all
the implications. Like they have been operating or had been oper-
ating the atomic research. Certain universities — -—
Mr. Arens. Does this University of California unit by which you
were employed have what Ave might call a defense contract with the
United States Navy ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I don't know.
Mr. Arens. Was the work that you were doing of a classified nature ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. No, not that t know of.
Mr. Arens. Was the operation itself of a defense nature producing
information for the Navy to use for defense purposes?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I would judge probably it was.
Mr. Arens. How did you happen to get that job?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I applied for it.
Mr. Arens. How did you know it was open ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. That I can't recall. Either I saw it in the news-
paper or-
Mr. Arens. Did you know any person at the University of Cali-
fornia who suggested the job to you ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. No.
Mr. Arens. How long were you employed there ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Again I can only give you approximate figures,
but about 3 months.
Mr. Arens. I am not acquainted with the geogi^aphy out here in the
Far West. Where is the University of California?
Mr. Aspinwall. In Berkeley, Calif.
Mr. Arens. Was your disassociation from the University of Cali-
fornia voluntary or involuntary ?
Mr. Aspinwall. I don't understand.
Mr. Arens. Were you fired or did you quit?
Mr. Aspinwall. Yes, I was let off.
Mr. Arens. "Wliy?
Mr. Aspinwall. The director of that lab said that I was not passed
by the security regulations or something.
Mr. Arens. Who was this director who told you that?
Mr. Aspinwall. I don't remember his name.
Mr. Arens. Did you remonstrate with him on it and assert that you
were a good loyal American and you ought to have a right to work
on defense matters?
Mr. Aspinwall. No. It wasn't of keen interest to me to stay on
that job. My wife was sick. We were planning at that time to come
back to Denver.
Mr. Arens. Then what happened ?
Mr. Aspinwall. We did come back to Denver. I took a job with
the Stearns-Roger Engineering firm here in Denver.
Mr. Arens. In what type of engineering work is Stearns-Roger en-
gaged in?
4256 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. AspiNWALL. I don't know the complete scope of it. The work
that I did. was concerned with steampower electric installations.
Mr. Arens. Does Stearns-Roger have any contracts in the nature
of defense work ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I couldn't answer that. I don't know.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity did you work for Stearns-Roger ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. As a draftsman.
Mr. Arens. How long did you maintain that employment ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. From 1948 to about 1950, early 1950.
Mr. Arens. Then what happened ?
Mr. Aspinwall. I was let off due to their lack of contracts, lack of
work. I took a job with Gates Rubber Co.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity did you work at Gates Rubber Co. ?
Mr. Aspinwall. As a draftsman.
Mr. Arens. How long did you have that employment ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Approximately 4 or 5 months.
Mr. Arens. Then what happened ?
Mr. Aspinwall. I resigned from Gates and took a job with a con-
struction firm.
Mr. Arens. Was your resignation voluntary ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Yes.
Mr. Arens. With what construction firm did you take a job ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Rhodes Construction Co.
Mr. Arens. In what cai^acity did you serve with Rhodes Construc-
tion Co.?
Mr. Aspinwall. Draftsman.
Mr. Arens. How long did you serve there ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Until late 1950.
Mr. Arens. Then what happened ?
Mr. Aspinwall. The business ran out of work and I was laid off.
Mr. Arens. "Wliat was your next employment ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Armour & Co.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity were you employed and when did
you begin ?
Mr. AspinwaijL. In December 1950. Capacity was laborer and then
finally got a job as a machine operator.
Mr. Arens. Is that what you are doing now ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Yes.
Mr. Arens. What type of machine do you operate ?
Mr. Aspinwall. At present I am not operating it because the com-
pany has ceased utilizing that particular machine, so I am not any
longer working with that machine. I am I guess you would say a
laborer now.
Mr. Arens. Do you belong to a labor organization ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Yes.
Mr. Akens. What labor organization is that?
Mr. Aspinwall. The Packinghouse Workers.
Mr. Arens. Do you hold any post in the Packinghouse Workers ?
Mr. Aspinwall. No.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever held any post in a labor organization ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Do you mean an elective post ?
Mr. Arens. Any official position of any kind, character, or
description ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4257
Mr. AspiNWALL. I have never been elected to any post in a union. At
one time I was asked to fill in an unexpired term for trustee.
Mr. Arens. What group was that ?
Mr. AsPiNWALL. The local packinghouse workers local.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a shop steward ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Yes.
Mr. Arens. When?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Do you mean for how long ?
Mr. Arens. First of all, when were you shop steward, and then what
period of time ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I think I became shop steward in 1951 and con-
tinued so until they dispensed with the particular operation which I
previously mentioned in about 1954.
Mr. Arens. All while you were at Armour ?
Mr, AspiNWALL. Yes.
Mr. Arens. To revert in the sequence of events here in your life back
to your days at the University of Colorado, will you tell us what extra-
curricular activities you were engaged in at the University of Colorado
besides your regular studies?
Mr. ASPINWALL. I think I recall being on the — helping the stage
work of the Little Theater.
Mr. Arens. Were you a member of the Little Theater?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Well, I helped out on the stage. I wasn't a part
of the acting talent.
Mr. Arens. What other activities did you engage in of an extracur-
ricular variety ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Would you explain what you mean by extra-cur-
ricular?
Mr. Arens. You are doing fine. You told us about your activity in
this Little Theater group. What other little groups, if any, were you
active in, or big groups, or any kind of groups.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. AspiNWALL. I was a member of a social fraternity. I don't
know whether you consider that extracurricular activity.
Mr. Arens. What was the name of the social fraternity ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Beta.
Mr. Arens. Phi Beta Kappa ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Not Phi Beta Kappa, No.
Mr. Arens. Was it the Beta social fraternity ?
Mr. ASPINWALL. Yes.
Mr. Arens. In what other groups or organizations did you engage
in any extracurricular activities?
Mr. AspiNWALL . That is the extent of my extracurricular activities
that I can recall.
Mr. Arens. You have no recollection of any other group or organi-
zation with which you were identified while you were at the University
of Colorado, is that correct?
Mr. AsPiNWALL. Not that I can recall.
Mr. xVrens. Now can you tell us of some of the groups or organiza-
tions you have been active in the State since your college days ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. AspiNWALL. Fairly recently I have been interested in working
with the Democratic Party.
Mr. Arens. Do you hold any posts in the Democratic Party ?
4258 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. AspiNWALL. Yes. At present I have been designated as a com-
mitteeman.
Mr. Arens. In what area?
Mr. AspiNWALL. In Denver County.
Mr. Arens. Is that an elective post or appointive post?
Mr. AsPiNWALL. I was designated, appointed.
Mr. Arens. By whom ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I presume by the central cornmittee.
Mr. Arens. Do you belong to any other organization ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Yes, the church.
Mr. Arens. Any other organization ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I already mentioned the union. That is all.
Mr. Arens. Do any organizations you belong to, of any particular
consequence, come to your mind since your days at the University
of Colorado other than those you have recounted here — the Demo-
cratic Party, the church, the Little Theater group, and the social
fraternity?
Mr. Aspinwall. None that I can recall.
Mr. Arens. Did you ever know a person by the name of Harold Page
Martin?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Aspinwall. I would like to refuse to answer the question on the
basis that the fifth amendment of the United States Constitution does
not require me to testify against myself.
Mr. Arens. Did you ever know a person by the name of Bellarmino
Duran ?
Mr. Aspinwall. I refuse to answer that, again on the same grounds
previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Martin, I wonder if you would stand up, if you
are present in the courtroom. Look at this man to my right here,
Mr. Harold Page Martin, and tell us whether or not you have ever
seen him before ?
Mr. Aspinwall. I am sorry, I must refuse again to answer your ques-
tion on the grounds previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Martin just a little while ago took oath and testi-
fied before this committee that he knew you in another little organiza-
tion that you apparently have forgotten about. Was he lying or was
he telling the truth ?
Mr. Aspinwall. Again I must respectfully invoke my privilege
under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. You really didn't forget about that organization when
I was talking to you a little while ago, did you ? You knew all the time
that you were a member of the Communist Party, did you not?
Mr. Aspinwall. Again I must respectfully invoke my privilege.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Bellarmino Duran, would you kindly stand up?
Do you know this man here, Mr. Aspinwall ? Have you ever seen him
before ?
Mr. Aspinwall. The fifth amendment of the United States Con-
stitution gives me the right to refuse to testify against myself and I
so do in the case of this question.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend if you told this committee
the truth as to whether or not you know or have known Plarold Page
Martin or Bellarmino Duran you w^ould be supplying information
which could be used against you in a criminal proceeding ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4259
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. AspiNWALL. I refuse to answer your question again on pre-
viously stated grounds.
Mr. Arens. You understand the question I have just aiked you as
to whether or not you honestly apprehend that if you told this com-
mittee whether or not you know Bellarmino Duran or Harold Page
Martin, you would be supplying information whicli could be used
against you in a criminal proceeding?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I can only again reiterate what I said before.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr, Chairman, that this record
show the witness be ordered and directed to answer that last principal
question.
The CHAiR]\rAX. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. AspiNWALL. Mr. Chairman, under the same grounds as J pre-
viously stated, I cannot testif}^
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
I\Ir. AspiNWALL. Again under the protection of the fifth j^mendment
v.'hich provides me the right to refuse to testify against myself, I
cannot answer that question.
Mr. Ah'ENS. Tell us some of the youth activities you have been en-
gaged in. According to' prior testimony you apparently had an
interest in youth and youth activities. What are some of the voutli
activities you have been engaged in in this State, for the uplift and
betterment of the youth ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I would like to be advised of any prior testimony
relating to youth activities.
Mr. Arens. You just tell me from your own recollection now. You
recall being a member of this theater guild and pulling the curtains
on that. You remember your social activities in the college back in
1939 to 1943. Just tell us some of the youth activities of any variety
in which you have been engaged in in this State.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. AspiNWALL. I can't recall any others that I haven't previously
stated.
Mr. Arens. Do you recall any activities you might have engaged in
Avith a statewide youth commission ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. AspiNWALL. Has this organization previously been mentioned
here in an unfavorable way ?
Mr. Arens. You tell me. Let's not fence with each other. Have
you been a member of the youtli work of the Communist conspiracy
in this country and in this State?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Under my right given me by the United States
Constitution, the fifth amendment, I cannot answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of an organization dedi-
cated to the destruction of this Constitution which vou are talking
about?
Mr. AspiNWALL. Again I must invoke my privilege on the grounds
previously stated.
Mv. Arens. Were you here when ]\Ir. Harold Page Martin was
testifying ? Were you here in the courtroom when he was testifying?
Mr. AspiNWALL. 1 was.
Mr, Arens, Did you hear him testify about his disillusionment
about the Communist Party ? Did you hear that ?
4260 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
( The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr, AspiNWALL. I would like to know how that is relevant to
Mr. Arens. Just answer the question. Did you hear him testify
about his disillusionment with the Conmiunist Party ?
Mr. AspiNWALL. I did.
Mr. Arens. Have you gone through any similar process of dis-
illusionment with the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. AspiNWALL. Again I have to invoke my privilege.
Mr. Arens. If this committee should, in the exercise of its discretion
and judgment, cause proceedings to be instituted which would grant
you immunity from criminal prosecution would you testify and give
information to this committee respecting the Communist conspiracy in
this area? "Would you accept that immunity and would you so
testify ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. AspiNWALL. I am sorry, I again invoke my rights under the
fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, that concludes the staff interrogation of
this witness.
The Chairman. Any questions?
Mr. Velde. No questions.
The Chairman. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. Has Mr. Arnold Berkens returned to the hearing room ?
Mr. Arnold Berkens. ]\Iy attorney is supposed to be here within 5
minutes. Heistangled with another legal hassle.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Berkens, may I ask you if you will just stand by.
We called your name before. We will take another witness and then
we will call you.
Mr. Irving Blau, please.
The Chairman. Mr. Blau, will you raise your right hand, please.
Do you swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Blau. I do.
TESTIMONY OF IRVING BLAU, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
MARILYN MEADOFF
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Blau. Irving Blau, 4305 Sheridan Boulevard, construction
worker.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Blau, are you appearing today in response to a
subpena which was served upon 3^011 b}'^ the House Committee on Un-
American Activities ?
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir ; I am.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kindly identify herself.
Miss Meadoff. Yes. Marilyn Meadoff, M-e-a-d-o-f-f, 538 Equi-
table Building, Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. For the purpose of further identification, Mr. Blau,
are you the husband of Patricia Blau ?
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir; I am very proud to say that I am.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4261
Mr. Arens. Wliere and when were you born ?
Mr. Blau. I was born August 24, 1914, in Yonkers, N. Y.
Mr. Arens. A word, please, sir, about your education.
Mr. Blau. I attended grammer schools, public schools, in Yonkers,
N. Y., high school in Yonkers, N. Y. I attended Fordham College in
New York City, and Brooklyn Law School of St. Lawrence College in
New York.
Mr. Arens. Did you graduate from law school ?
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir; I graduated and was admitted to the practice
of law in 1939 in the State of New York.
Mr. Arens. Are you still a member in good standing of the Bar of
theStateof New York?
Mr. Blau. To the best of my knowledge I am.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Then please pick up the sequence of
events in your life and tell us the first employment you had after you
completed your formal education.
Mr. Blau. After my graduation and admission to the bar, I sat in
my own law office for about a year and a half
Mr. Arens. Wliere was that, please, sir ?
Mr. Blau. Yonkers, N. Y. • 20 South Broadway, Yonkers, N. Y. —
attempting to build a practice. I then entered the United States
Army Air Force and spent 5 years and 4 months as an enlisted man
and an officer. I was an enlisted man for 2 years. I was then sent
to officers' candidate school at Miami Beach, Fla.
Mr. Arens. AVould you pardon the interruption. I didn't get those
dates. When was it you went into the service ?
Mr. Blau. I went into the Army approximately 1942. Approxi-
mately 2 years thereafter I went to Officers' Candidate School of the
Air Force, the Administrative Air Force School in Miami Beach,
Fla. That was approximately May 1944. In my last term at the
officers' candidate school I was cho^n for the honor corps of the
school. Students were picked on the basis of — well, the instructors
apparently thought that those members were maybe a little bit more
outstanding than the others. I then served as an administrative officer
in the United States Army Air Force for 3 years and 4 months. I was
promoted from second lieutenant to first lieutenant.
Mr. Arens. Where did you serve ?
Mr. Blau. I served in the American Theater of Operations, Bangor,
Maine, and Colorado Springs. At that time the 15th Air Force was
in Colorado Springs. Upon discharge from the Army, the Army
promoted me from the first lieutenant grade to captain under the pre-
vailing Army regulations for those who had sufficiently high effi-
ciency index.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Just continue, if you please.
Mr. Blau. After discharge from the Army as an officer and after
my terminal leave, under conditions which for an officer are equivalent
to an honorable discharge — what an honorable discharge would be for
an enlisted man — I went to work for a short period of time. My
second job after a short period of time was with the Gates Rubber Co.
Mr. Arens. What date did that employment begin, Mr. Blau?
Wliat is your best recollection — the approximate date?
Mr. Blau. Some time late in 1947. At the Gates Rubber Co. I
worked approximately 5 months.
Mr. Arens. Where was the Gates Rubber Co. ?
