INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES
IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA-Part 5
HEARINGS
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIYES
EIGHTY-THIED CONGKESS
FIRST SESSION
DECEMBER 2, 1952; FEBRUARY 17, MARCH 12 AND 27, \
AND APRIL 7 AND 13, 1953
Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities
IN " DING .DEX '
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTmG OFFICB
31747 WASHINGTON : 1858
Boston Public Library
Superintendent of Documents
JUN 2 1 1S53
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
United States House of Representatives
HAROLD H. VELDE, Illinois, Chairman
BERNARD W. KEARNEY, New York FRANCIS E. WALTER, Pennsylvania
DONALD L. JACKSON, California MORGAN M. MOULDER, Missouri
KIT CLARDY, Michigan CLYDE DOYLE, California
GORDON H. SCHERER, Ohio JAMES B. FRAZIER, Ja., Tennessee
ROBEET L. KuNziG, Couusel
Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., Counsel
LOUIS J. RUSSELL, Chief Investigator
Thomas W. Beale, Sr., Chief Clerk
Raphael I. Nixon, Director of Research
CONTENTS
Paga
March 27, 1953: Testimony of Charles H. Garrigues 847
April 7, 1953: Testimony of Jerome Robinson 857
April 13, 1953: Testimony of—
Thomas Matthew McGrath 859
Matilda Lewis 864
December 22, 1952: Executive statement of Anne Kinney 867
February 17, 1953: Executive statement of Mildred BenofiF 901
March 12, 1953: Executive statements —
Stanley Rubin 909
Sol Shor 923
Leopold Lawrence Atlas 935
Pauline Swanson Townsend 953
Paul Benedict Radin 965
Index 969
m
The legislation under which the House Committee on Un-American Activities
operates is Public Law 601, 79th Congress [1946], chapter 753, 2d session, which
provides :
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, * * *
PART 2— RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RlTLE X
STANDING COMMITTEES
*******
17. Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members.
Rule XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
(q) (1) Committee on Un-American Activities.
(A) Un-American activities.
(2) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommit-
tee, is authorized to make from time to time investigations of (i) the extent,
character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in tlie United States,
(ii) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propa-
ganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and
attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Consti-
tution, and (ill) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress
in any necessary remedial legislation.
The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the
Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi-
gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American
Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such
times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting,
has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance
of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and
to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under
the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any
member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person
designated by any such chairman or member.
RULES ADOPTED BY THE S3D CONGRESS
House Resolution 5, January 3, 1953
*******
Rule X
STANDING COMMITTEES
1. There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Con-
gress, the following standing committees :
*******
(q) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members.
• •**•*•
Rule 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 malje from time to time, investigations of (1) the extent, char-
acter, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States,
(2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American prop-
aganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and
attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitu-
tion, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress
in any necessary remedial legislation.
The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the
Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi-
gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American
Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times
and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has
recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance
of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and
to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under
the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any
member designated by such chairman, and may be served by any person desig-
nated by any such chairman or member.
VI
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AREA-Part 5
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Los Angeles^ Calif.
executive session
A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met,
pursuant to call, at 3 : 10 p. m., in room 527-D, United States Post
Offi'-e and Court House Building, Los Angeles, Calif., Hon. Harold H.
Velde (chairman), presiding.
Committee member present : Representative Harold H. Velde.
Start' member present : Raphael I. Nixon, director of research.
Mr. Velde. Acting upon the authority vested in me as chairman of
the Committee on Un-American Activities, I have appointed myself
as a subconmiittee of one for the purpose of this executive session.
Mr. Nixon, will you please call the witness.
Mr. Nixon. Charles H. Garrigues.
Mr. Velde. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about
to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
so help you God ?
Mr. Garrigues. I do.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Nixon, will you proceed.
TESTIMONY OF CHARLES H. GARRiaUES
Mr. Nixon. Mr. Garrigues, are you appearing in response to a
subpena ?
Mr. Garrigues. I am.
Mr. Nixon. And will you state your full name ?
Mr. Garrigues. Charles H. Garrigues.
Mr. Nixon. When and where were you born, Mr. Garrigues?
Mr. Garrigues. Before I answer, may I ask this question: Is this
proceeding now considered a part of the main hearing?
Mr. Nixon. Yes.
Mr. Garrigues. This is evidence before the committee ?
Mr. Nixon. For the purpose of the record, Mr. Velde is sitting as a
subcommittee of one for the purpose of receiving your testimony.
Mr. Garrigues. This is a public record ?
Mr. Nixon. Yes, sir.
Mr. Garrigues. I wanted to be sure of that. I was born in Kansas
in 1902.
Mr. Nixon. Where do you now reside ?
Mr. Garrigues. At 1623 Per Alta, Albany, Calif.
847
848 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Nixox. Are you presently emploj^ed ?
Mr. Garrigues. I am, with the San Francisco Examiner.
Mr. Nixon. How long have you been so employed ?
Mr. Garrigues. Since 1939.
Mr. Nixon. Will you state briefly what your previous occupational
backfrround is?
Mr. Garrigues. I have been a newspaperman for — commenced about
1922, working on many papers in southern California and Arizona.
In 1926 I came to Los Angeles and worked on the old Express, and I
moved to the old Herald in 19 — I think it was 1929. I went to the
Daily News, where I was employed, with various leaves of absence,
until, I think, 1935.
Mr. NixoN. During the course of those leaves of absence did you
have other employment ?
Mr. ( Jarrigues. Yes, I did. I was engaged during most of that time
in which I was working with the News as the political expert or politi-
cal editor, and from time to time I was assigned by Mr. Boddy to take
leave and work for various civic and governmental organizations as an
investigator of conditions. And at 2 or 3 times I was employed during
those periods as investigator for the Los Angeles County Grand Jury,
or the District Attornev's Office, I am not sure which.
Mr. NixoN. In a special capacity?
Mr. Garrigues. In a special capacity ; yes.
Mr. Nixox. Now, in order to complete the record, will you tell the
committee what your educational background was prior to that?
Mr. Garrigues. I graduated from the Per Alta High School in 1919
and spent 1 year at the University of Southern California.
Mr. Nixox. Are you presently employed in a writing capacity?
Mr. Garrigues. No; I am what you would call a copyreader, sub-
editor. That is one who reads copy and writes headlines.
Mr. Nixon. I understand that. During most of this period you
have been associated in the field of journalism, has it been in a writing
capacity?
Mr. Garrigues. No, chiefly as a copyreader, except when I was
working on the Daily News.
Mr. Nixon. Wliat was your employment during the period of ap-
proximately 1935 to 1939?
]\Ir. Garhigues. Well, it was very scattered and vague. I really have
to think.
Mr. NixoN. Just generally, I mean. Was there any particular
period of employment with any paper or publication during that
period of time?
Mr. Garrigues. Well, I edited a little paper called tlie Utopian News
for several months. I was engaged in political work as a free-lance
public relations man at various times.
Mr. Nixon. When you say "political," what do you mean ?
Mr. Garrigues. I had a bureau, a public relations bureau, and we
hired ourselves out to candidates, prepared their copy and
Mr. Nixon. For campaign purposes?
Mr. Garrigues. For campaign purposes, yes, sir.
Mr. Nixon. Now, has there been any time during this period that
you have related that you had occasion to join the Communist Party?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, I did join the Communist Party.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 849
Mr. Nixon. Would you tell the committee the circumstances of your
joining?
Mr. Garrigues. If I may, I would like to go back to the inception,
when I started the trend again.
Mr. Nixon. The committee would be glad to hear.
Mr. Garrigues. My first contact with the Communist Party was in —
I think during the presidential campaign of 1934, when I was em-
ployed on the Daily News, and I was assigned there to go down and
interview William Z. Foster.
Mr. Nixon. Just for the purpose of clarification here, I don't be-
lieve there was a presidential campaign in 1934.
Mr. Garrigues. It could not have been. It must have been 1932.
Mr. Nixon. 1932 or 1936.
Mr. Garrigues. 1932.
Mr. Nixon. For the presidential campaign of President Roosevelt
against President Hoover ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes. That was 1932, of course it was.
Mr. Nixon. Continue. You saw William Z. Foster ?
Mr. Garrigues. I was assigned to go and interview him, which I
did. I was rather impressed by the man's attitude, wrote what I
would consider a very favorable honest interview, was quite proud
of the fact that it was probably the first honest interview written of
a Communist and published in a Los Angeles newspaper.
Mr. NixON. For what newspaper was this ?
Mr. Garrigues. This was the Daily News. At that time I was —
you remember that was the depth of the depression, and one of my
jobs was meeting the people who came to the Examiner — to the News —
excuse me — in search of some kind of help. Many people came there
very desperate for food or paying their rent, and during many days
20 and 30 sometimes, and I would question them and sometimes, very
frequently call reports in to the WPA, I would very frequentlj'^ call
friends of mine at the city and county offices and ask them to help this
particular family or that particular family.
After this interview with Foster I began to — or the boys came and
called upon me, several Commies whom I don't now recall, and they
made no particular impression on me.
Mr. Nixon. They were known to you as Communists or so identified
themselves ?
Mr. Garrigues. They identified themselves as Communists.
Mr. Nixon. All Communists, were they ?
Mr. Garrigues. As well as people of all other left-wing political
beliefs. And during the campaign I had contact for the first time
with what the people called first just "the movement," which consisted
of the Communists, Guild Socialists, Walker Socialists, Utopian
Socialists, remnants of the old IWW, as well as merely ordinary
socialists and left-wing Democrats, and noted trade unionists, began
to come in later, I think.
They didn't make too much impression upon me, except I became
aware for the first time that there was a good body of political theory
which I was not familiar with.
During those times when I was engaged in political work for Mr.
Boddy, the publisher of the News, as a reform investigator, I had
begun to theorize a great deal about the basis of the American Gov-
850 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
ernment, municipal and higher governments, and had at various times
started preparation of a book relating to some of my experiences as
an investigator, and some of the things which I thought could be
done and could not be done and should be done or should not be done
in order to save the American system from downfall from internal
corruption.
As my experience in that direction became wider I began to have
more and more definite ideas, and by 1935 they had begun to crystallize
in a book in which I set forth quite completely my conclusions as to
the relationships between business and government, the genesis of
graft, and that sort of thing.
Mr. Nixon. Now, fixing this again in period of time, you just re-
ferred to 1935. Wliat was the commencement of this feeling? 1932,
1929?
Mr. Garkigues. The commencement of the feeling of relationship i
Mr. Nixon. That is right, or that tendency or thought ?
Mr. Garrigues. My interest in the subject?
Mr. Nixon. That is right.
Mr. Garrigues. My interest in the subject began when I was a kid.
The first work I did I was a newspaper editor in Venice, Calif., when
Venice had a realty boom in 1922. I didn't have any opportunity to
do any more investigation probably until 1930, when I assisted in
the prosecution, the detection and prosecution of certain people known
as the dam graft ring, which sent a couple of men to the penitentiarj^,
and out of that there came not only the political idea, you might say
moral idea of what should be done, but I was interested to see if it
was possible to convict a bribery case solely on circumstantial evi-
dence, and they did that in the first bribe case in American juris-
prudence with no evidence other than circumstantial, got a conviction
and got it sustained by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Nixon. All right. We will get down to the actual period
of your joining. You have previously referred to your interview
witii William Z. Foster. Am I to understand that that was in con-
nection with his presidential candidacy at that time ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes.
Mr. Nixon. And it was an assigned interview ?
Mr. Garrigues. It was an assigned interview, just as any news-
paperman would be assigned. The particular topic was how it feels
to be a presidential candidate. He had been beaten up by a bunch
of hoodlums in I believe one campaign speech, and I was assigned the
job of finding out how it feels to be a presidential candidate and to
be beaten up in his campaign.
Mr. Nixon. As I understand from what you said before, you were
given what you considered a completely objective interview?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes.
Mr. Nixon. By IVfr. Foster ?
Mr. Garrigues. Well, he presented his point of view, and I tried
to get his personal point of view as accurately as I could.
Mr. Nixon. In repeating it, you mean?
Mr. Garrigues. In repeating it, yes.
Mr. Nixon. That, as the record shows, was in 1932. It was not at
that time that you actually joined the Communist Party.
Mr. Garrigues. No, that was my first contact with it, as I say.
Then increasingly during the rest of the depression I began to come
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 851
in contact with this segment of society who called themselves "the
movement,-' and in 1935 when I left the News — I think it was 1935.
Now, maybe I am wrong on the date. Late in 1935 or early in 1936,
possibly.
I had just finished my first book, and it was accepted and I then
began to debate the idea of doing another book on the relationship be-
tween labor and govermnent, the potentialities in there. At that time
I had been employed — it must have been in 1936. I was employed by
a committee working for Harlan Palmer for district attorney, and
after that campaign ended I went to San Diego.
I was then employed by the King-Ramsey-Connor defense com-
mittee; investigated a murder trial in Alameda County a couple
months, where I met more and more Communists.
I came back to San Diego and went to work for the San Diego Sun.
That must have been early in 1937. And at that time I decided that
I would make a thorough investigation of the potentialities of the
labor movement in the same manner that I had previously done with
the graft situation, except to approach it on a different angle.
I went down to the Communist Party offices and book shop, head-
quarters in San Die^o, and told them, this man there, that I wanted
to join the party. He handed me a card and I signed it. And a couple
of months later or possibly a month, about that time, I would say, I
had a call from him that I was to meet a certain man at a certain place.
I remember who, but where I don't recall.
Mr. Nixon. From that you recruited yourself actually in the Com-
munist Party.
Mr. Garrigues. That is right.
Mr. Nixon. Tliere was no effort other than the initiation that you
made in going to the headquarters and expressing your interest in
becoming a member ?
Mr. Qarrigues. That is right.
Mr. Nixon. Who was it that you met ?
Mr. Garrigues. Stanley Hancock, the county organizer.
Mr. Nixon. He was county organizer of the Communist Party in
San Diego at that time. Was there the formality of issuing you a
card?
Mr. Garrigues. He issued me a card or a book, I don't remember
now which it was.
Mr. Nixon. Were there any instructions given to you as to future
meetings or activities ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes. I was told that I was to — the party would
keep in contact with me, but that I was to keep undercover, not to
expose myself, and they would have more information for me later.
Mr. Nixon. Hancock was the only one that you met at this partic-
ular time ?
Mr. Garrigues. At that particular time, yes.
Mr. Nixon. During that period of time were you given any in-
structions or indoctrination instructions into the party, or Marxism?
Mr. Garrigues. Well, by this time I had begun to read theoretical
Marxism, which is what I say most interested me, that aspect of it.
There was a person who came to me or called me from time to time,
would come to me from time to time and bring me pamphlets and
books.
Mr. Nixon. Do you recall the identity of any of those?
852 COkRlUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. (jakuigijes. Yes. His name was Morrie Smolan.
Mr. Nixon.' You were not throughout the period of time assigned
to any particuhir group or anything, but more in a position of a
member at large ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, for a little while ; I don't remember how long.
As a matter of fact, I know I was regarded with considerable suspicion
at first.
Mr. Nixon. Why ?
Mr. Gahrigues. Because I had i-ecruited myself.
Mr. NixoN. At the time of your recruitment, you made it known to
them that you were in the newspaper field?
Mr. Gakiiigues. Yes; I told them. They knew my background.
Mr. NixoN. Was there anyone else beside Stanley Hancock and
Morrie Smolan that you recall now ?
Mr. Gapjuguks. Well, not verj' definitely, other than a fellow named
Dick, who was a — I can't remember his name. I think his last name
was Richards. They called him Dick.
Mr. NixoN. But you are not sure what his first name was. Is there
any other identifying data that you could now recall ?
Mr. Garrigues. Not in relation to him. I would know him if I
saw him.
Mr. Nixon. AVas lif a party functionary?
Mr. Garrigue!-. A part-time party functionary or something.
Mv. NixON. Was there any time while you were in San Diego that
you were assigned to a particular group or unit of the party?
Mr. Garrigues. I am under the impression I got, that those were a
group, and I can remember one meeting in particular at which Han-
cock was not present and there Avas some criticism of Hancock. I
think he was later disciplined oi- something at that time in connection
with something at that meeting. But who was there except for Dick
and a woman — I can't remember who the woman was, but her name is
Bessie, but I couldn't identify her. She is a housewife.
Mr. Nixon. And tlien I think you referred to having left San Diego.
When was that ?
JNIr. Garrigues. That was in — must have been probably October of
1937.
Mr. Nixon. Where did you go ?
Mr. Garrigues. I came to Los Angeles.
Mr. Nixon. Was your party affiliation transferred from San Diego
to Los Angeles?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes; it nuist have been.
Mr. NixuN. And you continued in the Comnmnist Party?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, I came up here; they asked me, that is, the
newspaper ^uild — of course, by this time I was a part-time organizer
emi:)loyed either by the American Newspaper Guild or by the CIO
in San Diego, I am not sure where my pay came from, or maybe from
both. And they were having troulile in the guild in Los Angeles,
and the guild officers here asked me to come up.
Mr. Nixon. In connection with your work in organizing the guild,
did you receixe any instructions or directives from the Communist
Party as to what action your work should be directed to ?
Mr. Garrigues. Not in the sense of instructions or directions; no.
COMMXJNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELAS AREA 853
Mr. Nixon. Well, would it be on a basis that because of your knowl-
edge of the purposes and your activities in the party, that your direc-
tion or the activities that you used in organizing the guild were influ-
enced by the Communist Party to the extent that you were a member
of the Communist Party as well as an organizer for this particular
organization ?
Mr. Garrigues. Well, I think you can go further than that. I was
in the Communist Party, at least in theory, because I believe in the
importance of the labor movement as such. The guild, according to
the theory under which we were working, was a very important aspect
of that labor movement, and anything I could do to strengthen the
labor movement
Mr. Nixon. By the guild are you referring to the Communist Party ?
Mr. Garrigues. I am referring to both, although I mean the labor
movement particularly.
]Mr. Nixon. Particularly in regard to aiding the Communist Party ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes; that is right.
Mr. Nixon. When you came to Los Angeles, were you assigned to
any unit or group of the Communist Party ?
Mr, Garrigues. Yes; I was assigned to a unit. I remember going
to the first meeting, because it was not a meeting, it was actually just
not a real party meeting. But I think I stayed in that unit, or possibly
another unit was formed later, but I didn't meet very mucli with the
unit.
Mr. Nixon. Were the components of this unit from the newspaper
field only, or was it a miscellaneous unit ?
Mr. Garrigues. Well, it was preponderantly so, but I think some-
what mixed.
Mr. Nixon. Do you recall any individuals who were in this unit ?
Mr. Garrigues. Well, not too thoroughly, not too distinctly, for
this reason, that I don't say I don^t recall any of them, but
Mr. Nixon. During the course of the interrogation here there are
certain names that I will ask you if you can recall. During the or-
ganization of the guild was any outside help given to you ?
Mr. Garrigues. Any help from outside the guild ?
Mr. Nixon. No ; from outside of Los Angeles, in the organizing of
the unit.
Mr. Garrigues. No; I think not.
Mr. Nixon. Do you recall a person named Morgan Hull ?
Mr. Garrigues. Oh, yes ; I recall Morgan Hull. Morgan Hull was
a member of the Los Angeles guild.
Mr, Nixon. Was he in it at the time that you first knew him ? Were
you in the unit when Morgan Hull joined the unit, or was he already
in the unit when you joined up ?
Mr. Garrigues. My impression is that Morgan Hull was a Commu-
nist Party member long before I was and before there was a guild. I
knew him previously. He and I worked on the same paper.
Mr. Nixon. During the course of that period did you know an
individual named Lou Amster ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes ; I loiew a Lou Amster. My impression is
Mr. Nixon. Is it a definite impression?
Mr. Garrigues. Not too definite.
Mr. Nixon. It is only an impression?
854 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Garrigues. Yes. Well, it is a recollection.
Mr. Nixon. Do you recall an individual named Leo Seiko wski ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes; I knew Leo Selkowski.
Mr. Nixon. Did you know him to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Garrigues. I don't know whether I knew him to be in the party.
Mr. Nixon. Did you know Urcel Daniel?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes; I knew her.
Mr. Nixon. For the record, Miss Daniel has appeared before the
committee and has admitted past membership in the Communist
Party. Did you know her during the time as a member of the party?
Mr. Garrigues. My impression is that she was the secretaiy of our
unit, but the date I can't remember just now. It was sometime during
the period. Just when, I can't remember.
Mr. Nixon. Was that unit to any degree financing the guild, your
Communist Party unit ?
Mr. Garrigues, Well, I think — it is hard to remember. I am trying
to place it as closely as I can, but most of the unit members, that is,
the party members were guild members unquestionably, not all of them,
I think, but probably most of them. They were possibly during that
time — this was the period, if you recollect, right after I got into Los
Angeles, and they had at the time the policy of having open meetings,
where there were various types of open meetings, but there was no
longer, as I understood at the time, there were no longer occasional
fraction meetings of the guild, but the progressive interest we had in
that term came from our crucial problems, and we had 1 or 2 or 3
or more nonparty members who were progressing the labor movement.
Mr. Nixon. That is, you mean some of the individuals who were
in attendance were not necessarily Communist Party members to have
been in attendance?
Mr. Garrigues. That is right, and it is very difficult to distinguish
between the two.
Mr, NixoN.„In those instances in which there is no question in your
mind, for the matter of the record, we want it indicated by you. I
mean the basis of the interrogation or the questioning is to have you
identify the names of certain individuals whom j^ou are certain of,
but if there is any question in your mind, make it known so that the
record will be complete on it.
Mr. Garrigues. Let me say this before that, that I remember dis-
tinctly 5 or 6 members of them that were in this labor guild mobiliza-
tion. Now, I don't think they were all Communists, I think 2 or
3 of them were, and then there may be certain others that were in
there at the time.
Mr. Nixon. Did you know a person named Burke ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes,
Mr, Nixon. Did you laiow Burke to be a Conmiunist ?
Mr, Garrigues. Yes ; I know that he was in.
Mr. Nixon. Dorothy Healey ?
Mr, Garrigues. I knew her before I was in the party, and we had
a good many discussions.
Mr. Nixon. Charles Judson?
Mr. Garrigues. I knew Judson. I know he has testified that he
was not in the party, but I could say definitely he was.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 855
Mr. Nixon. I think that during the course of Mr. Judson's testi-
mony, I believe he is one of the individuals who testified to his having
been a member of the Communist Party.
Do you remember Paul Cline ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes. Paul Cline was a party organizer, if that
is — I want to get that name right now. This is Paul Cline who was
the party organizer.
Mr. Nixon. Do you know a Minna Klein ?
Mr. Garrigtjes. Yes; I knew Minna Klein. I think she was a
writer, but I don't know her as a party member, honestly. She was
one of the people we saw.
Mr. NixoN. For identification, she was the wife of Herbert Klein.
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, I knew Herbert, but whether they were party
members
Mr. Nixon. Did you know a William E. Oliver?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes.
Mr. Nixon. Did you know him to be a member of the Communist
Party ?
Mr. Garrigues. No, not at the time that I was there. I might say
that there was some effort to recruit him at one time.
Mr. Nixon. During the course of the testimony before the Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities, Miss Alice Bennett identified
both Minna Kiein and William E. Oliver as having been in this unit
of the Los Angeles Newspaper Guild.
Did you know Philip Johnson?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes. I mean not at the time. I know him now,
but I did not at the time.
Mr. NixoN. Do you know George Shaffer?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, I did. George Shaffer?
Mr. Nixon. That is S-h-a-f-f-e-r.
Mr. Garrigues. I saw him liand out a lot of folders. I know there
are two people there.
Mr. Nixon. Do you know Ed Robbins?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, I think I know him. I did meet him.
Mr. Nixon. Did you know him to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Garrigues. I think he was.
Mr. Nixon. Did you know Sarah Bognoff ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, I met Sarah Bognoff working in, I think she
was in the guild offices or some other union office.
Mr. Nixon. You know her as a member of the party ?
Mr. Garrigues. I know her as a member of the party.
Mr. Nixon. Tom O'Connor?
Mr. Garrigues. I know him as a newspaperman.
Mr. Nixon. Have you during the course of your membership in the
Communist Party been assigned any Communist name or any party
name ?
Mr. Garrigues. Yes, I took a party name of E. Scott.
856 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Nixon. When did you leave the Comnmnist Party?
Mr. Garrigues. In 1939.
Mr. Nixon. Was there any formality in your leaving or did you
merely drift away from the party and was there an actual break in
your membership?
Mr. Garrigues. Well, there was a break when I came to Los An-
geles. I had no more contact with the party for a year or two.
Mr. NixoN. Can you remember the approximate date?
Mr. Garrigues. It must have been the early part of 1939.
Mr. NixoN. Was there any occasion or reason for you to feel all
the time that you were in the Communist Party that it was a revolu-
tionary party or was a conspiracy in the sense of advocating the
overthrow of this Government, as it was stated?
Mr. Garrigues. No, not in the sense in which the terms are now
being used. That was not my experience with it at all. That was
the particular point I studied most carefully. I didn't want to be in
such a conspiracy.
Mr. Nixon. After you left Los Angeles and left the Communist
Party, were any efforts made to recruit you into the Communist
Party?
Mr. Garrigues. No.
Mr. Nixon. You were not contacted subsequently to be reactivated ?
Mr. Garrigues. Not at any time, no.
Mr. Nixon. And since the time you left you have had no further
dealing with the Communist Party ?
Mr. Garrigues- That is correct, none whatsoever.
Mr. Nixon. And you have not been a member of the Communist
Party since that time?
Mr. Garrigues. That is correct.
Mr. Nixon. Well, I want to express my appreciation for the in-
formation which you have given us.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Garrigues, on behalf of the entire Committee on
Un-American Activities, I wish to express our thanks for your testi-
mon}^ today.
You may be excused.
(Whereupon the witness was excused and the subcommittee
adjourned subject to the call of the Chair.)
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AREA— Part 5
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Un-Americax Activities,
LoH Angeles^ Calif.
EXECUTIVE session ^
The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities
met, pui^iiant to call, at 9 : 15 p. m., in the Cleveland Room, Hotel Stat-
ler, Los Angeles, Calif., Hon. Donald L. Jackson (acting chairman),
presiding.
Committee members present: Representatives Donald L. Jackson
(acting chairman), and Clyde Doyle.
Stan members present : Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel ; Thomas
W. Beale, Sr., chief clerk ; and William A. Wheeler, investigator.
Mr. Jackson. The committee will please be in order.
Mr. Tavenner, will you call the witness ?
Mr. Ta\t:nner. Jerome Robinson.
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about
to give to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help you God ?
TESTIMONY OF JEROME ROBINSON
Mr. Tavenner. Wliat is your full name, please, sir ?
Mr. Robinson. Jerome Robinson.
Mr. Tavenner. Are you accompanied by counsel?
Mr. Robinson. I am not.
Mr. Tavenner. It is the practice of the committee to make known
to every witness they are entitled to have counsel with them if they
desire. And furthermore, you would have the right to consult coun-
sel at any time during your interrogation. You understand that?
Mr. Robinson. I do.
Mr. Jackson. Notwithstanding, you are ready to proceed without
counsel ?
Mr. Robinson. I am.
Mr. Tavenner. When and where were you born, Mr. Robinson ?
Mr. Robinson. New York City, February 25, 1910.
Mr. Tavenner. What is your occupation ?
Mr. Robinson. I am a photographer.
* Released by the committee, April 13, 1953.
31747— 53— pt. 5 2 857
858 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
JVIr. Tavenner. Will you tell the committee, please, what your for-
mal educational training has been?
Mr. Robinson. Public school.
Mr. Tavenner. Where do you now reside?
Mr. Robinson. I live in North Hollywood.
Mr. Tavenner. How long have you lived in Los Angeles?
Mr. Robinson. About 8, 9 years, maybe 10.
Mr. Tavenner. Prior to that time, where did you live?
Mr. Robinson. 15 East 53d St., I think, New York City.
Mr. Tavenner. How long did you live in New York City ?
Mr. Robinson. All my life.
Mr. Tavenner. How were you employed in New York City for a
period of 2 years before coming to Los Angeles?
Mr. Robinson. I was a free-lance photographer, mostly.
Mr. Ta\tenner. Did you engage in any other business in Los An-
geles besides that of photography after your arrival here ?
Mr. Robinson. I think so ; yes.
Mr. Tavenner. What was the nature of that business ?
Mr. Robinson. Well, I was employed in the shipyards when I first
came out here.
Mr. Ta\tenner. The committee has information, Mr. Robinson, that
in 1944 you were a member of a branch of the Communist Party in
Los Angeles. Is that correct?
Mr. Robinson. I decline to answer that question.
Mr. Ta\^nner. On what grounds do you decline ?
Mr. Robinson. The fifth amendment, I guess.
Mr. Tavenner. I see no occasion for my asking any additional
questions.
Mr. Jackson. Any questions, Mr. Doyle ?
Mr. Doyle. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness shouldn't be
excused ?
Mr. Tavenner. No.
Mr. Jackson. You are excused.
Mr. Robinson. Will you need me again ?
Mr. Jackson. No. You are excused from your subpena.
(Wliereupon the witness was excused and the subcommittee con-
tinued the executive session in relation to other matters.)
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AREA— Part 5
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Subcommittee or the Committee on Un-American Activities,
Los Angeles^ Calif.
executive session ^
A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met,
pursucant to call, at 10 : 10 a. m., in the chambers of Courtroom 9",
United States Post OiRce and Courthouse Building, Hon. Donald L.
Jackson (acting chairman), presiding.
Committee member present: Representative Donald L. Jackson
(acting chairman).
Staff member present : William A. Wheeler, investigator.
Mr. Jackson. The subcommittee will be in order.
Mr. Wheeler, will you call the witness.
Mr. Wheeler. Thomas M. McGrath.
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about
to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help you God 1
Mr. McGrath. I do.
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS MATTHEW McGRATH, ACCOMPANIED BY
HIS COUNSEL, WILLIAM B. ESTERMAN
Mr. Wheeler. Will the witness state his full name, please ?
Mr. McGrath. Thomas McGrath, or with the middle name, Thomas
Matthew McGrath.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliere do you presently reside ?
Mr. McGrath. In the county of Los Angeles.
Mr. Wheeler. Your present occupation ?
Mr. McGrath. I am an assistant professor at Los Angeles State
College.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you give us a brief resume of your educa-
tional background ?
Mr. McGrath. Well, the first 8 years, I guess it is, the public school
of Highland Township, I believe, District 69, if I am not mistaken,
the county of Cass, in North Dakota.
Following that, 4 years in high school, Sheldon High School, in the
county of Ransom.
Following that 4 years I took a B. A. at the University of North
Dakota.
* Released by the committee on same day.
859
860 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
And following that, a year and a quarter semester — I have forgotten
how it was called — at Louisiana State University, when I took a
master of arts.
Mr. Wheelek. Approximately what year was that?
Mr. McGrath. ]\Iaster of arts, 1939-40. Following that, 1 year at
New College, Uni\ crsity of Oxford, Oxford, England. That is about
it.
Mr. Wheeler. When did you attend Oxford ?
Mr. McGrath. 1947-4'8. The year 1947-48.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you receive any type of scholarship at Oxford ?
Mr. McGrath. Yes, I received a Rhodes scholarship. I received
that scholarship in — I was a Rhodes scholar-elect for 1939, if I am
not mistaken, but I didn't go to Oxford until 1947, because in the fall
of 1939 Rhodes scholars were forbidden to go to England because of
the war. Then there was the war, and following the war I couldn't
manage to get there until 1947.
Mr. Wheeler. When and where were you born ?
Mr. McGrath. When and where was I born ?
Mr, Wheeler. Yes.
Mr. McGrath. I was born November 20, 1916, in North Dakota.
Mr. Wheeler. What has your emploj^ment been since 1939?
Mr. McGrath. Since 1939, let's see. It would have been since
1940, since that is the year I took my degree. I taught one year then
ut Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and following that I jobbed
around at this and that, and went into the Army, I came out of the
Army
Mr. AViieeler, Would you continue your employment from 1940
until 3'ou went to the Army?
Mr, McGrath, From 1940 until I went into the Army, most of those
jobs, I guess I can't remember. There are a couple I can't remember.
Could I speak to you about this? (Witness addresses his counsel.)
Mr. EsTERMAN. Yes,
(At this point Mr. IMcGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman.)
Mr, Jackson. Let the record show at this point, pursuant to the
authority vested in the chairman of the House Committee on Un-
American Activities, he has appointed Mr, Jackson as a subcommittee
of one to take testimony today.
Mr. EsTERMAisr. What is the question? The employment record
since 1940 ?
Mr. Wheeler. His employment, yes, since 1940, until he entered the
United States Army.
Mr, Esterman. Give them your best recollection.
]Mr. MoGratii. All right. I worked for a while, I don't know ex-
actly how long, for a law firm of Stern and Pollett, I think it was,
if I am not mistaken, or. Pollock, rather, in New York. Then I
worked
Mr. Wheeler. Approximately the dates?
]\Ir. McGrath. Approximate dates, this would have been — I think
it would have been straddling the end of 1940 and first part of 1941.
And then later on I worked at Kearny Shipyards, Kearny, N. J,
]\fr, Wheeler, That would have been
Mr. McGrath. From about March, or something of that sort, until
1 went into the Army, which was about — I am not certain of this.
COIVIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 861
It was July or August, I believe. I remember I was going to get
frozen into' my job and I had the notion I wanted to be in the Army,
so I quit the job and joined the Army.
Mr. Wheeler. When did you enter the United States Army ?
Mr. McGratii. I think it was something like August— it was the
year of Pearl Harbor.
Mr. Jackson. 1942 ?
Mr. McGrath. 1942.
Mr. EsTERMAN. Pearl Harbor was 1941.
Mr. Jackson, Yes ; December 7, 1941.
Mr. EsTERMAN. What was that date, August 1941?
^Ir. McGrath. August 1941, 1 think.
Mr. Jackson. May I ask you at this time, are you reprevSented by
counsel ?
Mr. McGrath. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. Will counsel please identify himself for the record?
Mr. EsTERMAN. William B. Esterman.
Mr. Wheeler. How long did you serve in the United States Army ?
Mr. McGrath. For 3 years and some odd months. I am not sure
how many months; or 4.
]Mr. WiiEELER. Were you honorably discharged?
Mr. McGrath. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. At what rank?
Mr. McGrath. Sergeant, buck sergeant.
Mr. Wheeler. Where were you discharged ?
Mr. McGrath. I was discharged at Mitchel Field, Long Island.
Mr. Wheeler. After your discharge, what has your employment
been ?
Mr. McGrath. For the most part it was free-lance writing. I
worked for, oh, I guess a couple of weeks or something like that, for
the New York State Employment Service.
Mr. Jackson. What was the nature of your writing?
Mr. McGrath. The nature of my writing ?
Mr. Jackson. Yes.
Mr. Esterman. Just a minute.
(At this point Mr. McGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman.)
Mr. McGrath. Could I have the legislative purpose of this question ?
Mr. Jackson. In general, the legislative purpose of the question is
to determine in general what type of writing and what publications
you have written for, to determine whether or not it falls within the
scope of this inquiry which is the extent and nature of Communist
propaganda activities.
(At this point Mr. ]McGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman.)
Mr. McGrath. Do you have a particular publication in mind?
Mr. Jackson. No; I have no particular publication in mind. I
assiune your writings were in the realm of public knowledge.
Mr. Wheeler. In January 1947 were you
Mr. Jackson. Just a moment.
Mr. Esterman. Are you withdrawing the question?
Mr. Jackson. Is this on the same question ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. No. I was inquiring from you as to what the nature
of your writing had been.
( At this point Mr. IMcGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman. )
862 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. McGratii. So far as I can see, this question has no legisla-
tive purpose.
Mr. Jackson. Let me rephrase the question. Did you ever submit
for publication any article or script to a publication known to you to
be a Communist publication ?
(At this point Mr. McGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman.)
Mr. McGrath. I decline to answer for the following reasons :
After a dead serious consideration of the effects of this committee's
work and of my relation to it. I find that for the following reasons I
must refuse to cooperate with this body :
In the first place, as a teacher, my first responsibility is to my stu-
dents. To cooperate with this committee would be to set for them
an example of accommodation to forces which can only have, as their
end effect, the destruction of education itself. Such accommodation
on my part would ruin my value as a teacher, and I am proud to say
that a great majority of my students — and I believe this is true of
students generally — do not want me to accommodate myself to this
committee. In a certain sense, I have no choice in the matter — the
students would not want me back in the classroom if I were to take
any course of action other than the one I am pursuing.
Secondly, as a teacher, I have a responsibility to the profession it-
self. We teachers have no professional oath of the sort that doctors
take, but tliere is a kind of unwritten oath which we follow : To teach
as honestly, fairly, and fully as we can. The effect of this committee
is destructive of such an ideal, destructive of academic freedom. As
Mr. Justice Douglas has said :
This system of spying and surveillance with Its accompanying reports and trials
cannot go hand in hand with academic freedom. It produces standardized
thought, not the pursuit of truth.
_A teacher who will tack and turn with every shift of the political
wind cannot be a good teacher. I have never done this myself, nor
will I ever. In regard to my teaching I have tried to hold to two
guidelines, the first from Chaucer that "gladly will I learn and gladly
teach"; the second a paraphrase of the motto of the late General Stil-
■svell "Illiterati non carborundum."
Thirdly, as a poet, I must refuse to cooperate with the committee on
what I can only call esthetic grounds. The view of life which we
receive through the great works of art is a privileged one— it is a view
of life according to probability or necessity, not subject to the chance
and accident of our real world and therefore in a sense truer than
the life we see lived all around us. I believe that one of the things
required of us is to try to give life an esthetic ground, to give it some
of the pattern and beauty of art. I have tried as best I can to do this
with my own life, and while I do not claim any very great success, it
would be anticlimactic, destructive of the pattern of my life, if I were
to cooperate with the committee. Then too, poets have" been notorious
noncooperators where committees of this sort are concerned. As a
traditiojialist. I Avould prefer to take my stand with Marvell, Blake,
Shelley, and Garcia Lorca rather than with innovators like Mr. Jack-
son. I do not wish to bring dishonor upon my tribe.
These, then, are reasons for refusing to cooperate, but I am aware
that none of them is acceptable to the committee. Wlien I was noti-
fied to appear here, my first instinct was simplv to refuse to answer
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 863
committee questions out of personal principle and on the grounds
of the rights of man and to let it go at that. On further considera-
tion, however, I have come to feel that such a stand would be mere
self-indulgence and that it would weaken the fight which other wit-
nesses have made to protect the rights guaranteed under our Constitu-
tion. Therefore, I further refuse to answer to the committee on the
grounds of the fourth amendment. I regard this committee as
usurpers of illegal powers and my enforced appearance here as in the
nature of unreasonable search and seizure.
I further refuse on the grounds of the first amendment, which
in guaranteeing free speech also guarantees my right to be silent.
Although the first amendment expressly forbids any abridgement
of this and other freedoms, the committee is illegally engaged in the
establishment of a religion of fear. I cannot cooperate with it in
this unconstitutional activity.
Lastly, it is my duty to refuse to answer this committee, claiming
my rights under the fifth amendment as a whole and in all its parts,
and understanding that the fifth amendment was inserted in the Con-
stitution to bulwark the first amendment against the activities of
committees such as this one, so that no one may be forced to bear
witness against himself.
Mr. Jackson. Do you have any further questions ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes, I do.
Wliere are the Kearny Shipyards located ?
Mr. McGrath. Kearny, N. J.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the shipyards branch of the
Communist Party known as the Kearny Club ?
(At this point Mr. McGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman.)
Mr. McGrath. I decline to answer this question, and I incorporate
all the reasons I have given in my declination.
Mr. Wheeler. How long have you lived in the city of Los Angeles?
Mr. McGrath. Since about April, I believe, 1949.'^
Mr. Wheeler. How long have you been a teacher at Los Angeles
State College?
Mr. McGrath. For 3I/2 years ; at the end of this year it will be 3i/^
years.
Mr. Wheeler. In 1951 were you a member of the John Keed divi-
sion of the Los Angeles County Communist Party?
(At this point Mr. McGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman.)
Mr. McGrath. I decline to answer this question on the same gi'ounds
previously stated, incorporating them without repeating them.
Mr. Wheeler. During the first quarter of the year 1952 were you
transferred from the John Reed division of the Communist Party
to the eastern division of the Communist Party of the county of Los
Angeles ?
Mr. McGrath. I decline to answer on the same grounds previously
given, and incorporate all my grounds as above.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you a member of the Community Party today?
Mr. McGrath. I decline to answer on the grounds previously given
and incorporate my reasons.
Mr. Wheeler. I have no further questions.
Mr. Jackson. Is there anj^ reason why the witness should not be
excused ?
Mr. Wheeler. No.
864 COiVrMUNIST activities in the LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Jackson. You are excused.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Wheeler, will you call the next witness?
Mr. Wheeler. Mrs. Matilda Lewis.
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about
to give to be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so
help you God?
Mrs. Lewis. I do.
TESTIMONY OF MATILDA LEWIS, ACCOMPANIED BY HER COUNSEL,
ROBERT W. KENNY
Afr. Wheeler, Will you please state your name?
Mrs. Lewis. Matilda Lewis.
]Mr. Wheeler. Where were you born ?
Mrs. Lew^is. In Los Angeles.
Mr. Wheeler. Where do you presently reside?
Mi-s. Lewis. In Laguna Beach.
Mr. Wheeler. Your present occupation?
Mrs. Lewis. As principal.
Mr. Wheeler. Of what school?
Mrs. Lewis. Park Avenue School.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you briefly relate your educational back-
ground ?
Mrs. Lewis. Yes: I went through the schools of Los Angeles,
public schools, and went to UCLA and USC, Columbia University,
and San Diego State College.
Mr. Wheei^r. What year did you graduate from the San Diego
State College?
Mrs. Lewis. I didn't graduate from there. I worked; taking work
at the present time off and on.
Mr. Wheeler, Did you graduate
Mrs. Lewis, I graduated from Columbia University.
Mr. Wheeler. In what year?
Mrs. Lewis. I think it was '35. I can't tell vou exactly, but — no,
'36. I think it was '36, the summer of '36.
Mr. Wheeler. How have you been employed since 1936 ?
Mrs. LEA^^[s. As a teacher.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you relate in which schools you taught?
Mrs. Lewis. I taught
Mr. Wheeler, Giving the approximate dates.
Mrs. Lewis. I have done all my teaching in the Inglewood schools,
except for the last 4 years.
Mr. Wheeler. Mrs. Lewis, are you acquainted with Leroy Hern-
don ?
Mrs. Lewis, I will not answer any questions pertaining to my
former husband or pertaining to the time I was married to him, I
therefore refuse to answer any question for the reasons previously
stated.
I have taken the Levering Act oath required of every teacher in
this State, and if anyone has the courage to come forward in open
court to charge and prove I committed perjury, I am ready to defend
myself before a jury of my fellow citizens. That is the American
way. In the meantime I am entitled to the right of the presumption
of innocence and not be compelled to give evidence against myself.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 865
All your pertinent questions, outside of the period of 1935-40, will
be answered by me.
Mr. "VVheeler. From what period of time?
Mrs. Lewis. 1935-40.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you repeat the sentence in regard to the word
"perjury," that contains the word "perjury"?
Mrs. Lewis. The sentence starts, "I have taken the Levering Act
oath required of every teacher in this State, and if anyone has the
courage to come forward in open court to charge and prove I com-
mittecl perjury, I am ready to defend myself before a jury of my
fellow citizens. That is the American way."
INIr. Wheeler. ]Mr. Herndon testified under oath before this com-
mittee, during the recent hearings, he was a member of the Com-
munist Party and a member of a teachers' unit in Los Angeles County.
During the course of his testimony he stated that Matilda Lewis
was also a member of this group. Is Mr. Herndon's testimony
correct ?
(At this point Mrs. Lewis conferred with Mr. Kenny.)
Mrs. Lewis. I decline to answer for the reasons already stated.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you acquainted with Anne Kinney, also known
as Jane Howe?
Mrs. Lewis. I refuse on the same reasons.
Mr. Wheeler. She testified in an executive statement on December
22, 1952, that she was also a member of the Communist Party and
also assigned to the teachers' unit, the same group as Mr. Herndon,
and she has testified under oatli you were also a member of that group.
Is that correct ?
Mrs. Lewis. I decline for the same reasons as stated before.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of local 430 of the American
Federation of Teachers in Los Angeles ?
Mrs. Lewis. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. During what period of time?
Mrs. Lewis. About 1936 or '37, I don't recall which, and up to —
I paid dues, I can't recall the exact date, but as close as I can remem-
ber, about 19 — I don't know whether it was '47 or '48. I don't recall.
I don't know, because I wasn't attending meetings.
^Ir. Wheeler. What offices did you hold in this union?
Mrs. Lew^is. I was vice president for 1 year.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what year ?
Mrs. LE^\^s. No, I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. I have an article from the Santa Ana Register dated
July 14, 1948, with the heading "County Parties Are Organized."
In this article it states that you were elected secretary of the Inde-
pendent Progressive Party of Orange County. Are you the same
Matilda Lewis referred to ?
Mrs. Lewis. Yes, I was interested in the Progressive Party.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the Communist Party in 1940 ?
Mrs. Lewis. I said that I decline to answer between those years for
the same reasons given.
Mr. Wheeler. Between what years, again ?
Mrs. Lewis. 1935 to 1940.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the Communist Party in
1941?
(At this point Mrs. Lewis conferred with Mr. Kenny.)
866 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mrs. Lewis. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the Communist Party from
1941 to the present date?
Mrs. Lewis. No.
Mr. Jackson. During the period of time, Mrs. Lewis, that you were
an officer in the American Federation of Teachers, did you have any
personal knowledge of any efforts by the Communist Party to influ-
ence in any way the actions or the policy of the organization ?
Mrs. Lewis. No ; I didn't.
Mr. Wheeler. I have no further questions.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused ?
Mr. Wheeler. None at all.
(Whereupon, at 10: 40 a. m., Monday, April 13, 1953, the executive
session adjourned.)
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AKEA— PART 5
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1953
United Stait.s House of Representatives,
Committee on Un-x\merican Activities,
Hollywood^ Calif.
EXECUTI\^ statement '
An executive statement given at 1 : 30 p. m. December 22, 195"2, at
room 1118, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood, Calif.
Present: William A. AA^ieeler, investigator.
TESTIMONY OF ANNE KINNEY -
Mr. Wheeler. AVill you state your full name?
Miss Kinney. Anne Kinney.
Mr. Wheeler. Where were you born ?
Miss Kinney. Chicago.
Mr. Wheeler. What has been your educational background?
Miss Kinney. Well, I am a graduate of Chicago Normal College ;
now Chicago Teachers' College.
Mr. Wheeler. What has been your employment background I
Miss Kinney. I taught for a year after I graduated from college.
Later most of my employment was in clerical capacities. I worked
as an inspector during the war.
Mr. Wheeler. Where were you employed during the war ?
Miss Kinney. From 1942 to 1944 I worked for Studebaker Corp.
in Chicago.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you been employed since that time I
Miss Kinney. From the fall of 1944 until December of 1946, I
worked for the United OfHce and Professional Workers. Since then
I have had temporary jobs of maybe 2 to 4 weeks' duration, 3 or 4 of
those.
Mr. Wheeler. Where do you presently reside?
Miss Kinney. Los Angeles.
Mr. AViiEELER. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party I
Miss Kinney. Yes ; I was.
Mr. Wheeler. When did you join the Communist Party ?
Mr. Kinney. August 1933.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you been known by any other name ?
Miss Kinney. I was Jane Howe.
1 Releasor! by the committee.
^ Anne Kinney was sworn in as a witness by the court reporter.
«67
868 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Whei-xer. Was this a Communist Party name?
Miss KiNXEY. Yes.
Mr Wheeler. For what purpose did you use the name Jane Howe?
Miss KixNEY. Principally as a means of protecting the person with
whom. I was living at the time I joined. It was common practice for
peo]:>le to use a different name in the party.
Mr. Wheeler. What were the reasons for your becoming a member
of the Communist Party?
INIiss Kinney. Like many people, I was appalled by what happened
during the depression, by the conditions under which people were
forced to live. Being both idealistic and without any knowledge of
political science or economics, I was easily convinced that Marxism
was the answer.
When the Socialist Party seemed to be doing nothing that was
effective, I began to wonder if perhaps the Communist Party was
where I would find more immediate activity.
I did some reading in the public library which led me to believe that
they and not the Socialists were following IMarxist principles. There-
fore, in August 1933, 1 applied for membership by going to the coimty
office and asking to join.
]\Ir. Wheeler. Were you recruited by any specific person ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. After becoming a member of the Communist Party,
to what branches were you assigned ?
Miss Kinney. 'First to a neighborhood branch.
]\Ir. Wheeler. You correct me if I am wrong about this. I under-
stand that from October 1933 to February 1934 there was a special
group within the Socialist Party.
Miss Kinney. I had forgotten about that.
Mr. Wheeler. February 1934 to May 1934, Hollywood street group.
May 1934 to September 1934, a Burbank street group. From Septem-
ber 1934 to the fall of 1935, a member at large.
Miss Kinney. Yes.
INIr. Wheeler. The fall of 1935 to December 1938, a teachers' unit.
December 1938 to August 1939, 56th assembly district, which is in the
13th Congressional District.
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. From August 1939 to the fall of 1940, section organ-
izer, 15th Congressional District.
The fall of 1940 to May 1942, working on the county membership
commission, organizer of the 65th assembly district, and for a short
period of time county membership director.
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. From May 1942 to the summer or fall of 1944, a
Studebaker plant unit in Chicago.
Miss Kinney. Just a minute. There is actually a gap of a few
months there, while I was in transit, so to speak.
Mr. Wheeler. We will explain that when we cover each group.
Miss Kinney. I was going from here to there.
Mr. Wheeler. Transferred. That can be clarified.
Miss Kinney. That covers almost 6 months.
Mr. Wheeler. From the fall of 1944 to the fall of 1945, the Hyde
Park branch in Chicago, a street unit. Is that correct?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
COMJVITJNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 869
Mr. Wheeler. Have you reported to the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation what knowledge you have of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; I have.
Mr. Wheeler. When and to what office did you give your infor-
mation i
Miss Kjnney. I think it was March 1951, in Phoenix.
Mr. Wheeler. Who were the members of the Communist Party
assigned to the Socialist branch?
Miss Kjnney. I remember Harold and Mildred Ashe, John Spears,
Marjorie Hay.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you describe a little more fully each indi-
vidual ?
Miss Kinney. Harold Ashe was at that time State secretary of the
Socialist Party.
John Spears was unemployed. Marjorie Hay was teaching in the
Los Angeles city schools. All were members of the Socialist Party at
that time.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you given any instructions by any member of
the Communist Party as to your activity within the Socialist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you explain your answer more fully ?
Miss Kinney. Well, I don't remember now too well, except we were
supposed to build up this rank and file group, which was sort of an
opposition group to the State leadership.
Mr. Wheeler. Did the members of this Communist Party unit
within the Socialist Party have anything to do to disrupt the normal
proceedings of the Socialist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Well, I think the group tried.
Mr. Wheeler. Did they have any success ?
Miss Kinney. To a certain extent, yes. There were perhaps 3 locals
of the Socialist Party that withdrew. Two of them, I think, turned
into unemployed organizations, and I think the third one may have
become a branch of the American League Against War and Fascism.
Mr. Wheeler. How was this accomplished ?
Miss Kinney. At this point I really couldn't tell you.
Mr. Wheeler. AVill you identify the members of the Hollywood
street branch to which you were assigned ?
Miss Kinney. I think the only one I remember is Dr. Tashjian.^
Mr. Wheeler. How many individuals comprised the Hollywood
branch ?
Miss Kinney. I think there were about 10.
Mr. Wheeler, Then you recall no additional individuals at this time ?
Miss Kinney. No, I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. You testified that you were a member of a street
branch in Burbank from approximately September 1934 to the fall
of 1945. Can you identify the members of the Burbank group?
Miss Kinney. Bill and Nina Ingham, Albert Lockett. That is all
I can remember now.
Mr. Wheeler. How many individuals comprised this group?
Miss Kinney. I think there were just about 7 or 8.
Mr. Wheeler. From September 1934 to the fall of 1935, you stated
you were a member at large. What is meant by the term "member at
large?"
' Dr. Vaughan A. K. Tashjian.
870 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Miss Kinney. You are not attached to any branch of any sort.
Mr. Wheeler. For what reason ?
Miss Kinney. Because I was given a special assignment.
Mr. Wheeler. In your opinion, would you say that you were a
member at large and not assigned to any group because of security
reasons of the party ?
Miss Kinney. I presume so.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you assigned to any particular person?
Miss Kinney. Yes, to'Harrison George.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you further identify Mr. Harrison George?
Miss Kinney. Harrison George was apparently carrying out some
special assignment which had to do with publishing what I think was
a trade-union paper that was sent to Japan.
I knew very little about it, because all I was supposed to do was
pick up mail for him that was sent to various addresses and take it
to him.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall from whom you picked up the mail ?
I^Iiss Kinney. No, I don't. I never made the arrangements for the
use of the addresses. I simply went and got the envelopes and took
them to George.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any of the addresses where you picked
up the envelopes?
Miss Kinney. No, I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you at any time acquire any knowledge as to
what the envelopes contained?
Miss Kinney. No, I didn't, nor did I ever know where they came
from.
Mr. Wheeler. "\A^ien assigned to Harrison George, did you at any
time have any Icnowledge of a branch of the party known as the
Philipj)ine committee?
Miss Kinney. No.
]Mr. WiLEELER. According to your testimony, you were assigned to
a teachers' unit from the fall of 1935 to December 1938. A^^10 were
the members of this group ?
Miss Kinney. I don't remember when they came in, with rare excep-
tions.
Mr. Wheeler. Who were the members of this group during the time
you were a member ?
Miss Kinney. Marjorie Hay, who was teaching in the Los Angeles
schools. Harry Shepro. I think you should assume that, unless I
mention anything to the contrary, all of them were in the city schools.
Mr. Wheeler. All right.
Miss Kinney. Sam Wixman. I tliink his wife was a member.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall her first name ?
Miss Kinney. No. Norman Byrne.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall a member of this unit by the name of
Honore Moxley Carey ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall whether or not you recruited this
individual ?
Miss Kinney. Yes, I did. She subsequently dropped out, I think,
probably about 1937, but I am not sure exactly when. I do know she
did drop out.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 871
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall how long she was a member of this
group ?
Miss Kinney. No, I am not sure. There was Beulah Wales, who
was a member only for the first few months.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Eose Posell a member of this unit?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she still a member when you left the teachers'
gi'oup 'i
Miss Kinney. So far as I can recall. There were two teachers from
Glendale, Dick Lewis and LeRoy Herndon.
Mr. Wheeler. Dick Lewis, would that be Richard B. Lewis ?
Miss Kinney. It is Richard ; I don't know his middle initial.
Mr. Wheeler. How long was Mr. Lewis in this group, do you
recall ?
Miss Kinney. I don't remember exactly when he joined. He still
was a member at the time I left.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Mr. Herndon also a member at the time you
left the teachers' unit ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Abe Minkus?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was he a member of this group ?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; he was.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Zara Becker?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Ruth Stoddard Ryan ?
Miss Kinney. Ruth Ryan was a member. She was not in the city
schools. I am not sure whether she was teaching in the nursery
school at that time or whether she had in the past. Becky Goodman
was also a member. She was a nursery school teacher. I am not
sure she was teaching then.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Angelina Riskin a member of the Communist
Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Brodia Most a member of this teachers' unit ?
Miss Kinney. I think so.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you acquainted with Davida Franchia ?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; but she wasn't a member of the teachers' unit.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what group she was a member of ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. However, you did meet her as a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Al I^wis a member of the teachers' unit?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if his wife, Matilda Lewis, was a
member ?
Miss Kinney. Yes; she was.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you acquainted with Frank Oppenheimer?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was he a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; in Pasadena.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Oppenheimer was not a member of the group
you were in?
872 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the occasion you met him as a member
of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. It was at some meeting in connection with the pro-
fessional section.
Mr. Wheeler. Would that meeting be termed as a fraction meeting ?
Miss Kinney. No; it was not a section meeting. It may have been
a meeting of branch organizers in that section, something of that sort.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever have the occasion to meet any other
teachers who were members of the Communist Party from the Pasa-
dena section?
Miss Kinney. I don't think there were any teachers. Oppen-
heimer, as I recall, was a research assistant, or something like that, at
Caltech.
Mr. Wheeler. How many individuals were members of this group,
the total amount of people going in and being transferred and quit-
ting 'i What would your estimate be ?
Miss Kinney. I would imagine there would have been maybe 25.
That is allowing for a few I uncloubtedly have forgotten about.
Mr. Wheeler. When I interviewed you the first time, you men-
tioned a teacher wliose first name was Claire. Do you recall the last
name ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of local 430, American Federa-
tion of Teachers ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. When was local 430 organized ?
Miss Kinney. Fall of 1935.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you at any time hold an office in local 430 ?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; I was recording secretary for a year, almost a
year.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what year ?
Miss Kinney. I think the fall of 1938.
Mr. Wheeler. Did any of the individuals you mentioned, mem-
bers of the Communist Party, hold any office in local 430 ?
Miss Kinney. At one time or another Harry Shepro and Marjorie
Hay, and I think Sam Wixman, held office. I am not sure whether
any of the others did or not.
Mr. Wheeler. In your opinion, did the Communist Party control
local 430?
Miss Kinney. I would say it exerted considerable influence.
Mr. Wheeler. What was the party's main objective in bringing
teachers to the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. It may have been the intention of higher party au-
thorities to exert influence on the teachers and thereby on the material
they taught, and the way in which they repeated it to the children.
In practice, I don't think it worked out to any great extent. At least,
during the time I was in the teachers' branch, there never was any
discussion of what doctrines we taught and what we did with it.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you employed as a teacher ?
Miss Kinney. No ; I wasn't.
Mr. Wheeler. Did member teachers have meetings prior to regu-
lar meetings in local 430 to discuss what course of action was to be
taken by the Communist fraction in real meetings ?
COIVIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 873
Miss Kinney. Subjects of that nature were discussed in them.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any specific problems that were dis-
cussed prior to union meetings?
Miss Kinney. Largely the question of building up the union mem-
bership. The teachers would hold meetings prior to regular meetings
and at times — one problem was to keep some of the non-Communist
teachers, union members, from being busier "saving the world" than
they were on the problems facing the teachers in Los Angeles.
The Communists were anxious to build up the union as a stronger
force among the teachers in Los Angeles.
Mr. Wheeler. What was the approximate membership of local 430 ?
Miss KiNKEY. I have forgotten.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, would you say 100 ?
Miss Kinney. No; it was over that. I don't remember whether
it was close to 200 or just what it was.
Mr. Wheeler. Were all the teachers you mentioned as members
of the Communist Party also members of local 430 ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. On what percentage of votes could the Communist
Party depend on, on any given subject, which reflected the Commu-
nist Party line ?
JNIiss Kinney. There were, as I recall, no issues on which there was
any sharp fight. The situation in the thirties was different than it is
now, and as a rule there was no particular opposition to any proposals
Vvhich Communists in the hearings might have made.
Mr. Wheeler. Was a Communist teacher given any particular in-
structions regarding indoctrination of students ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Would a Communist teacher- in class discussion
ever take an anti-Soviet attitude?
Miss Kinney. I doubt that they would.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you believe a Communist teacher is a suitable
person to educate the students of this country ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Why?
Miss Kinney. Because I don't think their first loyalty is to the
welfare of this country.
Mr. Wheeler. To what country would you say they owe their
allegiance?
Miss Kinney. To Russia.
Mr. Wheeler. On what do you base this answer ?
Miss Kinney. The fact that all during the time I was in the party
it was considered the Soviet Union could do no wrong.
Mr. Wheeler. During the time you were a member of the Commu-
nist Party, did you place your allegiance to the Soviet Union above
that of the United States ?
Miss Kinney. I wouldn't say that I did, because I felt that there
wasn't a contradiction. I, of course, no longer feel that way.
Mr. Wheeler. How many branches of the American Federation
of Teachers were there in California ?
Miss Kinney. I think six.
Mr. Wheeler. Where were these locals located ?
31747— 53— pt. 5-
874 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Miss Kinney. I can remember there were locals in Oakland, San
Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles. I am not sure-
about Sacramento.
INIr. Whkklkh. Were thei-e any members of the Communist Party in
the locals which you have mentioned?
Miss Kinney. I think there were in San Diego, in Oakland.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever attend a Communist fraction meeting
comprised of representatives of the various locals?
Misr. Kinney. Yes. It didn't include people fr(mi all the locals. 1
left one out, incidentally. There was one in Palo Alto.
Mr. Wheeler. Where was this fraction meeting held?
Miss Kinxky. Somewhere in Palo Alto, previous to a State conven-
tion of the American Federation of Teachers.
Mr. Wheeler. Do }'ou remember how many individuals attended
this meeting?
Miss Kinney. No. I aot verv ill in the middle of that convention
and I spent a lot of the time in bed, in the hotel, and 1 don't remember..
Mr. Wheeler. Well, do you recall any of the teachers who attended
this Communist fraction meeting?
Miss Kinney. There were two teachers from Oakland whose names
I don't remember. Dr. Holland Eoberts, in Palo Alto. 1 think Harry
Steinmetz, from San Diego.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet Harry Steinmetz on any other
occasion ?
]\liss Kinney. I think he came to our house one time. I know he
came to our house at one time.
Mr. Wheeler. You are certain he was a member of the Communist
Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes, he was; he was at that fraction meeting. Pre-
sumably he was or he wouldn't have been at the meeting.
Mr. Wheeler. Do vou recall anvone else who attended the meeting?
Miss Kinney. No; I don't even remember who else from Los An-
geles was there.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what was discussed ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. You have knowledge of Communist Party member-
ship of any other teachers than the ones previously identified?
Miss Kinney. I was told there was a teacher in San Francisco, but
I don't remember the name, if I ever knew it.
Mr. Wheeler. You don't recall anyone else at this time?
Miss Kinney. No.
Ml". Wheeler. Do j'ou have knowledge of Communist Party mem-
bership of any present or former member of the Los Angeles City
lioard of Education?
Miss Kinney. The board of education?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Miss Kinney. Oh, no.
Mr. WiHCELER. What is your answer regarding the Los Angeles
County Board of Education?
JSIiss Kinney. I don't think I have ever even known who was on the
county board of education.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you have knowledge of Communist Party mem-
bership of any present or former member of the State board of
education ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE LOS ANGELES AREA 875
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Were any members or employees of the city, county^
or State boards of education considered to be friends or individuals
who would be trusted by the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Not so far as I know.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you have knowledge of Communist Party mem-
hership of any present or former employee of the city, county, or
State boards of education? I don't mean the teachers. I mean the
actual people employed by the city and county and State boards to
actually help the board members ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know that I remember anything about it.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you ever a member of the disciplinary com-
mittee of the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. I have been a member of a committee that acted as a
disciplinary committee. It was a committee appointed by the 13th
congressional section. As for the county disciplinary committee, I
never was a member of it.
Mr. Wheeler. For what purpose was this committee set up?
Miss Kinney. You mean the one in the 13th congressional district?"
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Miss Kinney. Well, there were two members of a branch, whose
names I don't recall, who had done something, I don't recall what,
and it was felt they should be called in and questioned. Who they
were, I don't know, or about what. Nor do I remember what final
action the committee took.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you recall the members of this committee?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you at any time prefer charges against any
member of the Communist Party which resulted in a hearing before
a disciplinary committee ?
Miss Kinney. Well, the teachers' branch acted, as a whole, as a
disciplinary committee, so far as Sam Wixman was concerned.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you prefer the charges against Sam Wixman?
Miss Kinney. Well, in the sense the charges were preferred; yes.
Mr. Wheeler. What were the nature of the charges, do you recall ?
Miss Kinney. In general, disruption, but I don't remember anything
specific.
Mr. Wheeler. Where was the meeting held ?
Miss Kinney. It was a regular teachers' branch meeting. I mean,
we met at various teachers' homes, and I don't remember at what
particular homes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was present at this meeting?
Miss Kinney. Harry Shepro, Marjorie Hay, Honore Moxley Carey,
Mildred ^ Wixman.
Mr. Wheeler. Would her name be Myrtle?
Miss Kinney. Myrtle, yes.
Mr. AViieeler. You recall her name as Myrtle?
Miss Kinney. Yes, it is Myrtle. I don't remember who all was
there. The whole branch membersliip was there, whoever the mem-
bers at that time were. But I don't recall exactly.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the witnesses were ?
Miss Kinney. It^ wasn't conducted in sucli a formal manner, as to
have witnesses. We discussed Wixman's actions at great length.
Mr. Whi:eler. Was Wixman present to defend himself?
' Name correcteil to be Myrtle.
876 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Miss Kinney. We had two meetings on this. He was present at
the first one. As I recall, he refused lo come to the second.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what his position was at the first
meeting?
Miss Kinney. Well, he of course maintained he hadn't been dis-
rupting. He maintained that position at considerable length, but I
couldn't give any details.
]\[r. AVheeler. Do you recall the approximate date of this dis-
ciplinary hearing?
Miss Kinney. I would guess it was about January 1937.
Mr, Wheeler. What was the result?
Miss Kinney. The branch voted that he be expelled.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Wixman so notified?
Miss Kinney. Yes, I think so.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Wixman ever^ permitted to rejoin the Com-
munist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Not that I know of.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall when Wixman lost his teaching posi-
tion in June 1940 ?
Miss Kinney. I heard that he had.
Mr. Wheeler. Did not the Communist Party attempt to assist
Wixman in regaining his employment?
Miss Kinney. I don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you familiar with the Classroom Teachers'
Federation ?
Miss Kinney. I knew there was such an organization, which had
been in existence a long time.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know the background of the organization,
a little information as to when it was started and what the purpose
was?
Miss Kinney. I don't know when it was started. The people that
started the Classroom Teachers' Federation felt the teachers' organ-
izations were not doing enough to look after the interests of the class-
room teachers and were to a great extent influenced by the principles.
Mr. Wheeler. Were the teachers you have identified as members
of the Communist Party also members of the Classroom Teachers'
Federation ?
Miss Kinney. I think some of them were.
Mr. Wheeler. Did the Teachers' Federation support Wixman in
his difficulty with the board of education ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. From December 1938 to August 1939, you have testi-
fied that you were a member of the 56th-assembly-district branch
of the 13th Congressional District, is that correct?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you hold any official f)osition ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you remember any of the members of this group ?
Miss Kinney. The chairman of the branch was called Ann. Lew
Scott was a member.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you further identify Lew Scott?
Miss Kinney. I can't. I don't know what he did.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you transferred to the 56th assembly branch
for any specific reason ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 877
Miss Kinney. Lew Scott was causing some difficulty in the branch
and I was assigned there, shall we say, to keep him from becoming too
influential, because it was felt by many people he was perhaps, as we
called it an unrealiable element.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else who was a member of
this unit ?