4262 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Blau. In Denver, Colo. I worked there approximately 5
months. I was discharged from the Gates Rubber Co.
Mr. Arens. May I inquire, if you don't mind — how did you happen
to come to Denver? You were living in New York.
Mr. Blau. No; my last station with the Army was in Colorado
Springs, which is approximately 70 miles south of Denver.
Mr. Arens. I see.
Then after your discharge you came over to Denver ?
]Mr. Blau. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Proceed.
Mr. Blau. M}- next major job, as I remember it, was selling insur-
ance. I worked for an insurance company, a Colorado company, the
Professional & Businessmen's Life & Casualty Co., with home offices
in Tabor Building, Denver, Colo. I worked there approximately 2
years. I decided that I didn't want to be an insurance man, and quit.
Mr. Arens. ^Vlien was that, do you recall ?
Mr. Blau. I think some time around 1949 or 1950. I am not exactly
sure of the date. I went to work in construction. Ever since then I
have done construction work. When I might run out of that type
of work I would sell or do anything to make an honest living, which
I have attempted to do since then.
Mr. Arens. What do you presently do in construction ?
Mr. Blau. My present job is operating a 95-pound jackhammer.
Mr. Arens. Are you identified with a labor organization?
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. What labor organization ?
Mr. Blau. Local 720 of the Laborers' and Hod Carriers Union.
Mr. Arens. Do you have any post or office in the union ?
Mr. Blau. No, sir.
Mr, Arens. Have you ever had any post in the Hod Carriers', Build-
ing and Common Laborers' Union ?
Mr. Blau. Not in the laborers' and hod carriers.
Mr. Arens. Did you ever know a person by the name of Bellarmino
Duran ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Blau. I decline to answer that based on the fifth amendment,
which states that I shall not be required to be a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Do you feel that if you told this committee whether or
not you knew Duran and gave a truthful answer pursuant to your
oath, you would be supplying information which could be used against
you or might be used against you in a criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Blau. The fifth amendment says nothing about information
being used against me in a criminal proceeding.
The Chairman. Yes ; it does.
Mr. Blau. It says I need not be compelled. With due respect to
the chairman of the committee, I had occasion to refer to the Bill of
Rights last night
The Chairman. Never mind. Go ahead and ask the next question.
Mr. Blau (continuing). Wliich says a person will not be com-
pelled to be a witness against himself. That is the basis on which I
decline to answer.
The Chairman. It is no wonder you are not practicing law if that
is the basis on which you are proceeding.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4263
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suj^oest, jNIr. Chairman, that the wit-
ness be ordered and directed to answer that question as to his appre-
hensions which cause him to invoke the fifth amendment.
The Chairman. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Blau. The fifth amendment says I need not he compelled to
be a witness against myself and I decline to answer the question on
that basis.
Mr. Arens. The record is clear you have been directed to answer
the question.
Mr. Blau. I understand.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Duran, would you kindly stand u])? Did you ever
see this man before?
Mr. Blau. I decline to answer the question on the sanie basis.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Bellarmino Duran, this man standing here, tes-
tified under oath before this committee that he knew you as a member
of the Communist Party. Was he lying or was he telling the truth?
Mr. Blau. I decline to answer the question for the same reason, the
fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. xVre you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Blau. I decline to answer the question on the basis of the fifth
amendment and also becanse of the fact that I don't have to make
explanations regarding my political beliefs. I think the first amend-
ment of the Constitution says that.
Mr. Arens. Do you feel that membership in the Communist Party
is only a question of political belief ?
Mr. Blau. I think membership in the Communist Party might very
well be a question of political belief.
Mr. Arens. Do you feel that a Communist is only a person who
entertains certain political philosophy?
Mr. Blau. I know what my political philosophies are and I am
satisfied with them and I don't feel I have to explain to this committee
or to you.
Mr. Arens. Do you feel you are under any obligation to furnish
information to your Government, if you possess it, respecting a con-
spiracy designed to overthrow this Government?^
Mr. Blau. Would you please repeat that question?
Mr. Arens. You have told us that you don't feel you are under any
obligation to tell this committee anything about any political philos-
ophy you may have in connection with what might be called the Com-
munist Party. So I am now, since you opened that door, asking you
this questior. Do you feel you are under any obligation to furnish
your government any information which you may possess respecting a
conspiracy to overthrow this Government ?
Mr. Blau. I will tell you this : I think I have sufficiently demon-
strated my loyaltv to the Government of the United States and I am
perfectly 'satisfied that the things in which I believe are for the best
interests of the people of the United States.
Mr. Velde. W}\en do you consider that you displayed your loyalty
to the United States? ' * *•
Mr. Blau. I think in my service to my country m the Army Air
Force for 5 vears.
Mr. Velde. Since that time. At the present time do you consider
yourself to be a loyal patriotic citizen?
79079 — 56— pt. 2 5
4264 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir ; I do.
Mr. Arens. What do you base that on? You are refusing to
answer these questions about your Communist connections.
Mr. Blau. My rights and my defense of the Bill of Rights of the
Constitution. I feel in this I am being a good American.
Mr. Velde. Are you a member of the bar of the State of New York ?
Mr. Blau. Am I a member?
Mr. Velde. Of the bar association,
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir; I am.
Mr. Velde. Which one?
Mr. Blau. The bar association — do you mean the organization to
which all lawyers in the State belong, or are you referring
Mr. Velde. There are two different ones, as I recall it.
Mr. Blau. You are referring to voluntary organization of lawyers ?
Mr. Velde. The New^ York State Bar Association and then
The Chairman. The bar association of the city of New York.
Mr. Blau. No. sir; I never practiced in the city of New York. My
practice was in the city of Yonkers, N. Y.
Mr. Arens. You are a member in good standing, I take it, of the
bar of the State of New York?
Mr. Blau. Yes, sir ; I am.
Mr. Velde. I was talking about the bar association.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of an organization dedicated to the
destruction of the Constitution of the United States ?
JNIr. Blau. On the basis of the fifth amendment and the first amend-
ment I decline to answer that question for the same reasons.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, we have no further questions of this
witness.
The Chairman. The witness is excused from further attendance.
There was another witness.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Arnold Berkens, has your counsel shown up yet?
Mr. Berkens. No.
Mr. Arens. Do you have some way of prompting him to come now ?
Mr. Berkens. I tried it once. I can try again.
The Chairman. Do you have anyone else ?
Mr. Arens. Mr. Berkens is the last witness we had under subpena
for today. We have a number subpenaed for tomorrow', but it is very
doubtful that they would be here.
The Chairman. Let's catch up by convening tomorrow morning
at 9 : 30.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, may I respectfully suggest this record
show that Mr. Berkens will be continued under his subpena until
tomorrow morning at 9 : 30.
The Chairman. All right.
The committee is in recess until 9 : 30 tomorrow morning.
(Whereupon, at 3 : 55 p. m. the committee was recessed, to reconvene
at 9 : 30 a. m., the following day, Friday, May 18, 1955.)
INVESTIGATION OF C03IMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
ROCKY 3I0UNTAIN AREA— PART 2
FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1956
United States House of Repkesextatives,
Subcommittee of the
Com^iit-j-ee on Un-American Activities,
Denver^ Colo.
rUBLIC IIEARIXG
A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities re-
convened, pursuant to recess, at 9 : 50 a. m., in the courtroom of the
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, Post Office Building,
Hon. Francis E.Walter (chairman) presiding.
Committee members present : Eepresentative Francis E. "Walter,
of Pennsylvania ; and Harold H. Yelde. of Illinois.
Staff members present: Richard Arens, director; Courtney E.
Owens, and W. Jackson Jones, investigators.
The Chairman. The committee will be in order.
Call your first witness.
Mr. Arens. Arnold Berkens.
Mr. Berkens. I wish to make one thing clear here. I have been
issued a defective subpena, and I don't believe that I am the person
that you wanted.
(There was a conference at the bench betAveen counsel for the wit-
ness and the committee chairman.)
Mr. Arens. Are you Arnold Berkens ?
Mr. Berkens. Yes, that is my name.
Mr. Arens. Will you please remain standing and raise j-our right
hand and be sworn.
Mr. Berkens. No, I want to make this matter clear first. I have
a defective subpena. It is not issued to me.
The Chairman. Take a look at the subpena.
Mr. Arens. What do you think is defective about it?
Mr. Berkens. My name.
Mr. Arens. What is defective about it ?
Mr. Berkens. It is not spelled right. It is not my name.
Mr. Arens. How do you spell your name ?
Mr. Berkens. My name is spelled B-e-r-k-e-n-s.
Mr. Arens. This subpena was served upon you, however.
Mr. Berkens. It was served to me. That is why I am here.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
instructed to raise his right hand and be sworn.
4266
4266 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
The Chairman. Eaise your right hand. Do you swear the testi-
mony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and noth-
ing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr, Berkens. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Be seated.
TESTIMONY OF AENOLD BEEKENS, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
WENDELL A. PETEES
Mr. Akens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Berkens. My name is Arnold Berkens; occupation, salesman;
self-employed. My residence is 165 South Cherokee.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you ?
Mr. Berkens. It was served to me.
Mr. Arens. Are you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Berkens. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kindly identify himself.
Mr. Peters. Wendell A. Peters, 2130 Downing Street, Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Berkens, please tell us where and when you were
born.
Mr. Berkens. Denver, Colo., October 4, 1917.
Mr. Arens. Giveus just a word about your education.
Mr. Berkens. I finished a graduate of West Denver High School
in 1935. I went to the University of Denver in 1946, graduated there
in 1949.
(Kepresentative Walter left the hearing room.)
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, about your employment since
you graduated.
Mr. Berkens. Before answering this, I have been entirely a self-
employed salesman.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Berkens. Innumerable and various.
Mr. i\-RENS. Give us an illustration of some of them.
Mr. Berkens. I choose not to.
Mr. Arens. You are instructed to do so.
Mr. Berkens. I feel that any further identification might tend to
inform your defective subpena. Therefore, I choose not to answer
those questions, and I see no relation between them and any possible
purpose you may have here.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
ordered and directed to answer the question.
Mr. Velde (presiding). You are so ordered to answer the question.
Mr. Berkens. I decline to answer that question on the ground of
the fifth amendment, not to be a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. Berkens. Am I now a member of the Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. Aeens. Yes.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Berkens. I decline to answer that question on the grounds both
of the first amendment granting to every one the right of affiliations
and political beliefs, and also on the previously stated fifth. I also
suggest that this committee has no power to ask such questions under
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4267
the Constitution at all. Article o, section 1, of the Constitution
grants to the judiciary that type of right, if it belongs to any one, and,
as a matter of fact, the first amendment refuses to grant that kind of
power of inquiry even to the judiciary.
Mr. Arens. Harold Page Martin yesterday took an oath before this
committee and testified in public session that while he was a member of
the Communist Party he knew you as a member of the Communist
Party. Was he lying or was he telling the truth ?
Mr. Bekkens. I did not hear his testimony.
Mr. Arens. Was he lying or was he telling the truth when he said
that you were a member of the Communist Party?
Mr, Berkens. Well, a stool pigeon is incapable of telling the truth.
Mr. Arexs. Do you deny that he was telling the truth when he
identified you as a member of the Comnnuiist Party?
Mr. Berkexs. I simpl}^ affirm that a stool pigeon doesn't know how
to tell the truth.
Mr. Arens. JSIr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
ordered and directed to answer this last principal question.
]Mr. Velde (presiding). You are so directed to answer the question.
Mr. Berkens. I refuse to answer that question on previously stated
ground, including both the first and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arens. We have no further questions of this witness, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr. Velde (presiding). The witness is excused.
Call your next witness, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Mr. David Bramhall.
Mr. Jones. Does lie waive his expenses?
Mr. Peters. No.
Mr. Jones. He will have to sign the voucher.
Mr. INIoNTFORT. If the cameras do come in we would jirefer not to
have photographs taken during the testimony. Yesterday I dicln't
notice that they were photographing during the entii'e testimony of
the witness I was representing.
Mr. Velde. Where do you see any photographers ?
Mr. MoNTFORT. They are not here at this time, apparently, but we
would like to have it understood.
Mr. Velde. All right.
Mr. Arens. The chairman has already announced that.
Mr. Velde. Raise your right hand. Do you swear the testimony
you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Bramhall. I do.
TESTIMONY OF DAVID BEAMHALL, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
CHARLES D. MONTFORT
]\Ir. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence and occu-
pation.
Mr. Bramhall. My name is David Bramhall. I live in Denver,
Colo. My occupation is route salesman.
Mr. Arens. HoW' long have you been so employed ?
Mr. Bramilvll. In that type of job for almost a year.
4268 coMMinvTiST activities in the rocky mountain area
Mr. Arexs. Are you appearing today in response to a siibpena
served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American Activities ?
Mr. Bramhall. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Bramhall. Yes ; I am.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel identify himself ?
Mr. MoNTFORT. Charles D. Montfort, attorney at law, 611 E. & C.
]3uilding, Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Bramhall, you are tlie husband of Shirley Bram-
hall?
Mr. Bramhall. Yes.
Mr. Arens. "Wliere and when were you born ?
Mr. Bramhall. I was born in Boulder, Colo., June 4, 1926.
Mr. Arens. A word, please, sir, about your education.
Mr. Bramhall. I went to tlie public schools in Boulder and high
school in Boulder. I attended the University of Colorado from 1943
until 1947, at which time I got a Bachelor of Arts degree. I was for
one semester at Cornell University.
Mr. Arens. When did you complete your work at Cornell ?
Mr. Brajnihall. In February 1948.
Mr. Arens. What degree did you receive?
Mr. Bramhall. No degree.
Mr. Arens. What degrees do you hold from school ?
Mr. Bramhall. Just Bachelor of Arts at Colorado.
Mr. Arens. Give us, please, a brief chronological sketch of the
employment which you have had since you completed your formal
education.
Mr. Bramhall. I left Cornell in February 1948. From February
1948 until the end of October 1948 I worked delivering wholesale auto
parts in New York City, then returned to Colorado, after being
away for a year and a half, in late November or early December 1948.
And from about March 1949 to August 1950 I worked as a stockman in
a chemical supply house.
From September 1950 until November 1951, I worked for Cudahy
Packing Co. From early 1952 until June 1955, I worked to learn
I)hmibing supplies, and since June 1955 I have been a route salesman.
Mr. Arens. During the course of your various occupations which
you have been describing, have you been a member of a labor organ-
ization?
Mr. Bramhall. Yes; I have.
Mr. Arens. Have you held any post in a labor organization ?
Mr. Bramhall. No.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Duran, will you kindly stand? Mr. Bramhall,
would you please look at this g^entleman to my right and to your
left and tell us whether or not you have ever laiown him before?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Montfort. Again, Mr. Chairman, I earnestly request that we
be allowed to cross-examine this witness.
Mr. Velde (presiding). Of course you know that isn't permitted
before this investigative committee.
Mr. Montfort. It hasn't been permitted heretofore, sir, and yet it
seems to me —
Mr. Velde. Your request is denied.
COMMUjS'IST activities IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4269
Mr. Bramhall. I decline to answer that question. I was brought
up to believe that an American could not be forced by the Government
or by any one else to disclose his political or reli2;ious beliefs and asso-
ciations or his friendships. I think it is not only the rioht of a citizen
but his duty to refuse to be a part of any infrino-oment on his liberties
which we have won over a lonf^ period. Therefore, I decline on the
grounds of the first amendment.