Miss Kinney. I don't; no.
Mr. Wheeler. You have testified that from August 1939 to the
fall of 1940 you were a section organizer.of the 15th Congressional Dis-
trict. What were your duties?
Miss Kinney. Well, in general, I was held responsible for the prop-
er functioning and activity of the branches making up the 15th
Congressional District section.
Mr. Wheeler. Could you estimate the approximate membership of
the 15th Congressional District?
Miss Kinney. I think there were about 150 members.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you familiar with the publication Two Decades
of Progress ?
to^
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler, I will ask you if that document was an official pub-
lication of the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. I think it was supposed to be.
Mr. Wheeler. For identification, the cover reads : "Two Decades of
Progress, Communist Party, L. A. County, 1919-39."
The back cover discloses the document was printed by the Depend-
able Printers, 2510 Brooklyn Avenue.
I will ask you to look at page 30 of the document, or, the book,
rather, and state whether or not the photograph appearing on that
page is yours.
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you read the entire page into the record?
Miss Kinney (reading) :
Fifteenth Congressional District, room 213, 3950 West Sixth Street, FA. 9552.
Jane Howe, Organizer.
From Hollywood Boulevard to Slauson, from Fairfax to Hoover Street, the
15th Congressional District is typical of Los Angeles. The workers in the close-
to-billion-dollar motion-picture industry, fighting for honest, democratic trade
unionism ; the unemployed, fighting for jobs and adequate relief, the small-
business men, struggling to keep from being squeezed out ; these are the people
who, along with the Negro and Japanese people who live In the district, have
begun to come together in a movement for progressive government. The election
of four progressive councilmen — Nelson, Benett, Briggs, and Rasmussen — is
an indication of the possibility of ousting the present Tory Democrat, Congress-
man Costello, in 1940.
Since 1934, with the first fight for free speech in Hollywood, the Communist
Party has been an important factor in every struggle of the people. The studio
strikers of 1937, the Hollywood Citizen-News pickets of 1938, the Workers' Al-
liance, Labor's Nonpartisan League, Ham and Eggers have all seen the party
in action, helping in every progressive movement. Their appreciation was
shown in the large vote given Emil Freed, Communist candidate for Congress in
1938.
57th assembly district :
East branch, Emil Freed, president, 1505 North Western Avenue
West branch. Jack Ginsberg, president, 3950 West Sixth Street
Day branch, J. Caroway, president, 3950 West Sixth Street
Hans Eisler branch, M. Morris, president, 3950 West Sixth Street
Hollywood Studio, Milton Henry, president, 3950 West Sixth Street
Newspaper branch, Peter Steel, president, 39.50 West Sixth Street
878 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
58th assembly district :
Wilshire branch, Libby .Tacobson, president, 3084 San Marino Street
Japanese branch, John Matsuto, president, 3950 West Sixth Street
Lawyers' branch, Lawrence West, president, 3950 West Sixth Street
63d assembly district :
63d assembly-district branch, Sara Kusnitz, president, 2180 West Twenty-
ninth Street
Culver City Studio, Frank Oats, president, 3950 West Sixth Street
65th assembly district :
Anya Lieberson, president, 1240 West Fortieth Place
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall writing what you have just read?
Miss Kinney. I don't know whether I wrote it or Emil Freed wrote
it.
Mr, Wheeler. In your position as organizer, would you have ap-
proved it?
Miss Kinney. I would have approved it.
Mr. Wheeler. Were any of the councilmen mentioned on this page
members of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. What part did you, as organizer of the 15th Con-
gressional District, or the Communist Party have in the "first fight for
free speech in Hollywood" ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know what they mean by the "first fight for
free speech in Hollywood" in 1939. I have no recollection of it.
Mr. Wheeler. To quote from this page :
The studio strikers of 1937, the Hollywood Citizen-News pickets of 1938, the
Workers' Alliance, Labor's Nonpartisan League, Ham and Eggers have all seen
the party in action.
"VVliat part did the Communist Party take in the studio strike of
1937?
Miss Kinney. I don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you take any part in it ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. What part did the party take in the Workers'
Alliance?
Miss Kinney. I presume that some party members were members
of the Workers' Alliance and probably helped to establish branches of
the Workers' Alliance. I don't know. At the time that this publica-
tion appeared, I had only been sedition organizer for about 3 weeks in
this section.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the Workers' Alliance ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. WiiEixER. Were you ever employed by the Workers' Alliance?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you consider the Workers' Alliance a front for
the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. To a certain extent, I think it was. To a certain
extent, I think it was a legitimate organization that probably was
able to do something for the unemployed ; what they would not have
been able to do without an organization.
Mr. Wheeler. You have mentioned in your testimony that the
Communist Party may have been instrumental in assisting in setting
up branches of the Workers' Alliance, isn't that correct?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 879
Mr. Wheeler. The Communist Party certainly wouldn't lend their
assistance to organizations unless the organizations were in sympathy
with the objectives of the party, would they ? The Communist Party
wouldn't assist in setting up a branch of the German- American Bund?
Miss Kinney. No. Wliat I mean by my previous answer is this:
The party may have had definite ideas about what it hoped to ac-
complish for the Workers' Alliance, but I think that at the same time
some good things were accomplished for the unemployed. Do you
understand the distinction I am trying to make ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Miss Kinney. I don't feel that you can condemn the Workers' Al-
liance outright and say everything they did was bad. I think they
did a lot of things that were better left undone.
Mr. Wheeler. I don't think you can say that the Communist Party
is all bad. I think there is some agreement in some of their objec-
tives that perhaps most American citizens do agree with.
Miss Kinney. The objectives on top, the public objectives are per-
haps some things with which you can agree.
Mr. Wheeler. I think we all agree with shun clearance.
Miss Kinney. The party, I think, has always followed a practice
of trying to pick a public objective that many people are in agree-
ment with.
Mr. Wheeler. Getting back to page 30 again, what part did the
party take in the Labor's Non-Partisan League ?
Miss Kinney. I think some party members were members of the
Labor's Non-Partisan League.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you say that the Labor's Non-Partisan
League was in the same category as Workers' Alliance, so far as your
■description of Workers' Alliance goes ?
Miss Kinney. I think it was probably less
Mr. Wheller. Infiltrated?
Miss Kinney. Influenced by the party. I think that the Labor's
Non-Partisan League was less influenced by the party.
Mr. Wheller. According to page 30 of this document, a number of
Communist Party branches were in your district. The first listed is
the east branch of the 57th Assembly District. Emil Freed is listed as
president. Do you know Emil Freed as a Communist and president
'of the East Branch?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheller. Do you recall any other members in that branch ?
Miss Kinney. His wife was a member.
Mr. Wheller. Do you recall her given name?
Miss Kinney. Tassia.
Mr. Wheller. Do you recall anyone else?
Miss Kinney. No, I don't
Mr. Wheller. What type of branch was the East Branch?
Miss Kinney. A street branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Who maintained the membership records for the 15th
Congressional District?
Miss Kinney. It would be the section membership director, and I
don't remember who it was.
Mr. Wheller. Who was section treasurer?
Miss Kinney. Tassia Freed.
880 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheller. Do you recall the approximate amount of moneys
collected per month as dues?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. WiiELLER. Do you recall what percentage of the money taken
in as dues was retained by the section and what part went to the Los
Angeles County organization?
Miss Kinney. I used to know all those things. I think the section
kept 10 percent. How much the branches kept and how much went to
the county, I don't remember.
Mr. Wheller. Who appointed you section organizer?
Miss Kinney. I was elected by the section committee on the pro-
posal of the — proposed to them, I believe, by the county committee or
by the county organizer.
Mr. Wheller. The county organizer at that time was Max Silver?
Miss Kinney. I don't remember whether it was Max Silver or Paul
Cline.
Mr. Wheller. The second branch listed in the document "2 Decades
of Progress" is the West Branch. What can you tell us about this
unit?
Miss Kinney. It was also a street branch. Aside from Jack Gins-
berg, who is listed as president, his wife Margaret was a member. I
believe Fanya Friedman was a member. I don't remember anybody
else.
Mr. Wheller. The next branch listed is a day branch, 57th Assembly
District, with J. Caroway listed as president. What do you remember
about this branch?
Miss Kinney. Not a thing.
Mr. Wheller. Do you recall J. Caroway ?
Miss Kinney. No. I am not sure whether it was supposed to be
housewives or whether it was people who worked at night.
Mr. Wheeler. The next branch listed in the document is the Hans
Eisler Branch, T5th Assembly District. AVhat type of branch was
the Eisler Branch ?
Miss Kinney. The branch listed as the Eisler Branch, was a branch
of musicians.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the head of this branch was?
Miss Kinney. Miriam Brooks.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any of the members?
Miss Kinney. No, I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. How do branches acquire the names?
Miss Kinney. The branch chooses the name. If it chooses the name
of a person dead or alive, it is somebody whom they feel may not
necessarily have been or be a Communist, but represents principles
which the Communists support.
I know of one branch named Thomas Masaryk, who I believe was
the first president of Czechoslovakia. What I am trying to say is
that because a branch is named for a person doesn't necessarily mean
that person is or was a Communist.
Mr. Wheeler. It doesn't mean he is anti-Communist, does it?
Miss Kinney. Certainly wouldn't be anti-Communist. That is,
if it were someone who is alive. Someone dead, you can assume the
party may assume he might have been pro-Communist; other people
may have had their doubts.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 881
Mr. Wheeler. We had testimony in 1945 in regard to this matter
we are discussing. The witness said that they would never name a
branch of the Communist Party after a live Communist because of
the fact that he may be driven out of the party and turn against them.
I am somewhat surprised a Hans Eisler branch appears, which is
named after a man who is currently alive.
Miss Kinney. I think there have been instances when branches
have been named for live Communists, and I believe there have been
embarrassing consequences sometimes, too.
Mr. Wheeler. This procedure probably started after Eisler's branch
was set up.
The next branch entered in the document "2 Decades of Progress"
is a Hollywood branch. What knowledge do you have concerning
this branch ?
Miss Kinney. The members were workers in the studios, in the
crafts, that is, carpenters, painters, electricians, and so on.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the head of this branch ?
Miss Kinney. It says here Milton Henry, which doesn't mean a
thing. John Bevins was the head of that branch, so far as I remember.
Mr. Wheeler. How was Mr. Bevins employed ?
Miss Kinney. I don't remember what John was doing at that time.
I don't know^ whether he was working in the studios then or not.
I know he had in the past, one time.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall that John Bevins was his true name
or a party name ?
Miss Kinney. John Bevins was the name I knew him by. It may
liave been a party name.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall whether or not he was also known as
Jacob Levine ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet a Jacob Levine in the Commu-
nist Party ?
Miss Kinney. No, not that I recall.
Mr. Wheeler. The next branch listed is the newspaper branch. It
tells who was head of the newspaper branch.
Miss Kinney. I am not sure who was head of the newspaper branch.
I know that Sid Burke was a member.
Mr. Wheeler. Peter Steel is listed in the document as president.
Do you recall Peter Steel ?
Miss Kinney. Not by that name.
Mr. Wheeler. For the record, Peter Steel is a party name and is
actually Charles Judson, who testified as a cooperative witness in
Washington last year.
Did you know Charles Judson ?
Miss Kinney. I think so.
Mr. Wheeler. Who else were members?
Miss Kinney. I think Tom Cullen was a member.
Mr. Wheeler. Who else do you remember?
Miss Kinney. Ed Kobbins, Herb Klein, Brick Garrigues ; ^ I don't
remember Brick's real first name. I know him as Brick. I know
that at one time Jay Moss and Dolph Winebrenner and Urcel Daniel
were members, but I don't remember whether it was at this particular
time or not.
1 According to information received by the committee, the full name of this individual is
Cliarles H. Garrigues.
882 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. Were all these individuals connected with the news-
paper business?
Miss Kinney, So far as I know.
Mr. Wheeler. For the record, Urcel Daniel testified as a coopera-
tive witness in Washington in 1952.
Do you recall if George Shaffer was a member of this group ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Minna Klein a member of this group, also ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know. I know she was a member of the
party.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if William E. Oliver was a member of
this group ?
Miss Kinney. I am not sure.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet Mr. Oliver as a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. I think I have heard the name, but I don't recall.
Mr. Wheeler. Lillian Jones?
Miss Kinney. Lillian Jones?
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if Lillian Jones was a member of the
newspaper branch ?
Miss Kinney. Not so far as I know. She, I think, was a member
of that branch in Hollywood that I was in, in 1934.
Mr, Wheeler. Do you know her occupation ?
Miss Kinney. She was secretary of the workers' school at the time
I knew her, I believe.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she employed in the film industry ?
Miss Kinney. Not as far as I Imow,
Mr, Wheeler, "2 Decades of Progress," page 30, also discloses that
the 58th Assembly District was in the 15th Congressional District.
According to this document the 58th Assembly District contained
three Communist Party branches, the first being the Wilshire branch.
What type of branch was the Wilshire branch?
Miss Kinney, That was a street branch.
Mr. Wheeler, Do you recall anything about the Wilshire branch?
Miss Kinney. Libby Jacobson was the chairman of the branch.
Emily and Julian Gordon were members of it.
Mr. Wheeler. The second group listed within the 58th Assembly
District is a Japanese group. What knowledge do yo have regard-
ing this group?
Miss Kinney. There was a small group of Japanese and it was my
impression they were all Japanese gardeners; none of them spoke
English. The president of the branch I knew only as George, I
doirt know his last name. He spoke very little English,
Mr, Wheeler, The third branch listed within the 58th Assembly
District is a lawyers branch. What can you tell us about this branch ?
Miss Kinney. I don't remember this Lawrence West, who is listed
as president. I believe Jack Franko was a member of that branch.
I must have known other members at the time, but I don't remember
now.
Mr, Wheeler, I would like to refer to volume III of executive hear-
ings of July 17, 18, 19, 22, 26; August 5, 6, 16, IT, 19 and 20, 1940, of
hearings before Special Committee on Un-American Activities, House
of Representatives, 76th Congress.
COROIUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 883
On page 1239 of this document, I read the following :
Carey MeWilliams, state housing commissioner. Jane Howe, former profes-
sional section merabersliip director, gave me his name as the one to contact to
make arrangements for my appearance at the Communist Party's lawyers' unit.
The Communist Party unit is synonymous with the lawyers guild faction.
This is the testimony of a person, a former member of the Com-
munist Party, who appeared before the committee in 1940, and testi-
fied to what I have just read.
Miss Kinney. That I told them to contact Carey MeWilliams?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Miss Kinney. I never would have, because to my knowledge Carey
MeWilliams was never a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Carey MeWilliams?
Miss Kinney I met him once.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the occasion?
Miss Kinney. Yes. It was at a time when he and a group of othei-s,
whom I do not remember, were planning a conference in connection
with the foreign born, and I think it was alien registration.
I went to his office. I think he was State housing commissioner at
that time. I went to his office in my capacity as section organizer for
the 15tli Congressional District, to offer him the help of our section
in organizing this group.
Mr. Wheeler. You identified yourself to him as an organizer of the
Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. What was his reaction ?
Miss Kinney. He was very polite and noncommittal. He said he
would be glad to have help from anybody that was concerned about
these things but did not make any specific suggestions as to what our
section of the Communist Party could do.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you sent there by someone else in the party ?
Miss Kinney. Our section committee decided this would be a good
idea. Nothing came of it. I mean we didn't really do anytliing to help
the conference.
Mr. Wheeler. Did your section committee consider Carey Me-
Williams as sympathetic to the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Not particularly. Carey MeWilliams, I think they
considered him as a progressive member of Governor Olsen's adminis-
tration. This was a case of the party trying to horn in on something.
Mr. Wheeler. "Two Decades of Progress" reflects that the 63d
assembly district was also in the 15th Congressional District. Two
branches of the Communist Party, according to this document, were
in this assembly district, the 63d Assembly District Branch and the
Culver City Studio Branch. What can you tell the committee of the
first branch ?
Miss Kinney. Sara Kusnetz was a chairman of the branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any of the members of the branch?
What type of branch was that ?
Miss Kinney. It was a street branch, and so far as this Culver City
Studio Branch is concerned, I have absolutely no recollection of the
existence of such a branch.
Mr. Wheeler. The last branch was in the 15th Congressional Dis-
trict, as recorded in "Two Decades of Progress" and was the 65th
assembly district. Will you describe this branch ?
884 coivcvruNisT actr^ities in the los angeles area
Miss Kinney. This was a small street branch. Anya Lieberson was
president. Her husband, Eddie Fisher, was a member of that branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Can you further identify Eddie Fisher?
Miss Kinney. No. I think he worked as a salesman. I don't know
what he sold.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else who was a member of the
15th Congressional District? Do you recall if Joseph Zadow was a
member?
Miss Kinney. Yes, he was in the 58th assembly.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall his occupation?
Miss Kinney. He was a tailor.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Sanders Sheff ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know whether he belonged to the 63d or the
65th assembly district. He is an engineer ; I don't know what kind of
engineer.
Mr. Wheeler. You knew him as a member of the Communist
Party?
Miss ICinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeijer. Do you recall who he married ?
Miss I^nney. He was on the section committee for a while.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who he married ?
Miss Kinney. I think his wife's name was Eve. I don't remem-
ber her last name.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet an individual by the name of
Lynn Taf t ?
Miss Kinney. I don't think so.
Mr. Wheeler. An organizer of the 15th Congressional District.
Did you have occasion to meet Margaret Ginsberg as a member of the
Communst Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. I previously mentioned her as a member of
the west branch of the 56th assembly district.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if Ernest Dawson was a member of
the Communist Party in the 15th Congressional District?
Miss Kinney. Not that I know of.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any person by the name of Dawson
that owned a bookstore ?
Miss Kinney. I know a person in Los Angeles by the name of
Ernest Dawson that owned a bookstore, but he was not a member of the
Communist Party, so far as I know.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else in the 15th Congressional
District?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you acquainted with the unit in the Communist
Party comprised of social workers?
Miss Kinney. I knew some social workers. There were, I think,
two units of social workers in the professional section.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the names of any of these people ? The
other day in our interview you mentioned you knew Betty Selden as
a member of the Communist Party.
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Ruth Ober as a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Miss Kinney. I am not positive whether slie was or not. I met her
but I am not positive.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 885
Mr, Wheeler. Did you meet John Jeffrey ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. You met him as a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you meet Henrietta Palley as a member of the
Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Sonya Solatoy as a member of the
Socialist Workers Club ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Rose Most a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if Maurine Ryan was a member of
the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes,
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if Rose Segure was a member of the
Communist Party?
Mis Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever have occasion to meet Milton Cashner
as a member of the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes. And Max Bogner was a member.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you met anyone else as a member of the Com-
munist Party who was assigned to any professional section other than
what we have previously discussed?
Miss Kinney. I knew Al Rislun.
Mr. Wheeler. Albert Riskin ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know what his
Mr. Wheeler. Riskin?
Miss Kinney. Riskin, yes. Alexander Riskin is his name.
Mr. Wheeler. A doctor ?
Miss KinJtey. Yes. Alexander Riskin and Dr. Leo Bigelman were
in the doctor's branch.
Mr. Wheeler. In our previous discussion you mentioned that you
met Ann Howe as a member of the Communist Party.
Miss Kinney. Yes. I don't remember now what branch of the
professional section she was in.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know her occupation or any further descrip-
tion ?
_ Miss Kinney. She, I believe, at that time was working as an execu-
tive secretary of the Contemporary Theater.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever have occasion to meet Joseph J.
Posell ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was he a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. I think he was in the pharmacists' branch,
along with Jack Fox. I may be wrong about Joe Possell being in
the pharmacists' branch. Jack Fox I know was.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any other phannacists ?
Miss Kinney. No ; I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. Does the name Albert Byler mean anything to you?
Miss Kinney. Oh, yes. He was an engineer.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall where he worked ?
Miss Kinney. At one time he worked for the board of education
as an engineer. I think it was at the time I knew him.
886 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. WiiEELER. Do you recall the name Sam Gelf and ?
Miss KixNEY. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was he a member of the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know what his occupation was at that tinie?
Miss Kinney. I think he was working for the State relief admin-
istration as a social worker.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you have occasion to meet Nell Higman as a
member of the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she a member of some professional group?
Miss Kinney. No; she wasn't.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall her occupation?
Miss Kinney. She is a retired teacher.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you have occasion to meet Kose Bush?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall her occupation?
Miss Kinney. She, as I recall — it was my impression she was, or
may have been working full time for the party, but I don't know in
what capacity.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you have occasion to meet Abraham Maymadus?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. You knew him as a member of the Communist
Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; he was working for IWO.
Mr. Wheeler. That is known as the International Workers Order?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you have occasion to meet Libby Nathan Mekus
as a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes; she was in a street branch, I believe.
Mr, Wheeler. Do you recall her occupation?
Miss Kinney. She was a housewife.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Jane Wilson ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she also known as Jane Wallace?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know which was her correct name?
Miss Kinney. Wilson.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she a member of the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; she was.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet Jack Wetherwax?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. What was his occupation?
Miss Kinney. I don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. You knew him as a Communist?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. The next one, the first name is Barta, and the last
is Humouna. Did you meet her as a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. She was a teacher, but I don't know her real
name. She also was active in Contemporary Theater, and that was
the name she used and preferred,
Mr. Wheeler. Were you ever a member of the United Office and
Professional Workers of America ?
COMIVIUNIST ACTR'ITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 887
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler, When were you a member?
Miss Kinney. Here in Los Angeles, in the fall of 1940, until the
fall of 1941 ; I never attended a meeting.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you have an}^ knowledge of the Communist in-
filtration of United Office and Professional Workers of America ?
Miss Kinney.I know that some were Communist members. I have
no direct knowledge; I never attended a meeting.
Mr. Wheeler. We previously discussed this, and at that time I read
to you a list of individuals whom we have evidence of Communist
Party membership. These are the individuals that you have previ-
ously identified in our interview.
Bea Baron ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. Do you want to read the whole list ?
Mr. Wheeler. All right. Carter Brown, Oscar Fuss, Harry Tar-
noff, John Lockett, whom you have previously identified
Miss Kinney. As Albert Lockett, in Burbank.
Mr. Wheeler. Yes. Wilhelmina Maise, Helen Mallof, Violet Orr,
Clara Stevens, Bert Stone. Do you recall having met all these indi-
viduals as members of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Is Bert Stone male or female ?
Miss Kinney. Female.
Mr. Wheeler. You previously testified that you were employed by
the United Office and Professional Workers of America in Chicago.
Were you active at all as a Communist in that organization ?
Miss Kinney. Well, I was still a Communist at the time I started
working for them. I had dropped out of the party before I stopped
working for them.
Mr. W^heeler. Did you know anyone in Chicago connected with the
United Office and Professional Workers of America to be a Commu-
nist?
Miss Kinney. Yes, there were some members of the union whom I
knew to be Communists.
Mr. Wheeler. Was this knowledge based upon party meetings?
Miss Kinney. In the case of one, yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Who was that one?
Miss Kinney. Joan Place.
Mr. Wheeler. What do you base your knowledge on, the other
individuals whom you know to be members of the Com.munist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Evelyn Keller said she was.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she employed by the UOWPA ?
Miss Kinney. Evelyn Keller was clerical worker in the union office
in Chicago.
Mr. Wheeler. Was there anyone connected with the UOWPA in
Chicago a Communist?
Miss Kinney. There were, I think, several members whom I as-
sumed were Communists, altliough I didn't necessarily see them at
meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, we will not go into that. How did you obtain
your job with United Office and Professional Workers of America?
Miss Kinney. I heard that they were looking for someone to work
in the office who knew something about editing a paper, and I had
been editing — I had been editor of the union paper at Studebaker and
888 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
I wanted to change jobs because the job at Studebaker was very hard
on me physically. So I applied for this job with United Office and
Professional Workers.
They were at that time, that is, the regional office at that time was
publishing a monthly paper for the insurance division
Mr. Wheeler. Would you sa^'^ being a member of the Communist
Party was a good recommendation for employment with the United
Office and Professional Workers of America ?
Miss Kinney. So far as I know it had nothing to do with it. So far
as I know, Morris Yanoff, who was the regional director, didn't know I
was a Communist when he hired me.
Mr. Wheeler. You testified from the fall of 1940 until May 1942
you were working on the county membership connnittee, organizer for
the 65th assembly district and also for a short period of time county
membership director. What were your duties while working on the
county membership committee ?
Miss Kinney. I think principally it was a matter of working out
methods for keeping closer check on dues payments and transfers from
one branch to another.
Mr, Wheeler. Did you have anything to do with individuals being
transferred out of the Los Angeles district and individuals being trans-
ferred in from other areas ?
Miss Kinney. As county membership director, I sent transfers out
to San Francisco, the district office, if they were transferring some-
where out of the county.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the names of any individuals that you
transferred out of Los Angeles ?
Miss Kinney. No ; I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the names of any of the individuals
who may have been transferred into Los Angeles ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. How many individuals comprised the membership,
the county membership commission ?
Miss lijNNEY. I can only remember three of us, but it seems to me
there was a fourth person. I don't remember who it was. The three I
remember was myself, Helen Gardner, and Max Silver.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall how long you were organizer for the
65th assembly district ?
Miss Kinney. I think only about 2 months.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone in the 65th assembly district
as members of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Only the ones I mentioned previously, Anya Lieber-
son and Eddie Fisher were the two I mentioned before.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a membership director of the Los
Angeles County ?
Miss Kinney. I would say 4, possibly 5 months ; not any longer.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the total membership of Los Angeles
County during the time you were membership director in 1942 ?
Miss Kinney. The figure, I think, was 3,000. It isn't necessarily
correct, though.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliat were your duties ?
Miss Kinney. To collect dues from the section membership direc-
tors, to handle transfers from one section to another within the county,
COIVIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 889
assign people being transferred into Los Angles County from outside,
to sejid to the district office in San Francisco those transfers of people
who were leaving the county.
Mr. W11EEI.ER. Do you recall the names of the individuals that you
received dues from on the sectional level ?
Miss Kinney. Well, as often as not it might be the section organizer
who turned it over to me, rather than the section membership director.
I remember some of the section organizers better than I do the member-
ship directors.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you name the individuals ?
]!iliss Kinney. George Sandy.
Mr. Wheeler. If you recall the district for which he was an organ-
izer, will you please mention that?
Miss Kinney. I think he was from the 12th Congressional District.
Jean Mayer was section organizer in the 13th Congressional District.
Mr. Wheeler. How do you spell her last name?
Miss Kinney. M-a-y-e-r, I guess. Frank Beye, from San Fernando
Valley. Betty Martin, from the harbor. Miriam Brooks.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the organizer or the treasurer
was of the northwest section, which comprised Hollywood ?
Miss Kinney. Elizabeth. I don't remember her last name.
Mr. Wheeler. Leech?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. How much money would you estimate that you
received from these individuals a month ?
Miss IviNNEY. In the Hollywood section ?
Mr. Wheeler. No, the whole Los Angeles County.
Miss Kinney. I have no recollection.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, would you say $1,000?
Miss Kinney. Honestly, I don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall how much money you received from
the Hollywood section or the northwest section ?
Miss iviNNEY. Yes, because all that I received was the equivalent
of unemployed dues, which were 10 cents a month. The rest of the
dues which they paid were turned in direct to, I presume, the county
organizer. The records only showed unemployed dues for Hollywood.
Mr. Wheeler. Did they turn them in to the county organizer or
would these dues they collected from Hollywood go direct to the
national ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know. I knew that I got only the unemployed
amount, and that there was a larger amount which I never got.
Mr. Wheele;r. W^ouldn't this be considered unusual procedure?
Miss Kinney. It was not like any other section.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever hear discussed how much money came
out of Hollywood a month ?
Miss Kinney. Not that I recall.
]Mr. Wheeler. Would you list all the Communist Party officials in
Los Angeles County that you have met ?
Miss Kinney. Paul Cline. You want their titles ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Miss Kinney. County organizer.
Mr. Wheeler. And approximate time he was county organizer,
which went back to '38 or '39 ?
31747— 53— pt. o 4
890 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Miss Kinney. I think from '37 to sometime around — I don't know
whether it was '40 or '41 ; I am not sure.
Max Silver took his place.
Pettis Perry, county chairman.
Matt Pellman, as educational director for a while. Part of the
time Al Ryan was educational director.
Lou Baron, I think, was trade-union director at one time.
Helen Gardner was membership director. I don't recall anybody
else.
1 think in 1937, just before Paul Cline came, Betty Gannett was
county organizer for a brief time.
Carl Winter was county organizer in 1942. He came just a few
months before I left Los Angeles. I can't think of anybody else.
Mr. Wheeler. Who of the Communist Party have you met that
w^as on the national level of the party structure ?
Miss Kinney. At one time or another there were national commit-
tee members who spoke here at public meetings. I didn't meet them
personally.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you familiar with the political commission of
the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. I have a vague recollection there was some sort of
committee set up at one time.
Mr. Wheeler. I have here a photostat of a card which I will hand
you and ask you if it is your handwriting.
Miss Kinney. The writing on one side is; the writing on the other
side isn't.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you read into the record the portion of the
handwriting that is yours ?
Miss Kinney. The portion that is mine is the side listing the names
of three people. It states they are transferring into the political
unit.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you read the names ?
Miss Kinney. And signed Jane Howe.
Mr. Wheeler. Read the names and also party names.
Miss Kinney. Dennis Dane. That is Leo Bigelnian. Alice Starr,
who was Rose Segure. And Margaret — it looks like P-e-t-o-s, who was
Elinore Bogigian.
Mr. Wheeler. Was that Mrs. Murray Abowitz ?
Miss Kinney. Was it?
Mr. Wheeler. For the record, it is Mrs. Murray Abowitz.
Miss Kinney. I don't know whose writing this is on the other side.
Mr. Wheeler. I will introduce that as Kinney Exhibit No. 1.
You have previously testified that in 1942 you became a member of
the Studebaker branch of the Communist Party in Chicago, 111. Will
you give us the approximate date you moved to Chicago ?
Miss Kinney. I moved to Chicago in July of 1942. I didn't be-
come a member of the Studebaker branch until, I think, December;
transfers sometimes take a long time.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you transferred by the direction of the Com-
munist Party ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you have any discussion with any member of the
Communist Party concerning your transfer?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 891
Miss Kinney. I decided on my own I wanted to go back to Chicago,
and when I mentioned it to Carl Winter, who was the county organizer,
he said, "Well, I don't know whether we will let you."
I didn't like that. I intended to go anyway. But before I left
he sent word to me, I think, by Max Silver, that it was all right for
me to go.
Mr. Wheeler. Was he disturbed because you didn't advise him prior
to the making of your decision to move to Chicago?
Miss Kinney. I don't think Carl Winter ever liked anyone to make
a decision that he didn't approve of. It hadn't occurred to me that
there would be any question or objection.
Mr. Wheeler. How many members comprised the Studebaker
branch in Chicago?
Miss Kinney. I think between 15 and 20, but I am not sure.
Mr. Wheeler. Were these individuals all employed with the Stude-
baker plant?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the United Auto Workers of
America ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Were any officials of the United Auto Workers of
America members of the Communist Party, to your knowledge?
Miss Kinney. You mean in our local union ?
Mr. Wheeler. In your local union.
Miss Kinney. Yes, Carl Swanson, Gertrude Selig, and Evelyn
Fargo were members of the Studebaker branch, and part of the time
officers of the local union.
Mr. Wheeler. What number was the union ?
Miss Kinney. 998.
Mr. Wheeler. To your knowledge is it still in existence ?
Miss Kinney. I am sure it isn't because the plant was closed in, I
think, June of 1945, and never reopened by Studebaker.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any other members of the Studebaker
branch ?
Miss Kinney. Reva Handle, Wally, whose last name I can't re-
member. Evelyn Fargo was the other one. Jane March.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else ?
Miss Kinney. No, those were the only ones.
Mr. Wheeler. While a member of the Communist Party, and while
assigned to the Studebaker branch, did you have any specific function
with the union ?
Miss Kinney. I was appointed to the staff of the union paper in
June of 1943, and elected editor of the paper by the staff.
Mr. Wheeler. Did this paper reflect in any way the Communist
Party line ? Were you under any orders from the Communist Party
to slant this publication in any way?
Miss Kinney. I had some disagreements with some of the members
of the branch, particularly Carl Swanson and Gertrude Selig, about
whether or not the paper w^ould be a miniature Daily Worker. I re-
fused to turn it into that and maintained that it was a union paper
and it should follow CIO policy. It did follow CIO policy.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you at that time consider yourself in more
agreement with CIO policy than the Communist Party directives?
892 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
In other words, did you place the CIO above the Communist Party
while editor of this paper?
Miss Kinney. It wasn't that clear-cut, but it seemed to me a union
paper is a union paper, and that you don't turn a union paper into
a Communist paper. I felt I was responsible to the entire union
membersliip for putting out a paper that reflected the policies of the
union.
Mr. Wheeler. Yes, but you still were removing yourself from Com-
munist Party discipline, were you not?
Miss Kinney. Well, my disagreements didn't make me too popular
in the branch. At that time there wasn't too much difference in the
immediate policies of the Communist Party and the CIO. If there
had been greater divergence, I think it might have created consid-
erably more difficulties than it did.
Mr. Wheeler. You have previously testified that you were a mem-
ber of the Hyde Park branch in Chicago from the fall of 1944 to
the fall of 1945.
What was the reason for your transfer from the Studebaker group
to the Hyde Park group ?