Second, although this is not a trial technically, my reputation and
my livelihood are in jeopardy here, and since I am being denied due
process in this hearing, I decline under the section of the fifth amend-
ment which guarantees due process.
Mr. Arexs. "Without in any sense making any reference to any belief
you may have held, any association or any activity 3'ou have ever had —
would counsel be informed tliat under the rules of the committee coun-
sel's duties and responsibilities are exclusively to advise his client with
respect to liis constitutional rights.
Mr. MoxTFORT. May the witness be allowed to finish his answer?
Mr. Arens. Without any reference to any association, any thought,
any concept, any mental activity you have ever had in your life, tell
this committee whether or not you have ever been part and parcel of
the Communist conspiracy in this country.
Mr. Bramhall. Just a moment, sir. I didn't finish the answer to
the previous cjuestion. May I finish the answer I was giving?
Mr. Arexs. Go ahead.
Mr. Braatiiall. In addition to the section of the fifth amendment
which guarantees due process, I also decline under the other section
of the fifth amendment which prevents my being forced to be a witness
against myself.
Mr. Arexs. In what type of proceeding ?
Mr. Bramhall. I believe I ought to talk to my counsel.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bra3ihall. I wonder if you could clarify that question.
Mr. Arexs. In what type of proceeding is it that 3' ou do not feel
you want to give information against yourself?
Mr. MoxTFORT. Would you like me to answer that?
Mr. Arexs. No. Counsel had better refer again to the rules of this
committee, that your sole function here is to advise your client with
reference to his constitutional rights.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Br-vmhall. I don't know what type of proceeding you are re-
ferring to.
Mr. Arexs. Xow, without any reference at all to any thoughts you
may have entertained in your mind, any association you may have
ever had, any belief you have ever entertained, tell this committee,
the people of this community, pursuant to your oath, whether or not
you have been active in the Communist conspiracy in this country.
(The Avitness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bramhall. I believe there is a contradiction in your question.
I don't see how that question could be answered without a reference
to beliefs or associations, but I will state that I decline to answer it for
the reasons previously given.
]Mr. Velde. I would like to know just what reasons you have given
for your refusal to answer. You started out bv mentioninir the due-
4270 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
process section of the fifth aniendnient. Tlieii the next time you men-
tioned the incriminating section.
Mr. JSIoNTFORT. Are you asking me, sir ?
Mr. Velde. No ; I am not asking you ; of course not. Your duties
liave been defined.
Mr. jMoNTroKT. T thought you addressed that to counseL
Mr. Velde. Just what are you relying on in refusing to answer this
question ?
Mr. Bramhall. Sir, I believe there are several bases on ^Yhich I
have to rely. I think the Constitution protects citizens against undue
invasion of their liberties under several amendments. I cited first of
all and piimarily the first amendment, which provides the guaranty
of free speech, assembly, religious beliefs, and so forth.
Secondly
Mr. Velde. What this committee is interested in is what section of
the fifth amendment, which you know, as I am sure your attorney has
advised you, is the only ground on which you can refuse to answer.
What section of the fifth amendment are you depending upon ?
Mr. Bramhall. I was coming to that, sir.
Mr. Velde. Let's come to it.
Mr. Bramjiall. Under two sections of the fifth amendment. First,
the section which refers to the guaranty of due process and, second,
the section which protects a man from being a witness against himself.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Were you chairman of a meeting back in 1953 to mourn
the ]3assing of the Rosenbergs ?
Mr. Bramhall. Sir, that ob^aously
( The witness conferred with his counsel.)
]\Ir. Bramhall. Again I invoke the privileges pieviously stated.
Mr. Arens. I have marked this document, which is a photostatic
copy of an article in tlie Denver Post, of June 23, 1953, "David
Bramhall Exhibit No. 1."' I lay it before you and invite your atten-
tion specifically to tlie following language :
Neither the speaker, the presiding officer, nor any memher of the aiidience
would identify himself, but many were recognized. Chairman of the meeting
was David Bramhall, also a former Progressive Party leader.
I lay that exhibit before yoii and ask you if that refreshes your
lecollection or if you can tell us whether or not you are the David
Bramhall who is alluded to in that article.
Mr. Bramil\ll. For the reasons previously stated, sir, I decline to
answer that question.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, David Bramhall
exhibit No. 1 be incor])orated by reference in the record and retained
in tlie committee files.
Mr. Velde. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arens. With Avhom have you discussed your proposed appear-
iinc(> liei-e todjiy besides with your attorney and your wife?
(Tlie witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bi{Amhall. Sir, that again refers to my speech and, as I previ-
ously stated, I decline to answer that question on the grounds of the
first and-the two sections of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend if you told this committee
the truth as to with whom you have discussed your appearance here
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4271
today besides your attorney and your spouse, you would be supplying
information which could be used against you in a criminal proceeding^
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bra^siiiall. Sir, tlie Supreme Court has stated that the fifth
amendment protects tlie innocent as well as the guilty. I decline to
answer that question on the grounds previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Are you innocent of any part in a conspiracy against
this comitry ?
Mr. Bramiiali.. I will decline to answer that question on the grounds
I have previously stated.
Mr. Arexs. Do you honestly apprehend if you gave a truthful
answer to that question you would be supplying information which
could be used against you in a criminal proceeding?
Mr. Bramhall. That being the same question, again I decline to
answer once more on the same grounds.
^Ir. Arexs. I suggest, ]Mr. Chairman, the witness be ordered and
directed to answer that last principal question.
]Mr. Yelde. You are ordered to answer the question.
Mr. Bramhall. Sir, I respectfully decline to answer on the grounds
I have stated.
Mr. Arexs. You were served with a subpena to appear before this
committee on the 12th day of April 19r)G, were you not?
Mr. Bramhall. I can't remember the exact date. It was a Thursday,
})i-obably about that time.
Mr. Arexs. I put it to you as a fact that, since you were served a
subpena to appear before this committee, you and the other conirades
in the community formed a little party caucus of comrades, on the
bearing which we have been conducting in this vicinity and in this
connnunity in the course of the last few days.
Mr. Bramhall. Is that a question?
Mr. Arexs. Yes, sir.
Mr. Bramhall. I didn't understand it as a question.
ISIr. Arexs. I put it to you as a fact and ask 3'ou to affirm or deny
what I have just said as a fact, that since you receivecl your subpena
you and the other comrades of this community created a party caucus
m which you decided you would bring in and cause to be developed
in this community a sentiment against tliese hearings and against
the members of this committee and that you had a concerted campaign
of that character.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Br^vmhall. It seems clear, sir, that I decline to answer such a
(question on the grounds previously stated.
Mr. Arexs. Do you honestlj^ apprehend if you ga^-e a truthful
answer to that question yon would be supplying information which
could be used against you in a criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Bramhall. I must decline to answer that question on the
grounds I have given several times.
jNlr. Arexs. You and the other comrades in this caucus I have been
talking about decided you would bring in, rope in, the do-gooders and
the dupes and dopes that you could, to front for the Communist con-
spiracy in this area against this committee and against these hearings.
Is that not a fact ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
4272 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUIsTTAIN AREA
Mr. Bramhall. I decline to answer that question on the grounds of
the first and the two sections of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you a document which is the original. I
will mark it ''David Bramhall Exhibit No. 2." It is an article appear-
ing in the Denver Post, Friday, May 11, 1956, Fair Treatment Urged
at Un-American Hearing, an article in which a number of items are
listed, and signed by a number of people in this community — legisla-
tors, ministers, members of the medical profession, lawyers, business
and professional leaders, and others, calling upon the committee to
have fair treatment toward witnesses in this query.
I ask you whether or not you were instrumental in whole or in part
in causing the circulation of that open letter to be made in this com-
munity in advance of the appearance here of the House Committee on
Un-American Activities ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
( Representative Walter returned to the hearing room. )
Mr. Bramhall. Sir, since this committee had scheduled its appear-
ance and since I was one of those subpenaecl, certainly to that extent
I imagine you could say that I was in part responsible, that is, there
must have been people who knew me who had something to do with
that.
Mr. Arens. Did you have knowledge of the circulation of the open
letter alluded to in "this article marked "David Bramhall Exhibit No.
2"?
Mr. ^loNTFORT. Mr. Counsel, would you please step back so I can
confer with my client ?
( The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr. Bramhall. Sir, I saw the petition as it appeared in the news-
paper.
Mr. Arens. Did you have knowledge of the circulation of that peti-
tion or open letter prior to the time that you saw it in the newspaper?
(T]ie witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bra3ihall. Xo, sir ; I never saw that petition until it appeared
in the paper.
Mr. Arens. Did you have knowledge of the circulation of the open
letter prior to the time that you saw the actual document produced in
the paper?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bramhall. I had heard that a petition was being circulated.
Mr. Arens. "\"\Tio told you a petition was being circulated?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bramhall. To the best of my recollection it was my wife who
told me.
Mr. Arens. Did you participate in a caucus of the Communists in
this community after you received your subpena, in which caucus it
was decided that an open letter or petition against this committee
would be circulated and signatures enlisted from any one who could
be induced to sign it ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Bramhall. Mr. Chairman, I decline to answer that question
on the grounds of the first and the two sections of the fifth amend-
ment I have mentioned.
Mr. Arens. We have no further questions of this witness at this
time, Mr. Chairman.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4273
The CiiAiRMAisr. The witness is excused from further attendance
under the subpena.
Mr. Arens. Shirley BramhalL
Please remain standing while the chairman administers an oath
to you.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mrs. Bramhall. I do.
TESTIMONY OP SHIRLEY BEAMHALL, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
WILLIAM B. MILLER
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mrs. Bramhall. My name is Shirley Bramhall. My maiden name
was Shirley "Wellinger, and close friends have called me Billie since
I was about 16 years old. My residence is Denver, Colo., and I am a
housewife raising two children at the present time.
Mr. Arexs. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-Am.erican
Activities ?
Mrs. Bramhall. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mrs. Bramhall. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. "Will counsel identify himself.
Mr. Miller. William B. Miller, of the Denver, Colo., bar.
Mr. xVrens. Give us, if you please, Mrs. Bramhall, just a brief
sketch of your early life, your education, where you were born.
]\Irs. Bramhall. I was born in New York City on December 8, 1926.
I went to the public schools in New York City, graduated from
Hunter High School in January of 1943, after which I attended
Hunter College until June of 1946, I believe, and then went to the
University of Colorado, from which I received a Bachelor of Arts in
August of 1947.
]\Ir. Arens. Did that complete your formal education?
Mrs. Bramhall. Yes, it did.
Mr. Arens. Then would you kindly tell us any occupation in which
you were engaged since 1947 ?
Mrs. Bramhall. After graduating from Hunter College I returned
to New York City and worked for Macy's Department Store from
September to just after Christmas of 1947. Following that there
were two short employments at the Victor Metals Co. in New York
City and at the J. C. Footwear Co., New York City, which took me
through the fall of 1948. In December of 1948 we returned to Colo-
rado and since then on the whole I have been a housewife and raising
my family, although there have been some short jobs to supplement
the family income. Would you like me to relate them?
Mr. Arens. No, I don't believe that will be necessary. They were
inconsequential jobs?
Mrs. Brj^mhall. The only one of any length was with a truck line
in 1953 and 1954.
Mr. Arens. When you were at the University of Colorado with
what organizations were you affiliated ?
4274 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mrs. Bramhall. Could you be more specific ?
Mr. Arens. Yes. Were you affiliated with the Labor Youth League
while attending the University of Colorado ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Bramhall. I am going to refuse to answer that question, Mr.
Arens. I would like to state my grounds. I have a very deep respect
for our Government and the Bill of Rights, and I have a great desire
for my children to grow up and enjoy the same privileges that chil-
dren in this country have enjoyed for many years. This means to
me that I have a responsibility not to answer questions concerning my
association or lack of association, politics, religion, or friendships, and
I will not betray this here today as I have not in the past. Therefore,
I refuse to answer that question under the first amendment to the
Constitution.
In addition, I have been sitting here all week listening to the hear-
ings. Accusations have been made against me. My reputation has
been attacked. Although I understand that this is not a trial, I feel
that I am on trial here, without benefit of due process. I have no
right to cross-examine my attackers. Although I wrote a letter to this
committee in accordance with rule IX of your proceedings that I have
the right to make a statement prior to tlie hearings provided that it is
relevant and germane to the subject of the hearings, asking for that
subject, I received no answer and feel improperly prepared. There-
fore, I refuse to answer under the due process clause of the fifth
amendment.
Further, I will not -be a witness against myself under the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Arens. In view of your professed respect for the Bill of Rights,
may I ask you if you have ever been identified with an organization
which to your knowledge was dedicated to the destruction of the Con-
stitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights?
Mrs. Bramhall. Under my respect for the' Bill of Rights I again
refuse to answer that question on the same three grounds.
Mr. Arens. I assume that you are referring to the testimony of Mr.
Bellarmino Duran when you said your reputation has been attacked,
and I am going to ask him if he will please stand up now. Mr. Duran
testified under oath before this committee that he knew you as one of
the top-flight members of the Communist Party in the United States.
I assume that you regard that as an attack on your reputation, as
I certainly would if such a charge were made against me, I am
going to give you an opportunity to deny it while you are under oath
here, deny it publicly, so all can hear that you deny that you were a
member of this conspiracy.
Mrs. Bramhall. Do you want me to look him in the eye?
Mr. Arens. Was Mr. Duran lying or telling the truth when he said
he knew you as a member of the Communist Party?
Mrs. Bramhall. I will be glad to look Mr, Duran in the eye and
refuse to answer the question on the same three grounds.
His eyes turned away first.
Mr. Arens. Was Mr. Duran lying or telling the truth when he said
you were a member of the Communist conspiracy ?
Mrs. Bramhall. I claim my privilege, as stated before.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend if you told this committee
the truth as to whether or not Mr. Duran was telling the truth, you
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4275
would be supplying information which could be used against you in a
criminal proceeding ?
Mrs. Bramhall. The fifth amendment, as has been stated by the
Supreme Court, is a protection to the innocent as well as the guilty,
and I refuse to answer that question on the same three grounds.
Mr. AitENS. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
ordered and directed to answer the last principal question.
The Chairman. You are directed to answer the question.
Mrs. Bramhall. I must decline, sir.
The Chairman. You are not under any compulsion.
Mrs. Bramhall. I choose to decline, sir, mider the first and fifth
amendments to the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. After you received your subpena to appear before this
committee, did you and others have a caucus to decide what was going
to be done about this hearing ?
Mrs. Bramhall. I decline to answer that question on the same three
grounds.
Mr. Arens. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny the
fact that after you received your subpena to appear here you ancl the
other comrades of tlie area had a caucus in which you decided you
would have a concerted campaign to discredit the House Committee
on Un-American Activities in these hearings. Is that the truth, or is
that a false allegation?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Bramhall. That is the same question as you asked before?
INIr. Arens. Yes.
Mrs. Bramhall. As I said, I decline to answer that question on the
same three grounds.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a person by the name of Kachael Allen ?
Mrs. Bramhall. Yes; I know Mrs. Allen.
Mr. Arens. Tell us what Mrs. Allen did at your direction respecting
the solicitation of signatures to an open letter.
Mrs. Bramhall. Mrs. Allen is a friend whom I have been associated
with in the Democratic Party for a few years on and off through vari-
ous campaigns. That is all that I can tell you about her.
Mrs. Arens. Did you and Mrs. Allen work together in causing to
be affixed to an open letter signatures of people in this community
respecting these hearings and respecting the House Committee on Un-
American Activities?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Bramhall. No.
Mr. Arens. I put it to you as a fact, and ask you to affirm or deny
the fact that within the course of a few days prior to the open session
of this committee Rachael Allen had a telephone conversation with you
in which she reported to you that, pursuant to your directions and in-
structions, she was successful in causing to be affixed to this open let-
ter the names of certain people in this community.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mr. Miller. Would you repeat the principal question?
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly read the pending question, Mr.
Reporter.
(Question read by the reporter.)
Mrs. Bramhall. I deny that.
4276 COMMTJNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Akens. Have you had telephone conversations or conversations
at all in the course of the last 2 or 3 weeks with Rachael Allen respect-
ing an open letter which was circulated in this community condemning
the House Committee on Un-American Activities?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Bramhall. It may be that in the course of harmless telephone
conversations regarding children, neighbors, et cetera, that this may
have come up and she may have mentioned it to me. Believe me, I
give no orders to my friends.
Mr. Arens. She may have mentioned what to you ?
Mrs. Bramhall. The fact that such a thing was taking place.
Mr. Arens. When do you have a recollection of tliis conversation
which
Mrs. Bramhall. I have no specific recollection.
Mr. Arens. When did 3'ou last have a conversation with Rachael
Allen?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Bramhall. I don't remember.
Mr. Arens. You don't know Rachael Allen as a member of the
Communist Party, do you?
Mrs. Bramhall. Certainly not.
Mr. Arens. There lias been no suggestion here, Mr. Chairman, in
this interrogation that this staff has information that Rachael Allen
is a member of the Communist Party. I think the record should be
absolutely clear on that.
In the course of the last month how many conversations have you
had with Rachael Allen?
Mrs. Bramhall. I have no idea ; 2 or o, possibly.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever made known to Rachael Allen your mem-
bership in the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
]\Irs. Bramhall. I choose to refuse to answer that on the ground
previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever denied to Rachael Allen that you were
a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Bramhall. The same answer.
Mr. Arens. Tell us what you did after you received your subpena,
from the standpoint of conversation or activities repecting the ap-
pearance here of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Mrs. Bramhall. I don't understand the question. What do you
mean, what I did ?
Mr. Arens. With whom have you discussed your proposed appear-
ance here today besides your attorney and your husband ?
Mrs. BRiVMHALL. I refusc to answer that question on the grounds
previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Have you discussed your appearance here today with
people who were known by 3'ou to be members of the Communist
Party?
Mrs. Bramhall. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds
of the first and fifth amendments of the Constitution.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you an original document which has been
already identified in this record as "David Bramhall Exhibit No. 2",
an article appearing in the Denver Post of Friday, May 11, 1956,
respecting an open letter to this committee, wliich is, according to the
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY IMOUNTAIN AREA 4277
article, signed by a number of people in this connniinity. I ask you
to glance at that article and tell this committee whether or not you
had any knowledge or information respecting the circulation of that
open letter after you received your subpena.
Mrs. Bramhall. I already told you that it was mentioned in a
telephone conversation.
Mr. Arens. AMiat teleplione conversation i
Mrs. Br^vmhall. It was probably mentioned in a telephone con-
versation with Mrs. Allen.
Mr, Arexs. Who did tlie mentioniuir in this telephone conversa-
tion?
Mrs. Bramhaijl. I already told you she did.
jNIr, Arens. She mentioned it. Did you meet in a caucus of some
people in the Denver area, out of which caucus came a concerted plan,
includin<? the circulation of a letter ?
Mrs. Bramhall. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds
previously stated.
Mr. Arexs. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny
the fact, that after you received your subpena you and otlier comrades
in the Communist Party in this area had a caucus at which it was
decided that there would be an attempted smear of the House Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities; that you caused to be circulated
this open letter and that you caused to be made representations to cer-
tain people in this community against the House Committee on Un-
American Activities. Is that true or is that false ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mr. Miller. That is quite a speech, Mr. Chairman. Go ahead and
answer.
Mrs. Bramhall. You attribute a great deal more power to me than
I ever dreamed I had.
Mr. Arexs. If that is not true, deny it under oath before this com-
mittee.
Mrs. Br-vmhall. Would you mind not interrupting me I It is very
difficult to make this appearance anyway. I refuse to answer the
question on the grounds previously stated.
Mr. Arexs. Do you honestly apprehend if you gave a truthful
answer to that last principal question you would be supplying infor-
mation which could be used against you in a criminal proceeding?
jNIrs. Bramhall. As I said before, the fifth amendment is used by
both the innocent and the guilty and I refuse to answer that question
under the first and fifth amendments of the Constitution.
Mr. Arexs. xVre you innocent of the allegations which I made to
you in the last principal question ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mr. Miller. Will the reporter repeat the last one ? We are a little
bit lost. That was more of a speech than a question, Mr. Counsel.
Will 3'ou repeat the last principal question ?
The CHAmMAX. You advise your client and I will criticize the
committee counsel.
Mr. Miller. All right.
(The reporter read from his notes, as follows:
Mr. Aeens. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny the fact,
that after you received your subpena you and other comrades in the Communist
Party in this area had a caucus at which it was decided that there would be an
4278 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
attempted smear of the House Committee on Un-American Activities ; that you
caused to be circulated tliis open letter and that you caused to be made
representations to certain people in this community against the House Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities. Is that true or is it false?
Mrs. Bramhall. I claim my privilege mider the amendments.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, we have no further questions of this
witness at this time.
The Chairman. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, David Bram-
hall exhibit No. 2 be incorporated by reference in this record and
retained in the hies of the committee.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arens. Martha Correa, please.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
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 ?
Miss Correa. Yes, I do.
TESTIMONY OF MARTHA CORREA; ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
MARVIN DANSKY
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
Miss Correa. INIy name is Martha Correa. I live at 2416 West
36th Avenue. My occupation — various occupations — labor many
times, and I am trained to do general office work also. I have worked
in both labor and office work.
Mr. Arens. Where are you presently employed ?
Miss Correa. Mr. Arens, I would like to request that I not reveal
where I am presently employed for the reason that a few days after I
received the subpena from this committee I was fired from one job, and
it seems to me that perhaps my employer must have felt that merely
receiving the subpena from this committee places me on a blacklist. I
need my job. I don't earn very much as it is. I do not wish to be
fired from my present job.
Mr. Arens. You mean you have acquired new employment since the
time you received your subpena?
Miss Correa. That is correct ; yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by the House Un-American Activities
Committee ?
Miss Correa. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. When this employer fired you did he have a conversa-
tion with you as to whether oi- not you might be a member of the
Communist conspiracy ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
The Chairman. I think the record should show that the witness is
accompanied by counsel.
Mr. Arens. I beg your pardon. Counsel. Let us interject that, if
you please. You are accompanied by counsel?
Miss Correa. Yes; I am.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel identif v himself ?
Mr. Dansky. Marvin, M-a-r-v-i-n, Dansky, D-a-n-s-k-y, 511 Uni-
versity Building, Denver, Colo.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4279
Miss CoRREA. I will give you my past employment if you wish.
Mr. Arens. Would you proceed to answer the question which is
oustanding.
(The witness conferred with lier counsel.)
Mr. Dansky. May we respectfully request to have the question
read back?
Mr. Arexs. You protested here that you did not want to reveal the
name of your employer or place of employment because you were
fired from your last employment after you received your subpena. I
therefore ask you the question as to whether or not you revealed to
the employer who fired you information respecting Communist Party
membership.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss CoRREA. ]\Ir. Arens, I wish to decline to answer that question
on the ground that I do not wish to be a witness against myself.
Mr. Arexs. Have you ever been a member of the Colorado Com-
mittee To Protect Civil Liberties?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss CoRREA. Mr. Arens, I believe that question comes under the
protection of the first amendment and the right of people to assemble
and freedom of speech, and I wish to decline to answer that question
on the grounds of the first amendment and the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arexs. Do you honestly apprehend if you told this committee
whether or not you were a member of the Colorado Committee To
Protect Civil Liberties you would be supplying information which
could be used against you in a criminal proceeding?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss Correa. Mr. Arens, I wish to refuse to answer that question,
as I have the same objections to that question as I did to the previous
question.
The Chairmax. Just a moment. You say "I wish to." By that
you mean "I do" ?
Miss Correa. I do. I invoke my privilege.
Mr. Arexs. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, the witness be
ordered and directed to answer that last principal question.
The Chairmax. Yes ; you are directed to answer that question.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss Correa. Mr. Walter, I refuse on the same grounds.
Mr. Arexs. I lay before you now a document which I have marked
"Correa Exhibit No. 1," which is a photostatic copy of an article
appearing in the Denver Post, November 9, 1954, in which a person
by the name of Martha Correa is identified as chairman of a Colorado
Committee To Protect Civil Liberties. I ask you to take a glance
at that article, please, and tell us whether or not you are the person
alluded to in that article as chairman of the Colorado Committee To
Protect Civil Liberties.
(The witness conferred with her comisel.)
Miss Correa. I refuse to answer that question on the same grounds
as I previously stated.
Mr. Arexs. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman Correa exhibit
No. 1 be mcorporated by reference in the record and retained in the
committee files.
The Chairmax. It is so ordered.
79079—56 — pt. 2 6
4280 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. Miss Correa, would you look over to your left and my
right to the gentleman in the blue suit, Mr. Duran, who is standing,
and tell this committee whether or not you have ever seen him before.
Miss CoRREA. Mr. Chairman, I would like to look him in the eye,
as you tell other people that.
Mr. Arens. Yes ; look him in the eye and tell this committee whether
or not you have ever seen him before.
Miss CoRREA. Permit me to say that I feel he is a disgrace to the
j)eople and therefore I must decline to answer that question on the
grounds of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. He testilied under oath before this committee that he
knew you as a Communist when he was an undercover agent serving
his country for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Do you care
to remove that disgraceful epithet from your name by denying it now
under oath.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss CoRREA. Mr. Arens, let me say perhaps you misunderstood me.
I stated that I felt he was a disgrace to my people.
The Chairman. What do you mean by "my people" ?
Miss CoRREA. The JNIexican and Spanish people of Denver in my
community.
The Chairman. He may be what you say, but he is certainly not
that with respect to the American people.
Miss Correa. The Mexican people are American people, Mr. Walter.
They are Americans, and I resent that. I am an American, Mr. Walter.
The Chairman. I thought so.
Miss Correa. Well, you didn't say that.
The Chairman. You are the one who raised the question.
Go ahead.
Mr. Arens. Will you answer the principal question ?
Miss Correa. I didn't get to finish when Mr. Walter asked another
question.
As I said, I said he was a disgrace to my people and I felt that,
and that therefore I must refuse to answer that question on the
grounds of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Won't you stand up here like a redblooded American
and deny before this committee, if it is a fact, that you have never
been a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss Correa. To my knowledge I have always learned that all
Americans have red blood. I don't know. I may not have been
taught that in school, and so forth. I wish to decline to answer that
question. I think it is an invasion of the secrecy of the ballot and I
intend to cast my ballot in November. Therefore I wish to refuse to
answer that question on the grounds of the amendments.
If I may, I believe I recall yesterday hearing Mr. Walter, after
conmiending the Government witness Martin, refer to other people as
taking refuge behind amendments.
The Chairman. That is right.
Miss Correa. I would like to say, Mr. Walter, that in claiming the
privilege of these amendments I do not take refuge behind them. I
would like to state that I was taught in the Denver public schools to
respect, uphold, and always to defend the United States Constitution
and its Bill of Rights.
COMMUNIST ACTU'ITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4281
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of a conspiracy which is dedi-
cated to the destruction of the Constitution of the United States,
including the Bill of Rights ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mr. Daxsky. "Would you read back that question, please ?
Mr. Arens. I will repeat it. Have you been a member of a con-
spiracy which is dedicated to the destruction of the Constitution of
the United States, including the Bill of Rights ?
(The witness conferred with her comisel.)
Miss CoRREA. Mr. Arens, I decline to answer that question on all
the previous grounds I have stated.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you a document which I have marked
"Correa Exhibit No. 2,'" which contains an advertisement appearing
in the Communist Daily Worker of New York ]\Ionday, February 22,
1954. The advertisement is respecting a rally for Ben Davis. This
rally is under the auspices of a delegation, including a number of
people. Speakers at the rally are as follows :
William Patterson, Louise Jeffers, James Ford, and a person iden-
tified here as Martha Correa.
I ask you to take a glance at that advertisement and tell this com-
mittee whether or not you are the Martha Correa who spoke at the
rally alluded to in this advertisement.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
]\Ir. Dansky. Will counsel point out where the name appears ?
(Mr. Arens indicating on document.)
Mr. Dansky. Thank you.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss Correa. Mr. Arens, I decline to answer that question on all the
grounds previously stated, under constitutional guaranties.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this exhibit
marked "Correa Exhibit No. 2" be incorporated by reference in this
record and retained in the committee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
]Mr. Arens. Since you received your subpena to appear before this
committee did you have a conversation with persons other than with
counsel respecting a course of action to be taken with reference to
the House Committee on Un-American Activities and with reference
to these hearings ?
Miss Correa. I did discuss my subpena with many of my friends,
many people.
]Mr. Arens. Did you discuss it in a little meeting of your friends,
a little caucus, we might call it ?
]Miss Correa. Would you be more specific as to what you have refer-
ence to ?
Mr. Arens. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny
the fact, that after you received your subpena you and the other com-
rades of this area had a caucus in which it was decided that every
effort would be made to discredit this committee, including causing
the open letter to be circulated, representations being made to other
persons to discredit this committee in these hearings. If that is not a
fact as I have asserted it, deny it while you are under oath.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss Correa. May I see the open letter, Mr. Arens, that you are
referring to ?
4282 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. Yes. I am now laying before you David Bramhall
exhibit No. 2.
Mr. Dansky. This is a newspaper ; is that correct ?
Mr. Arens. It is identified in the record, Counsel. You have prac-
ticed law long enough to know tliat.
Mr. Dansky. It is not a letter.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss CoRREA. May we take a moment, please.
The Chairman.. Surely.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss Correa. Would you specifically repeat that question ?
Mr. Arens. You have taken 5 minutes to confer with your counsel.
Miss Correa. I do have the right to confer with counsel, don't I?
Mr. Arens. Can the reporter find the question ?
(The reporter read from his notes as requested, as follows :
Mr. Akens. I put it to you as a fact, and ask you to affirm or deny the fact,
that after you received your subpena you and the other comrades of this area
had a caucus in which it was decided that every effort would be made to discredit
this committee, including; causing tlie open letter to he cii'culated, representations
being made to other persons to discredit this committee in these hearings. If
that is not a fact as I have asserted it, deny it while you are under oath.
Miss Correa. I would like to try to answer that question and I will
give my grounds. It seems to me
Mr. Arens. If you are going to decline to answer, decline to answer.