Miss Kinney. The shop branch was disbanded. All shop branches
were disbanded in the summer of 1944.
Mr. Wheeler. Was this because of security reasons ?
Miss Kinney. No, this was during the period of the Communist
Political Association.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the m.embers of the Hyde Park
branch were ?
Miss I&nney. Joan Place was the chairman of the branch. Lucy
Arnold was a member. Sue Cohen, Morton Nadler. I told you he
worked at Dodge. I was mistaken. It was Meyer Wineberg that
worked at Dodge.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know where Morton Nadler worked?
Miss Kinney. No. Jens and Sarah Simonsgard were members.
Mr. Wheeler. Are those all the individuals that you recall from
this group ?
Miss I^NNEY. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. How big a group was this ?
Miss Kinney. I think it was supposed to have about 50 members.
The attendance at meetings was perhaps about 20, at best.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you regular in your attendance ?
Miss Kinney. I was not very regular in my attendance. I became
less and less regular.
Mr. Wheeler. Was this the last group that you were in while a
member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. And when did you cease to attend this group ?
Miss Kinney. In the fall of 1945.
Mr. Wheeler. Did the Communist Party at any time give you any
special training to assist you in furthering its program?
Miss Ivinney. Yes ; here in Los Angeles, in 1937, 1 went to 2 weeks'
county training school.
Mr. Wheeler. Where was this held ?
Miss Kinney. In Ocean Park, I believe, or Venice ; I am not sure
which.
Mr. Wheeler. How were you selected to attend this school ?
COIVIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 893
Miss Kinney. By the county committee.
Mr. Wheeler. Did they select individuals that they thought would
make good workers for the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Presumably you had leadership possibilities.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who attended this meeting ?
Miss Kinney. You mean who were students at the school ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Miss Kinney. Helen Gardner was a student and LaKue McCormick,
Betty Martin, Bob Cole.
Mr. Wheeler. Is Bob Cole or Robert Cole, the son of Rabbi Colin?
Miss Kinney. I think so.
Mr. Wheeler. How many people attended the school?
Miss Ivjnney. Offhand, I would say 16 or maybe as many as 20 ; I am
not sure.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the instructors were ?
Miss Kinney. Jules Carson was the director of the school. Paul
Cline, I think, taught one session. Pettis Perry taught one session.
1 believe Lou Baron taught one session, but I am not sure.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the subjects that were taught to the
students ?
Miss IviNNEY. Perry was teaching Negro problems. Lou Baron
taught trade-union problems. Paul Cline, I tliink, taught organi-
zation.
I imagine that part of the time must have been spent on political
economy.
Mr. Wheeler. Was anything of a revolutionary nature taught at
this school ?
Miss IviNNEY. By that you mean
Mr. Wheeler, Anything that you could construe in your mind
as
Miss Kinney. The question of the use of force and violence, you
mean ?
Mr. Wheeler. Well, yes. Force and violence.
Miss Kjnney. That is a question that they usually get around, and
the party usually gets around that by stating that, of course, the party
would like to see the working class take power peacefully, but that
they would never be allowed to do it in a democratic way because the
capitalist class would always use violence against the working class
taking power.
The assumption is that then the working class would have to defend
itself.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you in your own mind think that the Commu-
nist Party was a revolutionary party that would resort to force and
violence here in the United States ?
Miss Kinney. I believed at that time what they told me; that is,
what I have just explained. And the answer, if you raised a question
about the use of force in the Russian revolution, was that the situation
there was different than it might be here, and that there was no blue-
print for how a revolution worked.
Mr. Wheeler, Did you ever attend any other training school ?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; I went to a State training school in the fall of
1988 in San Francisco at the party's headquarters there, which I think
were on Haiglit Street.
894 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. "Were you selected the same way for this training?
Miss Kinney. Yes ; I was.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who were present as students ?
Miss Kinney. Dorothy Zadow, Jean Richardson, Donald Healey.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you state what part of the State tliey were
from, if you know ?
Miss Kinney. Dorothy Zadow was from Oakland. Jean Richard-
son was from San Diego.
Mr. Wheeler. Would that be Barbara Richardson?
Miss Kinney. No ; Jean.
Mr. Wheeler. Male or female?
Miss Kinney. Female. Allen Yates, a seaman from San Francisco..
John Bevins, Emil Freed from Los Angeles. Margaret Wilson, a.
blind girl from San Francisco. Arcus Reddock, from Arizona; but
he didn't go back to Arizona.
Mr. Wheeler. How about Honolulu, was anyone there from
Honolulu ?
Miss Kinney. I am not sure. I don't think so.
Mr. Wheeler. We had some previous testimony about that period
of time; a person named Robert McElrath, a seaman, originally from
Seattle, attended school.
Miss Kinney. I don't remember him.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the instructors were ?
Miss Kinney. There was a George McLean, a longshoreman frouL
San Pedro there.
JSIr. Wheeler. As a student?
Miss Kinney. Yes. This school was under the direction of Louise
Todd, and she taught some of the sessions. Betty Gannett taught
most of the first 2 weeks.
Oleta O'Connor, Jules Carson, Walter Lambert also taught. Most
of them just 1 day.
Mr. Wheeler. Does that cover it?
Miss Kinney. I don't remember, there may have been 1 or 2 others,.
but I don't recall them.
Mr. Wheeler. Getting back for a moment to when you were county
membership director, you stated that you received the dues collected
by the secretary-treasurers or organizers. What did you do with this
money? Did you place it in the bank account for the Communist
Party in Los Angeles or did you turn it over to a superior?
Miss Kinney. I turned over the county's percentage to Max Silver,.
I believe, but I am not sure whether it was to Max or somebody else.
I recall it as bein^Max.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what the county percentage was?
Miss Kinney. No. And I sent the rest to San Francisco.
Mr. Wheeler. To whom in San Francisco ?
Miss Kinney. Leo Baroway.
Mr. AVheeler. Do you recall where the Communist Party kept its
bank account at that time ?
Miss Kinney. I don't know that they had one.
Mr. Wheei^r. Getting back to the time when you were a member
at large and working for Harrison George, I would like to read the
following from executive testimony of the committee hearings which
have been previously identified:
COMIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 895
In the early part of 1935, also, I think, I was called in to Dr. Tashjian's ' office
to meet Harrison George, who is at present editor in chief of the People's World
in San Francisco. He informed me at that time that he was working out here,
had charge of a committee Ivnown as the Communist Party Philippine Committee,
which was charged with the duty of rendering assistance to the Communist Party
in the Philippine Islands. And on the occasion of this meeting he asked that I
turn over to him immediately a list of all members of the party in Los Angeles
who were either Japanese or Filipinos, that they were to be organized into a
separate group over which he would have jurisdiction.
At a later meeting, under similar conditions, they not only discussed phases
of the Los Angeles County activity and gave us suggestions as to improving the
tempo of our Communist work, but lie asked me if I could find him a thoroughly
trustworthy comrade who could bring some packages from San Pedro to Los
Angeles for him. He indicated to me he was receiving packages or mail from
some of the ships in San Pedro and wanted a messenger to bring them from San
Pedro to Los Angeles.
Does that mean anytliing to you at all ?
Miss Kinney. No; I didn't know anything about any packages or
anything about any Philippine committee.
Mr. Wheeler. It was during this period of time that you were
acting as a messenger for Harrison George?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. And I thought that maybe you might have been the
"thoroughly trustworthy comrade" selected.
Miss Kinney. No ; I wasn't.
Mr. Wheeler. What was your reaction to the Stalin-Hitler Pact ?
Miss Kinney. I accepted the party's explanation.
Mr. Wheeler. What was the party's explanation given to you ?
Miss Kinney. As I recall, it was that this didn't mean that Russia
condoned fascism with Germany, but because of the inability to reach
an agreement with the United States and England and France, it took
this means of giving Russia longer to prepare for an inevitable attack.
That is the way I remember it.
Mr. Wheeler. That was agreeable to you at that period of time?'
Miss Kinney. I accepted it.
Mr. Wheeler. What was the Duclos letter?
Miss Kinney. That was a letter written by the head of the French
Communist Party, to whom I don't recall, but severely criticizing the
Communist Party in the United States for its activity in the previous
several years, and particularly for changing itself in 1944 from Com-
munist Party to Communist Political Association, and ostensibly
giving up any revolutionary aims for an indefinite period.
Mr. Wheeler. What effect did the Diiclos letter have on the Com-
munist Party in the United States?
Miss Kinney. To put it colloquially, it threw everybody into a panic
and occasioned a great deal of discussion and a great deal of com-
motion.
Mr. Wheeler. Why?
Miss Kinney. Because it was extremely critical and because, appar-
ently, Communists in other countries felt that the party here wasn't
acting as it should and thereby, as they put it, betraying the interests
of the. working class.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you think that the defeat of Germany, Italy,
and Japan had anything to do with the issuance of the Duclos letter?
Miss Kinney. I think it is quite possible. I had never thought
about it.
^ Dr. Vaughan A. K. Tashjian.
896 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler, During the war years that the Communist Party line
was in accord with the Government of the United States?
Miss Kinney. Winning the war was the primary consideration
during the war years.
Mr. Wheeler. And actually the Communist Party line never devi-
ated from the Government's position here. There wasn't any great
deviation?
Miss Kinney. No, no great deviation.
Mr. Wheeler. There was 100 percent war effort which the Commu-
nist Party backed.
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did the Duclos letter change this cooperative atti-
tude?
Miss Kinney. Very definitely it did. I recall the idea was that the
Communist Party here should forget about supporting the Govern-
ment as it had during the war.
Mr. Wheeler. During the war years Browder put forth the coexist-
ence policy that capitalism and communism could exist in this world ;
is that right?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. What did the Duclos letter do?
Miss Kinney. The Duclos letter, as I recall, said, "You can't have
any such equilibrium. Inevitably there is a clash between the two."
And the idea, I think, was the sooner the better.
Mr. Wheeler. And Earl Browder was removed as the Communist
Party
Miss Kinney. The effect of the letter was that Browder was re-
moved, but aside from minor shifting of positions, the rest of the lead-
ership remained in leadership, but presumably following now a
totally different line from the line that presumably they had all agreed
to up until the day the Duclos letter appeared.
It was as if somebody had said to a marching column, "About-face,"
and the column about-faced and started marching in the completely
opposite direction.
Mr. Wheeler. It wouldn't be hard to find many such instances in
the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. That, I think, is the most pronounced. I think that
certainly one of the important effects of the Duclos letter, so far as I
was concerned, was the hypocrisy and dishonesty that came to the
surface at that time. People who had said one thing one day were
now saying that this was all wrong and hadn't ought to be and that
we should never have done it ; we must do something else.
Mr. Wheeler. Well now, did you know John Leech to be a member
of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. He has county organizer at one time.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you Imow James Thorme to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes, I think he was county, a county official at the
time Leech was county organizer.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Mori-ie Smolan to be a Communist ?
To be a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know he was a member of the Connnunist
Party?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 897
Miss Kinney, Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. His occupation ?
Miss IviNNEY. I don't know. He may have worked for the People's
World.
Mr. AViiEELER. Did yon know Marian Shire as a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes, I rented a room from her for a couple of months.
Mr. Wheeler. What was her occupation ?
Miss I^[inney. She was a housewife at the time I was living there.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she in a street group or professional group ?
Miss Kinney. Street.
Mr. Wheeler. What was her husband's name?
Miss Kinney. Henry Shire.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know him to be a member of the Commu-
nist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes, he was in a street group, too ; he drove a truck.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Rude Lambert to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. I think he was in San Francisco.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know William Schneidermann to be a mem-
ber of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes; State chairman.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Mary Radin to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes, I think she worked for the countj^ office a long,
long time ago.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Rena Vale to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes, I knew her. She was membership director of a
branch in the professional section at one time; I don't remember
which branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet Bea Burke as a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. "Yes. She was in a professional branch, but I don't
remember which one.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall her occupation ?
Miss Kinney. No, I don't. If I knew her occupation I would know
what branch she was in. I would think she was a writer, but I don't
know.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Dorothy Pezman to be a member of
the Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes. I think she was a social worker.
Mr. Wheeler. You knew her as a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know her husband ?
Miss Kinney. No, if she had a husband.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Zema Matlin to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know her occupation ?
Miss Kinney. She was, at the time I knew her, executive secretary
of the American League Against War and Fascism. That was in
1934.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Fred Franchia ?
898 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Miss Kinney. That is the husband of Davida Franchia. I don't
recall seeing him in a meeting, but I somehow knew or thought he was
a party member.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Howland Chamberlin to be a member
of the Communist Party^
Miss Kinney. Yes. He was at one time in the theater-project
branch and later, for a brief time, on the 15th congressional section
committee.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Sam Kalish to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes, I think we discussed Kalish. He was a PWA
teacher, member of the union.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Jack Moore to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. I knew Jack ISIoore. He was a county functionary.
I don't remember what capacity.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Al Heltness to be a member of the
<I!ommunist Party?
Miss Kinney. Yes, he was in the 13th Congressional District. I
don't remember which branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall his occupation ?
Miss Kinney. I think he worked on a railroad, but I am not sure.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Leona McGinty to be a member of
the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. She is the wife of Howland Chamberlin.
Mr. Wheeler. Did vou know Carl Grant to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. He was in the theater project branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Donald Murray to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. He was in the theater project branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Was he an actor ?
Miss Kinney. I think so, yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Betty Arden to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Miss Kinney, Yes, I knew Betty Arden. She was a housewife.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Belle Lewitski to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes. She is a dancer.
Mr. Wheeij^.r. Did you know Benny Goodman to be a member of
the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. Yes, but not the dance band leader. He was, I think,
in the theater project branch, too.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Leo Selfrid to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Miss Kinney. I think he is an engineer or draftsman, or something
like that. He was in the professional section.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall where he worked?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Miriam Holtz to be a member of the
Communist Party?
]\Iiss Kinney. Yes, she is a stenographer.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know her as a member of the Communist
Party?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 899
Miss Kinney. Yes,
Mr. Wheeler. You previously stated in your testimony that the
organizer for the 56th assembly district was known to you only as
Anna; that you didn't recall her last name. I might ask you if you
recognize this picture ?
Miss Kinney. That might be a picture of her.
Mr. Wheeler. It might be ?
Miss Kinney. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you know her last name if I mentioned it to
you?
Miss Kinney. I might.
Mr. Wheeler. Galkin; G-a-1-k-i-n.
Miss Kinney. I think perhaps that is it.
Mr. Wheeler. What periods of time was she organizer for the 56th
assembly district?
Miss Kinney. I don't know. She was organizer when I was as-
signed to that branch, and she still was when I left it.
Mr. Wheeler. When was that ?
Miss Kinney. That was, I think, December of 1938 to August of
1939.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, can you recall at tliis time any other individual
that you have met as a member of the Communist Party any place
in the United States while you were a member?
Miss Kinney. Ethel Holmstock. I didn't think of her before.
Mr. Wheeler, Who is she ?
Miss Kinney. She at one time was secretary of the China Aid
Council.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, the next question is, why did you leave the
Communist Party after approximately 12 years of membership ?
Miss Kinney. That is a difficult question to answer, because dis-
illusionment is a gradual process that begins with personal dissatis-
faction— sometimes very vague in character — and progresses to more
and more basic questions. It is a process that begins long before one
leaves the party and continues for a long time afterward.
When I left Los Angeles to go to Chicago in 1942, 1 had a sense of
personal dissatisfaction, that there seemed to be no particular place
for me in the party. In Chicago, in the branch at Studebaker, some
of this dissatisfaction disappeared temporarily, I was elected by
the staff of the union paper to be editor, although the party branch
had wanted a nonparty pei-son in that position (with me to guide
them).
During the year I was editor I had some disagreements with the
branch leaders because I insisted the paper not be turned into a minia-
ture Daily Worker but use CIO policy as a guide.
"V^Hien the shop branch was disbanded, I was assigned to a neighbor-
hood branch in Hyde Park, My attendance at meetings became less
;and less regular, and I participated in no activity. I was, like most
people, gi-eatly shocked and disturbed by the Duclos letter.
It soon became evident that Browder was to be the scapegoat, but
that tlie rest of the leaders would continue in their positions, but pre-
sumably along a completely different line.
The hypocrisy and dishonesty that had always been under the sur-
face came into full view. Since in Chicago I had never formed per-
900 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
sonal attiiclinieiits, I could look at the whole thing more objectively
and I drifted out without appearing to take any definite position.
This was not difficult to do, since there was considerable reorganiza-
tion going on.
The process of disillusionment continues, until today I believe that
Marxist theory is based on false premises and conditions which no
longer are as true as they may have been a hundred years ago when
Marx was developing his theories.
I also believe that many things are done by the "inner circle" of the
Communist Party of which the average member or minor functionary
is completely unaware, and which he would strongly oppose.
Democracy, as we know it in the United States, may bring about
changes slowly. It may make mistakes and then correct them. It
may not seem to have a clear blueprint for the future, but progress is
made and the average individual has more freedom and more oppor-
tunity to lead his own life in his own way.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you have any records that you may have retained
while you were a member of the Communist Party ?
Miss Kinney. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Your statement will be most interesting to the com-
mittee. Miss Kinney. Thank you very much.
(Whereupon the statement of Miss Kinney was concluded.)
INVESTICtATION of communist activities m THE
LOS ANGELES AREA-Part 5
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Hollywood, Calif.
executive statement^
An executive statement, given at 4 : 15 o'clock p. m., February 17,
1953, at G400 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif.
Present : William A. Wheeler, investigator.
INTERROGATION OF MILDRED BENOFF ^
Mr. Wheeler. Will the witness state her full name, please ?
Mrs. Benoff. Mildred Benoff . Do you want my maiden name ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes, please.
Mrs. Benoff. Stern.
Mr. Wheeler. Where do you presently reside ?
Mrs. Benoff. 160 South Vista Street, Los Angeles 36.
Mr. Wheeler. When w^ere you born?
Mrs. Benoff. May 30, 1920.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you presently under subpena to appear before
the Committee on Un-American Activities on March 23, 1953 ?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes, I am.
Mr. Wheeler. You are, however, appearing voluntarily today to
answer any questions propounded by me ?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. You know I am an investigator of the House Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. You further realize by giving me this statement it
does not in any way cancel your subpena, and it is up to the committee's
discretion whether to call you or not.
Mrs. Benoff. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Mrs. Benoff, have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes, I have.
Mr. Wheeler. Wlien did you first become a member ?
Mrs. Benoff. Sometime in '44. I am sorry, I am very vague on
dates. It was in '44, but I can't remember what month.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you say it might have been 1943 ?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
* Released by the committee.
^ Mildred Benoff was sworn as a witness by the court reporter.
901
902 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IK THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. The records of the committee show you joined the
Communist Party in September 1943. I was wondering if it might
be correct.
Mrs. BENorr. Xo. I may have started going to meetings then, but
I did not go in then.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the designation of the branch to which
you were assigned?
Mrs. Benoff. No, I haven't the vaguest idea.
Mr. Wheeler. Was it a branch comprised only of women?
Mrs. Benoff. Just a few women. There was this one man, Mischa,
with his wife. I didn't have anything to do with Hollywood. This
man seemed to have the hands of a workiiig man.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you relate the events that led to your joining
the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Benoff. When I came out here I started working for Rus-
sian War Relief.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you state the time you came out?
Mrs. i^ENOFF. We came out in July '43. I joined the Russian War
Relief, which was an open and very pleasant organization to belong to
at the time. Tliere I met Elena Beck, and she and I became close
friends at the time.
She was having a good deal of difficulty with her husband. 1 was
having my trouble adjusting from a very different kind of life in
New York City to the life here. I was interested in proving myself
as an individual in my own right. Elena seemed to be the one to
help me this way very much. She told me that part of my growth,
part of my growing up would be to develop politically. She did her
best. She took me to several meetings over a period of time.
My resistance to joining the party was that it was secretive, and
knowing Max's great resistance to it
Mr. WiHiELER. By Max you are referring to your husband?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes — and' I didn't want to join that. When I did
join it was with the understanding it would be an open organization
and would no longei- be the Connnunist Party, but was on the way of
being the Communist Political Association.
Mr. Wheeler. You mentioned your husband's name. Max Benoff'.
You brought his name into the testimony, and I might ask in what
ways he showed resistance to the Communist Party.
Mi-s. l^ENOFF. General discussion.
Mr. Wheeler. You had previously discussed the Connnunist
Party ?
Mrs. Benoff. Well, when you live with a person over a number of
years, even if you didn't nevertheless, you do have views and your
views will be discussed.
Mr. Wheeler. Did I break the continuity of your thought ?
Mrs. Benoff. I will try to recall at Avhat point I left off. I was
assure'd by Elena and the others that this would be an open organiza-
tion, that eventually everyone would be o])eidy known, that there
would be nothing secretive about it. I guess I was just right for
joining, and this I did.
As I told my attorney Mr. Gang, when 1 did, it was with my full
name, with the hopes that eventually it was going to be a really and
truly open thing.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 903
Mr. Wheeler. Elena Beck was actually responsible for recruiting
you into this movement?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes. Actually, when I tinally was a member and
had gone to these several meetings it seemed to me that nothing really
had changed and it wasn't on the way to being an open organization.
It was just as secretive as before.
At this time I was quite i)regnant and my husband was facing
induction. I was 3,000 miles from home and without a very good
help situation, and another child, and my problem was somehow to
keep Max with me until I give birth to my child and could get some
family out with me.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, do you recall in whose home these meetings
were held?
Mrs. Benoff. The ones I can recall, meetings in Pauline Town-
send 's home
Mr. Wheeler. Are those the Townsends who live up in Laurel
Canyon ?
Mrs. Benoff. Xo. I was taken by Elena Beck. She would pick
me up. I couldn't find my way to these homes again. And Tania
Tuttle.
Mr. Wheeler. How about your own home?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Are those the only two places you remember going
to meetings?
Mrs. Benoff. That I can say I remember.
Mr. Wheeler. Who else were members of this group?
Mrs. Benoff. Pauline Townsend, Tania Tuttle, Elena Beck, Marie
Rinaldo, and this Mischa. If I knew his second name I don't recall
it.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else ?
Mrs. Benoff. His wife.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall her name?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mrs. Benoff. Mischa is also a nickname in Russia, you know. I
don't know if that is any help.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else ?
Mi's. Benoff. It was a very small group. No.
Mr. Whi':eler. How many members would you say comprised this ?
Mrs. Benoff. I don't know. A half a dozen all told, I would say.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you only in one group during the time of your
membership i
Mrs. Benoff. That is all.
Mr. Wheeler. Or two ?
Mrs. Benoff. No, just one group.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Ruth Burrows a member of this group?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet Ruth Burrows as a member of
the Communist Party?
Mrs. Benoff. No. I know Ruth Burrows. I didn't meet her as a
member of the Communist Party, to my knowledge.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Ruth Kanin ?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes. I think she is Michael Kanin's sister, from
meeting her at the Kanin home.
904 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet her as a member of the Com-
munist Party?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Anna Lask?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. You don't know her at all ?
Mrs. Benoff. No, not at all.
Mr. Wheeler. How about Bea Buchman?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Mrs. Dalton Trumbo?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if anyone came in to instruct your
group on the theory of Marxism or anything?
Mrs. Benoff. I think one man. I can't say I recall him. I just
vaguely remember.
Mr. Wheeijsr. Did you pay dues to the Communist Party?
Mrs. Benoff. Yes. I told Mr. Gang I assumed I did. I don't
remember giving anyone dues, or who I gave it to; I just can't
remember.
Mr. Wheeler. Wlio were the leaders of the group, if you recall?
Mrs. Benofi^. It seems to me this man Mischa knew more politi-
cally ; that is about all. Just general discussion.
Mr. Wheeler. How long would you say you were a member of this
group ?
Mrs. Benoff. Several months.
Mr. Wheeler. Five, four?
Mrs. Benoff. Something like that, I would say ; the best I can say.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your estimate of the number of meetings
you attended?
Mrs. Benoff. Oh, I don't know. I would say a dozen. It is hard
to say.
Mr. Wheeler. What would be your best guess ?
Mrs. Benoff. I just would assume a dozen. I would say a dozen.
That is the best I can do.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you ever a member of the Communist Party
while in New York City ?
Mrs. Benoff. No, not at all.
Mr. Wheeler. After your cleavage with the Communist Party,
did anyone attempt to re-recruit you ?
Mrs. Benoff. Elena did, just for a while, when I was still pregnant
and hadn't given birth to my baby. She asked if I wouldn't come.
By this time I was growing up. I was much more concerned with
my immediate problems and didn't have time for that.
Mr. Wiieeli:r. Did Mr. Benol! at any time accompany you to any
of the meetings?
Mrs. Benoff. No, never.
Mr. Wheeler. Did Mr. BenolT know of your membership in the
Communist Partv ?
Mrs. Benoff. tie didn't know until I think you yourself told him,
and Mr. Gang told him.
Mr, Wheeler. Did you ha^•e any knowledge of your husband's
membership in the Communist Party?
Mrs. Benoff. No, I did not.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 905
Mr. Wheeler. Would it have been possible for him to have been
a member of the Communist Party without your knowing it?
Mrs. Benoff. To the best of my knowledge, knowing Max, I would
say he was never a Communist. Max is just not that type, he is not
a joiner of any kind.^
Mr. Wheeler. W^ould you like to elaborate at all as to the reason
why you left the party ^
Mrs. Benoff. It just seemed to me kind of not grownup at all, con-
trary to what they say. But, actually, kind of an evaluation of the
realities of life, which is bringing up children and facing your dij3i-
culties with your husband and adjusting yourself to the society you
are living in. And the meetings were really very dull.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your present attitude concerning the Com-
munist Party?
Mrs. Benoff. I would say the same. I think it is not realistic. If
it was, all this couldn't have happened.
Mr. Wheeler. All of what?
Mrs. Benoff. War, and the things they told you that the Com-
munist Party was doing when they were trying to get you to join,
that they were fighting Hitler. I do feel very strongly about that.
I am a strong Jew. And to tliis day that is how I feel about that.
Mr. Wheeler. When you were in it, what did you find out ?
Mrs. Benoff. This wasn't really the issue. They weren't doing
any better job than anyone else, and I really found it dull, and it
was a waste of a good evening after a while. It just didn't seem adult.
Mr. Wheeler. Was there any discussion about subversion or any-
thing illegal?
Mrs, Benoff. No. Honestly, if anything, what you might classify
as a study group and a very dull one.
Mr. Wheeler. What did you study ?
Mrs. Benoff. As I recall now, it was the encouragement to read
Marxism. At best I am not a student. And I was very anxious not
to bring any material home with me.
For a while it was really quite exciting, exciting being with what
I thought were very forward-thinking people. When that wore off it
was nothing.
Mr. Wheeler. During this time when you were a member of the
Communist Party, were you and your husband living together ?
Mrs. Benoff. Oh, yes, we lived together all the time.
Mr. Wheeler. Was there any discussion between you and your hus-
band as to where you were spending your evenings ?
Mrs. Benoff. No. I didn't question him and he didn't question me.
Mr. Wheeler. What do you think of the Communist Party as it
has been operating the last few years ?
Mrs. Benoff. Well, I no longer think it is a thing to belong to. I
think they are mistaken. I think their attitude has caused a lot of
distress. And as a Jew, it isn't my answer.
Mr. Wheeler. Let's clarify that.
Mrs. Benoff. Not the answer to my problems. It is not the answer
to my problems.
^ Testimony of Max Nathan Benoff, March 24, 1953, is printed in "Investigation of Com-
munist Activities in the Los Angeles Area — Part 1," beginning with p. 355.
31747— 53— pt. 5 5
906 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. Did you join tlie Communist Party purely on a
racial basis?
Mrs. Benoff. I would say yes and no. I was very disturbed by
Hitler and very f ri^rhtened by him.
Mr. Wheeler. What events fix the time when you severed con-
nections with the Communist Party?
Mrs. Benoff. My second child was going to be born at the end of
November.
Mr. Wheeler. Of what year?
Mrs. Benoff. Of 1944.
Mr. Wheeler, How long prior to that time did you cease going to
meetings ?
Mrs. Benoff. I would say quite a bit before.
Mr. Wheeler. You say quite a bit ?
Mrs. Benoff. Two or three months, really.
Mr. Wheeler. If you joined sometime in December of 1943, you
left sometime in the fall of 1944?
Mrs. Benoff. I don't know if it was necessarily the summer of 1944.
It might have been the spring of '44.
Mr. Wheeler. As I previously stated, our records show it was
September 1943.
Mrs. Benoff. I was going to ask you. Elena first started taking
me to meetings around that time. I did not join at that time.
Mr. Wheeler. These meetings she started to take you to prior to
your membership, in what classification do you put this type of
meeting?
Mrs. Benoff. I would assume them to be Communist Party meet-
ings or study groups.
Mr. Wheeler. Indoctrination course on Marxism?
Mrs. Benoff. These meetings didn't change from when I was in the
party. No one said, "This is a party meeting." The same people
Avere there. They were very charming, very cordial, very friendly
people. There Avas no difference. In other words, you weren't told,
"This is an indoctrination meeting for when you will go into the
party."
Mr. Wheeler. How many meetings of this nature did you attend
before becoming an actual member of the party?
Mrs. Benoff. I don't know. Several, half a dozen or more, possibly.
I just don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. The personnel of the meetings did not change at all,
in other words.
Mrs. Benoff. No, not to my knowledge or recollection.
Mr. Wheeler. Yon have identified every person you met?
Mrs. Benoff.. That I can remember.
Mr. Wheeler. To be a member of the Communist Party.
Mrs. Benoff. That I can remember.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you think yoii may have forgotten any?
Mrs. Benoff. Time passes. I liave suppressed this a long time.
My husband didn't know. I really suppressed this.
I know that Elena was my friend and did bring me to these meet-
ings, and this was it. It didn't change in character then, so therefore
I can assume it was Conmmnist Party meetings she was taking me to.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 907
Mr. Whekler. You didn't answer my question. T asked yon if tliere
is a possibility you may liave forgotten, some individuals who may
have attended these meetings. . .
Mrs. Benoff. I may have forgotten possibly before I joined. But
when I joined those were the ones I remember. These I haven't for-
gotten because it was a A^erv small group.
Mr. Wheeler. How many individuals attended the so-called indoc-
trination ?
Mrs. Benoff, Again it was just a small group.
Mr. WHFET.ER. Could it have been more than the actual people you
previously mentioned ?
Mrs. Benoff. I can't say that. I can't recall. Possibly there was
another person. I just can't recall, to say they made a special impres-
sion on me, because they didn't.
Mr. Wheeler. You, however, are positive you never met Ruth
Burrows as a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Benoff. No, but I do know" this woman.
Mr. Wheeler. Or Ruth Kanin?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Or Anna Lask?
Mrs. Benoff. T don't kno^^' her at all. Ruth Kanin I met through
her brother Mike.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you seen any of the people socially or otherwise
in the last 7 years ?
Mrs. Benoff. No. I saw Ruth Kanin at her brother's home. She
came out to visit. That was about all; we had very little in common.
Mr, Wheeler. You said you didn't know her in the Communist
Party ?
Mrs. Benoff. No.
Mr. Wheeler. I am talking about the ladies in your gi-oup in the
Communist Party, Have you ever seen any of them in the last 7
years ?
INIrs. Benoff. No, except, as I told you, if I met them on the street
or at nursery school, or something like that.
Mr. Weeeeler, You have never had any social contact with them ?
Mrs. Benoff. No, or phone calls or any kind of contact.
Mr. Wheeler. From the time you broke with the group you have
never rejoined?
Mrs. Benoff. I severed all relation ; that is right,
Mr, Wheeler, Is there anything you would like to add before we
conclude your testimony?
Mrs. Benoff. No,
Mr, Wheeler, Thank you, Mrs, Benoff.
(Whereupon the interrogation of Mrs. Benoff was concluded.)
INYESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AREA— Part 5
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Los Angeles^ Calif.
executive statement ^
An executive statement given at 10 a. m., March 12, 1953, at room.
1109, Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, Calif.
Present : William A. Wheeler, investigator.
TESTIMONY OF STANLEY RUBIN ^
Mr. Wheeler. Will you state your full name ?
Mr. Rubin. My name is Stanley Rubin ; R-u-b-i-n.
Mr. Wheeler. When and where were you born ?
Mr. Rubin. I was born in New York City October 8, 1917.
Mr. Wheeler. Give us your educational background.
Mr. Rubin. I went to public schools in New York City, to junior
high school in New York City, and to DeWitt Clinton High School.
I finished high school in January of 1933. In September of 1933
I came out to California to go to the University of California in Los
Angeles.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you graduate from UCLA ?
Mr. Rubin. No; I did not get a degree from UCLA. I went 4
years. At the end of my fourth year I was still short a few units,
but I had to go to work.
Mr. Wheeler. What year did you cease to be a student?
Mr. Rubin. June 1937.
Mr. Wheeler. How have you been employed since June 1937?
Mr. Rubin. I worked for a short while as a cub reporter and general
flunky for the Beverly Hills Citizen News, and then became mail boy
or messenger room worker at Paramount Studios.
I worked as a cub reporter and flunky for the Beverly Hills Citizen
News, roughly, through the balance of 1937 and possibly into 1938.
I then went to work at Paramount in the mailroom as a messenger
boy. I worked in the mailroom for Paramount a little less than
a year.
During this time I was writing fiction — I should say I was trying
to write fiction. I finally sold a magazine article on my mailroom
experience to the Grover Jones magazine. This was a west coast
publication put out by a screen writer named Grover Jones.
■ Released by the committee.
* Stanley Rubin was sworn as a witness by the court reporter.