If you start to answer the question, you are going to be obliged by this
committee to give a full, complete, and truthful answer.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Miss Correa. I decline to answer on the grounds of the privilege of
the fifth amendment. I think that this is an attack against the civic
community leaders, in my community. If you have come to Denver
to attack them, I do not think that is correct. They are expressing —
I see nothing about saying anything about discredit. I would feel
that any discredit would only be brought upon the committee by itself
and by no one else.
Mr. Arens. To your knowledge did the Conununist conspiracy in
this community instigate the circulation of this open letter?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
iliss Correa. I wish to decline to answer that question on the
grounds of the first amendment, that the people have the right to pro-
test, freedom of speech, and I feel that in that article they were
expressing that freedom of speech as to their caution to this com-
mittee to be fair play and suggestions that they have made to this
committee.
I also decline to answer the question on the grounds of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend if you told this committee
truthfully whether or not you have knowledge respecting the instiga-
tion by the Communist conspiracy of the open letter and other devices
in this community in the course of the last 2 or 3 weeks to discredit
this committee, you would be supplying information which could be
used against you in a criminal proceeding ?
Miss Correa. It is a very long question.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
COMlVnjNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOIINTAIN AREA 4283
Miss CoRREA. That is a very long question. I will give you a very
short answer, though. I refuse to answer on all the grounds I have
previously invoked.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, the witness be
ordered and directed to answer that last question.
The Chairman. You are directed to answer the question.
]\Iiss CoRREA. I choose J Mr. Walter, to refuse to answer that ques-
tion on the previous consitutional guaranties that I have stated.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that will con-
clude the interrogation by the staff of this witness.
The Chairman. The witness is excused from further attendance
under the subpena, and the committee will take a recess of 5 minutes.
(Brief recess.)
The Chairman. The committee will be in order.
Call your next witness.
(Committee members present: Representatives Walter and Velde.)
Mr. Arens. Mr. Kenneth Kripke, K-r-i-p-k-e, please.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand ? Do you swear the
testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Kripke. I do.
TESTIMONY OF KENNETH N. KRIPKE, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
CLIFPORD W. MILLS
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Kripke. My name is Kenneth N. Kripke, my address 2700
South Forest, here in Denver. My occupation is attorney at law.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American Acti-
vities ?
Mr. I^iPKE. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Kripke. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Counsel will kindly identify himself.
Mr. Mills. Clifford W. Mills, 302 Majestic Building, Denver,
attorney at law.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Kripke, give us, if you please, a word about your
personal background prior to the time that you began the practice of
law. "WHiere did you go to school, where were you born and so forth.
Mr. Kripke. I was born in Ohio in 1920. I attended the Ohio State
University 1937 through 1941. I worked for a short time and then
when war was declared I volunteered for the United States Army. I
served for more than 4 years in the Army. Twenty-six months of
that time was overseas.
After I completed my service I attended the University of Colorado
Law School. I graduated from the University of Colorado Law-
School in 1948. I was admitted to practice in the State of Colorado in
1949, early in 1949, and I have been practicing law in Denver ever
since. I was in general practice until about 1953, and then I began to
specialize in personal injury law.
4284 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. "V\^iile you were at the University of Colorado would
you tell us whether or not you were president of the Colorado Students
for Wallace?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Kripke. Mr. Arens, could you tell me if that group has been
identified as a subversive or Communist-front organization before this
committee ?
Mr. Arens. I don't believe it has.
Mr. Kripke. Yes, I think it was.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you now, Mr. Kripke, a photostatic copy of
a newspaper article appearing April 12, 1955, entitled "Law^yer Ac-
cused as C. U. Communist." I have marked it "Kripke Exhibit No. 1,"
and I should like to read part of it to you :
A Denver attorney was named in Federal court late Monday afternoon as a
Communist at the University of Colorado 7 years ago, but the lawyer denied the
testimony. The lawyer, Kenneth N. Kripke, president of the Wallace for Presi-
dent Student Group at CU in 1948, denied that he was ever a member of the
Communist Party or that he had ever attended a Communist meeting.
I would like you to glance at that article and see if that refreshes
your recollection as to whether or not you are the Kenneth N. Kripke
who made the statement attributed to you in that article.
Mr. Kripke. I must refuse to answer that question on the ground
of the fifth amendment of the United States Constitution.
Mr. Arens. Did you actually make a statement to the press in re-
sponse to queries respecting the testimony in the court given back in
April of 1955 by Harold Page Martin ?
Mr. Kripke. I must refuse to answer that question on the same
grounds.
The Chairman. When you say "I must," you mean "I do," of course ?
Mr. Kripke. I feel that 1 must, Mr. Walter, because of the
The Chairman. But do you ?
Mr. Kripke. Because of this committee hearing.
The Chairman. Do you refuse to answer ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Kripke. Mr. Chairman, I am not impugning on the committee
that they are forcing me to do this, but I feel that because of the
matters about which Mr. Arens is questioning that I personally must
take the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Why?
Mr. Kripke. I refuse to answer that question. I refuse to answer
that question on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Do you lionestly apprehend that if you told tliis com-
mittee whether or not you are the same person Avho was alluded to in
this newspaper article as denying Communist Party membei-ship you
w^ould be supplying information which could be used against you in a
criminal proceeding ?
Mr. Kripke. Mr. Chairman, under the circumstances of this commit-
tee hearing I don't think it is necessary for me to explain the reasons
wliy I invoke the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. We are not asking for an explanation. We are only
asking whether or not you honestly apprehend, actually fear, if you
would give us a truthful answer to that principal question you would
be supplying information w^hich might be used against you in a crimi-
nal proceeding.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOTJNTAIN AREA 4285
Mr. Kripke. Again I say, Mr. Chairman, I must invoke the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, ^Ir. Chairman, that the witness
be ordered and directed to answer the question.
The CiiAiRMAx. You are directed to answer.
Mr Kripke. The same answer.
Mr. Arens. You weren't under oath when you told the newspaper
reporter, "No ; I am not a Communist," were you ?
Mr. Kripke. The same answer, sir.
Mr. Arexs. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this docu-
ment which I have marked ''Kripke Exhibit No. 1" be incorporated by
reference in the record and retained in the committee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arexs. Harold Page Martin testified under oath before this
committee that he Imew you as a member of the Commmiist Party.
"Was he lying or telling the truth ?
Mr. Kripke. The same answer.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Duran, would you remain standing there, please ?
Did you ever see this gentleman to my right in the blue suit whom I
have just called Mr. Duran ?
Mr. Kripke. The same answer.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Duran took an oath before this committee and tes-
tified that he knew you as a member of the Communist Party. AYas
]\Ir. Duran lying or was he telling the truth ?
Mr. Kripke. The same answer, jNlr. Arens.
Mr. Arexs. Do you intend after you are released from your sub-
pena and released from the pains and penalties of possible perjury to
go out in this community and say, "Of course, I am not a Communist.
I have never been a Communist," and reaffirm what you said to the
paper, "but I wasn't going to tell that witch-hunting House Un-Amer-
ican Activities Committee I am not a Communist'' ? Do you intend to
do that?
Mr. Kripke. I haven't any present intention on that, INIr. Arens.
Frankly, I haven't made up my mind as to that.
Mr. Arexs. Are you identified with the Committee for Peaceful Al-
ternatives to the Atlantic Pact ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Kripke. I decline to answer on the grounds of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Arexs. I lay before you now a photostatic copy of a document
which I haved marked "Kripke Exhibit No. 2" and entitled "Commit-
tee for Peaceful Alternatives to the Atlantic Pact," containing a peti-
tion or statement by a number of folks, under date of December 14,
1949. Appended to this petition or statement are the names of a num-
ber of persons, including the name of Kenneth N. Kripke, executive
secretary, Colorado Progressive Party, Denver. I lay that before you
and ask you if 3'Ou are the Kenneth N. Kripke alluded to in that
document.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
INIr. Kripke. I decline to answer under the privileges afforded me by
the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arexs. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, this document
marked "Kripke Exhibit No. 2'' be incorporated by reference in the
record and retained in the committee files.
4286 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
The staff will have no more questions at this time of this witness.
May I respectfully suggest the record include the citations of the
Committee for Peaceful Alternatives to the Atlantic Pact appearing in
the Guide to Subversive Organizations.
The Chairman. It is so ordered. The witness is excused from fur-
ther attendance under the subpena.
(The citations referred to above follow:)
Committee for Peaceful Alteenativks to the Atlan tk.; Pact
1. Cited as an organization which was formed as a result of the Conference for
Peaceful Alternatives to the Atlantic Pact, and which was located,
according to a letterhead of September 16, 1950, at 30 North Dearborn
Street, Chicago 2, 111. ; and to further the cause of "Communists in the
United States'" doing "their part in the Moscow campaign."
(Congressional Committee on Un-American Activities, House Report
No. 378, on the Communist ''Peace'' Offensive, April 25, 1951, original
date, April 1, 1951, p. 5//.)
Mr. Arens. Mr. Alfonso Sena, please.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand and swear that
the testimony you are about to give will be the trutli, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Sena. I do.
TESTIMONY OF ALFONSO SENA, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
JAMES W. WILSON
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Sena. My name is Alfonso Sena. I work at the Gates Rubber
Co.
Mr. Arens. I didn't get that, please, sir.
Mr. Sena. I work at Gates Rubber Co.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity?
Mr. Sena. I am a cutter operator.
Mr. Arens. Where were you born?
Mr. Sena. Trinidad, Colo., in 1913.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel today ?
Mr. Sena. Yes. '
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kindlv identifv himself?
Mr. Wilson. James W. Wilson, attorney at law, 611 E. & C. Build-
ing, Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. Give us if you please, sir, a brief sketch of your educa-
tional background.
Mr. Sena. I haven't any.
Mr. Arens. I beg your pardon?
Mr. Sena. I have none.
Mr. Arens. Tell us the various jobs you have held since you became
an adult or self-sufficient.
Mr. Sena. During the })eriod that I was young there was a depres-
sion going on and jobs were hard to get. I done odd jobs here and
there until I was inducted into the Army. I served from October
in 1942 until September in 1945.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir. Go ahead.
Mr. Sena. Since I was discharged I was employed by the Gates
Rubber Co. and I have been there for over 10 years.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOtTNTAIN AREA 4287
Mr. Arens. Are you now a member of the Coniiiiunist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Sena. I refuse to answer that question on the ground of the
fifth amendment to tlie Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Sena — is it S-e-e-n-a or S-e-n-a ?
Mr. Sena. S-e-n-a.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Sena, Mr. Bellarmino Duran testified under oath
before this committee a few days ago to the eti'ect tliat while he was an
undercover agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Com-
munist Party lie knew you as a member of the Communist Party.
Was Mr. Duran lying, or was he telling the truth?
Mr. Sena. I refuse to answer on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Sena, if this committee should cause to be insti-
tuted procedings whereby you would be innnune from criminal prose-
cution based on any information you would give to the committee
would you then testify before the committee and give us the informa-
tion 3^ou may have in response to questions which we would propose
to you.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Sena. I refuse to answer the question ; I invoke the privilege.
Mr. Arens. Have you been contacted by members of the Com-
munist Party since you were under subpena to appear here ?
jSIr. Sena. I refuse to answer that question on the same grounds.
JNIr. Arens. Do you presently fear the Communist Party, fear any
people known by j^ou to be Communists ?
INfr. Sena. Would you state that again ?
Mr. Arens. Do you presently fear any people known by you to be
Communists ?
Mr. Sena. Do I fear?
Mr. Arens. Yes.
(The Avitness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Sena. I will take the fifth on that.
Mr. Arens. We liave no further (juestions of this witness, Mr. Chair-
man.
The Chairman. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Fred Trujillo.
The Chairman. Will you stand? Do you swear the testimony
you are about to give will be the truth, (he whole truth, and nothing biil
the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Tru.tillo. I do.
TESTIMONY OF FRED TRUJILLO, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
OMAR E. GARWOOD
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
ISIr. Trujillo. My name is Fred Trujillo, born and raised in Colo-
rado. I live at 4305 Sheridan, Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. And your occupation, please ?
Mr. Trujillo. I am a laborer.
Mr. Arens. Where do you work ?
Mr. Trujillo. On construction.
Mr. Arens. Where?
Mr. Trujillo. Here in Denver.
4288 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Arens. Wliat firm ?
Mr. Tkujillo. The Hutcheson Contractors.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been so employed ?
Mr. Trujillo. About a year and 3 months.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented today b}^ counsel in this proceed-
ing?
Mr. Trujillo. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel will kindly identify himself.
Mr. Garwood. My name is Omar E. Garwood; Omar like Omar
Kliayyam. I am a Denver attorney of some 50 years' standing here.
My office is in the Denver Club Building, 600 Denver Club Building.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ; is that correct ?
Mr. Trujillo. I am.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of the Communist Party ?
]Mr. Trujillo. I decline to answer that on the basis of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Arens. A couple of days ago Mr. Bellarmino Duran testified
before this committee under oath in open session that while he was
an undercover agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the
Communist conspiracy in tliis country he knew you as a member of the
Communist Party? Was IMr. Duran Iving, or was he telling the
truth?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Trujillo. I decline to answer on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. No further questions of this witness.
The Chairman. The ^vitness is excused.
Call tlie next witness, please.
Mr. xVrens. Mr. Deikman, D-e-i-k-m-a-n.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the ti'uth, so help you God?
Mr. Deikman. I do.
Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, may we ask a ban on photographs?
The Chairman. I don't know why you make that request when it is
quite obvious that there are no photographei's here.
Mr. Sher:man. I did see a photographer here recently.
TESTIMONY OF EUGENE DEIKMAN, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL.
EDWAED H. SHERMAN
Mr. xVrens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Deikman. Eugene Deikman. I am an attorney. I reside in
EnglcAvood, Colo. I have offices in the Ernest & Crammer Building
in Denver.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today, Mr. Deikman, in response to
a subpena served upon you bj' the House Committee on Un-American
Activities?
Mr. Deikman. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Deikman. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel identify himself.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOTTNTAIN AREA 4289
Mr. Sherman. Edward H. Sherman, Mile High Center Building,
Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, about your place of birth and
education.
Mr. DEiK:NrAN. I was born in Denver, Colo. I was educated in
Pueblo, Colo., in the primary schools. I went to the University of
Colorado in 1946 and graduated there with an LL. B. in 1952.
Mr. Arens. Have you been practicing law here since that time ?
Mr. Deikman. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of the Commimist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Deikman. In the first place, I want to make it very clear to
you, Mr. Arens and Chairman Walter, that I do not fear to divulge
anything before a proper committee having a legitimate purpose re-
specting my activities, associations, or anything that I have ever done.
However, I feel that this committee is improperly investigating my
private affairs. The resolution which empowers this committee to
investigate into Un-American activities is Public Law 601. This law,
as I interpret it, is so broad in its nature as to violate the first amend-
ment of the Constitution. It does this because it says that the investi-
gation is un-American propaganda. This term "propaganda"
Mr. Yelde. I object to a continuation of this witness' testimony
if it is to be a lecture. We have had these lectures from time to time
ever since this committee was formed. We know all about the type
of man that he is. We don't have to be informed about the
Mr. Deikman. You do know, Mr. Yelde
Mr. Yelde. Responsibility of this committee by you.
The Chairman. Just a minute.
Mr. Deikman. Are you withdrawing the question ?
The Chair]man. This is not the proper forum in which to raise the
questions that you are raising. If you decline to answer the question,
saj'' so. This is not the place to attack the validity of the statute di-
recting this committee. That is the province of the courts.
Mr. Deikman. As an eminent attorney, Mr. Walter, I think you are
aware of the fact that a person must state at the time he refuses to
answer a question his legitimate reasons for so refusing.
The Chairman. That is right. Go ahead.
Mr. Deikman. That is what I am in the process of doing. I want
to make myself clear on this.
Mr. Yelde. You can do it without giving us a lecture on our re-
sponsibility.
Mr. Deikman. No ; Mr. Yelde, I know that you receive lectures on
this and it is not my intention
The Chairman. Answer the question.
Mr. Deikman. TNHiich question am I answering ?
The Chairman. "\Miatever question you think yon are answering.
Proceed.
Mr. Arens. The outstanding question is, are 3^ou a member of the
Community Part}^ ?
Mr. Deikman. All right. I will continue to answer that question.
I feel that the word "propaganda" as used in your resolution is one
that is so broad as not merely to limit itself to certain areas of in-
vestigation that Congress has a legitimate right to restrain itself
to, such as the advocacy of the overthrow of the Government hj force
4290 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
and violence, but the word "propaganda" is a word which means in
essence free speech and therefore I refuse on the basis of the resoki-
tion which empowers this committee to answer the question.
I further refuse because I believe that you don't have any real in-
terest in my private affairs. There isn't anything of significance to
this committee concerning my private affairs. There is nothing upon
which you can legislate. ^Moreover, you haven't told me what you
are interested in regard to my private affairs. I think that my pri-
vate affairs are as immune from an unreasonable investigation as a
person's goods are from an unreasonable search.
I further refuse to answer this question on the basis that this ques-
tion carries an inference of infamy in it, and I agree with Professor
Franklin that the amendment to the Constitution referring to infamy
was designed specifically to exclude legislative groups from inquiring
into people's private aff'airs and from infaming them.
Further, I refuse to answer under the 6th, 9th, and 10th amendments,
and I have no intention of being a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Are you invoking the fifth amendment?
Mr. Deikman. You are a lawyer, Mr. Arens. I suppose you know
which amendment I am referring to.
The Chairman. Yes ; but 3^ou didn't refer to it.
Mr. Deikman. Well "
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend, sir, if you gave a truthful
answer to this last principal question outstanding on this record you
would be supplying information which might be used against you in
a criminal proceeding?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Deikman. My answer to that is that what I honestly apprehend
is that the privilege against beiug compelled to be a witness against
oneself is a privilege which carries no inferences regarding it. As a
lawyer, you know that. I tell you that I have asserted by constitutional
privileges in good faith. I will not be entrapped by devious questions
as to inferences relating to my use of the constitutional guarantee.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Harold Page Martin, under oath before this com-
mittee, testified that he, while a member of the Communist Party,
knew you as a member of the Communist Party. Was Mr. Martin
lying or was he telling the truth ?
Mr. Deikman. That is asking the same question you previously
rendered in a different way, and I urge all the bases for refusing that
I have previously stated.
Mr. Arens. ]Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions of this
witness.
The Chairman. The witness is excused from further attendance
under the subpena.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Morris Judd, please come forward.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
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. Judd. I do.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY IMOUNTAIN AREA 4291
TESTIMONY OF MORKIS JUDD, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
EDWARD H. SHERMAN
Mr. Shermax. Mr. Aiens, I appear on behalf of Mr. Jiidd.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence and oc-
cupation.
Mr. JuDD. Morris Jiidd, Greeley, Colo., bookkeeper.
Mr. Arexs. Are yon appearing today, Mr. Judd, in response to a
subpena which was served upon yon by the House Committee on Un-
American Activities?
Mr. Judd. I am.
Mr. Arens. And are you represented by counsel?
Mr. Judd. I am.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kind)}' identify himself.
Mr. SiiER]MAx. Edward II. Sherman, attorney at law in Denver,
Colo., with address at the Mile High Center.
Mr. Arexs. Where and when were you born, Mr. Judd?
Mr. Judd. I was born in Denver, Colo., October 6, 1916.
Mr. Arexs. Tell us, if you will, please, a word about your education.
Mr. Judd. Denver public schools, through high school. University
of Colorado with an A. B. degree in 1938, graduate study at Columbia
University in philosophy in 1938 to 1941.
Mr. Arexs. Did you receive a degree from Columbia in 1941?
Mr. Judd. No, sir.
Mr. Arexs. Did that complete your formal education?
]\Ir. Judd. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arexs. Now give us if you please, sir, a sketch of your employ-
ment since you completed your formal education.
Mr. Judd. The Department of Agriculture in 1941, June of 1941 to
January 1943.
Mr. Arexs. In what unit of the Department of Agriculture?
Mr. Judd. Agricultural Adjustment Administration.
Mr. Arexs. "Wliere?
Mr. Judd, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Arexs. Your next employment ?
Mr. Judd. In the service during the war, 1943-46.
Mr. Arexs. Your next employment ?
Mr. Judd. I owned a book store in Boulder, Colo., from 1946 to
February of 1950.
Mr. Arexs. "Wliat is the name of the book store ?
Mr. Judd. Judd Book and Record Shop.
Mr. Arexs. Your next employment?
Mr. Judd. In the fall of 1949 I taught at the University of Colorado.
Mr. xVrexs. "\^niat did 3'ou teach ?
Mr. Judd. Philosophy.
Mr. Arexs. For how long did you teach?
Mr. Judd. Until June of 1952.^
Mr. Arexs. And your next employment?
Mr. Judd. ]\Iy present position in Greeley, Colo.
Mr. Arexs. Was your disassociation from Colorado University
voluntary ?
4292 COMMUNIST activities in the rocky moxjntain area
Mr. JuDD. What precisely do you have in mind ?
Mr. Arens. Were you fired or did you resign ?
Mr. JuDD. May I consult with counsel ?
The Chairman. Surely.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. JuDD. "Wliat do 3' ou mean by being fired, Mr. Arens ?
Mr. Arens. I think you know what I am talking about. Were you
discharged involuntarily? You are a man of education. Were you
fired or did you resign ?
Mr. JuDD. As a matter of fact, I did neither.
Mr. Arens. What did occur?
Mr. JuDD. My contract was not renewed.
Mr. Arens. Was your disassociation then voluntary or involuntary?
Mr. JuDD. When a person's contract isn't renewed, it seems to me to
be irrelevant to ask that question.
Mv. Arens. All right, sir; we will pass that by then. Were you
interrogated by the university president respecting possible Com-
munist connections just prior to the time that your contract was not
renewed ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. JuDD. As a student of philosophy I have come to accept the
basic democratic principles embodied in the Constitution of the
United States, and in particular those rights guaranteed citizens by
the Bill of Rights, and I believe that such questions are an invasion
of my privacy, my beliefs, and of everything that I hold decent. I
therefore decline to answer that question and do so on the basis of the
principles that I believe are embodied in the first amendment to the
Constitution, the fourth amendment to the Constitution, the fifth
amendment to the Constitution, the sixth amendment to the Consti-
tution and tenth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Does your basic philosophy of life preclude you from
membership in a conspiracy designed to destroy the Constitution of
the United States ?
Mr. JuDD. Sir, this question has to do wath beliefs and therefore I
will not answer it.
Mr. Arens. I lay before you a document marked for identification
as "Judd Exhibit No. 1." It is a photostatic copy of an article from
the Denver Post of March 25, 1952. I should like to read you part
of it.
CiNiL Liberties Uxion Launches Judd Probe
The Colorado branch of the American Civil Liberties Union Saturday launched
an investigation of the dismissal of Morris A. Judd, University of Colorado
philosophy instructor, to determine whether Judd's academic freedom or freedom
of speech have been violated. Judd, whose two-semester contract was not re-
newed because of what university officials said was his failure to make sufficient
academic progress, told the Denver Post he had been quizzed by Dr. Robert
Stearns, university president, regarding possible Communist connections and that
he had denied such connections.
Take a glance at the article, if you will, please, sir, and tell us
whether or not you are the person alluded to in that article as the
one who denied Communist Party connections.
Mr, Judd. Again I shall decline to answer that question on the
grounds previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Did your philosophic motivation break down when
you were talking to the reporter for the
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4293
Mr. JuDD. Would you like to discuss pliilosox^hy sometime, Mr.
Arens ?
Mr. Akens. Did your philosophic motivation break down when you
were talking with the reporter for the Denver Post and were not under
oath and denied Communist Party membership ?
Mr. JuDD. Would you like to discuss my philosophy some time, Mr.
Arens ?
Mr. Arexs. Would you answer the question, please, sir?
Mr. JuDD. I refuse to answer on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Harold Page Martin took an oath before this committee
and testified that while he was a member of the Communist Party
he knew 3'ou as a member of the Communist Party. Was he lying
or was he telling the truth?
Mr. JuDD. I have no idea what Mr. Martin said to this committee.
Mr. Arens. I just told you. He said he knew you as a member of
the Communist Party. Was he lying or telling the truth ?
Mr. JuDD. I decline to answer that question on the same gromids.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions of this
witness.
The Chairman. The witness is excused.
Call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. Mr. David Eakins.
The Chairman. AVill you raise your right hand? Do you swear
(he testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Eakins. Yes.
TESTIMONY OF DAVID EAKINS, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
HAERY K. NIER, JR.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Eakins. My name is David Eakins. I would like to make this
very clear because a stoolpigeon called me "Eekins" and my name is
properly pronounced Eakins. My friends know that.
Mj occupation is a sheep butcher. My residence is Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. xA.re you appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities?
Mr. Eakins. Yes, I am.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel?
Mr. Eakins. I am.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel kindly identify himself ?
Mr. NiER. Harry K. Nier, Majestic Building, Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Eakins, a stoolpigeon is one who testifies falsely
or gives false information. Isn't that right ?
Mr. Eakins. A stoolpigeon is any man who is paid for testimony and
spies on his neighbors and his friends and relatives.
Mr. Arens. Are you asserting that any witness appearing before
this committee in the last several days has been paid by this com-
mittee for giving false information ?
Mr. Eakins. This witness was paid for his testimony.
Mr. Arens. Did he give false information to your knowledge?
4294 COMAILTNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Eakins. Stoolpigeoiis always give false information. Tra-
ditionally they give false information.
Mr. Arens. Then I take it you assert that the witness who identified
you as a member of the Connnunist Party gave false information to
this committee, is that correct ?
Mr. Eakins. I am not answering that question because it is none
of your business.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness on
that ground be directed to answer the question.
The Chairman. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Nier. We are going to have a little consultation, if you don't
mind.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Eakins. Would you repeat that question, Mr. Arens ?
Mr. Arens. Read the question to him, please, Mr. Reporter.
(The question was read by the reporter.)
Mr. Eakins. I would like to decline to answer that question on the
following grounds : I said first of all it is none of your business because
the Constitution specifically states that there shall be no abridgement
of the freedom of speech or press or the right of people peaceably to
assemble. I believe that with all my heart. I always have.
Further, you are violatino- this: This is an unconstitutional com-
mittee in the first place. The basis for its existence is unconstitutional .
The real purpose for its existence is doubly unconstitutional. To ask
such a question is unconstitutional because it violates article 1 of the
Bill of Rights. Further, it violates article 5 in which it says a person
shall not be compelled to be a witness against himself nor shall he be
deprived of due process of law.
You are asking me about this stoolpigeon, and yet you w^on't let my
counsel cross-examine this man. I don't have the right to confront my
witness, in other words.
Finally, article 8 says nor shall cruel and unusual punishment be
inflicted upon citizens. This committee is inflicting cruel and unusual
])unishment by the very fact that it's issuing subpenas, and you know
this full well. One witness up here testified she had lost a job already
simply by receiving the subpena. This is one of the purposes for your
asking where people live and where they work and what their activi-
ties are.
On these grounds I refuse to answer this question.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Eakins, we are going to give you an opportunity to
be confronted by Mr. Duran. Is Mr. Duran here ?
Please remain standing, Mr. Duran. This gentleman here testified
under oath that he knew you as a member of the Communist Party.
Look at him and tell this committee whether or not this man was lying
or whether he was telling the truth.
Mr. Eakins. Mr. Arens, your theatrics do not take the place of
due process of law. Let my lawyer cross-examine that stoolpigeon.
The Chairman. You have used that term enough. In your eyes
and in the eyes of your sort he may be
Mr. Eakins. What do you mean by that?
The Chairman. This sort of person
Mr. Eakins. You have characterized me, and I would like to
know
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4295
The Chairman. But the greatest majority, the vast majority of the
American people regard liim as being a great American.
Mr. Eakins. I do not regard him as sucli.
The Chairman. Tliat is tlie point. It doesn't make any difference.
Proceed.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of the Communist Party now?
Mr. Eakins. I give you the same answer tliat I gave to the other
question and on the same grounds, that it is none of your business and
for the reasons tliat I have already stated. It is none of your busi-
ness if I am or am not, if I am a vegetarian, Socialist, Kepublican,
or Democrat, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of a conspiracy ?
Mr. Eakins. I have answered that question. It is the same question,
and I give you the same answer on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Do you regard the characterization of the Communist
Party as a conspiracy an accurate characterization ?
Mr. Eakins. What I think about the Communist Party is none
of your business, and I give the same answer and the same grounds
for refusing to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny
the fact that you are presently one of the leading Communist Party
operatives in the Rocky Mountain area.
Mr. Eakins. That is a cute question and it is the same question and
you get the same answer. You are condemning me. You are accusing
me and punishing me before the committee by asking questions like
that and you know it. You know exactly what your answer is going
to be and what your question deserves.
Mr. Arens. Do you want to stand up under oath and deny it ?
Mr. Eakins. I have given you my answer and I don't care how yon
phrase the question or what tricky ways you put it, you are going to
get exactly the same response from me.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Cliairman, I have no further questions of this
witness.
The Chairman. The witness is excused.
Mr. Jones. I assume your witness doesn't want to be paid for his
appearance.
Mr. NiKR. Sure he does.
Mr. AiiENs. Ann Eakins, please.
The Chair]man. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mrs. Ann Eakins. I do.
Mr. NiER. I am entering my appearance for Mrs. Eakins.
TESTIMONY OF ANN EAKINS (MES. DAVID EAKINS); ACCOM-
PANIED BY COUNSEL, HARRY K. NIER, JR.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mrs. Eakins. My name is Ann Eakins, I live in Denver, Colo. I
am a meatpacker.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today, Mrs. Eakins, in response to
79079—56 — pt. 2 7
4296 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
a subpena which was served upon you by the House Committee on
Un-American Activities ?
Mrs. Eakins. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel?
Mrs. Eakins. I am. _
Mr. Akens. Will counsel kindly identify himself ?
Mr. NiER, Harry Nier, Majestic Building, Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. Are you the wife of David Eakins who just appeared
before the committee ?
Mrs. Eakins. I am.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Eakins. Mr. Arens, I would like to tell you now that I con-
sider that an infringement upon my constitutional rights, my freedom
of speech and association. I also consider that an infringement upon
my rights under the fifth amendment of the Constitution, and I will
not answer that question or any like it.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of a conspiracy designed to overthrow
the Government of the United States by force and violence ?
Mrs. Eakins. I thought I made mySelf clear. That is the same
kind of question and I will not answer it.
Mr. Arens. I take it j^ou regard the question with the same con-
notation ?