909
910 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Through this story and through Mr. Jones' help I came to the
attention of the Paramount story department and when they offered
me work as an outside reader I left the maih'oom department. That
was sometime in late 1938.
Do you want me to go on ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes ; up to the present time.
Mr. RuBix. I then started work as an outside reader, workincr mostly
for Paramount Studios, but recommended by them I also did some
outside reading for Samuel Goldwyn Studios and for RKO.
I then was called in to an interview at Universal Studios for a
possible job in the story department. The story editor was a man
named Marshall Grant. "^ I got the job. I worked as a reader and an
assistant to Mr. Grant probably iov a little less than a year, at which
tinie Mr. Grant was promoted from story editor to a producer.
When Mr. Grant became a producer he offered me a job of working
as a writer for him. This was my first entrance into screen writing.
I wrote a good number of pictures for Universal, working not only for
Mr. Grant but also for several other producers whose names I have
given you in a statement previously, and I would be willing to dis-
cuss if you so desire.
Mr. Wheeler. That won't be necessary.
Mr. Rlbin. Late in 1940 I was offered a higher paying writing
job at Twentieth Century-Fox, and went to work there as a free-lance
writer. From that time on I was in the freelance writere' market,
taking jobs by the assignment.
In 1941 I worked mostly for Columbia Pictures. In the fall of
1941, being unemployed, or, rather, being without a studio on assign-
ment, I collaborated with a radio writer named Jerome Lawrence on
a speculative piece of original material, which we sold to Columbia
Broadcasting System for a Christmas show.
Since the show was to be done out of New York, I went East to
work on it. And I came back to California shortly after the New
Year and sought employment again, and finally found it back at
Columbia Pictures.
When I completed my work at Columbia Pictures I enlisted in the
Army Air Forces. That was September 10, 1942. I enlisted as a
private in the Air Forces. I got out of the Army as a first lieutenant
early in 1946.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliat is your present status with the Army?
Mr. Rubin, I am a first lieutenant in the Army Air Forces
Reserves.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, while in the Armj^, what type of assignments
did you have ?
Mr. Rubin. I was assigned by the Air Force to its motion-picture
unit, and my general work consisted of doing orientation, training,
and combat films.
I M'orked at many airfields around the country. For example,
Randolph Field, in Texas, Langle}' Field, in Virginia, and Scott Field,
in Missouri, Mitchel Field, in Long Island.
Mr. Wheeler. While in the Army did you have access to classified
or confidential information?
I\Ir. Rubin. Yes, I did. At one point I volunteered for an over-
seas assignment which was classified. That consisted of an aerial
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 911
mapping of Alaska and North Pacific fliglit routes. For completing
this assignment successfully I was given a personal conmiendation
by the Air Transport Command.
Subsequently I also volunteered for a highly secret mission in
which I was transferred to the first B-29 group training in the United
States. My job to move in with these men, live with them, train with
them, fly with them. And finally I went to Saipan with them to par-
ticipated in their strikes at Truk, and Iwo Jima, and their first B-29
strike at Tokyo. All of this I recorded on film for the Air Forces.
Finally, upon my return to the States, I edited this film into one uni-
fied picture. The Air Force was pleased with this picture, which
was titled "Target Tokyo," and released it to theaters throughout the
Nation. Again I was personally coimnended by Headquarters, Army
Air Forces.
To clear me for this mission, I was investigated by the local FBI,
ONI, Service Command Intelligence, and home-town police. I as-
sume the results were satisfactory, as I continued in confidential
work.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, after your release from the United States
Army, did you continue your employment in the motion-picture in-
dustry ?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, I did. I was offered a job again at Universal
Pictures by the same man I had worked for there originally, Marshall
Grant. I went to work for him as a writer-associate producer, and
worked there roughly 9 or 10 months, at which time Universal Pic-
tures were taken over by International Studios.
When I left Universal I was back in the free-lance market. I
started speculative writing again, doing radio scripts with a radio
writer I had met in the Army named Joe Malone, and doing pictures
with a screen writer named Louis Lantz, whom I had met at Columbia
[Pictures] just before the war.
Malone and I sold many radio scripts to the Whistler, Theater of
Romance, Hollywood Theatre of the Air. Lantz and I worked for
Monogram Pictures and then for Columbia Pictures.
Sometime late in 1947 or early in 1918 I had an idea for a film service
for television, which was then just beginning to take very rapid
strides forward. Lantz collaborated with me on this television idea
and we turned it into a pilot script.
I then went back to Marshall Grant, who in the meantime had
formed his own independent picture company called Sheg, Inc., for
production advice.
Grant introduced me to a short-subject director named Sobey Mar-
tin, and to a man of finance named Norman Elzer. Then Martin,
Lantz, Elzer, and myself incorporated our own company. Realm Tele-
vision Productions, Inc. We made our first film. It was shown to
the American Tobacco Co., which liked it enough to offer us a contract
to make the first 26 half-hour films on television, to be sponsored by a
national company.
It took us a year and a half to make these 26 pictures for the Amer-
ican Tobacco Co.
That takes me to the summer of 1949, at which time, seeking em-
ployment, I was hired again as a writer by Mr. Sid Rogell, head of
production at RKO. After one script for Mr. Rogell, he offered me a
job there as a producer, which I accepted.
912 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
I worked as a producer for RKO for a little under a year, at which
time Wald & Krasna came in and asked me to join their unit. I
workod in the Wald & Krasna unit as an associate producer for ap-
proximately a year.
Then Twentieth Century-Fox offered me a better contract as a full
producer, and in June of 1951 I moved over to Twentieth C-entury-
Fox.
Mr. Wheeler. What screen credits do you have, Mr. Rubm?
Mr. Rubin. Shall I start at the beginning and go right through?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes, start at the beginning.
Mr. Rubin. My pictures include both in solo work and in collab-
oration. South To Katanga, Flying Cadets, Mister Dynamite, Bom-
bay Clipper, Six Lessons From Madam Lazonga, Where Did You Get
That Girl, Lucky Legs, Two Senoritas From Macao.
Do you want producer credits, too, separately ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Mr. Rubin. Macao, and my producer credits include Little Miss
Big, Slightly Scandalous, The Narrow Margin, Behave Yourself, My
Pal Gus, and Destination Gobi.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Rubin, who is your agent?
Mr. Rubin. My agent is Famous Artists.
Mr. Wheeler. How long have you been associated with Famous
Artists?
Mr. Rubin. I have been associated with Famous Artists, I would
say, a little more than 3 years, but the man in Famous Artists who
represents me, named Ray Stark, was my agent even before I was
■with Famous Artists. He was in partnership with a company called
Levee-Stark.
When he moved from that company to Famous, I went with him.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you had any other agents besides Mr. Stark ?
Mr. Rubin. Yes. As I called it, my first agent in town was Ned
Brown ; at that time he was an independent agent.
I was also subsequently represented by the Sam Jaffee office, and
by the Allen Berg office.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Rubin, information has come to the attention of
the committee that you were in attendance at meetings of the Com-
munist Party. Is that true?
Mr. Rubin. No; it is not true. I did attend what were described
to me as classes; another term for which I have now heard is a study
group. That was supposed to inform me on the Communist Party
and on Marxism and Soviet Russia.
Mr. Wheeler. When did this occur?
Mr. Rubin. This occurred in the spring — no, I am sorry. I was
first told or asked about them in the spring of 1942, but to the best
of my recollection I started attending either late in the spring of
1942 or early in the summer of 1942.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you explain fully how you became associated
with this group ?
Mr. Rubin. In 1941 I was working at Columbia Pictures and I
met the writer in the office next to me.
Mr. Wheeler. What was his name?
Mr. Rubin. His name was Louis Lantz. We weren't working to-
gether; we just shared adjoining offices and became friendly. This
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 913
acquaintance developed into friendship through the course of dis-
cussing story problems and through social evenings.
Sometime in the spring of 1942, after I had become friends with Mr.
Lantz, he surprised me one evening by bringing up the subject of the
Communist Party. Mr. Lantz expressed the belief that communism
was the answer for any man of liberal views, and he asked me if I
was interested in it.
I told him that I had never thought about it, that I knew nothing
about it, that I really knew nothing about it, and that besides, despite
my liberal instincts, I was not political. The matter rested there
for a week or two and then on another evening Mr. Lantz brought
it up again.
This time he asked me, since I admitted total ignorance about com-
munism, would I be interested in attending a series of discussions or
classes which would inform me on the Communist Party, Marxism,
and Soviet Russia.
I thought it over and finally said that I would be interested. There
were many reasons behind my accepting this idea of attending classes
on the various aspects of communism. These reasons being both emo-
tional and growing out of the lopsided attitude and atmosphere of
the times.
In the first place, at that time Soviet Russia was our war ally,
accepted from the White House down. I was interested in what had
been going on in that country and I was curious about what had been
going on in that country.
In the second place, my earlier revulsion at the Soviet-Nazi Pact
had been replaced by an admiration for the courageous stand of the
Russian soldiers which they were making against the Nazi armies.
As a Jew, my sympathies naturally went out to everyone and anyone
fighting Hitlerism.
Finally, I was interested in educating myself on the subject which
was part of the world I was living in. The Communist Party was
a so-called legal party, about which I knew nothing. I was 24 years
old at the time, highly idealistic and intellectually curious. I was
eager to hear and debate new ideas, and I decided there was nothing
to fear. If I didn't like the classes I would cease to attend.
As things turned out, I was disgusted and disillusioned after only
3 or 4 sessions of the class, and I never went back.
Mr. Wheeler. What caused your disillusionment?
Mr. Rubin. The general conduct of the classes. I had been told
that this was to be a discussion group in which we would discuss
various aspects of the subjects named. Instead of discussion, however,
I heard diatribes. Instead of open debate I got closed edicts.
I had gone, ready to discuss anything, but before very long I learned
the discussion group was not ready to discuss anything. The best
example I can remember was when the leader of the discussion group,
a screen writer named Mitchell Wilson, brought up the subject of
Trotskyism.
Mr, Wilson painted the followers of Trotsky as liars, assassins, and
villains incarnate. Anyone trying to get a grasp of true communism,
Mr. Wilson stated, had better make sure that he had no Trotskyites
among his friends or acquaintances.
Now, I knew practically nothing about Mr. Trotsky and I certainly
held no brief for him, but the idea that a supposedly American politi-
914 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
cal paity would try to dictate with whom I was to associate and to
whom I was to talk was totally reprehensible and inacceptable to me.
Mr. Wheeler. How many meetmgs of this study group would you
say you attended ?
Mr. Rubin. Koughly 3 or 4.
Mr. AViiEELER. Do you recall where they were held?
Mr. Rubin. Yes. They were held at the home of a screen writer
named Mitchell Gordon.
Mr. Whp:eler. Was Mitchell Gordon at any of these discussions?
Mr. Rubin. To the best of my knowledge he was not.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Mr. Lou Lantz present?
Mr. Rubin. No. Mr. I^antz was not present.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was present ?
Mr. Rubin. The only one I definitely recall was the leader of the
group, Mitchell Wilson. The others I liadn't known before and I have
never seen since. And after a lapse of 11 or more years I just don't
remember any of them.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Meta Reis ?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, I know Meta Reis.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall whether or not she was present ?
Mr. Rubin. To the best of my knowledge, Meta Reis was not present.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Oscar Saul ?
Mr. Rubin. I know Oscar Saul.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Oscar Saul present?
Mr. Rubin. No, Oscar Saul was not present.
Mr. Wheeler. You are stating that categorically.
Mr. Rubin. Perhaps I had better say to the best of my knowledge.
I stated categorically, feeling that if Oscar Saul had been present — I
have known him as a screen writer, or I have seen him at Guild meet-
ings' or at parties, social affairs since.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Ed Rolfe?
Mr. Rubin. I met Ed Rolfe at the home of Lou Lantz, either at a
social evening or dinner.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Bess Taffel ?
Mr. Rubin. The same applies to her. I met her at the home of Louis
Lantz.
Mr. Wheei^er. How many individuals would you say attended this
study group?
Mr. Rubin. My best recollection is roughly 5, 6, or 7 at the most.
Mr. Wheeler. You have testified that Mr. Lantz was instrumental
in getting you to attend these study group meetings.
Mr. Rubin. Yes, that is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you discuss your leaving the discussion group
meetings with Mr. Lantz?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, I did.
Mr. Wheeler. You did?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, I did. After the meeting which particularly an-
noyed and disillusioned me, when I decided I wasn't going back to
another class, I told Mr. Lantz my reactions' to the kind of totalitarian
viewpoint and discussion that liad been going on, citing the reference
to Trotsky that I mentioned above, and told him I was not going back
to another class.
Never subsequently did Mr. Lantz himself ever try to persuade me
to go back to the classes.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 915
Mr. Wheeler. Wliat was' Mr. Lantz' reaction ?
Mr. Rubin. Mr. Lantz just accepted it.
Mr. Wheeler. What did he say ?
Mr. Rubin. Mr. Lantz actually tried to discuss it with me. He
tried to point out that this was not totalitarianism, but merely, in his
opinion, an effort at organization or at organizational discipline.
I told him I couldn't accept, this argument, that it wouldn't change
my mind.
Mr. Lantz then accepted my argument, and as I have stated, made
no further attempt to persuade me to return to the classes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did ]Mr. Lantz ever directly ask you to become a
member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Rubin. No, he did not.
Mr. Wiieei^r. Did you reach any conclusion in your own mind
regarding Mr. Lantz' political affiliation?
Mr. Rubin. Well, as I have said before, I attended no meetings to
compare, and therefore never saw Mr. Lantz at any meeting of the
Communist Party. I have no direct knowledge of Mr. Lantz being
a Connnunist or of Mr. Lantz having been a Communist.
The only thing I can say to you, if you want it, is that I assumed
in my own mind, since Lantz said to me it was his belief that com-
munism was the best answer for a man of liberal viewpoints, that
at that time he either was a Communist or was sympathetic to the
Communist viewpoint.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Rubin, I would like to repeat a sentence you
just testified to. "He tried to point out that this was not totalitarian-
ism, but merely, in his opinion, an effort at organization or at organi-
zational discipline." What conclusion did you reach when Mr. Lantz
stated to you that this was just a matter of accepting organizational
discipline ?
Mr. Rubin. Let me make this clearer. I believe, or I should say
I think I can make this clearer. Mr. Lantz did not say to me that
I was to accept organizational discipline. He was explaining, I
assumed, a theory or his viewpoint of communism and the Communist
Party, and this viewpoint was that to understand communism you
had to accept certain channels, certain precepts of Marxism.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Lantz then had accepted the discipline ?
]\lr. Rubin. I don't know. I will answer that, to the best of my
ability.
Mr. Wheeler. He was espousing the theory that discipline should
be accepted by Marxists or Communists?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, he was.
Mr. Wheeler. You don't recall anyone else who was in attendance
at these meetings ?
Mr. Rubin. No, I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you attended any meetings of the progi'essivei
caucus of the Screen Writers' Guild, and if so, where were these meet-
ings held?
Mr. Rubin. I can't honestly say. I attended meetings — the only
specific meetings I recall of the progressive caucus — and there may
have been others — that I attended were held usually just before the
Screen Writers' Guild regular meeting; either at the hotel where
the meeting was to take place or in the very room, or outside the very
room the meeting was to take place.
916 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. "Wliat was the purpose of these meetings of the
progressive caucus?
Mr. Rubin. The purpose of the meetings of the progressive caucus
was to discuss the agenda that was coming up at the subsequent Screen
Writers' Guild meeting and to try to organize everyone who attended
the progressive caucus meeting into a single viewpoint on the subjects
that were to come up.
Mr. Wheeler. AVlio were the leaders in the progressive caucus?
Explain what was the progressive caucus, please.
Mr. Rubin. The progressive caucus to me was just what its name
said. I took it to be a group of writers within the Screen Writers'
Guild, whose viewpoints on union activities were liberal, and who
would work for these viewpoints.
Mr. Wheeler. Who were the leaders 1
Mr. Rubin. I can't answer that. I don't know who the leaders of
the progressive caucus were.
Mr. Wheeler. How many individuals were members of the progres-
sive caucus ?
Mr. Rubin. That is a very difficult question to answer, because when
I went to a meeting of the progressive caucus, on the various occasions
when they asked me to come, the attendance varied enormously.
Mr. Wheeler. From what to what ?
Mr. Rubin. From, let's say, 15 people up to as high as, let's say —
I don't know — 40, 50 people.
Mr. Wheeler. Who is "they"? Who asked you to go to these
meetings ?
Mr. Rubin. I have to think back on that. I cannot say definitely
who asked me to go to these meetings. I will try to recall to the best
of my ability how some of these things came about.
Inone instance it might have been a phone call. In another instance
I may have received a mimeographed letter or sheet which stated what
the progressive caucus was going to discuss at its meeting before the
next guild meeting, and asking me to come. Now, these mimeo-
graphed sheets occasionally were signed by members of the Screen
Writers' Guild, but I honestly don't remember who signed them.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you remember any specific subject which was
discussed ?
Mr. Rubin. It was always the current working business of the guild
that was discussed. And I was by no means a regular attender of the
progressive caucus.
As I have explained or tried to explain in a statement I have sub-
mitted, when they would inform me by phone or by mimeographed
letter of a subject in which I agreed with their viewpoint, which was
also expressed in that phone call, I would attend the meeting and try
to help them on that point in the subsequent Screen Writers' Guild
meeting discussion or vote.
Wlien I disagreed with the point involved, I did not attend the
progressive caucus. I know for a fact that the negative was far more
frequent than the positive, but, nevertheless, I did attend several
progressive caucus meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. How closely have you followed the investigation
here in Hollywood, being conducted by the committee?
Mr. Rubin. Average closely.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 917
Mr. Wheeler. You are familiar then with the great number of
writers who have been identified as members of the Communist Party?
Mr. Rubin. I am familiar, I should say, with the ones whose names
have appeared in the newspaper, in the main, or with people I have
been acquainted with who have.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you say the percentage of people in attend-
ance at the progressive caucus meeting was largely made up of subse-
quently identified members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Rubin. I would say that many of the people named were pres-
ent at progressive caucus meetings ; that is, at that time they had not
been named. But subsequently, when I discovered their names, they
had been present at the progressive caucus meetings. But I would
not say, for example, that they were preponderant, necessarily pre-
ponderant at those meetings. For example, the only way I can state
it is if there were 40 members present at a meeting, to discuss a subject
that was coming up, my guess now would be, say, 25 or 30 percent of
the people there were subsequently named.
Mr. Wheeler. You testified you left this study group in 1942.
Mr. Rubin. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. Since leaving this group, have you been approached
by anyone to resume your association with them ?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, I was. This happened after I was released from
the Army Air Forces in 1946 and had gone back to work at Universal
Pictures.
One day, to the best of my Imowledge, in mid-spring of 1946, I re-
ceived a phone call. It was from a woman whose name I had never
heard before, and if she gave it to me over the phone or to my secre-
tary— because I had never heard it — I paid no particular attention to
it, and I do not remember it now.
However, this woman over the phone asked me if I would consider
joining a new evening study group. I told her emphatically I would
not, and hung up the phone.
Mr. Wheeler. In recent years have you had any close association
with Mr. Lantz ?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, I have. Again — and this does not attempt to
undermine the friendship — the association has been sporadic, but,
nevertheless, it has been a fairly close friendship.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you ever discussed the Communist Party in
recent years ?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, I have. Mr. Lantz, as I recall it, got out of the
Army sometime in the spring of 1946. When I saw him after that I
told him about this phone call I had received. I told him also that
I had flatly turned the woman down, and I remember discussing the
incident with him.
I was particularly pleased at that time to find that Mr. Lantz agreed
with what I had said to this woman and with what I had done. And
to the best of my recollection the gist of Mr. Lantz' conversation to me
at that time was that he was no longer in sympathy with communism or
the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. This was in 1946 ?
Mr. Rubin. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. Subsequent to 1946, have you and Mr. Lantz had any
discussions ?
918 COMMUNIST ACTR^ITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Rubin. From the time of that conversation in 1946 until a few
days ago Mr. Lantz and I had no discussions about the Communist
Party at all.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you have a discussion a few days ago?
Mr. Rubin. Yes, we did.
Mr. Wheeler. A\niat was the nature of this discussion ?
Mr. Rubin. Well, when the studio informed me of certain items
that had been listed against me, including one which stated that I was
known to have been a Communist Party member, and asked me to
answer these charges, I went about the business of answering them.
In preparing an answer to the items given me by my employer,
I went into my files and records, and talked to people, to refresh
my recollection, so that I could prepare a statement under oath, which
I did do, which I have delivered to my employer and a copy of which
I have given to 3'ou, Mr. ^^Hieeler.
In that connection I went to see Mr. Lantz. I felt that I had done
nothing whatsoever that was wrong, and I went to see Mr. Lantz to
tell him that I was going to make a full statement of the study group
classes I had attended and that this would necessarily involve my tell-
ing who had asked me to these classes.
I wanted Mr. Lantz to understand what I was doing, and I also
wanted him either to come with me or on his own to cooperate with
the House Committee on un-American Activities.
Again, at this conversation, Mr. Lantz reiterated that he had long
been out of sympathy with Communism and the Communist Party,
but that he felt he could not cooperate with the House Committee
on un-xVmerican Activities because it would involve what he called
informing.
I disputed the use of the word "informing." I said to Mr. Lantz
that while testifying was certainly not a joyous task, I felt that when
loyalties clashed, the higher loyalty had to take precedence ; and in this
case I felt that loyalty to friends had to give way to loyalty to our
country and its urgent needs for security. This I felt involved co-
operating with the House Committee on un-American Activities.
Mr. Lantz simply did not agree with this, and the conversation
ended.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Rubin, have you ever been connected with the
Writers" Congress ?
Mr. Rubin. To the best of my loiowledge, no. Now, I know that in
the list of items that the studio gave me, as charged against me, there
was one which stated that I was part of a panel on training films, spon-
sored by the Connnunist Party front, the Writers' Congi-ess, in 1943.
My first reaction to this was that I had no recollection of it what-
soever. I then proceeded to check the item. I called Professor
McGowan's office at UCLA, when I learned that that was where the
congress was held, and I was informed by that office that as my name
did not appear on the list of speakers, apparently I did not participate.
I then checked it even further, and I discovered that I could not
have participated in this congress because at the time it Avas held I was
at Army Air Forces Cadet School in Miami, Fla. Therefore, the
item is wrong.
Mr. Whei-:ler. a directory issued by the People's Educational Cen-
ter for the winter term of 1947 lists you as an instructor. Is that
correct ?
COMlVrUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 919
Mr. KuBiN. Yes; that is correct. I did instruct for one semester
at the People's Educational Center.
Mr. Wheeler. Who asked you ? Give the story.
Mr. Rubin. I was asked to instruct on the craft of writing screen
plays by a screen writer named Robert Lees. This invitation came
by a phone call, in which I asked Mr. Lees what the People's Educa-
tional Center, of which I had never heard, was.
He told me that it was essentially a night school for adults who
could not alt'ord regular professional school tuition, and asked if I
would donate my services in teaching screen writing. I agreed to do
this.
Never at any time in the conversation with Mr. Lees or subsequently
at the school itself was the subject of the Communist Party mentioned
or brought up, or was any discussion of communism itself ever con-
ducted in my presence.
I don't know what the other instructors or other classes talked
about. I do very definitely know that in my classroom we talked
simply about the craft of writing motion picture screen plays. I
had no knowledge at the time that the People's Educational Center
was in any way connected with the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know that it was known as the Los Angeles
Labor School prior to the time it became the People's Educational
Center?
Mr. Rubin. No ; I did not. I have never heard that name before.
Mr. Wheeler. When did you quit?
Mr. Rubin. When the sponsorship of the People's Educational
Center came into question, and when I saw for the first time that it
was linked with the Communist Party, then I left the school and
refused to teach there another semester.
I have never had any conversation or association with anybody
connected with it since.
Mr. Wheeler. According to the People's World, page 5, May 12,
1949, it lists you as a speaker before the Hollywood Independent
Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions.
Is it true that you spoke at this meeting ?
Mr. Rubin. I had no recollection of speaking at this meeting. But
since I checked at the UCLA library, the People's World edition that
reported this incident, and since I find they have words put in my
mouth, I must assume that I did speak there. This was when?
Mr, Wheeler. May 12, 1949, as reported in the People's World.
Mr. Rubin. At that time I was a producer of the very first nation-
ally sponsored TV film show, and TV itself was the hottest subject
in show business.
1 recall being asked all the time to appear, for example, at the
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences meeting, to tell to other
people interested in this growing industry my experiences as a so-
called pioneer in TV.
I acx?epted several of these invitations, because I was anxious to
publicize my own work and my American Tobacco Co. show.
In checking the People's World at the UCLA library, I noticed that
according to them what I said at this meeting was to argue in favor
of the importance of sponsorship and network backing in the making
of television shows.
920 coivDviTJisriST activities m the los angeles area
Mr. Wheeler. In other words, private enterprise ?
Mr. Rubin. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you ever a member of this organization ?
Mr. Rubin. I didn't know, and my attorney, Mr. Gang, asked me
to check my records on this. I went over them very thoroughly. I
could find no evidence of having belonged to this organization nor
could 1 find any evidence of having belonged to organizations which
I now know were either stemmed out of this group or were affiliated
with it, namely, the Progressive Citizens of America and the Inde-
pendent Progressive Party.
Mr. Wheeler. You have submitted to the committee the list of
your donations from 1946 through 1952. I notice in 1948 a contribu-
tion of $3 to the Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee of
Arts, Sciences, and Professions. Would this be a contribution or
perhaps could it be a payment of dues for membership ?
Mr. Rubin. I can't answer that. I made every effort to check this
particular list of donations, including the effort of tracking down and
talking to the current office of the above organization. The only
answer they would give me was that all records had been destroyed
and they could give me no information. I am at a loss to specifically
identify that $3 donation.
Mr. Wheeler. According to our information, Mr. Rubin, you
signed the amicus curiae brief on behalf of John Howard Lawson and
Dalton Trumbo. Is that correct?
Mr. Rubin. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who listed your signature?
Mr. Rubin. No; I do not. Petitions of that nature were circulated
at luncheon tables in the commissary or passed from office to office
at the studio.
Mr, Wheeler, During that time, what was your position in regard
to the indictment and conviction of Lawson and Trumbo following
their contempt citations before the House Committee on Un-American
Activities ?
Mr. Rubin. I did not agree in any way whatsoever with the political
viewpoint of these men under indictment for contempt. But I signed
the amicus curiae brief because it was my understanding that signing
it did not mean you had to be in sympathy with the political views
of the men involved.
To me, signing it was simply an American act of signing a docu-
ment concerned with getting these men as complete and thorough a
hearing as possible,
Mr. Wheeler, Do you recall signing the nominating petition on
behalf of Albert Maltz for the executive board of the Screen Writers'
Guild?
Mr. Rubin. I do not recall signing this petition. But because it
was listed again among the items charged against me, I contacted the
Screen Writers' Guild and I was told by the guild that my name does
appear on the Maltz' petition, dated October 1949.
Mr. Wheeler. This, I believe, was after the conviction of Albert
Maltz for contempt of Congress. It was quite evident that during
that period of time in 1949 that Mr, Maltz had been a member of the
Communist Party. Were you in accord with having a member of
the Communist Party on the executive board of the Screen Writers'
Guild?
COJMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 921
Mr, Rubin. . No; I was not. But I was in accord with the idea
that the guild itself ought to vote on this, and that the best way for
the guild to vote on it was by putting Mr. Maltz' name up. I felt
this was something that should come up on the guild floor and be
discussed and recognized.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliat is your present-day attitude regarding the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Rubin. The same as it was when I left the study group in
1942. I started attending the study group because I was totally
ignorant of the Communist Party. In very short order I learned
enough about it to disagree and to disapprove of it thoroughly. My
learning on the subject since, my knowledge through the newspapers
of Soviet Russia's conduct in world affairs since, its aggressive nature
and the ludicrous switches of American Communists, as identified in
the newspapers, as they swing to and fro with the thoughts and
activities of Soviet Russia, all of these tilings have only further sub-
stantiated the judgment I made in 1942.
Mr. Wheeler. We have just discussed what might be termed as a
front record. Do you believe that this front record of yours indicates
sympathy with the Communist movement?
Mr. Rubin. No, I do not, I believe — and in my own mind I
know — that these items have grown out of a natural liberal instinct
inside myself, an instinct which always sought fair play and equality
of opportunity, I never knowingly participated in any group which
was Communist or Communist front. But I must assume, from
things which I have learned about things I signed or groups I occa-
sionally worked with, that my very liberal instincts made me usable
to these groups. And these groups I now know are Communists.
Mr. Wheeler. I would like for the record to show that Mr. Rubin
has made available to the committee his contributions or donations
from 1946 through 1952. This list discloses 68 separate contribu-
tions to various organizations and only one organization cited is a
Communist front. This organization we have previously discussed,
which is the Hollywood Independent Citizens' Committee of the Arts,
Sciences and Professions.
Mr. Rubin, do you have anything else you would like to say for
the record ?
Mr, Rubin, Mr, Wheeler, I have given a copy of my sworn state-
ment to you and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to my
employer. I can only state to you, as I advised my employer and
the FBI, that I am not now and never have been a member of the
Communist Party, and that I am ready to answer any questions at
all times. Any time you desire my cooperation, I will make myself
available.
Mr. Wheeler. All right, Mr, Rubin, The committee will be most
interested in what you have said here today.
(Whereupon the interrogation of Stanley Rubin was concluded.)
31747— 53— pt. 5-
INVESTIGATION OF ^COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AKEA-Part 5
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Committee on Un-American Actiyities,
Los Angeles, Calif.
executive statement ^
An executive statement given at 11 : 45 a. m., March 12, 1953, at
room 1109, Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, Calif.
Present: William A. Wheeler, investigator.
TESTIMONY OF SOL SHOE ^
Mr. Wheeler. Will you state your full name?
Mr. Shor. Sol Shor.
Mr. Wheeler. Allien and where were you born ?
Mr. Shor. In New York City, July 16, 1913.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your educational background ?
Mr. Shor. I was educated in the public schools in New York and
went to the College of the City of New York at night for about two and
a half years and then went to New York University, from which school
I graduated in 1937.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your present occupation ?
Mr. Shor. I am a writer.
Mr. Wheeler. How have you been employed since your graduation
from New York University?
Mr. Shor. I moved from New York to California with my family
in 1937. First I got a job on the back lot at Republic Pictures and
later became a writer, and since then have been working as a writer.
Mr. Wheeler. What are your screen credits ?
Mr. Shor. Mainly at Republic Pictures and Columbia Pictures.
The titles are mainly serial titles, like Dick Tracy, the Lone Ranger,
Zoro.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you presently employed?
Mr. Shor. No ; I am working on a free-lance basis now.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Shor. Yes, I have.
Ml-. Wheeler. When did you first join the Communist Party?
Mr. Shor. I believe that it was sometime in 1938.
" Released by the committee.
* Sol Shor was sworn as a witness by the court reporter.
923
924 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. What were the events leading up to your member-
ship?
Mr. Stioh. I believe that I became interested in the Hollywood
Anti-Nazi League during that period, and somehow through my
attendance at meetings there I was induced to attend a group in cur-
rent events. I don't remember whether this was a pay group or not.
From there I went to a group that was to prepare for recruiting into
the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. Who solicited your membership into the Communist
Party, do you recall ?
Mr. Shor. Well, as I recall, there was one person I knew at that time
by the name of Michael Alexander, and I tliink he was the one that got
me to take this current events class.
Mr. Wheeler. Who was Michael Alexander?
Mr. Shor. He was working either as a cutter or assistant cutter or in
the messenger department at Republic Pictures at the time.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, was he known to you as a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Shor. No.
Mr. Wheeler. But he did suggest that you attend the
Mr. Shor. Current events from which the recruitments were made
for this other group.
Mr. Wheeler. Did Mr. Alexander attend the current events group
or the study group ?
Mr. Shor. No, he didn't.
Mr. Wheeler. However, he did make arrangements for you to
attend ?
Mr. Shor. No, he just suggested this current events group, since
I was apparently interested in world affairs, through my interest in
the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League.
Mr. Wheeler. But still he would be the individual who made ar-
rangements for you to attend, isn't that correct?
Mr. Shor. Actually, I am trying to recall now what procedure took
place for the enrollment, whether he was actually the one that enrolled
me or whether he just suggested this group that met, this current
events group.
Mr. Wheeler. He would have to suggest you see somebody in this
group to get you started ?
Mr. Shor. That is right, in this current events group.
Mr. Wheeler. Therefore, he would be instrumental in getting you
into the group.
Mr. Shor. Yes. Actually, as I say, I don't know whether he was
an official in this current events or group or not at the time.
Mr. Wheeler. All right. Now, how many meetings did you at-
tend of this current events group? Approximately.
Mr. Shor. I should imagine it was about a dozen meetings. It
was a complete course, sort of, that went over a period of about 3
months. As well as I can recall, we used to meet one evening a week.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall where the meetings were held?
Mr. Shor. They were held at various people's houses, but right now
I don't think I can recall.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any of the individuals who attended
these discussion groups ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 925
Mr. Shor. This is really very vague in my mind.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the Communist Party while
you attended this discussion group ?
Mr. Shor. No. This was kind of a preliminary paving of the way,
apparently, for indoctrination into the second group.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the instructor was of this group ?