Mrs. Eakins. I decline to answer that because I don't believe I have
to answer it under the constitutional rights I liave under the first and
fifth amendments.
Mr. Arens. Mrs. Eakins, a person by the name of Bellarmino
Duran, who served his country patriotically for several yeare as a
member of the Communist conspiracy reporting to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, testified under oath before this committee a
couple of days ago that while he was in the Communist Party at the
behest of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he knew you as a mem-
ber of the Communist Party. Was he Iving or was he telling the
truth?
Mrs. Eakins. Mr. Arens, that is also the same kind of question and
I decline to answer that. The fifth amendment is for the protection
of the innocent as well as the guilty and I give j^ou the same answer.
Mr. Arens. Are you innocent of membership in a conspiracy to
destroy the Government of the United States ?
Mrs. Eakins. I am using my rights under the Constitution and that
is what I will do.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions of this wit-
ness.
The Chairman. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. Jesus Bernardino Sauceda, S-a-u-c-e-d-a, please.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
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. Sauceda. I do.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4297
TESTIMONY OF JESUS BEENARDINO SATJCEDA; ACCOMPANIED BY
COUNSEL, NORMAN E. COBB
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by mime, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Sauceda. My name is Jesus Bernardino, B-e-r-n-a-r-d-i-n-o,
Sauceda. I live at 537 25th Street, and I am a packinghouse worker.
Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel today ?
Mr. Sauceda, Yes.
]\Ir. Arens, Will counsel kindly identify himself?
Mr. Cobb. My name is Norman E. Cobb, an attorney at law, I have
offices at 110 West IStli Avenue.
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a siibpena which
was served upon you bv the House Connnittee on Un-American Activi-
ties ?
Mr. Sauceda. I am,
Mr, Arens. Where were you born?
Mr. Sauceda. I was born in Monterrey, Mexico.
Mr. Akens. When?
Mr. Sauceda. :\Iay -20, 1924.
Mr. Arens. When did you come to the United States?
Mr. Sauceda. It was either 1027 or 1928, on February 12, at the age
of approximately 3 or 4. I don't remember exactly.
Mr. Arens. Are you a naturalized citizen?
Mr. Saucj:da. I am.
Mr. Arens. When were you naturalized?
Mr. Sauceda. November'^1 of 1943.
Mr, Arens. Are you a member of the Communist Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr, Sauceda. I am advised that I am not required to give testimony
against myself and therefore I decline to answer the question.
Mr. Arkns. ]Mr. Sauceda, will you look to my right, at the gentleman
who will be coming up here, and tell us whether or not you know him —
Mr. Bellarmino Duran.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Sauceda. I give exactly the same answer, Mr. ^^^llter, on that
question.
Mv. Arens. This man was an agent of the Federal Bureau of In-
vestigation and served his country for some j-ears in the Communist
conspiracy and reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He
testified under oath before this committee that he knew you as a mem-
ber of the Conmiunist Party. Was he lying or was he telling the
ti-uth ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Sauceda. I served my country, too, my adopted country, in the
service of the United States Army. I was a member of a combat
unit in the infantry, as a rifleman, and I was wounded on December 25,
1944, at tlie Battle of the Bulge, so I have no regard comparing
i-ecords of service, and I again Avish to decline to answer the question
on exactly the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Are you the husband of Judith Sauceda ?
Mr. Sauceda. I am.
Mr, Arens. I have no further questions of this witness, Mr. Chair-
man.
4298 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
The Cpiatrman. You are excused.
Mr. Akens. Judith Sauceda, please.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please? Do you
swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mrs. Sauceda. I do.
TESTIMONY OF JUDITH SAUCEDA (MES. JESUS BERNARDINO
SAUCEDA)
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Sauceda. My name is Judith Sauceda, and I live at 537 25th
Street, and I am a factory worker.
Mr. Arens. Have j^ou ever been known by any name other than
Judith Sauceda?
Mrs. Sauceda. I have been known as Judy since I was a little child,
of course. That is my nickname.
Mr. Arens. Are you currently chairman of the West Side Fairplay
Committee ?
(The witness confererd with her counsel.)
Mrs. Sauceda. I am advised that I do not have to give testimony
against nu'self and on the grounds I decline to answer the question.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, the witness be
ordered and directed to answer that question.
The Chairman. Yes ; j^ou are directed to answer the question.
Mrs. Sauceda. On the same grounds I decline to answer the ques-
tion, Mr. Walter.
Mr. Arens. Are you a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Sauceda. I decline to answer that question on the same
grounds.
Mr. Arens. Bellarmino Duran testified under oath before this
committee a couple of days ago that lie knew you as a member of the
Communist Party. Was he lying or was he telling the truth?
Mrs. Sauceda. I am advised that I do not have to answer that
question on the grounds that I do not have to be a witness against
myself.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, no further questions.
The Chairman. The witness is excused.
Mr, Arens. Richard Demming, please.
The Chairman. Will you raise your right hand, please, and swear
the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Demming. I do.
TESTIMONY OF RICHARD DEMMING; ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
MARILYN MEADOFF
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Demming. My name is Richard Demming. I live in Denver,
Colo. I am a packinghouse worker.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4299
Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr, Demmixg. Yes, sir,
Mr, Arens, Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Demming. Yes ; I am.
Mr. Arens. Will counsel identify herself?
Miss Meadoff. JNIarilyn Meadoff, 438 Equitable Building, Denver,
Colo.
Mr. Arens. iNIr. Demming, where and when were you born ?
Mr. Demming. I was born in New London, Wis., on June 25, 1923.
Mr, Arens. A word, please, sir, about your education.
Mr. Demming. I received my education in Wisconsin and New
York.
Mr. Arens. AVliat schools did you attend ?
Mr. Demming. I attended the Lincohi Public School in New London,
Wis. I attended the Washington High School in New London, Wis.
I attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Wis. I attended
Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y.
Mr. Arens. What year did you complete your work at the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin ?
Mr. Demming. In 1947.
Mr. Arens. What year did you complete your formal education in
its entirety ?
Mr. Demming. 1948.
Mr. Arens. Did you receive a degreed
Mr. Demming. I received a bachelor of arts from the University of
Wisconsin.
Mr. Arens. Did that complete your formal education ?
Mr. Demming. I did a year of graduate work at Ithaca, but I did not
receive any further degrees.
Mr. Arens. What was your graduate work ?
Mr. Demming. It was at the New York State School of Industrial
and Labor Relations. It was in labor economics.
Mr. x\rens. What year did you complete that course?
Mr. Demming. I left Ithaca, N. Y., in 1948.
Mr. Arens. Give us, please, a brief chronological sketch of your
employment since you left Ithaca, in 1948.
Mr. Demming. I worked for the International Typographical
Union.
Mr. Arens. Where?
Mr. Demming. In Indianapolis, Ind.
Mr. Arens. Wlien ?
Mr. Demming. From 1948 until 1949.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity ?
Mr. Demming. I was doing research work for them.
Mr. Arens. 'NA^io was your immediate superior?
Mr. Demming. I don't recall.
Mr. Arens. Your next employment, then, please?
Mr. Demming. My next employment was at Cudahy Packing Co.,
Denver, Colo.
Mr. Arens. In what capacity?
Mr. Demming. Laborer.
Mr. Arens. When did that employment begin ?
4300 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA
Mr. Demming. In May of 1949, in June of 1949, May or June.
Mr. Arexs. Have you been continuously employed with that com-
pany since then ?
Mr. Demmixg. Yes.
Mr. Arexs. I lay before you, Mr. Demming, a photostatic copy of
an article appearing in the Rocky Mountain News, May 5, 1955, in
which a statement is attributed to a person by the name of Richard
Denmiing- denying that he had ever been a member of the Communist
Party, let alone having a position of leadership, in response, the article
indicates, to testimony or statements of an undercover agent of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Would you kindly take a glance at
that article and tell us whether or not you are the person who made the
statements attributed to Richard Demming in denial of Communist
Party membership ^
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Demmix'^g. I decline to answer tliat question on the basis of the
first and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Bellarmino Duran testified under oath before this
committee that he knew you as a member of the Communist Party
when he was an undercover agent for the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion. Now while you are under oath would you tell us whether or not
Mr. Duran was h'ing when he so identified you as a member of that
party ?
Mr. Demmix'G. I decline to answer that question on the basis of the
first and fifth amendments to the Constitution of the United States
which I uphold.
Mr. Arexs. Have you ever been a member of an organization which
is dedicated to the destruction of the Constitution of the United
States ^
Mr. Demmixg. I decline to answer that question on the basis of the
first and fifth amendments to the Constitution of the United States,
which I uphold.
Mr. Arex^s. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this article
be marked ''Demming Exhibit No. 1," incorporated by reference in the
record and retained in the committee files.
The Chairman. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arex'S. Have you ever taken a loyalty oath?
Mr. Demmixg. I decline to answer that question on the basis of
the first and fifth amendments to the Constitution of the United States,
which I fervently uphold.
Mr. Arex^s. I lay before you a })hotostatic copy of an article appear-
ing in the local press regarding the refusal of certain tenants to sign
loyalty oaths required of tenants in public housing projects. It states
in effect that you or a person known as Richard L. Demming protested
the signing of such a loyalty oath. Kindly glance at that article, if
you please, sir, and tell us whether or not you are the person who
protested the signing of the loyalty oath.
Mr. Demmixg I decline to answer that question on the basis of the
first and fifth amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Arex^s. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this article
be marked "Demming Exhibit No. 2," incorporated by reference in
this record and retained in the committee files.
The Chairmax. It is so ordered.
Mr. Arexs. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA 4301
Mr. Demmixg. I decline to answer that question on the basis of the
first and fifth amendments to the Constitution of the United States
wliich I upliold.
Mr. Akexs. Mr. Chairman we have no further questions of this
witness.
The Chairmax. The witness is excused.
The Congress of the United States, of which this connnittee is an
arm, extends its thanks to the United States marshal, Tom C. Kimball,
and his deputies, to the United States attorney, Donald Kelley and
his staff, to ]Mr. Pierce who assisted in maintaining order, and to the
witnesses who have cooperated with this committee in giving the
valuable information which we have received.
This concludes the hearings at this time, but in concluding the hear-
ings now, I liope that the impression is not created that the committee
is convinced that we have looked at all of the ramifications of the
Communist conspiracy in this particular area. There will be a con-
tinuing investigation of this area as well as other areas of the United
States and, if in the judgment of the committee it is necessary to hold
public hearings again, either here or in Washington, that course will
be pursued.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Chairman, I want to concur in everything that you
have said. As a member of the Republican Part}^, I want to say that I
am very liappy to be in the liome city of our famous and very gracious
First Lady of the Land, Mamie Eisenhower, and also the home city
of our fine colleague, Byron Rogers.
I feel that our counsel, Mr. Arens, has done an excellent job and in
questioning the various witnesses, has shown the great ability that a
good lawyer should have.
Also I want to compliment the investigators who have been here,
Mr. Owens and Mr. Jones. I know they have made a very^ fine back-
ground investigation and developed the evidence in an estimable
fashion.
I do hope that I will be able to come back to this fair city of Denver
some time in the future.
The committee is adjourned.
(Whereupon, at 12 : 08 p. m., Friday, May 18, 1956, the committee
was recessed subject to call.)
X
INDEX
Individuals
Page
Akeson, Virgil... 4137-4139, 4146, 4147, 4150-4157 (testimony)
Alexander _ 4130, 4131
Alexander, Helen 4250
Allen, Rachael 4275-4277
Alperstein, Arnold 4253
Alvarez, Ysidro 4134, 4140
Alverez, Ida (Mrs. Larry Alverez) 4134
Alverez, Larry 4134
Apodaca, Julius 4128
Aranda, Juan, Jr 4228
Arizpe, Manuel 4228
Artie 4184
Aspinwall, Dorothy 4135
Aspinwall, Richard 4138, 4238, 4253-4260 (testimony)
Bard wall, Katherine 4149
Barker, James 4163
Bary, Anna 4128,
4130, 4132, 4133, 4135, 4138, 4139, 4141, 4142, 4146, 4147, 4149
Bary, Art 4130-4133, 4135, 4138-4141, 4146, 4149, 4241, 4242
Becerra, Carlos 4228
Bell, Rufus 4180, 4181, 4183
Benster, Kurt 4238
' 4141,' 4241^ 4253'^ '4"2'6074264,'4265,' 4266-4267"('tcstimony)
Berman, Kay 4238
Besson, Flora 4133
Biberman, Herbert 42 10
Bina, Charles 4076
Blau, Irving 4123, 4139, 4260-4264 (testimonv)
Blau, Patricia (Mrs. Irving Blau) 4241, 4260
Boratgis, James 4239
Bramhall, David 4123, 4126, 4139, 4240, 4267-4273 (testimony)
Bramhall, Patricia 4149
Bramhall, Shirley (Mrs. David Bramhall, nee Billie Wellinger) 4123,
4132, 4135, 4139, 4149, 4240, 4268, 4273-4278 (testimonv)
Breitenstein, Jean S. (Hon.) 4173, 4190, 4197, 4201
Brenner, Harry 4191
Bridges, Harry 42 12
Bronstein, EdVard 4242
Budenz, Louis 4176
Burke, Walter 4208
Carlin, Robert 4192
Castillo, Salvador 4228
Chacon, Juan 4209, 4211
Church, E. D 4153
Clark, John 4177, 4189
Clavton, Eugene 4113
Clute, Susie 4133
Cook, Rudolph 4139, 4229-4237 (testimonv)
Cooper, Harry 4121, 4191
Correa, Betty 4149
Correa, Martha (Mrs. Harold Zepelin) 4124,
4129, 4132-4134, 4138, 41S9, 4146-4149, 4278-4283 (testimony)
Correa, Tim 4133, 4135, 4146
II INDEX
Page
Craig, Vince 4149
Cunningham, Duke 4180, 4183
Danner7 Earl 4232
Dansky, Marvin 4278
Davis, Ben 4281
Doikman, Eugene 4240, 4288-4290 (testimony)
Deitrich, Bill 4137-4139
Demming, Richard 4135, 4139-4141, 4146, 4298-4301 (testimony)
Diamond, Bertram 4121
DiSanti, Joseph 41 30
Dittmer, Florence 4239
Dolan. Eunice (Mrs. Graham Dolan) 4200-4203 (testimony)
Dolan, Graham 4122, 4154, 4157, 4167-4178 (testimonv), 4208, 4209
Donaldson, Glenn 1_ 4084, 4095
Donner. Frank 4121
Douglas, Leonard 4192
Duran, Bellarmino Joe (also known as Steve, Jose Komero, and Gamboa)- 4125-
4150 (testimonv), 4141, 4155, 4191, 4213, 4227, 4235, 4236, 4251,
4258, 4262, 4263, 4268, 4274, 4280, 4285, 4287, 4288, 4294, 4296-
4298, 4300.