Mr. Shor. I remember the instructor of the second group was a
Sam Silver. But this first group
Mr. Wheeler. How long after you became a member of the dis-
cussion group were you asked to become a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Shor. Then I went into this preliminary group that made pos-
sible my entrance into the Communist Party. And I attended meet-
ings at this group which Sam Silver was an instructor of for about
12 weeks.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliat I am trying to get at is when you joined the
party.
Mr. Shor. This was at the end of the second group.
Mr. Wheeler. At the end of the second group ?
Mr. Shor. That is right. That also lasted about 10 or 12 meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Sam Silver as being the discussion
leader in the second group ?
Mr. Shor. In the second group.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, how many individuals comprised the second
group ?
Mr. Shor. I imagine there must have been between 8 and 10 in that
second group.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the Communist Party when
you attended the second group ?
Mr. Shor. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall any of the individuals who attended
this second group with you ?
Mr.SnoR. I remember it was held at the house of Blanche Cole. I
believe she is a sister of Lester Cole.
Mr. Wheeler. Lester Cole ?
Mr. Shor. Lester Cole.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Lester Cole present?
Mr. Shor. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was present ?
Mr. Shor. It is sort of a blank right there, because I don't remember
any of these people being in any group I went into later on.
Mr. Wheeler. All right. Now, you have stated at the conclusion
of your attendance of the second discussion group you became a
member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Shor. Yes, at the last meeting the pitch was made, asking those
who wanted to join to join up.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was instrumental in soliciting
your membership in the Communist Party ?
Mr. Shor. Well, it came as a result of this Sam Silver, who was the
instructor. Actually, he was the one who made the pitch at that time.
Mr. Wheeler. At this time you signed up as a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Shor. That is right, at the end of this second discussion group.
926 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. WiiEELEK. Do you recall an^yone else who signed up as a member
of the Communist Party at the same time you did ^
Mr. SiiOR. No, I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you subsequently assigned to a group of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Shor. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a member of this first group ?
Mr. Shor. Well, this fii-st group, I remember I attended one big
meeting where there were a lot of people whom I didn't know, since
this was brand new to me, and immediately after this first meeting I
was moved into a very small group, consisting of about 5 or 6 people.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a member of the first group ?
Mr, Shor. That must have been about maybe a year.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, do you recall the names of the individuals who
were members of this first group ?
Mr. Shor. There were the two people. Lillian — he is a business
manager now.
Mr. Wheeler. Is it Lillian and Bernard Skadron ?
Mr. Shor. That is right. There was a girl of Finnish descent in
the group, whose name I do not know.
Harold Salemson.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else who was a member of
this group ?
Mr. Shor. No, I don't think I can. I don't think I can call the
sixth person. But these 4 I remember definitely as part of the group.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was the head of this group, the
chairman ?
Mr. SiiOR. I think it was Lillian, either Lillian or Bernie Skadron.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you pay dues?
Mr. Shor. At that time I did, yes ; I did pay dues.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall to whom you paid your dues?
Mr. Shor. I may have paid them to Bernie Skadron.
Mr. Wheeler. Was this group classified as a motion-picture in-
dustry group, a talent group, or more or less a neighborhood group ?
Mr. Shor. I don't know whether they classified it at that time,
because I was the only writer in the group. Mrs. Skadron, I think,
was a housewife at the tmie, Lillian Skadron. Bernie Skadron was
an accountant, I believe. Harold Salemson was a representative of
magazines, as far as I could remember, publicity or a writer.
Mr. Wheeler. On how many occasions would you say you saw
Mr. Salemson present at these Communist Party meetings?
Mr. Shor. He wasn't too regiilar an attendant. We used to meet
sometimes once every week and sometimes once every second week,
and I imagine he would be there, oh, about 50 percent of the time.
Mr. Wheeler. He was, however, a dues-paying member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. SiroR. Yes, I imagine he was.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, were you subsequently transferred to a sec-
ond group ?
Mr. Shor. Yes, I was.
Mr. Wheeler. Can you give us the approximate date?
Mr. Shor. Let's see, I joined sometime in 1938. This lasted
through 1939, and it must have been possibly sometime in 1939 that
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 927
I was transferred to a second group. This I believe was considered
more of a talent group.
Mr. Wheeker. How long were you a member of the second group ?
Mr. Shor. I believe I was a member of the second group for about
6 months and then went into a third group before I went into the
Army.
Mr. Wheeler. On what date did you enter the United States
Army ?
Mr. Shor. Pearl Harbor was December 1941. I was inducted in
February of 1941. About 10 months before Pearl Harbor.
Mr. Wheeler. Who were members of the second group?
Mr. Shor. The second group — there was, I think, Salemson was
a part of this second group also. There was Edward Eliscu. I am
trying to separate the second and the third groups. I think Mickey
Uris was in this group. There may have been Morton Grant in this
group at that time.
I remember the third group more clearly because that was closest
to my entrance in the Army.
Mr. Wheeler. How many members would you say were in the
second group ?
Mr. Shor. I imagine about 10 that I saw at various times.
Mr. Wheeler. Were they all writers in the motion-picture
industry ?
Mr. Shor. I should imagine that all of them were writers, that this
was purely a writers' group at the time.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was the chairman of this group ?
Mr. Shor. No, I don't think I could.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you recall to whom you paid your dues?
Mr. Shor. I know it wasn't Eliscu. My memory on that is not
too clear.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, prior to your entrance in the Army, you say
you were in a third group?
Mr. Shor. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the members of the third group
were?
Mr. Shor. Yes. In the third group there was Lester Koenig.
There was a Nicholas Bela. I believe Eliscu was also a member of
this group. A fellow by the name of Rivers, I believe — he didn't
work in pictures. I think he was a novelist.
Mr. Wheeler. Would that be W. L. Eivers, or Les Rivers?
Mr. Shor. Yes, Les Rivers. I believe Mortimer Offner was a mem-
ber of this group.
Mr. Wheeler. "V\^iat was the total number of individuals in this
group ?
Mr. Shor. I think that was about the biggest group I attended. I
think there were about 12, I would imagine. Now, there was one I
ran across, a Trivers, Paul Trivers. I recall the name. A tall, dark-
haired fellow. I don't remember whether he was in the third group
or the second one.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the chairman was of the third
group ?
Mr. Shor. The chairman of the third group I believe was this
Nicholas Bela.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall to whom you paid your dues?
928 COMJMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Shor. It may have been his wife, who was also a member of
that group. She was a housewife or she may have been a writer, I
don't know.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall her given name ?
Mr. Shor. No, I don't.
Mr. Wheeler. Were the wives of any of the other individuals you
mentioned in the groups?
Mr. Shor. No, just this Nicholas Bela's wife. Maybe it is because
we used to meet at his house occasionally — not occasionally. I think
most of the time this group met at his house in Westwood some place.
Mr. Wheeler. You have testified you entered the Army in Febru-
ary of 1941.
Mr. Shor. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. "When were you discharged fi'om the Army ?
Mr. Shor. The end of October in 1945.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you receive an honorable discharge?
Mr. Shor. Yes, I did.
Mr. Wheeler. What branch of service were you in ?
Mr. Shor. I was in the Signal Corps, United States Army.
Mr. Wheeler. Where were you stationed?
Mr. Shor. When I was first inducted as a private I was stationed at
Fort Francis E. Warren in Cheyenne, Wyo., with the Quartermaster
Corps, where I was assistant to the public relations director of the
post. Then on orders from Washington I was transferred to Fort
Monmouth Motion Picture Division. I remained with the motion
picture division after it had moved to Astoria, Long Island.
Mr. Wheeler. What was your rank at the time of discharge?
Mr. Shor. I was a first lieutenant. I went to the Signal Corps Of-
ficer Cadet School at Fort Monmouth, where I secured my commission.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you still retain a commission with the United
States Army ?
Mr. Shor. No, I am on the Inactive Reserves.
Mr. Wheeler. But you still have your commission ?
Mr. Shor. Yes, that remains with me.
Mr. Wheeler. After you were released from the Army, did you re-
turn to Hollywood ?
Mr. Shor. Yes, I returned to Hollywood in November of 1945.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliile you were in the United States Army,
did you participate in any Communist activities ?
Mr. Shor. No, I didn't.
Mr. Wheeler. After your return to Hollywood, did you renew your
affiliation with the Communist Party?
Mr. Shor. Yes. It was in around 1946, I believe, when I rejoined
the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. What were the mechanics involved in your reaffil-
iation with the Communist Party ?
Mr. Shor. Let's see, it was through Offner
Mr. Wheeler. Mortimer Offner?
Mr. Shor. Yes that I was again reintroduced or sort of reattached
to a group.
Mr. Wheeler. Did Offner contact you personally ?
Mr. Shor. I think it was a kind of a mutual thing.
Mr. Wheeler. However, through Mr, Offner you were reassigned
to another group in the Communist Party ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 929
Mr. Shoe. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. This would be the fourth gi'oup ?
Mr. Shor. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. Whas this a group comprised of so-called talent
group in Hollywood?
Mr. Shor. Yes, this was again mainly writers.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a member of the fourth group ?
Mr. Shor. I was a member of the fourth group until I moved to the
valley, where I purchased a home.
Mr. Wheeler. Could you give us the approximate date?
Mr. Shor. Yes, this was through the year of '46, and I moved to my
new home in February of '47.
Mr. Wheeler. Who were members of this fourth group ?
Mr. Shor. In the fourth group there was Michael Wilson, Herbert
Biberman, I believe Carl Foreman, a fellow by the name of White.
Mr. Wheeler. Could that be Irving White ?
Mr. Shor. Irving White. Ray Spencer. That reminds me, Ray
Spencer was somebody whom I had known as a member of one of the
groups previously.
Mr. Wheeler. What is Mr. Spencer's occupation ?
Mr. Shor. I believe he was a writer. I believe Mickey Uris was a
member of this group, and Bernard Vorhaus. Paul Trivers may have
been in this group, also.
Mr. Wheeler. You did know Paul Trivers as a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Shor. Prior to my entrance into the Army.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the total number of members in this
group ?
Mr. Shor. The most I saw at any one meeting were about, I think,
between 9 and 10.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was the head of this group, the
chairman ?
Mr. Shor. The chairman of this group I think shifted between
Biberman and Mike Wilson.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall to whom you paid your dues?
Mr. Shor. It may have been Irving White.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, you have testified that in February 1947 you
changed your residence.
Mr. Shor. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. And because of this change of residence you were
assigned to another group.
Mr. Shor. In the valley.
Mr. Wheeler. In the San Fernando Valley?
Mr. Shor. Yes, that is right. In North Hollywood, that is.
Mr. Wheeler. This would be a different group of which you were
a member ?
Mr. Shor. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. How long did you remain a member of the fifth
group ?
Mr. Shor. I remained a member of it until my disassociation from
the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. When was your disassociation ?
930 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr, SiioR. Well, I could say that spiritually my clisassociation
started somewhere in 1948. And either toward the end of '48 or early
'49 I physically separated myself from the party.
To explain this a little more fully, I began to attend fewer and
fewer meetings during the period of '48, because I had begun to have
this fight within myself with regard to my attachment.
Mr. Wheeler. We will go into that in just a minute. Do you recall
who the members of the fifth group were?
Mr. Shor. Yes. The fifth group I believe was about the largest
group I was a member of, and it later split up into 2 groups. It was
still apparently the same group. In the fifth group there were
Lester Cole, John Howard Lawson, I remember at the first few meet-
ings of this large group, a fellow by the name of Manotf
Mr. Wheeler. Arnold Manoff?
Mr. Shor. Arnie Manoff, that sounds right. Morton Grant, Al
Levitt, Carl Foreman, and Mortimer Offner. Sanford
Mr. Wheeler. John Sanford?
Mr. Shor. John Sanford. Betty Wilson, Melvin Levy.
Mr. Wheeler. John Weber?'
Mr. Shor. No. If I recall in our last interview I believe I said
John Weber, but it was his wife that belonged to this group. John
Weber was not part of that group.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall John Weber's wife's given name?
Mr. Shor. Ruth, I believe. George Beck was a member of that
group.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Mrs. Beck a member of that gi^oup?
Mr. Shor. I don't recall having seen her at any meetings. I
believe we met at his house once or twice very early in that time,
that I was transferred to that group.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Leopold Atlas a member of this group ?
Mr. Shor. Leopold Atlas I remember seeing at either 1 or 2 meetings
very early in my attachment to that group. After those 1 or 2
meetings I never saw him again.
Anne Froelich w^as a member of that group.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anyone else ?
Mr. Shor. Tom Chapman was a member of that group.
Mr. Wheeler. What was Tom Chapman's occupation?
Mr. Shor. I believe he was a reader. Just going back, this goes
way back. There was a director Tuttle, Frank Tuttle. This was
back in, I believe, the second group that I was a member of.
I remember Heni-y Meyers, a writer, as a member of the Communist
Party, who was in one of the groups prior to mj^ entrance in the
Army.
Ring Larclner, Jr. That was prior to my entrance in the Army.
Hugo Butler was in one of the groups after I came out of the Army,
in that first group. Maurice Rapf was before I went into the Army.
I remember him in one of the groups prior to my entrance in the Army.
Waldo Salt, that was prior to my entrance in the Army.
There is a name I recall, Madelaine Ruthven, not as a member of
the Communist Party but as either an assistant or one who was
directly responsible for my signing the card initially from that second
discussion group.
I recall Jessie Burns as being in one of the discussion groups
just prior to my entrance in the Comnmnist Party.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 931
Clarice Chapman was in the last group, which I have called the
Valley group.
Mr, Wheeler. Will you further identify Clarice Chapman?
Mr. SiiOR. I believe she is the wife of Tom Chapman.
Mr. Wheeler. Was she employed in the motion-picture industry
or was she typified as a housewife?
Mr. Shor. I don't believe she was employed in pictures at the time.
There is a name that rings a bell and I think this is part of the
first group that I ever attended. There was a George, I believe it
was George Hellgren, and I think he went back to Sweden or
something.
iSIr. Wheeler. George Hellgi-en was in one of your earlier groups?
Mr. Shor. The first one. He was only there for a couple of the
early meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Mr. Hellgren's occupation?
Mr. Shor. It wasn't in motion pictures, I don't believe.
Mr. Wheeler. I believe Mr. Hellgren was credit manager at Fox
Studios. Does that refresh your memory ?
Mr. Shor. He may have been in some kind of business end of it.
Mr. Wheeler. His wife's name is Nora Hellgren.
Mr. Shor. There is a Nora Hellgren listed right under here. Are
they Swedish?
Mr. Wheeler. I don't laiow.
Mr. Shor. Somehow I vaguely recall they went back to live in
Sweden.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Nora Hellgren a member of this group ?
Mr. Shor. No ; it was just George. That may have been the other
l^erson in that first group.
Josef Mischel was a member, I believe, of the group I was in after
I came back from the Army.
Here is a name I recall. Dorothy Comingore, but not as a member
of the Communist Party, but a member of the first study group I was
in. It may have been at that time Dick Collins was also a member
of that group.
Mr. Wheeler. Dorothy Comingore was known to you as Dick Col-
lins' wife?
Mr. Shor. I don't know whether they were married at that time
or not.
Mr. Wheeler. They were subsequently married ?
Mr. Shor. Yes. In the last group there was a David Eobison.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know Mr. Kobison's occupation?
Mr. Shor. I don't recall whether he was a reader at the time or a
writer. Maurice Clark is one of the names I recall as being in the
group I went into after I came out of the Army.
Mr. Wheeler. The first group you went into after you got out of
the Army ?
Mr. Shor. Yes, that is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Shor, would you advise the committee the rea-
sons why you severed your relationship with the Communist Party?
Mr. Shor. Well, when I came out of the Army, and probablv the
thing that brought me back into it was perhaps the still idealistic
interest and hope that maybe this was the right answer to the things
that I though were politically and socially inequitable in the country
at the time.
932 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
However, after a year in which I found that I was ordered to
adhere to certain things, that is, if I disagreed, my disagreement meant
nothing — in other words, yon had to succumb to the general trend of
thought and policy of the Communist Party as dictated from some-
where up above, and that to me absolutely ran against the gi-ain.
I felt that all the things that were being said about the Communist
Party were more and more true, that it was more the tail of a kite
that was flown somewhere in Moscow and this was just another ap-
pendage of it. It wasn't American in any sense of the term. It
wasn't a truly free third party in the tradition of American third
parties.
My feeling was that since such an overwhelming majority of the
people, including many leading, honorable citizens of the country,
felt tliis party was not for the best interests of the American people,
that these doubts that began to assail me finally crystallized, that this
party was inequitable to the best interest of the American people and
was inequitable to the democratic tradition of the American people,
and it was something I didn't want to be associated with any longer
and I felt any of my associations in the past had been a grave error,
a mistake in thinking, probably thinking in which I was led by the
nose by others without trying to think things out for myself.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall in 1939 Stalin and Hitler entered into
a pact, a nonaggression pact?
Mr. Shor. Yes, I do.
Mr. Wheeler. I believe from your previous testimony you stated
one of the reasons you joined the Communist Party was because
of your interest in fighting nazism.
Mr. Shor. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. How did you accept the Stalin-Hitler pact?
Mr. Shor. As best I can recall, this was a great shock to me, but
as I say, at that time my thinking was dominated by others. And
even though I remember at the time trying to argue against this feeling
that it wasn't right, that making an alliance with nazism at the time
was merely aiding nazism.
However, the thinking of the other people in the group that I was
associated with and the thoughts which dominated were that this
was the best interest for peace, and so on and so forth. I finally
succumbed and fell into line and accepted this, even though my better
judgment said to me that this couldn't be so at the time, that this
wasn't right.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you in the Army at the time Browder was
expelled from the Communist Party ?
Mr. Shor. I believe I was. It was the period of the disclosure
or the writing of the letter by Duclos, which made world history at the
time.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, were you ready to accept the Duclos letter?
Mr. Shor. Perhaps this is one of the things, even though when
I returned from the Army and I reentered the Communist Party,
I think this is one of the things that subconsciously remained with
me more than anything else. It showed that the Communist Party
was not acting as an American entity. It wasn't acting as a third
party in the democratic tradition of the United States. It was merely
acting as part of a world Communist gi'oup and merely accepting
orders and dictates of people who are higher up in the, I should say,
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 933
hierarchy of the Communist Party; that is, the world Communist
Party, if such a thing exists.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you a member of the Communist Party when
Albert Maltz wrote his article for New Masses, wherein he appealed
for freer expression among writers?
Mr. Shor. I remember there was a great stir about this. Truth-
fully, this was a little above my level of understanding, the ramifica-
tions of what was good Marxist writing and what wasn't good Marxist
writing.
I recall that there was some discussion about this, but truthfully
I could not fathom exactly what this was. Again, I think this is
something that gave me the feeling that the man, if he was a member
of the Communist Party, couldn't express himself in his own way, but
had to follow a line that was dictated from somewhere above and
that if he failed to follow this line he wasn't writing the way a good
Communist should be writing.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, during the time you were a member of the
Communist Party, did you ever make an attempt to introduce into
scripts any Communist Party line or doctrine?
Mr. Shor. Well, I think from the kind of material I wrote, mainly
blood and thunder thrillers, there was very little opportunity, even
if I had wanted to, to introduce any Communist ideology. I don't
think I was well enough versed in it myself to be able to introduce
any, and my feeling was to do as good a job on a picture as I possibly
could and that was it.
Additionally, I would like to add this ; that those first years that I
worked at Republic Studios I worked in a group with 2 or 3 other
writers, and anything that I worked on was a collaborating effort, and
certainly I didn't use any story ideas to try to influence these other
writers.
Mr. Wheeler. Who have your agents been since you have been a
writer in the motion-picture industry ?
Mr. Shor. At the present time my agent is the Jaffee Agency. Be-
fore then it was Mitchell Gertz Agency. And those were the only two.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you feel that your membership in the Communist
Party assisted you in any way in your writing profession? I mean,
in regard to securing employment in the studios.
Mr. Shor. No, it didn't, as far as I know, because my first job I
secured at Republic Studios after working on the back lot. There
was this opening, and I had been around pestering the producers, and
finally secured a job on the serial staff of writers, and I worked on the
serial staff until I was inducted into the Army.
After I came out of the Army I went back to work at Republic
Studios again and I never secured any help of any of these people that
I knew in the Communist Party in any way whatsoever to help me
secure employment.
Mr. Wheeler. Is there anything else, Mr. Shor, you would like to
add to the record ?
Mr. Shor. Well, I would like to add this : Since my disassociation
from the Communist Party I feel much freer, as though a burden were
taken off of my mind, because as I said, for some time the struggle
had been going on within me, whether I was doing the right thing by
still being attached to something that was so definitely opposed to
American democratic tradition, and that having severed all connec-
934 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
tions and bonds with the Comnmnist Party, I can think and conduct
myself, I believe, more in the American tradition.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever have an occasion to meet Danny Dare,
either as a member of the Conmiunist Party or in study groups ?
jNIr. SiiOR. I believe Danny Dare was a man that I met in the second
study group I Avas a part of, before I became a member of the Com-
munist Party.
IVIr. Wheeler. Well, do you recall if he became a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Shor. To the best of my knowledge, I don't know whether he
became a member of the Communist Party. I never was in any group
with him.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you acquainted with Harold Hecht ?
Mr. Shor. At present? I haven't seen him in many years.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, did you ever have an occasion to meet Harold
Hecht as a member of the Communist Party?
Mr, Shor. Yes, in the second group that I was in.
Mr. Wheeler. Again, what are the approximate dates of your mem-
bership in the second group?
Mr. Shor. In the second group it was around 1939, the greater
part of that.
Mr. Wheeler. How long a period of time did you say you were in
the second group ?
Mr. Shor. It must have been about a year, because then I was in
the third group before I went into the Army.
Mr. Wheeler. On how many occasions would you say you saw
Harold Hecht in attendance at these meetings?
Mr. Shor. I imagine I saw him about 2 or 3 times at these meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. These were closed meetings of the Communist Party ?
]\Ir. Shor. Yes, at the time, they were.
Mr. Wheeler. Everybody who attended these meetings were dues-
paying members?
Mr. Shor. I imagine they were.
Mr. Wheeler. You were a dues-paying member ?
Mr. Shor. Yes, at that time, certainly.
ISIr. Wheeler. You would reach the conclusion that the other in-
dividuals in attendance were dues-paying members ?
Mr. Shor. Certainly.
Mr. Wheeler. I have no further questions, Mr. Shor. If you have
anything in addition you would like to add to the record, anything
you can think of, you have the opportunity now of saying whatever
you so desire.
Mr. Shor. I believe I have covered it all. As I say, in regard to
people and events, I have gone over the past to the best of my recol-
lection, and as to my feelings now and in the future, I think I have
expressed those as fully as I can.
Mr. Wheeler. I want to take this opportunity now of thanking
you for your cooperation.
Mr. Shor. Thank .vou. Mr. Wheeler.
(Whereupon the interrogation of Sol Shor was concluded.)
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AKEA— Part 5
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1953
United States House of Eepresentatives,
Committee on Un-Amekican Activities,
Los Angeles^ Calif.
executive statement^
An executive statement given at 1 : 45 p. m., March 12, 1953, at room
1109, Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, Calif.
Present: William A. Wheeler, investigator.
TESTIMONY OF LEOPOLD LAWRENCE ATLAS =^
Mr. Wheeler. Will you state your full name?
Mr. Atlas. My full name is Leopold Lawrence Atlas.
Mr. Wheeler. Wlien and where were you born ?
Mr. Atlas. October 19, 1907, in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mr. Wheeler. Your present occupation?
Mi\ Atlas. Writer.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your educational background?
Mr, Atlas. Public schools of Brooklyn, Boys High School of Brook-
lyn, Yale University School of Fine Arts. That was a graduate
school. They gave me a special dispensation. We were supposed to
have a college degree.
I had written a play Professor Baker liked so much that they gave
me a scholarship.
Mr. Wheeler. How have you been employed since leaving the
university ?
Mr. Atlas. I worked for the Brooklyn Eagle and shortly thereafter
I sold a play, and after that I worked as a playwright independently,
until I came out to Hollywood in 1942, I believe. In other words, I
worked on my own completely at all times.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you been employed in the motion-picture in-
industry ?
Mr. Atlas. Have I ever been employed ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Mr. Atlas. Yes; I was' employed in the motion-picture industry
shortly after my first play was produced on Broadway. That was, I
believe, in 1935. I remained in Hollywood for about 8 months and
then returned east and received a Guggenheim Fellowship, and sat
down and wrote another play which the Theater Guild purchased and
produced.
'■ Released by the committee.
* Leopold Lawrence Atlas was sworn as a witness by the court reporter.
935
936 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Since that time I have worked independently again, until the time
I came out to Hollywood, once more, in 1942.
Mr. Wheeler. What screen credits do you have, Mr. Atlas?
Mr. Atlas. Do you want them all the way down ?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Mr. Atlas. Well, Mystery of Edwin Drew in 1935. A Notorious
Gentleman, Wednesday's Child, Story of G. I. Joe, Tomorrow the
World, Her Kind of Man, Raw Deal. The name escapes me, but it was
a screen play based on Carriage Entrance.
Ava Gardner was in it, and Robert Mitchum.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Political Association ?
Mr. Atlas. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. When did you become a member of this organization ?
Mr. Atlas. It must have been — I am not very accurate on date, I
must admit — in the latter part of 1944.
Mr. Wheeler. What led up to your membership in the Communist
Political Association ?
Mr. Atlas. I was approached by 2 people on 2 occasions. One,
George Willner, who was my agent then. The other, Lester Fuller,
who was an old, old friend, also, way back from college.
Do you want me to tell how I came to this town and the offers of
friendship and all that?
Mr. Wheeler. Yes.
Mr. Atlas. I came to Hollywood in 1942 and signed up with the
Goldstone Agency, when they offered me a sum of money to work on
an original story for them.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you sent to the Goldstone Agency by a par-
ticular individual or was the agency of your own choice?
Mr. Atlas. There was a correspondence while I was back east
between myself and Harold Hecht, in which he encouraged me to come
out to Hollywood, that there probably would be opportunity for em-
ployment for me. Then he offered me a sum of money, I think it was
something like $50 a week, through the Goldstone Agency, to write an
original story. I was pretty bad off financially at the time and I
accepted this and came out and became associated with the Goldstone
Agency.
Mr. Wheeler. You previously knew Harold Hecht in New York?
Mr. Atlas. Yes ; I did. Harold Hecht I knew in 1935, when I came
out here, and I think he was a dance director at that time, or something.
When my play But For The Grace of God was produced, it was pro-
duced by the Theater Guild in conjunction with Sidney Harmon, we
had our own stage manager.
Then a curious situation arose. Benno Schneider was the director
of the play, and attached to Benno Schneider was Harold Hecht, who
claimed that he was Benno Schneider's stage manager. The truth
of the matter is that our stage manager did all the work. Wliat
Harold did I don't know. And after the play closed I had no more
relationship with Mr. Hecht in any way whatsoever, until this 1942
period.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Mr. Hecht with the Willner Agency then ?
Mr. Atlas. At the time I came out? Yes. As a matter of fact,
George Willner was Harold Hecht's assistant.
COMMITNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 937
Mr. Wheeler. It was due to your prior relationship or acquaintance
with Hecht that you became attached to the AViUner Agency ?
Mr. Atlas. I would say in general that would be true ; yes. Harold
knew I had written plays, and all the rest of that, and knew my ability.
In 1942 I was handled by Harold Hecht for a very short time and then
by George Willner, Avhom I had never met or known before my arrival
in Hollywood.
I worked for a short period at Columbia and Republic Studios.
Shortly thereafter, I think it was in 1943, 1 was rejected by the Army
because of my physical condition. Feeling very strongly about the
war, and wanting to aid in any possible way I could, I personally re-
quested a Signal Corps assignment to make training films for the
Arm}'. These were made in xVstoria, Long Island.
Upon entering the Signal Corps I took the pledge of loyalty, and
I am prepared to take a similar pledge now. My children pledge their
allegiance every day in school, as I did when I was a child. I see no
contradiction in taking an oath at any time in what I truly believB.
Never for an instant have I swerved from my loyalty to my country.
I returned to Hollywood after my assignment with the Signal Corps.
There I met several people whom I had known back in my college and
theater days. One of these friends offered to help me find a house.
As you may recall, there was a great shortage at this time. This
friend Avas Lester Fuller, who had gone to Yale with me, and at on^
time wanted to produce a play of mine, House We Live In.
Let me state here I never knew of Lester Fuller's political convic-
tions. In fact, I would have been astonished if he had any at all.
He found a sublet for us from Lester Cole, who I had never met
before or known before or ever heard of, nor did I know anything of
his political convictions.
The Coles were going to Oregon for about 4 months and sublet their
house to us for $50 a month, which was half of what they were paying.
Being busted, I naturally appreciated this.
Shortly after, Mr. Fuller, who was a director at Paramount, rec-
ommended me for an assignment at that sttidio. I got the assign-
ment. I naturally was gi'atef ul.
Upon the Coles' return from Oregon, my wife, who was then preg-
2iant with our first child, and I moved into a small apartment on
Fountain Avenue. This was, I believe, early in 1944.
One day while riding with my agent George Willner — who, I
want to reiterate, I had never met before or known, or even heard of
before I came to Hollywood — to an interview for an assignment, he
broached me about joining a discussion group called the Communist
Political Association.
This request utterly astonished me. One, that George Willner was
a Communist, Second, that I would even have been asked to join,
in view of my very outspoken criticism of the party at various times.
It is of prime significance to point out to the committee that I had
been in Hollywood for 2 years before anyone approached me on the
subject. It was only now that the Communist Party had evidently
changed its spots, that they thought I would even listen to them.
As a matter of fact, at a small gathering several days before, I had
said openly that in my opinion Mr. Browder was nothing more than
a grocery clerk. When I mentioned this statement again, Mr. Willner
31747— 53~pt. 5 7
938 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
smiled and said it had been reported back to him but that it didn't
matter. The Communist Party, he told me, had completely dissolved
itself. It was now completely nonpolitical and was now merely going
to be a discussion group.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anything additional in your conversa-
tion with Mr. Willner, at this time ?
Mr. Atlas. Yes. I recall saying to Mr. Willner that I didn't see
eye to eye with his group on many issues. Again he reassured me that
it didn't matter, that on the major premises of winning the war and
working within the two-party system we were agreed.
Mr. Wheeler. What issues did you disagree on ?
Mr. Atlas. I told him that I could under no circumstances join
any organization unless I had assurances on three premises.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what these three premises were ?
Mr. Atlas. These premises were: 1. That this organization no
longer had any connection with the Communist Party whatsoever;
2. That it had no link with any foreign country;
3. That I refused at any time and all times to subject myself to
disciplinary action of any kind, mental or physical or spiritual.
Mr. Wheeler. Did he give you any assurances?
Mr. Atlas. He gave me these assurances, but I was not entirely
satisfied. I was still skeptical and wary. I requested that I receive
the same assurances from as high an official in the association as
possible.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you subsequently contact a high functionary
in the party, in regard to the assurances you requested ?
Mr. Atlas. I did, or, rather, they did in the following manner : I
was then asked to come to a social gathering at Ben Barzman's house,
where John Howard Lawson was to talk. Lester Fuller also invited
me to this gathering.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall what Mr. Lawson said that particular
evening
2
Mr. Atlas. Yes. I went to the gathering. John Howard Lawson
gave a talk which concerned itself with the necessity of all elements
in our country to unite in a win-the-war effort. This I devoutly and
ferverently believed in.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you subsequently asked to join the Communist
Political Association?
Mr. Atlas. At the close of his talk I was invited by Lawson to join
the Communist Political Association. Not a political party, mind
you, but a discussion group.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you discuss with Mr. Lawson the conditions on
which you would join the Communist Party?
Mr. Atlas. Yes. I again demanded the three conditions I have
already mentioned, and I was once more assured. As a matter of
fact, another thing turned up in our talk in which I said I thought
it would be a good thing for the poltitical association to study Ameri-
can history instead of constantly boring back into Russian history.
And I was assured by Lawson that they were going to do that.
Mr. Wheeler. How did you have prior knowledge that Russian
history was discussed by the Communist Political Association?
Mr. Atlas. By hearsay. I had been around, I had gotten into argu-
ments with them on any number of occasions. The discussions always
referred back to Russian thought.
COl^OIUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE LOS ANGELES AREA 939
May I add this : Having personally received these vital assurances
from the top men in the association, I saw no harm in joining this dis-
cussion group or any other group following these principles. In
fact, it was a oit of gratification to me that the Communist Party had
been dissolved. I hoped the association, in its place, might now enter
into the broad stream of American life and thought, which to my mind
they had never done before.
It was a further matter of gratification to me that they had departed
from their position ; not I to theirs. In other words, they had osten-
sibly come over to my way of liberal thinking. I also privately, and
perhaps naively, in view of what took place later, hoped that I might
inject my own liberal thought into the association and educate them
at the same time that they were trying to educate me.
I fully accepted John Howard Lawson's statement about the sever-
ance of the Communist Political Association from contact with any
other foreign government. Many years later, after I was out of the
Communist Political Association, during the period when the com-
mittee was conducting one of its investigations, I expected that at some
time I might be contacted or identified, and I wondered how I could
prove that these important assurances, which I demanded at the very
beginning, were the only conditions under which I would join the
association. I knew there were only three other people who Imew
about this. One was John Howard Lawson, one was George Willner,
and the other was my wife.
I was pretty certain that neither Lawson nor Willner would come
and verify this statement, and I racked my brains for some verifica-
tion of the early position I had taken, and suddenly it occurred to
me — and I think this was sometime in 1950 or around there — to check
in the Encyclopedia Britannica.
In the yearbook of 1945, in their article on communism, page 203,
there is the following revelatory statement :
* * * in the United States the Communist Party became, on May 22, 1944,
a Communist Political Association, with Earl Browder as its first president, who,
in addressing the convention, used "ladies and gentlemen" instead of the former
official greeting "comrades." The resolutions adopted deprecated class war and
stressed national unity.
I was all for that.
All strikes in wartime were violently opposed.
I was in favor of that.
During the elections the Communists in the United States supported Roosevelt.
I was in favor of that.
They aflBrmed their willingness to work within the traditional American sys-
tem of two parties and of free enterprise. * * *
On all of these accounts I was certainly in favor of all of these
things. And here further was printed proof of the position I had
taken at that time, and it gave me some gratification to have it
reaffirmed.
Mr. Wheeler. From your testimony, Mr. Atlas, I believe the re-
sponsible people for getting you into the association were Lester Ful-
ler, George Willner, and John Howard Lawson ?
Mr. Atlas, Yes. As a matter of fact, Lester Fuller and George
Willner had a big hassle about who was to get credit for getting me in.
940 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE LOS AXGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. It was actually a threefold effort?
Mr. Atlas. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall sinning a membership card for the
Comnumist Political Association?
]Mr. Atlas. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you explain where this took place and the
circumstances involved ?
Mr. Atlas. This took place at Mr. Barzman's house, in the den off
the living room. I was asked to sign a card. I balked at this when
I saw the card had the "Communist Party of America'* on it. It was
explained to me that they were still using the stationery of the party
which bore the same initials as the association, as an economy measure.
This sounded logical, and at that time I had no reason to doubt it.
At the same time my wife joined the Communist Political Asso-
ciation, on the same conditions and terms as myself. She also, I be-
lieve, signed a card at the same time, and thereafter at all times we
were members of the same groups and when we got out we got out
together. Her position at this time is identical with mine.
Mr. Wheeler. After becoming a member of the Communist Politi-
cal Association were you assigned to a group?
Mr. Atlas. Yes. I was assigned to a small neighborhood group
in Hollywood and I was, frankly, more than a little contemptuous of
many of the discussions and papers that were read there.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the members of this group were?
Mr. Atlas. I can only recall three members.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you identify them, please, for the record?
Mr. Atlas. One was Vic Shapiro, who was the leader of that group,
evidently.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Mr. Shapiro's occupation?
Mr. Atlas. I believe he was in public relations.
The others wliom I recall were Gertrude Fuller, the wife of Lester
Fuller, Bess Taffel, and Ann Morgan was in that group, too.
Mr. Wheeler. Is that Ann Roth Morgan ?
Mr. Atlas. Ann Roth Morgan.
Mr. Wheeler. She was secretary of the Screen Writers' Guild?
Mr. Atlas. Of the Screen Writers' Guild at the time; yes.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a member of this first unit ?
Mr. Atlas. Not very long. I would say no more than a month
at the outside, I don't think, when the entire thing was reorganized.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the chairman of this group was,
the first gi-oup?
Mr. Atlas. To the best of my knowledge, Vic Shapiro.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall to whom you paid your dues?
Mr. Atlas. No. In the first group, no. I don't know whether I
paid dues.
Mr. Wheeleir. You were subsequently transferreld to a second
group?
Mr. ATKtVS. Yes, which was to be a craft grouj), a Hollywood craft
group.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you in the second gi-oup ?
Mr. Atlas. I can't be exact about this. I would say about 3 or 4 —
wait a minute. I can be exact. It couldn't have been more than a
month or two at the outside.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 941
Mr. WiiEELKK. Do you remember liow many individuals were in
this group ?
Mr. Atlas. I only recall three of the Hollywood craft. Lester Cole,
Albert INIaltz, and Gordon Kahn.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the leaders of this second group
were?
Mr. Atlas. No; but an ironic situation occurred at that time.
They wanted to elect me leader of the group and I said T didn't know
enough about what was going on to be a leader yet. Who the leader
was, I don't recall. I recall who the treasurer was: Albert Maltz.
Mr. Wheeler. Xow, you were subsequently transferred to a third
group, is that correct?
Mr. Atlas. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. How long did you remain in the third group ?
Mr. Atlas. Xow, the third group took a long time organizing
itself, first of all. Exactly when it did become organized, I don't
recall. But when it did become organized, I became a member of that
third group, and I left them in 1047, to the best of my recollection.
Mr. Wheeler. Well now, who were the members of the third group ?
Mr. Atlas. John Howard Lawson, Lester Cole, Johnny Cole,
Arnold Manoff, Alfred Levitt, John Sanford, Maggie Roberts, who
was the wife of John Sanford. May I say she came to the meetings
very, very infrequently.
Anne Green, Howard Koch's wife, Betty Wilson, Lewis Allen for
a short period. Arthur Strawn for a short period. Alvah Bessie,
Mrs. Bessie, Tom Chapman, Mrs. Chapman.
Mr. Wheeler. Is her name Clarise?
Mr. Atlas. Something like that. She is a stout dark woman. Yes,
I would say Clarise is his wife. Mel Levy, Morton Grant, Betty
Grant, and Anne Froelich.
Mr. Wheeler. Who were the officers of the valley group ?
Mr. Atlas. There were various officers at various times. At one
time John Howard Lawson, I believe, was one of the officers. Lester
Cole was one of the officers. Arnold Manoff was one of the officers.
Alfred Levitt was one of the officers.
Mr. Wheeler. Could you identify what office they held ?
Mr. Atlas. No, I can't. I am terribly sorry. One was with 1
committee and 1 was with an educational committee; 1 went to the
central committee, or something of that sort. My last recollection
of the person who ran the meeting, or sort of officered the meeting,
was Morton Grant. Also myself, I guess, as treasurer.
Mr. Wheeler. What office did you hold, Mr. Atlas.
Mr. Atlas. I held the office of treasurer.
Ml-. Wheeler. Did you collect dues from all the individuals you
have identified ?
Mr. Atlas. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. How much were the dues of this group, if you recall ?
Mr. Atlas. When I first joined the association the dues were, to
the best of iny recollection — and I must admit here that it is a bit
hazy, it having been so long ago — a nominal $1 a month, if you were
employed, and 20 cents a month if unemployed. I was originally told
also that I need not pay this if I were unable to do so or chose not
to. Later-— how nuicli later I cannot recall — the entire orj^anization
942 COMRIUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE LOS ANGELES AREA
voted to assess itself voluntary contributions, based on a percentage
of their earnings. Exactly what percentage this was, I do not now
recall, but I do recall that it varied at times, that is, new systems
at arriving at percentages were worked out. At one point it was, I
believe, 4 percent of the net earnings. Several times this changed.
This voluntary contribution was in addition to the so-called basic
dues.
On two occasions I was elected treasurer of the valley group,
that is, I was elected once for a fi-months' term and then reelected to
succeed myself. It was purely a functionary job. The only qualifica-
tion was personal honesty and integrity. Evidently the valley group,
despite what else the}' might have thought of me, knew I possessed
these.
Dues were collected once a month and in the following manner:
To facilitate the business of the meetings, the treasurer early in the
meetings retired to a separate room to make his collection. This was
necessary, since almost every member had an individual dues problem
which frequently required discussion and explanations, for a variety
of reasons.
Firstly, there was the working out of percentages, often rather com-
plicated. And, secondly, many members frequently asked for a low-
ering of their voluntary contribution. This required further figuring
and explanation.
The treasurer had the peisoiial discretionary power of permitting
a lowerino; of the voluntarv contribution. Manv felt a distinct hard-
ship m meeting their allotted sums. Some had family problems of
various sorts, illnesses, new additions to the family, relatives to sup-
port, back debts, et cetera. In almost all cases I accepted a lowering
ox the voluntary contribution, in view of personal hardships.
Further, the entire system of voluntary contributions was based on
a sort of tacit honor system, that is, each member stated what he or
she earned and I accepted tlieir word. There was no check-back, so
far as I knew, of the correctness of tlieir statements. In return for
their basic dues they were given a little gummed stamp, which many
simply tore up. No stamp of anj' kind was given for the so-called
voluntary contributions.
As treasurer, I would have each member come in individually.
Together we would compute his voluntary contribution or arrange
for payment of arrears, a condition into which many had fallen.
When that member left, he sent another member in to me. At the
end of the collection of dues, which took at least an hour, and often
longer, I would return to the meeting. Later in the week I would
take whatever dues and contributions I had collected, along with an
itemized account, and I would deposit those sums in the hands of
Napmi Robeson at her home.
Mrs. Robeson was called the section treasurer, I believe.
The sums of money varied in amounts according to the employment
of the membership. To the best of my present recollection, it usually
was several hundred dollars each month. What ha]i])ened with these
sums of money after I delivered them to Mrs. Robeson, I do not know.
She, in turn, I believe, was required to turn over the collected sums
to the comnuniity treasurer or county treasurer. At least I assumed so.
My functional part in the transaction was over. At various times
several of the members requested to know how the money w\as dis-
COMIVrUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 943
tributed. Notably Lester Cole, I recall. I made inquiries from Mrs.
IRobeson, on his behalf, but was always told that some day a report
would be made. This report was given to me only on one occasion.
It was a highly complex report, and to the best of my recollection it,
in essence, indicated that moneys were divided percentagewise be-
tween the community, county, state, and national organizations. In
what proportion I do not recall, nor do I recall that the specific uses
this money was put to was ever stated. I am certain we all presumed
it was utilized for organizational and operative expenses.
I paid dues and voluntary contributions along with the rest. I felt
that I was in honor bound to do so, since I requested the dues from
the others.
I recall only one general meeting of the treasurers of all the local
clubs. This was held at the Robeson house. Its purpose, to the best
of my recollection, was to explore more efficient methods of collec-
tions of dues and contributions, since many of the members were con-
stantly in arrears. I don't think the meeting solved its problem.
Club members were in arrears as long as I can recall.
On the msny occasions, when I absented myself from regular meet-
ings, dues were collected for me by one of the other members ; usually,
I think Mrs. Morton Grant.
Mr. Wheeler. You have testified that you gave stamps to the mem-
bers of the club after you received dues from them. Do you recall
from where you received the stamps ?
Mr. Atlas. Yes ; from Naomi Robeson.
Mr. Wheeler. You also testified that you attended a meeting at her
home with treasurers of other units.
Mr. Atlas. That is true.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the treasurers of the other units
were that you met with ?
Mr. Atlas. No. There were units from all over, so far as I knew^
Mr. Wheeler. When did your disillusionment begin with the Com-
munist Party?
Mr. Atlas. After 6 months I knew definitely this was not for me.
But how to get out was the question. By now I had insight into
their methods of work. Without knowing exactly who the people
were, I knew that many of the members were in strategic positions
in the motion-picture industry. I had seen instances of it, such as
Meta Reis in the Paramount story department, and Tom Chapman at
Warner's, Ann Roth Morgan in the Screen Writers' Guild itself, and
George Willner as an agent and a person who had been introduced to
me as head reader at M. G. M. and whose name I cannot recall. From
this I could infer that they were in many other strategic places.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you feel that the Communist Party had a great
deal of influence in Hollywood?
Mr. Atlas. I do. I do feel they were there. Where they were, I
don't know. You have the feeling they were, though. I knew that if
I had gotten out, these ruthless experts at character assassination
would have tried to ruin me with no compunction whatsoever.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know of any example of character assassina-
tion of individuals whom the Communist Party was hostile to?
Mr. Atlas. Yes, I had seen a perfect example of this a week or two
after I had joined. A general meeting had been called of all the
944 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IX THE LOS ANGELES AREA
writers in Hollywood. At this ineetiii<i, someone — I believe it was
Lawson — advised all members to be careful of a man named Herb
Klein, that he was unrealiable, et cetera, et cetera.
I waited for someone to defend Herb Kline, for I personally knew
that he had reconnnended and <^otten employment for at least three
I^eople there, namely, Guy Endore. Phil Stevenson, and Ben Bengal.
In fact, they were working very closely with Mr. Kline at the time.
I was ajrhast when none of them had the common decency to stand
up and say a good word for ^Slr. Kline; but none did. I was new^ to
all this. I watched and observed and knew that if ever the occasion
occurred when I wanted to walk out that the same vicious, ruthless,
underhanded treatment would be accorded me. So I remained.
I was struggling to raise my small growing family, and in the final
analysis if I were injuring anyone it was only myself. Furthermore,
1 had faith in my own independent integrity and believed I could
maintain it despite all.
Mr. Whp:eler. Do you have any further instances which you can
recall which further caused your disillusionment with the party ?
Mr. Atlas. As a second instance of corrupt and unethical practice
that I found occurred on the screen play of GI Joe. Based on Ernie
Pyle's books. 1 am very proud of the work I did on GI Joe. I wrote,
I believe, 90 percent of it. The script was nominated for the Academy
Award. It lost the Film Critics Award by only 1 vote, after 16 bal-
lots, and I was told it was accepted as the official Infantry film by the
United States Army. No one but a loyal American could have ivrit-
ten it.
Some of you may have seen the picture, and I think you will agi'ee
with me it was a fine film. I worked harder on this than I had ever
worked in my life. In fact, on its completion I suffered a nervous and
physical collapse from exhaustion and had to remain in bed for several
days. But it was a splendid subject, one in which a writer could truly
put his heart and soul into, and I did, holding back no reserve.
When the time for the choice of credits came, however, Guy Endore
and Phil Stevenson — two longtime members of the part}^ and associa-
tion— who had worked on a prior and unsuccessful script, demanded
equal share in the accredited authorship of GI Joe. This to me was
absurd.
Finally the matter went to arbitration, and although it Avas acceeded
that I had written a])])roximately 80 percent of the script and the other
2, as a team, mind you, only 10 percent — the other 10 percent incorpo-
rated in the body and nature of the stor}' itself — the arbitration com-
mittee, which was composed of Mary McCall, Jr., Richard Collins, and
Dorothy Kingsley, decided that, despite the great disparity of contri-;
bution, all ^^ names should be equally placed on the screen play.
I was aghast at this decision, as were many other i)eople connected
with GI Joe. Specifically, Bill AVelhnan, the director, and Alan
LeMay, who had worked on a still earlier version of the screen play.
Being new to the industry, I denuinded to know upon what rules this
decision had been based, and was told there was no standardized rules
in the matter of such credits.
Api^roximately 4 months later Miss Alice Penneman, who was then
executive seci'etary of the Screen Writers' Guild, unearthed a set of
prior rules wdiich indicated that unless a team of writers had done, I
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 945
believe, at least 30 percent of the writing, their names could not be
placed on the screen play.
Did the others withdraw their names then ? No. Did the arbitra-
tion committee do anything about rectifying their error? No.
Miss Penneman was the only one who had the common decency to
write me a note apologizing for the great injustice done me. I have a
copy of that letter if the committee wishes to see it.
Later, I understand, Mr. Richard Collins, whom I did not personally
know then nor now, admitted to a friend of mine that before I got on
the script there was no script at all. Perhaps he will be willing to
corroborate that statement now.
For any writer to accept credit for something he hadn't written was
to me not only abhorent, but also an indication of a breakdown in
moral and ethical principles. For this to happen among so-called
progressive elements was doubly revelatory and shocking.
On another occasion I remember getting into a controversy with
John Howard Lawson on the merits of Brooks Atkinson's series
of articles on the Eussian theater. Mr. Atkinson had returned
from Moscow to America and had written, in essence, that the Russian
theater was sterile and decadent. Lawson attacked Atkinson as
having become corrupt and probably senile.
I have known Mr. Atkinson and his writings for a long time. I
believe him and do at this moment to be a person of great honesty,
understanding and integrity. I ardently stated that if Mr. Atkinson
wrote what he did about the Russian theater it was probably true.
For this heresy I was smiled upon as the group's pet "confused liberal."
Now let's take up the Maltz' New Masses article affair. This was
truly a ghastly business. Here one saw the wolfpack in full opera-
tion, working on one of their ow^n long-term members. The mere
recalling of the incident is abhorrent to me.
Let me briefly sketch what took place. Mr. Maltz wrote an article
in the New" Masses in which he expressed, in essence, the belief that
even non-Marxist writers could write truthfully and honestly, simple
and short. It was no great shakes of an original thought. Many of
us had subscribed to that idea even way back in our adolescence. And
I believe the idea was abroad ever since man first began to write,
that is, that shades of political thought had nothing to do with a
man's ability to write truthfully. The key word here, of course, is
"truthfully.''
But for a Communist, and one of long standing, to make the above
concession was quite a step. Wlien I heard of Maltz' article and
read it, I was enormously pleased. This was not only a further
indication to me that the Communist Political Association had hon-
estly broken with the tenets of the Communist Party, but also that
Albert Maltz, after long contemplation, had fought his way clear
through to the liberal humanitarian way of thinking and writing.
Albert and I worked at Warner's at the time and I recall going over
to his office to congratulate him on the independent position he had
taken. There was another chap named Arnold Manon at Warner's at
the time. I remember that he too agreed with the basic tenets of
Maltz' article.
A week later the roof fell in, and that is a very mild way of putting
it. By his article, Maltz evidently had been guilty of some great
31747— 53— pt. 5 8
946 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
heresy, and the execution squad, shipped in from the East, came
marching in.
Some nigh muckamucks, AA-liom I had never known, never heard
of and wliom to this day don't remember, came striding in on giant
steps. This was the intellectual goon squad.
A general meeting of all the writers was called at Abe Polonsky's
house. Knowing that Maltz was in trouble, I was prepared to defend
his position, despite the fact that I was sorely aware of my deficiencies
as a public speaker.
From this point on I can only give you my impressions of that meet-
ing. It was a nightmarish and shameful experience.
I remember that Albert tried to explain his thoughts on the article.
I remember that almost instantly all sorts of howls went up in pro-
test against it. I remember that I and one or two others made small
attempts to speak in favor of Maltz, and we were literally shouted
down. I think I remember seeing Leonardo Bercovici trying to
defend the article. But the wolves were loose and you should have
seen them. It was a spectacle for all time. Manoff, from whom
I had expected some statement in defense, in view of his prior attitude,
said nothing.
From one corner Alvah Bessie, with bitter vituperation and venom,
rose up and denounced Maltz. From another corner Herbert Biber-
man rose and spouted elaborate mouthfuls of nothing, his every ac-
cent dripping with hatred. Others from every ])art of the room
jumped in on the kill.
Aside from the merits of the article in quertion, this spectacle was
appalling to me, for one simple reason. Malt?, I knew, was an asso-
ciate of theirs of long standing. He was at that time a person of
some literary stature and, as I then believed, a man of considerable
personal integrity. The least one might have accorded him, even in
disagreement, was some measure of understanding, some measure of
consideration. But not they. They worked over him with ever}^
verbal fang and claw at their command ; every ax and bludgeon, and
they had plenty. They evidently were past masters at this sort of
intellectual cannibalism.
The meeting was finally adjourned, to be reconvened the next week
at the same place. I firmly resolved in heart and mind that if at
this next meeting Maltz decided to renounce them all and stick by
his guns, I would be the first to follow him out. However, at the
next meeting they completely broke him.
The hyena attack — that is the only way I can describe them — con-
tinued with a rising snarl of triumph, and made him crawl and
recant. This entire episode is an extremely distasteful thing for me
to recall.
I remember feeling a deep anguish for him as a human being, that
his closest friends for j^ears, or, at least associates, would treat him
so shamefully, so uncaritably, so wolfishly. Whatever the cause, his
friends had no right, in all decency, to humiliate and break him in
this fashion. Or if they did they were not his friends. And what-
ever they stood for should have been proof eternal to him that they
were wrong and evil.
Maltz' martyrdom, if that is what it was, was false, sterile, and
destructive.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 947
Further in that hour he betrayed not only himself and his justly
derived thoughts, but also all those who had entered and remained
in the organization, in a large measure, due to him. So long as he
was there, one felt some good was there. A sense of justice to which
one could always appeal.
I say this was a deep sorrow for Albert, because I respected him.
Many others, I believe, were as deeply shocked as myself; but none
spoke of it. One lasting impression that I took away was that of a
certain Nemmy Sparks, evidently a high muckamuck somewhere in
the liierarch3\
I recall the sneering look of contempt he had for all those present.
His clamping, grindstone jaws. The personification of the commissar.
Frankly, I cx)uld understand his contempt, for I felt it myself for
other reasons.
After this I knew positively that I had to get out. But how, I
frankly didn't know. I believe I have already mentioned that they
were placed in strategic positions throughout the industry. That
withdrawal from them would have meant professional and economic
suicide. I had already seen the utterly ruthless, unprincipled, cut-
throat act of character assassination they had performed on Albert
Maltz and others. There wasn't the slightest reason to believe they
would not perform the same service to me.
I had two little babies, one newly born and the other a 2-year-old
child. I had to protect them at whatever cost to myself, though, as
we will see later, and probably already know, despite all this, I did
leave them voluntarily and of my own free will, accepting with cer-
tain knowledge retaliatory measures. I could no longer compromise
with my principles.
Mr. Wheeler. What was your reaction to the Duclos letter?
Mr. Atlas. Now let us take up the Duclos affair. It is true I re-
mained in the organization after the Duclos affair. But, believe me,
I didn't understand all its implications until much later, very much
later; years after I left the organization. It was only then that I
tied up the Duclos affair with the specific causes which led to a direct
and final break.
To me the Duclos affair was just another internecine war. Now,
to understand this, you must remember there were internecine wars
almost every week. There were, as you have probably learned from
other testimony, constant organizing and reorganizing and counter-
organizing of clubs.
One week we were a neighborhood club and the next a craft club, and
the following week something else again. And within these organi-
zations if Lester Cole wasn't constantly trying to tear Lawson apart,
Alvah Bessie was morosely clawing away at Cole, or Manoff would
join in to work on both, while still a further newcomer from the East,
Alfred Levitt, would take on all three.
I recall this Levitt at one time demanding the expulsion of Cole,
and for what reason I cannot now remember. It was indeed a spec-
tacle to watch.
Now, that was only in our "peaceful" group. There was the larger
group of all writers which also was constantly in a state of flux and
reorganization. At one time it was thought that writers ought to
mingle more with "living" people and edicts went out that all groups
948 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
were to be reorganized so that the so-called common man could enter
our clubs, that is, bookkeepers, machine workei-s, office personnel,
housewives, et cetera. But this order was countermanded before it
could be put into practice, for some unknown reason. Possibly con-
tact with reality might have been too drastic.
Further, at the larger meetings of writers, you woidd get experts
from other groups axing away at experts from your clubs. Dalton
Trumbo, a brilliant speaker, taking Lester Cole apart, piece by piece.
Or Herbert Biberman, a sterile, pedantic speaker, hammering away
at someone else. Or Polonsky, the fiery type, going into real old-
fashioned Union Square soap box oratory.
The only thing the Duclos affair meant to me was that here was an-
otlier reorganization, probably on a larger scale, and that Earl Brow-
der was out. Now, that was all right with me. You may rememlDer
my early opinion of Browder. This just meant that someone else
was on top for the time being, and that probably the week after a
tliird person would supersede him. The fourth week Browder would
probably be! back where he was, and the roundelay would continue
over again. Everything else went on the same. The meetings went
on the same. Dues were collected the same.
Internecine feuds went on the same. Gobbledegook went on the
same. It still voted independently at the Screen Writers' Guild.
1 still openly and avowedly didn't subscribe to the People's World.
I still did no recruiting. I still stayed away from meetings whenever
it suited me. There was no difference at all in my mind.
Very vaguely I recall the evening the Duclos affair was discussed.
It was an evening, I recall, when I was collecting dues in a side room.
I also recall that about halfway through whatever discussion was
taking place somebody, either Lawson or Cole, thought it advisable
that I sit in on the meeting and listen to what was being discussed.
Whether I ceased dues collecting for the moment or delayed it, I
do not recall. But this I do know, so far as I was concerned this was
another big hassle with Cole shouting at Lawson and Lawson trying
to defend himself. Very frankly, by this time I had developed what
is known as a radio ear. You just didn't listen. You sat there, but you
just didn't listen. And what was more, didn't care.
In all probability the next meeting was attended by my wife and I
stayed home with the children. My wife tells me she used to get a
lot of knitting done at those meetings. I know for a fact my children
had a great many hand-knitted sweaters at the time. So some good,
at least, came out of that.
In all further probability I was given a copy of the Duclos letter to
read at home. Witli great certainty, I know I threw it into the fire-
place. Why I did this and why I did the same with most of the so-
called literature handed out to me may be readily apparent.
First, it was the dullest and most complex stuff you ever came across.
Second, I wasn't going to waste any time on stuff I had long ago dis-
counted. Third — and most to the point — I knew that if one exposed
himself too much to this kind of pretzel-bent reasoning, one could grow
distorted. You might even get to believe it.
And here may I throw in an interesting observation. I think there
may have even been a calculated method to their madness of continual
switches, reversals, and contradictions. A calculated policy to so con-
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 949
fuse the minds of their own members that they could no longer have
any integrity. If a person allowed himself to be subjected to this sort
of unprincipled thinking for 3 or 4 years he would no longer be capable
of individual judgment and decision. He would become a complete
intellectual and spiritual zombi.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you ever threatened with any disciplinary
action by the Communist Party ?
]Mr. Atlas. I went to a meeting of the Screen Writers' Guild in
which the major business was the matter of the proxy.
Wr. Wheeler. What do you mean by "proxy" ?
Mr. Atlas. The proxy to me had always meant the democratic right
of every member in the organization to vote all issues they wished to,
whetlier he were present at the meetings or not present at the meetings.
This proxy is used, and I am grateful for it, in the Dramatists' Guild,
and to the best of my knowledge had always been in force in the Screen
Writers' Guild.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you continue with your answer ?
Mr. Atlas. I was aware that the purpose of the "dyed-in-the-wool"'
was to destroy the proxy for various reasons of their own. This was
self-evident from the speeches made on the floor.
I was violently opposed to the destruction of the proxy. I believe
in the democratic principles of the proxy, and I believe in it today.
As a member of the dramatists' guild, I had on many occasions been
grateful for the privilege of the proxy, which allowed me to vote on
any issue, no matter where I was at the time. The proxy was a form
of democratic principle.
So long as a man was a member of an organization he had a right
to think on issues and then cast his vote as he saw fit, whether he was
present at the meeting or not. To this principle I strenuously and
firmly hold.
Wlien the vote on the proxy issue came to a head, 1 openly raised
my hand and voted in favor of the retention of the proxy, despite
these speeches of the "dyed in the wool." I believe I was the only
member of the association who did so. Several had seen me do this.
When the meeting w^as adjourned, two approached me. One was
Morton Grant and the other one a chap who I believe had recently
come from the East, and whom I had never seen before, heard of
before, or known before.
It was pointed out to me that I had voted in contradiction to the
way the "fraction" had decided. I told them I didn't give a darn
which way the "fraction" had decided. I voted in what I believed
was democratically just and right.
I further avowed that I was unalterably opposed to the elimination
of the proxy, that I believed in it and that I was not bound by anyone
to vote against the dictates of my own conscience.
The chap from the East grew angry and said something about
disciplinary action. I grew angry, in turn, and pointed out that
never under any circumstances would I subject my thoughts or actions
to disciplinary action of the organization. My thoughts and my acts
were my own, subject to no control of theirs.
JMorton, whom I rather liked, hushed up and smoothed over what
rapidly was becoming a heated argument. However, the word "dis-
cipline" was an alarm bell to me. It awakened me to the fact that
perhaps certain changes had taken place, of which I was unaware.
950 COMlVrUNIST activities in the LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. Did tliere ever come an occasion when you came to
the conclusion that the Communist Party or the Communist Political
Association was again directly connected with the Comintern or the
Russian Government?
Mr. Atlas. It didn't quite come about that way. AVhat occurred
was after the disciplinary action was threatened, and which I utterly
rejected, I became aware that probably something had changed in
the organization since.
I had acted independently at all times, but never before had I been
threatened with this sort of thing. Shortly thereafter I sought out
John Howard Lawson. I asked him a question, which I suppose was
quite naive to him, but all important to me. I asked him directly
whether our group was linked in any way to any international body or
any foreign country.
For reply, he merely smiled at me. I needed no further answer
than that smile. From that point on my wife and I decided to get
out. We were not going to subject any of our acts and thoughts to
the discipline of any group, especially one that was even vaguely con-
trolled by some foreign body. That was the line we had drawn from
the very first. We knew that in all probability there would be
retaliations of some sort. We knew beyond doubt there would be
character assassination. We knew that we were risking our profes-
sional and economic life, and that of our children, who were merely
babies at the time.
We had no income whatsoever, other than that produced by my
writing, which, as we knew at best, was always a precarious one.
We were probably taking our livelihood in our hands, but despite
all this, we felt we could no longer continue with an organization of
this character, and out we got.
Mr. Wheeler. After you left the Communist Party, were you con-
tacted by any individual to try to reactivate your membership?
Mr. Atlas. Yes, my wife and I, when we failed to appear at meet-
ings, they phoned us, sent emissaries to us. We told them flatly we
weren't coming back. They wanted to know whether anything was
disturbing us, that perhaps they could send one of their officials to
talk to us. We replied that wasn't going to do any good, we just
weren't coming any more.
Finally they sent Mrs. John Weber to us. Now, this wasn't just
an ordinary emissary, this was an emissary with hidden implications,
as you may well see. We had never known or met Mrs. Weber before,
or since. She evidently served a special purpose. Mrs, Weber was
the wife of John Weber, one of the important writer's agents in
Hollywood. A significant word or whisper from him, in the proper
places, could mean the end of employment.
Mrs. Weber came to our home and asked us to come back, not once,
but twice. On both occasions my wife and I were adamant. We told
her the answer was not maybe or perhaps, but a flat no.
]Mr. Wheeler. After leaving the Communist Party, did you have
difficulty in getting writing assignments with the studios?
Mr. Atlas. Yes, from that time on I didn't work with but one ex-
ception. Suddenly, from being an Academy nominee, a Pulitzer for
creative writing, a writer whom Mr. Edward Small once flattered by
saying I would go far in the industry, suddenly I received no more
assignments with, as I said, one exception.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 951
There was a great deal of shadow boxing along the same line that
Martin Berkeley described, though I haven't as concrete evidence as
his. Mine was all in the realm of conjecture; could be or could not
be. And one thing I wanted to guard myself against was developing
a persecution phobia. Nor did I want to grow soured and embittered
in myself.
Of one occasion I must speak, however. I had still retained George
Willner as my agent, as naively perhaps as Berkeley.
Mr. Wheeler^ Do you recall any further instances of attempted
character assassination by the Communist Party ?
Mr. Atlas. Immediately subsequent to the congressional hearings
in Washington, D. C, concerning the motion-picture industry, my
wife and I bumped into Ben Barzman on the street. He was deeply
exercised over what he called the "betrayal" by Dore Schary. What
his reasons were I don't recall, but I do remember he was seriously
considering drawing up a petition from all writers in town to demand
Dore's resignation from MGM.
This I thought was the rankest hypocrisy, and I flatly told him so.
I stated that if any of the writers of MGM were dissatisfied with
Dore's political views, they could take the initial step by first resigning
themselves in protest. This I knew they would never clo.
I specifically had in mind several of the "dyed in the wool" who were
at the very moment working at MGM. I told him this directly,
knowing full well that it would get back to the "Cognoscenti" in one
form or another.
The crowning irony of the w^iole matter was that shortly thereafter,
I believe it was, Mr. Barzman was working at MGM under Dore
Schary, his very strenuous views evidently didn't prevent him from
accepting paychecks from Dore, although he had been so ready to
petition for the man's resignation a short time earlier.
]Mr. Wheeler. Do you have anything in addition that you would
like to state for the record ?
Mr. Atlas. There is one point I wish to make distinctly clear. I
cannot emphasize it too strongly, because it is the truth. I do not —
despite my having belonged to this discussion group — consider myself
as having been even a fellow traveler.
And here is a sharp distinction. At one point in time they traveled
with my liberal point of view. Not I with their. They changed their
credo, their standards, their basic tenets. I did not change mine.
Nor have I done so to this day. This is the literal and spiritual truth,
as can be ascertained from the Encyclopaedia Britannica Yearbook
article. The factual, ascertainable truth further is that I at all times
acted and thought independently of them, even while being right in
the midst of their circle.
Further factual proof of this is that when I belatedly discovered
that they had reverted to their original tenets, I left them as sharply
as I could ; even, mark you, to the extent that I knew I would be per-
sonally injured, economically and professionally ; and that that injury
would further affect my wife and my children. Nevertheless, I did
what I had to, what I was compelled to do by my own conscience and
belief.
It didn't take a Korean war or any other world event to drive me
from them. From the very first I wanted to break from them. When
952 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
I discovered that they had gone back to their old stand I left them,
sharply and distinctly, and have suffered sorely for having done so.
If for a time I was bemused by their blandishments, may I state here
that not only I, but many important men, men whose sources of income
were vastly astronomically greater than mine, men too of great na-
tional responsibility, were also bemused.
If we are guilty of anything, it is only of a fervent, idealistic and
shining hope that out of the war-torn battered world might come a time
of peace and amity everywhere.
The slightest, the merest imputation that I might have been, if even
for only a split second, disloyal to this great Nation of ours and its
democratic principles, is sickening and abhorrent to me.
As for my political affiliations, I am not ashamed of them. On the
contrary, I am rather proud of them. I have been a registered Demo-
crat all my life.
Mr. Wheeler. All right, Mr. Atlas. Thank you very much for
your enlightening answers.
(^Thereupon the interrogation of Leopold Atlas was concluded.)