Duran, Mrs. Bellarmino 4135
Dutch, John 4183
Eakins, Ann (Mrs. David Eakins) 4135, 4140, 4295-4297 (testimony)
Eakins, David 4135, 4140, 4293-4295 (testimonv), 4296
Earl, Glenn 4101, 4102, 4104, 4112
Eaton, Ernest T 4206
Eckert, Kenneth 4173, 4190, 4197
Edwards, Dan 4192
Escalante, George 4228
Fellow, Charles (Chuck) 4180,4183
Fink, Jack 4146
Fisher, Glen 4238
Flaxer, Abram_. 4231
Flores, Art 4130, 4140
Folawm, Sally 4239
Ford, James 4281
Forrest, Jim 4183
Fortson, Warren 4146, 4147
Fox, Jack 4243
Fox, Ruth (Mrs. Jack Fox) 4243
Francis, George 4081, 4088
Fuchs, Herbert 4074, 4079, 4085, 4090, 4091,
4094, 4099, 4100, 4103, 4104, 4108, 4116, 4119-4121, 4190, 4191
Funn, Dorothy 4 155
Gaitlev, Bill 4186, 4187
Garfinkel, Eugene 4239
Garwood, Omar E 4287
Gibb, Jack 4250, 4252
Gladstone, William 4138, 4139, 4146
Goldberg, Al 4139
Gonzales, Gus 4171
Gonzales, Joey 4149
Goodman, Irving 4243
Goodman, Mrs. Irving 4243
Goodman, Jerry 4240, 4241
Goodman, Judy. 4240
Graham, Charles 4079, 4080, 4084
Graham, Freda (Mrs. Morris Graham) 4183
Graham, Morris 4182, 4183, 4185
Green, Abner 4136
Gwynn, Charles 4241
Hagler, Margaret 4101, 4113
Hancock, Herschel 4187
Harbert, Jean 4238
Hart 4184
Henderson, Donald 4179
INDEX in
Page
Heuser, Frederick 4200, 4201
Hilliard, Albert 4148
Hoover, J. Edgar 4247
Hornbeiii, Philip 4098, 4105, 4117
Howard, Asbury 4177
Jackson 4133
Jarrico, Paul 4210
Jasso, George 4228
Jeffers, fjouise 4281
Jeiicks, Clinton E 4199
Jensen, Vernon H 4079, 4080
Johnson, Emmet 4228
Johnson, Lewis 4182, 4183
Jvidd, Morris 4243, 4291-4293 (testimony)
Judd, Mrs. Morris 4243
Kaplan, Samuel 4127
Kenny, Robert W 4119
King,' Edward 4079,4084
Kleiubord, Paul 4133, 4148
Kripke, Kenneth N 4143, 4146, 4149, 4240, 4283-4286 (testimony)
Krug, Jacob H 4120
Kurasch, Lillian (Mrs. Martin Kurasch) 4093, 4110
Kurasch, Martin 4078, 4079, 4093, 4097, 4101, 4102, 4110, 4114, 4119
Larson, Orville 4177
LaVallee, Lawrence Raymond 4078, 4086, 4094, 4102, 4111
Leaphart (Charles W.) 4079
Leai-y, James 4171, 4192
Lopez, Phillipe 4128, 4129
Lopez, Mrs. Phillipe 4128
Loumis, Mrs. John 4149
Lvnn, Frances Flores 4130, 4132, 4134
Maldonado, Gilbert 4228
Manowskv, John 4192
Markward, Marv 4155
Martin, Harold Page 4237-4248 (testimony),
4258, 4259, 4267, 4280, 4284, 4285, 4290, 4293
Martinez, Juan 4127, 4128, 4136
Mason, William 4192
Matchett, Gerald 4078, 4085, 4086, 4094, 4097, 4102, 4103, 4110, 4112
Matchett, Margaret (Mrs. Gerald Matchett) 4094, 4102, 4111
McKenna, Charles 4235
McLucas, John 4113
McLucas, Marv (Mrs. John McLucas) 4113
McMullen, Edward 4135
McMurphv (Murphy) John 4077
Meadoff, .Marilvn 4260, 4298
Meier, Harold_' 4138, 4139, 4248-4252 (testimony)
Mendelowitz, Mary 4113
Menin, Samuel 4143
Miller, William B 4273
Mills, Clifford W 4229, 4283
Molina, Fred 4228
Montfort, Charles D 4248, 4267
Montoya, Alfredo 4129-4132, 4138, 4139, 4147, 4214-4228 (testimony)
Montoya, Zipriano 4134
Montoya, Mrs. Zipriano 4134
Moorehead, Ray C 4179-4188 (testimony)
Morales.- 4228
Mor eau , Alberto 4133
Morlan, Leslie 4235
Morton, Anthony 4137, 4138, 4140, 4146, 4147, 4149, 4157-4268 (testimony)
Morton, Miriam (Mrs. Anthony Morton) 4159
Moton, Perkin 4184
Mundt, Kenneth 4238, 4244
Mundt, Mrs. Kenneth 4244
Munz 4134
Nier, Harry K., Jr 4293,4295
iV INDEX
Page
Palmer, Frank 4207
Patterson, William 4281
Patton, Jimmy 4180, 4181, 4183
Patton, Mrs. Jimmy 4183
Perlmutter , Leonard 4240
Perry, Pettis 4136
Peters, Wendell A 4157, 4266
Pezzali, Albert 4168, 4172, 4173, 4177, 4189, 4193. 4203
Pixler, Norman C 4075-4081 (testimony), 4083, 4084, 4090, 4231
Plumb, Arlvne (Mrs. Donald Plumb) 4094, 4105-4116 (testimony), 4118
Plumb, Donald 4094, 4098-4105 (testimony), 4107, 4118
Porter, John W 4093, 4097, 4101, 4109, 4114, 4120
Porter, Margaret Bennett (Mrs. John W. Porter) 4093, 4109, 4120
Powers, Chase 4192
Price, Ralph 4078, 4086, 4100, 4101, 4103. 4104, 4108, 4116
Quadron, Ralph 4134
Ram irez , Mariana 4148
Rasmussen, Ralph 4153, 4192
Rein, David 4120
Reno, Philip 4076-4079.
4081-4088 (testimony), 4093, 4097, 4101-4104. 4108, 4109, 4114,
4118, 4121, 4124, 4231.
Revueltas, Rosaura 4210, 4211
Rhine, Jessica 4152
Riemer , Mortimer 41 20
Rinn, Mike 4233
Riskin, Benjamin 4152. 4153
Robinson, Reid 4192
Robison, Joseph 4119, 4120
Rodriguez 41 84
Rodriguez, Antonio 4133
Rodriguez, Jesus 4228
Rogers, Jane 4128, 4148
Rogers, Tracv 424 1
Rose, Beverly 4146
Rose, Mike 4146
Rosenberg, Allan 4119
Sanderson! Harold C 4154, 4157, 4194-4199 (testimony)
Sandler, Woodrow 4120
Sasajima, Eileen 4240
Sauceda, Jesus Bernardino 4135, 4138, 4140, 4147, 4297-4298 (testimony)
Sauceda, Judith (Mrs. Jesus Bernardino Sauceda) 4135,
4140, 4147, 4297, 4298 (testimony)
Scherrer, Joe 4141, 4146, 4239, 4240
Scherrer, Maia James 4132, 4133, 4141, 4142, 4146, 4147
Scheunemann, Cecelia (Mrs. Edward Scheunemann) 4093, 4110, 4117
Scheunemann, Edward 4093,
4097, 4110, 4114-4116, 4117-4125 (testimony), 4176
Sells, Newell 4135. 4146
Selly, Joseph 4171
Sena, Alfonso 4129, 4132, 4135. 4140, 4146, 4147, 4286-4287 (testimony)
Sena, Rose 4132, 4135, 4146. 4147
Sherman. Edward H 4288, 4291
Slater, Clarence 4135
Small, Larry 4241
Smith, Stan 4240
Spencer, D wight 4076,
4077, 4079, 4080, 4086, 4088-4097 (testimony), 4100, 4101, 4106,
4107, 4111, 4112, 4114-4116, 4118.
Spencer, Mary (Mrs. Dwight Spencer) 4077, 4094. 4101, 4115
Stearn, Joe 4184
Stearns. Robert 4292
Stein, Sid 4242
Stern, Bernard W 4138, 4148, 4154, 4156, 4188-4194 (testimony), 4197
Stern, Janet 4132, 4148
Strada, Augustine 4134
INDEX V
Page
Taylor, William 4130, 4131
Torres, Lorenzo 41 36
Torres, Mrs. Lorenzo 4135
Travis, Maurice 4123, 4153, 4157, 4177, 4199
Trujillo, Fred (Alfredo) 4127, 4135, 4141, 4146, 4287-4288 (testimony)
Trujillo, Julie Blau (Mrs. Fred Trujillo) 4135
Trujillo, Robert 4126, 4128, 4133, 4241
Turner, Dick 4180, 4181
Turner, Herbert 4184
Valdez, Donald 4101, 4113
Verdu, Angelo I 4192
Vigil, Vincent 4149
Ware, Lorenzo France 4228
Wellinger, Billie. (See Bramhall, Shirlej-.)
Wevand, Ruth 1 4120
Williams, Robert C 4103, 4113
Wilson, Carl 4182
Wilson, Homer 4192
Wilson, Jamos W 4200, 4286
Wilson, Michael 4210
Witt, Nathan.^ 4119, 4122, 4124, 4150-4157, 4167-4178, 4188-4194, 4205, 4214
Wright, Morris 4132, 4138, 4147, 4148, 4205-4214 (testimony), 4218
Zeiger, Marjorie 4240
Zapelin, Harold 4127, 4129, 4139, 4140, 4146, 4147, 4241
Organizations
Abraham Lincoln Book Store 4185
American Civil Liberties Union:
Colorado Branch 4292
American Committee for Protection of Foreign Born 4224
AmeriL^an Youth for Democracy, Colorado:
Denver University Chapter 4244
University of Colorado Chapter 4244
B & E Chicken Inn (Denver) 4148
Civil Rights Congress 4221, 4222
Colorado Committee to Protect Civil Liberties 4279
Colorado Legislative Council 4234. 4235
Colorado Mexican Commission of the Communist Part}'. (See Commu-
nist Party, Colorado.)
Committee for Peaceful Alternatives to the Atlantic Pact 4285, 4286
Communist Partv, ISA:
National Committee 4131, 4141, 4242
National Education Commission 4133
National Mexican Commission 4120, 4131, 4141
Arizona 41 86
Phoenix 4183, 4187
Benjamin Davis Club 4184
Jefferson Davis Club 4183, 4184
Joe Hill Club 4183, 4187
Mike Quinn Club 4183, 4184
Thomas Jefferson Club 4184
West Side Club 4184
State Board 4182
Colorado 4133, 4136, 4146
Boulder:
Graduate Branch 4240, 4243
Section Committee 4243
Student Branch 4240, 4241, 4247
Town Branch 4239, 4240
Convention, 1947 4242
Convention, 1950 4146
Denver 4147
East Side Mexican Branch 4148
West Side Jewish Section 4139
West Side Mexican Branch 4127-4130, 4135, 4141, 4149
Educational Commission 4146
Labor Commission 4146
VI INDEX
Communist Party, USA — Continued
Colorado — Continued Page
Mexican Commission 4131, 4146
Mexican Section 4148
Negro Commission 4138, 4149
State Board 4241, 4244
State Committee 4147
Women's Commission 4146
Youth Commission 4146, 4241, 4242, 4244
New York:
State Committee _, 4164
Denver Police Department 4147
Denver Trades and Labor Ass^^mbly 423 1
Distributive Processing and Office Workers of America 4181
Farm Credit Administration. {See U. S. Government.)
Fed-^ral S'>curity Agency, Public Health Service. {See U. S. Government.)
Food, Tobacco, Agricultural, and Allied Workers Union of America 4187
Local 78 1 4179-4181
Ind'^p^nd^nt Productions Corporation 4210, 4214
International Association of Machinists. {See Machinists, International
Association of.)
International Labor Defense 4224
Jewish People's Fraternal Ord°r 4225
Labor Youth Leagu-^, University of Colorado Chapter 4274
League of Women Shoppers 4110
Machinists, International Association of:
District 86 4280
Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, International Union of 4123,
4134, 4152, 4153, 4157, 4171, 4172, 4177, 4178, 4186, 4189, 4192,
4194, 4196-4198, 4209-4212, 4218, 4220, 4234.
Local 251 4195
Local 501 4214, 4228
Local 509 4214,4228
Local 890 4148, 4205, •i211
local 903 4214,4228
National Office 4 195
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Denver 4165
National Association of Mexican-Americans (ANMA) 4129-4132,
4138, 4139, 4145, 4147, 4220, 4221, 4226
National Committee of the Commimist Party. {See Communist Party.)
National Institute of Health ____". 4099
National Labor Relations Board. {See U. S. Government.)
National Mexican Cadre School (Los Angeles) 4133, 4134, 4148
National War Labor Board, Denver, Colo. {See U. S. Government.)
National Youth Administration. {See U. S. Government.)
Negro Commission. {See ComniTuiist Party. Colorado.)
Office Employees, International Union of, AF'L 4232
Office of Price Administration (OPA). {See U. S. Government. 1
Progressive Partv, Colorado 42-i:5, 4285
Denver I 4126, 4233, 4234
Rocky Mountain Comicil for Social Action. {See Social Action Council.)
Rocky Mountain Foundation for a Free Press -'175, 4176
Social Action Council ''082, 4108
Social Security Board. {See U. S. Government.)
State, Countyj and Municipal Employees, American Federation of, AFL. ■:231, 4232
Students for Wallace Club. {See Jniversity of Colorado.)
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America 4212
United States Government:
Agriculture, Department of 4216, 4291
Farm Credit Administration 4081
Federal Security Agency, Public Health Service 4099
Labor Department 4188
National Labor Relations Board 4090,
4098, 4117, 4119, 4156, 4170, 4178, 4189, 4191
National War Labor Board, Denver, Colo 4076-4080,
4082, 4084, 4086, 4087, 4089, 4090, 4093, 4098, 4107, 4112
National Youth Administration 4075-4077. 4089, 4097, 4106
Office of Price Administration 4106, 4107, 4117, 4118
INDEX vn
United States Government— Continued Page
Post Office Department 4151
Social Security Board 4081, 4082
Treasury Department 4151
Wage Stabilization Board 4089, 4095
War Department 4151
War Food Administration 4215, 4216
War Manpower Commission 4230, 4231
Works Progress Administration 4077
United States Housing Authority 4117
University of California 4245, 4255
Univrrsitv of Colorado 4248-4250, 4291, 4292
Stud-nts for Wallace Club 4245, 4284
UTE Ranch 4132, 4133, 4148
Wage Stabilization Board. (See U. S. Government.)
AVar Food Administration. (See U. S. Government.) ^
War Manpower Commission. (See U. S. Government.)
Washington Committee for Democratic Action 4120, 4121
West Side Fair Play Committee 4147, 4148, 4298
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom 4201, 4202
Works Progress Administration. (See U. S. Government.)
Young Communist League:
Colorado 4239
Allen Merrick Branch at University of Colorado 4238, 4239
New York County 4162, 4163
Young Democrats, Colorado 4110, 4123
Young Progressives of America 4227, 4244, 4245
Publications
Challenge (magazine) 4122, 4174, 4176, 4200
Chicago Tribune 4169, 4170
CIO News (newspaper) :
Mine, ]\Iill and Smelter Workers edition 4171, 4208
Wisconsin edition 4208
March of Labor 4175
Mine-Mill Union, The 4157, 4169, 4172, 4209, 4217, 4218
Peoples Press 4207
Salt of the Earth (movie) 4148, 4209, 4211-4214
Union, The 4171. 4209
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