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AEEA— Part 5
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Committee on Un-American Activities,
Los Angeles^ Calif.
executive statement^
An executive statement given at 4 :10 o'clock, p. m., March 12, 1953,
at room 1109, Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, Calif.
Present : William A. Wheeler, investigator.
TESTIMONY OF PAUL BENEDICT EADIN ^
Mr. Wheeler. Please state your full name.
Mrs. TowNSEND. Pauline Swanson Townsend.
Mr. Wheeler. Where were you born ?
Mrs. Townsend. Athens, Ohio.
Mr. Wheeler. Your educational background?
Mrs. Townsend. I was educated in the public schools in Athens,
Ohio, and graduated from Ohio University in 1929.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you been employed, or is your occupation
that of a housewife ?
Mrs. Townsend. I have been employed all my life, practically.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, would you state what your occupation is ?
Mrs. Townsend. I am a writer.
Mr. Wheeler. You are the wife of Leo Townsend ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Mrs. Townsend, have you ever been a member of
the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you state when you first became a member?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes. In the spring of 1943.
Mr. Wheeler. What were the events that led up to your member-
ship ?
Mrs. Townsend. We had been interested for many years in liberal
causes, such as the migratory workers, relief for Spain. In the be-
ginning of the United States' participation in the war we felt it very
important to do something about the war.
Friends whom we thought were liberals invited us to lecture groups,
study groups. At one of these meetings we were invited to join the
Communist Party, and did.
Mr. Wheeler, Who was actually responsible for you joining the
party ?
' Released by the committee.
2 Pauline Swanson Townsend was sworn as a witness by the court reporter.
953
954 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mrs. TowNSEND. Actually the responsibility is John Howard Law-
son's. AVe went to a meeting at Waldo Salt's house, which had been
represented to us as a discussion of current events.
John Howard LaAvson made a brilliant analysis of what was going
on in the world, and in the meeting we were asked if we would like
to join the Communist Party, and in a moment of excitement we did.
Mr. WiiEFXER. Mrs. Townsend, during your membership in the
party you were assigned to some of the same groups which your
husband was a member of, is that correct?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes, but not all.
]\Ir. Wheeler. It is those of which your husband was not a member
that we are interested in. I would like to ask you what individuals
you have met in the Communist Party, other than the ones you and
your husband met together.
Mrs. Townsend. I will tell you the whole history of my member-
ship in the Communist Party. After the meeting at the Salts we were
told that we would hear from an official of the Communist Party.
We were called by a girl who called herself Marjorie MacGregor.
She said we should go to a meeting at such and such address in Beverly
Hills.
We went there. It was the home of Harold Buchman. There we
met Mr. and JNIrs. Buchman, of course, and the Maurice Kapfs, Eobert
Rossen and his wife Sue Rossen, Nicholas Bela, Fred Rinaldo. There
must have been others, but at this point that is all I remember about
that meeting.
And at that meeting I felt unsatisfied and felt that I didn't under-
stand what was going on and I made some comment to this effect,
so I wasn't surprised when I was called and told I was reassigned tc
another group.
I was put into a women's group, in which many of these same women
were present. In addition to these women, Louis Solomon was billed
as our educational director. He did not appear, but he was supposed
to. Maclelaine Ruthven was the executive secretary. Mrs. Goldie
Bromberg was the chairman. This was a group of writers' wives,
for the most part.
Soon after this group was organized I had a call from Elizabeth
Leech, who was the section organizer, accountable to the county or-
ganization of the party, who said that it had been decided I should
take over the job of executive secretarj^ of the Los Angeles Council
of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship.
I had been in the party very briefly and I knew very little about
the Soviet Union. I knew even less about political organizations.
I protested. My husband protested. I said no. Actually, my
friends protested. Susan D'Usseau wrote from New York protesting.
The reason for these protests was that I was working at the time in
the 4th Fighter Command as a radar plotter. I loved it and I was use-
ful and I felt fine about it. The party said, "This is more important."
Mv friends felt that moving me was a mistake.
Elizabeth Leech called back and said, "Jack feels you are the only
person to do this job." And of course having met Jack in the original
meeting and having felt from the beginning that this was the man
who knew all the answers, I took the job over the protests of my hus-
band and my friends.
COMJVIUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 955
Mr. Wheeler. Who was the actual head of the National Council
of American-Soviet Friendship in Los Angeles ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. The Los Angeles Council was headed by a Dr.
Thomas L. Harris, who was sent out here to organize this group.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know Dr. Harris as a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did any functionaries of the Communist Party in
Los Angeles, Calif., have any voice in the Los Angeles Chapter of
the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship?
Mrs. Townsend. Indeed they did.
Mr. Wheeler. Could you identify any of those?
Mrs. Townsend. I was introduced to Dr. Thomas Harris by Helen
Leonard, who was a Communist, and had been the executive secretary
of an earlier group, the American Council on Soviet Relations. I met
Dr. Harris at Helen Leonard's house, having been sent there by
Elizabeth Leech. Elizabeth Leech was a functionary.
Mr. Wheeler. Did Carl Winter have any voice in the chapter here ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes. Very soon after I went to work for the
council we established offices and brought in equipment. We had to
draw up a program of influencing people in the direction of more
friendship for the Soviet Union.
Tom Harris and I met several times with Carl Winter in the restau-
rant at the Clark Hotel at Fourth and Hill Streets.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the nature of your discussions with Mr.
Winter?
Mrs. Townsend. Vaguely, yes. We told Mr. Winter what we had
managed to do so far in the way of organization, what people we had
been able to enlist as board members and so forth, and we cliscussed
program in the sense that whatever we did in the way of program
would need the support and the assistance of the Communist Party
"troops," we called them.
Mr. Wheeler. As a member of the Communist Party, do you think
the party itself was instrumental in the organization and the success
of the local chapter?
Mrs. Townsend. In restrospect, I think the Communist Party was
completely responsible for the organization of the local council.
Mr. Wheeler. In restrospect, would you say the Communist Party
was in control of the local chapter?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you assigned to any special or particular
branch of the Communist Party while you were an employee of the
National Council of American-Soviet Friendship?
Mrs. Townsend. As a matter of fact, I was. I was assigned dur-
ing my tenure on the board of the council to a special branch made up
of people working in organizations devoted to the interest of Ameri-
can-Soviet friendship.
Mr. Wheeler. Was the emphasis placed on the Soviet friendship or
the American friendship?
Mrs. Townsend. The emphasis at this time was on winning the war.
We were completely sold on the idea that American-Soviet friendship
and American-Soviet collaboration were the most effective means of
speeding up victory in the world conflict.
956 COMMUNIST ACTWITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. Who were the members of this group, Mrs. Town-
send?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Arthur Birnkrant, Helen Leonard, Marie Rinaldo,
Tania Tuttle, Ernest Dawson, Clara Walden, ]\Iischa Waldoii's wife.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall anybody else who was a member of
this group?
Mrs. TowNSEND. There were other people who met with this group.
Mr. Wheeler. Was there ever a fraction meeting that you attended
that was called specifically to discuss the work of the local chapter
of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did individuals who were members of the Com-
munist Party but assigned to other branches of the party attend this
fraction meeting?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who these individuals were?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I recall some of them. Dorothy Atlas,^ Ruth Bur-
rows, Patsy Moore, Mildred Benoff, Elena Beck, Edwina Pomerance.
Mr. Wheeler. You said Ruth Burrows ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. When did you cease to be active in the National
Council of American-Soviet Friendship ?
INIrs. TowNSEND. In November 1943, after the Shrine Auditorium
meeting.
Mr. Wheeler. Did that have something to do with your ceasing
to be active in the National Council of American- Soviet Friendship!
INIrs. TowNSEND. Yes. I, as a really naive operator in this kind of
business, had involved all kinds of people in this particular celebra-
tion. This, as I recall, was a celebration of an anniversary of the
Soviet Revolution. The sponsors included the archbishop of thft
Catholic Church, Rabbi Magnin, Bishop Stevens, who made the invo-
cation. Important American political and cultural figures appeared.
From my standpoint it seemed a great success. I realized later,
after having been called on the carpet by the county head of the Com-
munist Party, that a communitywide acceptance of the program was
not important, but that what was said, the content of what was said
from the stage was what was important, and the content had not been
satisfactory.
Mr. Wheeler. You were severely criticized for the program?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. "V^Hio was the county functionary who criticized
you?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Max Silver.
Mr. Wheeler. Did INIr. Silver remove you from your position or
did you voluntarily make an exit?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Nobody removed me from my position. When
I had begun this job, as I said, I had done it under protest. I worked
very hard for 9 months, producing, with little understanding of what
I was doing, several important events. I realized after this extremely
well publicized and well attended meeting that I was working in the
dark. I didn't know why or for what I was doing this.
» Mrs. Leopold Atlas. See p. 935 for testimony of Leopold Atlas.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 957
I met with Tom Harris and said I would not work any longer as a
full-time member of the council ; that I would do what I could as a
friend, but I would not work in the office.
Very soon afterward my husband was called into the service and
I w^ent with him and dropped all contact w^ith my organizational
jobs.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you remain a member of the special party
branch, concentrating on activities pertaining to the Soviet Union
until you left
Mrs. TowNSEND. Until I left.
Mr. Wheeler. With your husband for New York.
Mrs. TowNSEND. Until I left.
Mr. Wheeler. When did you leave for New York ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Exactly February 12, 1944.
Mr. Wheeler. While in New York City did you reaffiliate with
the Communist Party ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I meant to. I had a transfer slip which I was
told to take to the New York Communist Party. I made one phone
call.
Mr. Wheeler. From whom did you get the transfer slip here in
Los Angeles ?
Mrs. TowNSEND, Marjorie MacGregor.
Mr. Wheeler. In New York did you present it to any particular
individual ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I did.
Mr. Wheeler. Can you recall to whom ?
Mrs. Townsend. Peter Lyon.
Mr. Wheeler. Peter Lyon is a radio writer ; is that right ?
Mrs. Townsend. I think so.
Mr. Wheeler. Through Peter Lyon were you assigned to any group
or branch?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes, I was. I was assigned to a writer's group,
meeting at the 13th Street headquarters of the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a member of this group in New
York City?
Mrs. Townsend. Exactly one meeting.
Mr. AVheeler. Do you recall anyone who was present in the meeting
you attended?
Mrs. Townsend. The only people I knew there were Howard Fast
and — I didn't know them — 1 only knew them from reputation. There
were Howard Fast and Eichard O. Boyer.
Mr. Wheeler. "Wlien you received your transfer slip from Marjorie
MacGregor in Los Angeles, were you instructed to contact Peter Lyon
in New York City?
Mrs. Townsend. No, I was told somebody would contact me.
Mr. Wheeler. And Mr. Lyon contacted you ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you in New York ?
Mrs. Townsend. Four and a half months.
Mr. Wheeler. At the end of the 4i/2 months you returned to
Hollywood ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Upon your return to Hollywood did you renew your
activities within the Communist Party ?
958 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS AXGELES AREA
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes. We hadn't meant to, but we did.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you transfer from New York to Los Angeles?
Mrs. TowNSEND. No. I had no real afliliation with the New York
group. I went to one meeting. I had planned actually to go to many
more, but at this point my husband's ])lans were changed. He was
not going overseas as he had thought. We had to make arrangements
to go back to California.
It seemed a very bad mistake to do anything further with the Com-
munist Party, and I didn't go back to any meetings. I made no further
contact with the Communist Party in New York.
Mr. Wheeler. How did you reaffiliate after your arrival back in
Hollywood ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. We came back feeling that we should break with
the Communist Party. However, after we arrived we found ourselves
in the same social groups. I am not sure who asked us to a meeting,
but we were asked to a meeting and we went to a meeting, and we
reaffiliated with the Communist Political Association.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you and your husband assigned to the same
group after you returned?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you continue in the same group ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you identify individuals whom you met as
members of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. In the first group?
Mr. Wheeler. In the first group.
Mrs. TowNSEND. Actually, I belonged to three groups after we came
back. Leo belonged to two.
Mr. Wheeler. Will you identify the individuals that you met as
Communists, in the first group?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Ben and Norma Barzman, Jay and Sondra Gor-
ney, Pauline Lauber Finn, Ring Lardner, Alice Hunter, Bill Pomer-
ance, Meta Reis, Richard Collins, Lewis Allen, Ben Bengal, Jolin
Weber.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you in the first group, Mrs. Town-
send ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. A year and a half.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you hold any office in this group ?
]\Irs. TowNSEND. At one time I was chairman. Also, I recall Ben
Maddow.
Mr. Wheeler. What was Alice Hunter's occupation ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. She was the head of the Hollywood Democratic
Committee or its successor the HollyAvood Independent Citizens'
Committee of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the treasurer of this first group
was?
]\Irs. TowNSEND. Jay Gorne}'.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, 3^ou were subsequently transferred to a second
group, is that correct ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a member of the second group ?
Mrs. Townsend. It was a matter of months; I don't know how
long.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 959
Mr. Wheeler, Did you hold any office in the second group ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I did for a while. I was literature director.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the members were of the second
group ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Additional people, you mean?
Mr. Wheeler. Additional people.
Mrs. TowNSEND. John Wexley, Mrs. John^ Wexley.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Mrs. Wexley 's given name?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Cookie. Dan James, Lilith James, Sol Barzman.
We were told that Euth Bay and somebody else Bay were coming,
but they never came.
Mr. Wheeler. Howard Bay?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes. Beatrice Lubitz Cole, Louise Janis, Shirley
Kanter, Bart Lytton, Stanley Praeger, Paul Rosenfeld.
Mr. Wheeler. Is he attorney for Music Corporation of America?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I think so. Paul Radin, Artie Shaw^
Mr. Wheeler. Artie Shaw, is he the orchestra leader ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes. Robert Shaw.
Mr. Wheeler. What is Robert Shaw's position?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I don't know what he is doing now. At that time
he was writing on the Screen Writers' Guild magazine. Mary Shaw.
Mr. Wheeler. Is Mary Shaw the wife of Robert Shaw ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes. I don't think I remember any more.
Mr. Wheeler. Then you were subsequently transferred to a third
group, is that correct ?
Mrs. Tow^NSEND. That is correct.
Mr. Wheeler. How long were you a member of the third gi'oup ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Two weeks.
Mr. Wheeler. Two weeks?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you hold any position in the third group ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. No. I was offered a position and I turned it
down.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the members were of the third
group ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes. Andreas Dinam, Catherine Becker, Julian
Zimet, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Richards.
Mr. Wheeler. Which Mrs. Richards was that ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Ann Roth Morgan Richards.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever meet Pamela Richards?
Mrs. TowNSEND. No, I didn't. Mr. and Mrs. Phil Stevenson.
Mr. Wheeler. What was her given name ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Janet Stevenson. Mr. and Mrs. Les Edgley.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall Mrs. Edgley's given name ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you ever in a position to have access to any
information that would indicate that Angus and Barbara Wooley
were members of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Tow^NSEND. Yes, I recruited them.
Mr. Wheeler. You recruited them into the party ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Were they assigned to any group or unit you were
a member of?
960 COIVEMTJNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mrs. TowNSEND. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you have occasion to process their membership
application?
Mrs. TowNSEND. No. Their cards were brought into our branch.
This is Communist Party technique. The cards were brought into
our branch ; we recruited them. They were voted on there. No one
had any objection and they were sent on to the section, and from that
point I have no idea what happened.
Mr. Wheeler. But your group voted on their membership?
. Mrs. Townsend. Not really voted. The cards are presented. If
there is no objection the cards are turned over to the organizational
secretary, who takes them to the section organizational meeting. I
have no idea to what branch they were assigned.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you know of any similar cases to that of the
Wooleys ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you testify to that?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes. The same evening that the Wooleys' cards
were — as a matter of fact, she was not Mrs. Wooley at that time,
but Barbara Roberts — and at that same time a card was presented
f6r Reuben Ship.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who presented Reuben Ship's card
to your meeting?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes. Cyril Endfield.
Mr. Wheeler. That would indicate that Mr. Endfield recruited
Reuben Ship ?
Mrs. Townsend. He had brought in his application card, yes.
Since you brought up the name of Reuben Ship, I now remember that
Cyril JEndfield was a member of this particular branch.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you have any information of Communist Party
membership regarding Henrietta Martin ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes. The last branch to which I was assigned,
meetings of which I attended twice, Henrietta Martin was supposedly
a member. She was not present when I was there, but her absence
was discussed.
Mr. AVheeler. Did you ever meet Patsy Moore or Patricia Moore as
a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Townsend. I never attended a Communist Party branch meet-
ing with Patricia Moore.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever attend a fraction meeting with Patricia
Moore ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes. Shortly after I joined the Communist Party
I was invited to meet with Communist members of the Committee for
the Care of Children in Wartime. We met at Mrs. Moore's house.
Mr. Wheeler. Who else attended this meeting that you recall ?
Mrs. Townsend. There must have been 8 or 9 women there. I re-
member Mrs. Moore, Elizabeth Faragoh, and Louise Moss, who is now
Louise Losey, and several women representing union organizations
whose names I do not recall.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you attend any special classes set up by the
Communist Party for indoctrination?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes, one. Soon after we joined the Communist
Party we were assigned to a class in Marxist theory, led by Dr. Leo
Bigelman.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 961
Mr. Wheeler. Where was this class held, do you recall ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. At Dr. Bigelman's house in the valley.
Mr. Wheeler. How many people attended this class ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. From 6 to 12.
Mr. Wpieeler. How long did the class last?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Eight weeks, 1 think.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who else attended this particular class ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes. In part, I remember Frank Tarloff, Mar-
guerite Roberts.
Mr. Wheeler. Marguerite Roberts is Mrs. John Sanford?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Was John Sanford also present ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes. Everett Weil. There were others also.
Those are all I remember.
Mr. Wheeler. Now, do you recall any other individual you met as
a member of the Communist Party who has not been identified publicly
before the House Committee on Un-American Activities ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you meet Max Benoff, a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I have met Max Benoff.
Mr. Wheeler. Under what circumstances did you meet Max Benoff ?
Mrs. Townsend. I first met Max Benoff when he was sent to Holly-
wood as a writer on a radio show on which my husband was working.
I met him later socially with his wife Mickey. I went once with my
husband to their house, to what might have been a meeting of the Com-
munist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you and your husband friends of Mr. and Mrs.
Benoff?
Mrs. Townsend. Not really, no.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever go to their home socially ?
Mrs. Townsend. Not that I recall.
Mr. Wheeler. Had they ever been at your home just socially?
Mrs. Townsend. No.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you know any reason why you would ever meet
them socially?
Mrs. Townsend. Outside of the political atmosphere ; no.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the purpose of your visit to the
Benoff 's home?
Mrs. Townsend. I really don't.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you remember if it was for dinner ?
Mrs. Townsend. No ; it was not.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if there were other people there, other
than you and your husband ?
JNIrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. There were other people ?
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who they were ?
Mrs. Townsend. No.
Mr. Wheeler. You previously stated in your testimony that Mickey
Benoff was assigned to work with you in the council.
Mrs. Townsend. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. And that you met her as a member of the Communist
Party in a fraction meeting,
31747— 53— pt. 5 ^9
962 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mrs. TowNSEND. I assumed she was a member of the Communist
Party, since she was assigned to work for the council and sent from
a certain branch in the valley.
Ml'. Wheeler. You knew Mrs. Benoff as a member of the Com-
jnujiirit I'arty?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I assumed she was a member of the Communist
Party. She was assigned to work for me.
Mr. Wheeler. Was Mr. Benoff active in the National Council of
American-Soviet Friendship, to your knowledge?
Mrs. Townsend. No.
iVIr. Wheeler. When did you say you severed your relationship
watli the Communist Party?
JNIrs. TowxsEXD. The summer of 1948.
Mr. Wheeler. WI15' did you leave the Communist Party?
Mrs. Townsend. I never belonged in the Communist Party. At
the very first meeting I attended I was called a disruptive influence.
I asked questions and got unsatisfactory answers. Instead of answers
1 got a transfer to another branch and yet another branch and yet
another branch.
I worked in the higher levels of the Communist Partv activities
during my work with the council still asking questions, still gettnig
no answers, and fled.
Mr. Wheeler. Do ^you tliink the Communist Party works in the
best interest of the American Government?
Mrs. Townsend. No. I recall one specific instance. I think that
the American Communist Party, whether members are aware of tliis
or not, moves only in the interests of the Soviet Union.
I recall at one point in 19-i7 wlien I felt uncomfortable in the Com-
munist Party, but didn't know quite the way out. I was instrumental
in starting through the branches a protest report in which Bob Shaw
and I collaborated, which said, in effect, that the American Commu-
nist Party had no contact witli the American people. It talked gib-
berish gobbledygook to the American people; that it was useless in
this country in relation to liberal issues and progressive issue; that
indeed it was destroying Henry A. Wallace at the moment, because
as we said then when Stalin snuffs pepper the American Communist
Party sneezes.
We felt then, naively, that the American Communist Party could
exist separately from Soviet domination and we strongly urged a
try. This report was presented at our branch to the great consterna-
tion of some people. A section convention was coming up and it was
proposed the report go to the convention, as supported by our branch.
The vote was, as I recall, 8 to 5 in favor of taking it to the convention.
The opposition said, "Let's hear it once more. We will call everybody
and see that everybody comes next week,"
So the next week 23 people came to hear this report. Also in at-
tendance was Mr. Sidney Benson from the county educational de-
partment. The report was read and voted on, and approved for
presentation to the county convention by a vote, I think, of 14 to 9,
after which Mr. Benson was introduced, and protested. He felt the
report was naive and misunderstood the conflicts of the day.
Nevertheless, the people who had voted the report in insisted it go
on to the convention.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 963
The next order of business was that they elected me as a delegate to
the convention to take the report.
The report went to a resolutions committee headed by John Howard
Lawson, and at the convention where I went as a delegate I waited for
its presentation, since it had gone through three readings in our
branch and been approved by a large majority at each.
At about noon, and in the program of the convention the resolu-
tions had their time, and Mr. Lawson read excerpts from many res-
olutions, from the 20 or so branches in the sections, and took great
pains to denounce as infantile and leftist and Trotskyist the resolu-
tion from our particular branch.
There was no chance for the delegates to hear or disapprove the ma-
terial. It was not read.
Mr. Wheeler. Did this cause your final break from the Commu-
nist Party ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Yes ; it really did. I stayed throughout the day.
1 protested in my own way during the afternoon. When the con-
vention voted as a body to send Nemmy Sparks to the State conven-
tion, there were all ayes but mine, and I was a no, the one no.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Lawson was against moving the Communist
Party in the United States from under the control of the Russsian
•Government ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I can only assume that. I know after this con-
vention I was visited in sequence by Harry Carlyle, who was educa-
tional director for the section, and by John Stapp, who was the
section organizer. With John Stapp I had a very long talk about this
resolution, which was a 40-page document full of everything I be-
lieved, and my collaborator believed at the time.
After questioning certain points in the resolution for an hour or
2 hours, Mr. Stapp said, "Of course, if you are anti-Soviet, there
is no hope." Suddenly I realized I was.
Mr. Wheeler. What was Robert Shaw's attitude toward the way
the resolution was handled at the convention ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. Robert Shaw was not at the convention, but he
wrote the resolution. Actually, I would say he wrote the major part
of it. We discussed it in collaboration. He wrote the first draft.
I wrote the second draft.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you discuss the procedure followed ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. He was present with Harry Carlyle. He was
present with John Stapp.
Mr. Wheeler. What was his attitude with regard to the resolu-
tion ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. His attitude was completely sympathetic to me.
Mr. Wheeler. Is there anything else you would like to add for
the record ?
Mrs. TowNSEND. I can't think of anything.
Mr. Wheeler. Thank you, Mrs. Townsend.
(Whereupon the interrogation of Mrs. Pauline Swanson Townsend
was concluded.)
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
LOS ANGELES AREA— Part 5
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Committee on Un-Amekican Activities,
1,08 Angeles^ Calif.
executive statement^
An executive statement given at 5 : 30 p. m., March 12, 1953, at room
1109, Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, Calif.
Present : William A. Wlieeler, investigator.
TESTIMONY OF PAUL BENEDICT KADIN ^
Mr. Wheeler. Will the witness state his full name ?
Mr. Eadin. Paul Benedict Radin ; R-a-d-i-n.
Mr. Wheeler. When and where were 3^ou born ?
Mr. Radin. I was born September 15, 1913, in New York City.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliat is your educational background ?
Mr. Radin. I went to the public school system in New York City,
graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn in 1929, and
graduated from New York University in 1933.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your present occupation ?
Mr. Radin. I am at present an agent employed in the radio and
television field.
Mr. Wheeler. How long have you been in this particular occupa-
tion?
Mr. Radin. I have been an agent for approximately 3 years.
Mr. Wheeler. Prior to that what was your business ?
Mr. Radin. Prior to that I was in the advertising business.
Mr. Wheeler. And for how long ?
Mr. Radin. Ever since I was graduated from college, with time out
during the war.
Mr. Wheeler. Wliat was your major in college?
Mr. Radin. Advertising.
Mr. Wheeler. Are you any relation at all to Dr. Max Radin ?
Mr. Radin. No.
Mr. Wheeler. We have in our files information concerning one Paul
Radin, which I don't believe is you. However, I would like to clear
this up.
Mr. Radin. I will be glad to clear up anything I can. There is a
Paul Radin that I know of who is a brother of Max Radin, who is,
I believe, a professor of anthropology, or some such subject.
* Released by the committee.
^ Paul Benedict Radin was sworn as a witness by the court reporter.
965
966 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. That is right. We have here one Paul Radin who
was instructor at the California Labor School in 1948.
Mr. Radin. This is not I.
Mr. Wheeler. We have one Paul Radin who was a member of the
League of American Writers in 1938, according to the summer bulletin
of that organization.
Mr. Radin. This is not I.
Mr. Wheeler. We have one Paul Radin who, according to Soviet
Russia Today, Avhicli is a magazine, dated Sept-ember 1939, was a signer
of a letter advocating closer cooperation with the Soviet Union.
Mr. Radin. To the best of my knowledge this is not I.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you ever recall signing such a letter?
Mr. Radin. No ; I don't recall signing any such thing.
Mr. Wheeler. According to the New Masses, a Communist publica-
tion of April 27, 1937, a Paul Radin contributed an article to S -ience
and Society.
Mr. Radin. This is not I.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever live in Washington, D. C. ?
Mr. Radin. No, sir.
Mr. Wheeler. We have a Paul Radin who was a member of the-
Washington Book Shop.
Mr. Radin. I never heard of the Washington Book Shop.
Mr. Wheeler. You were never a member ?
Mr. Radin. No ; I was never a member.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever review any books for the Western
Worker?
Mr. Radin. I have never reviewed any books.
Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Radin, the committee has in its possession testi-
mony from a former member of the Communist Party who testified
under oath that you were in attendance at meetings of the Communist
Party here in Hollywood. Is that a true statement ?
Mr. Radin. I attended meetings which I believe were Communist
Party meetings.
INIr. Wheeler. Were you ever a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Radin. I was not.
Mr. Wheeler. How many meetings would you say you attended?
Mr. Radin. Since we last spoke I have tried to pinpoint this. To
the best of my knowledge, I attended 3 meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. When w^ould you date these meetings ?
Mr. Radin. I would date them in 1946 or 1947. I measure this by
the time I met my now present wife. I have been married 4 years,
almost 5.
JNIr. Wheeler. What arrangements were made for you to attend the
meetings and by whom ?
INIr. Radin. I was brought to the meetings by Joe Losey, who was
a friend of mine, social friend.
Mr. Wheeler. How did you first meet Joe Losey ?
Mr. Radin. I think I met him at a party, I am not sure at whose
house it was. I was a newcomer to Hollywood at the time.
INIr. Wheeler. Was Mrs. Losey also in attendance ?
JNfr. Radin. Where ?
IVIr. Wheeler. At the meetings you attended.
Mr. Radin. Yes.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA 967
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall where tlie meetings were held ?
Mv. Radin. One meeting was held at the home of John Wexley.
Another meeting was held at the home of Leo Townsend. The
third meeting was held at the home, I believe, of Jay Gorney.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the individuals were that were
in attendance at these meetings ?
Mr. Radin. To the best of my recollection, the following were at
the meetings — I don't know whether all of these people attended
all the meetings — Mr. and Mrs. Losey, Meta Reis, Lester Cole, Jay
Gorney, John Wexley, Dick Collins, Mrs. Gorney, Waldo Salt, Mr.
and Mrs. Townsend, John Weber.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall if dues were collected at these
meetings ?
]Mr. Radin. I believe dues were collected at the meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. Did you pay any dues ?
Mr. Radin. I never paid dues.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall the individual who collected the dues ?
Mr. Radin. No ; I do not.
Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who was chairman of these particular
meetings or who was running the meetings ?
Mr. Radin. No; I don't recall. I have a feeling that the leaders
of the group — and I don't remember whether they conducted the
meetings or not — were Dick Collins and Waldo Salt.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you asked to join the Communist Party?
Mr. Radin. Yes ; I was.
Mr. Wheeler. By whom?
Mr. Radin. By Joe Losey.
Mr. AVheeler. Can you date the approximate time? Was it the
first meeting, the second meeting, the third meeting or prior to the time
you attended the meetings or subsequently?
Mr. Radin. I would say that the 3 meetings that I attended were over
a period of about 6 wrecks. To the best of my recollection, I was asked
to join the Communist Party during that time. I don't remember
when.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, if it would be prior to the time you attended
these meetings, you would have full knowledge of the Communist
Party.
Mr. Radin. No ; it was not prior to the attending of the meetings.
Mr. Wheeler. You say it was subsequent to the attending of the
meetings ?
Mr. Radin. It was during that 6-weeks' period, I believe. It was
either after the first meeting or the second meeting.
Mr. Wheeler. Tlien you, at least, attended 1 or 2 meetings with
full knowledge that they were Communist Party meetings ?
Mr. Radin. Yes.
Mr. Wheeler. What was your immediate reaction to being asked
to join tlie Communist Party?
Mr. Radin. It left me cold. I had no interest in it.
Mr. Wheeler. What would be your reasoning then for attending
the meeting subsequent to the time you were asked ?
Mr. Radin. Joe was a friend of mine — I just was not too sure of
myself. I didn't want to encourage Joe's displeasure. It wasn't
until the third meeting that I knew that I never wanted to have any-
thing to do with it.
968 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Mr. Wheeler. How did you reach this decision?
Mr. Radin. Sitting at this £>toli]:) or with this group, I was im-
pressed by the lack of independent thinking, by the ahnost automaton
procedure that went on. Also that these people weren't at all in-
terested in the same things I was interested in.
I liave always considered myself more or less of a liberal, and this
was not my idea of what liberalism was. This was a rigid unequivo-
cal dictatorship of thought. I don't know how else to put it.
Mr. Wheeler. You realized that every person present at this meet-
ing, with the exception of yourself, was a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Radin. No, I don't know ; to my knowledge, I don't know they
were all members of the Communist Party.
Mr. Wheeler. Well, they have all been identified as such before
this House committee.
Mr. Radin. If you say so. I do not know at firsthand knowledge
whether anybody was there in the same position I was.
Mr. Wheeler. I would like to make the observation it is highly un-
usual for a person who is not a member to attend closed meetings of
the Communist Party.
Mr. Radin. I don't know anything of the procedure.
Mr. Wheeler. But you did not sign a Communist Party card ?
Mr. Radin. No.
Mr. Wheeler. You did not receive a Communist Party card ?
Mr. Radin. No.
Mr. Wheeler. You did not pay dues ?
Mr. Radin. No.
Mr. Wheeler. What is your present attitude regarding the Com-
munist Party?
Mr. Radin, I have absolutely no sympathy with them.
Mr. Wheeler. Have you made any information you may have re-
garding the Communist Party available to any other agency?
Mr. Radin. Yes, I made whatever information I had available to
the FBI.
Mr. Wheeler. Are these the only three meetings you ever attended ?
Mr. Radin. To the best of my knowledge, yes.
Mr. Wheeler. Would you like to add anything to the record ?
Mr. Radin. I just want to add that I come here in the spirit of com-
plete cooperation and will do everything I can to help.
Mr. Wheeler. But you have not been subpenaed ?
Mr. Radin. I have not been subpenaed.
Mr. Wheeler. This is voluntary?
Mr. Radin. This is voluntary.
"VTi- Wheeler. Thank you, Mr. Radin.
(Whereupon the interrogation of Paul Benedict Radin was
concluded.)
INDEX
Individuals
Page
Abowitz, Mrs. Murray 890
Alexander, Michael 924
Allen, Lewis 941, 958
Amster, Lou 853
Ardeu, Betty 898
Arnold, Lucy 892
Ashe, Harold 869
Ashe, Mildred 869
Atkinson, Brooks 945
Atlas, Dorothy (Mrs. Leopold Atlas) 956
Atlas, Leopold Lawrence 930, 935-952 (testimony)
Baker, Prote.ssor 935
Baron, Lou 890, 893
Baroway, Leo 894
Barzman, Ben 938, 940, 951, 958
Barzman, Norma 958
Barzman, Sol 959
Bay, Howard 959
Bay, Ruth 959
Beck, Elena 902-904, 906, 956
Beck, George 930
Becker, Catherine 959
Becker, Zara 871
Bela, Nicholas 927, 954
Bela, Mrs. Nicholas 928
Bengal, Ben 944, 958
Bennett 877
Bennett, Alice 855
BenofT, Max 803, 902-905, 96l
Benoff, Mickey 961
Benoff, Mildred 901-907 (testimony), 956, 962
Benson, Sidney 962
Bercovici, Leonardo 946
Berg, Allen 912
Berkeley, Martin 951
Bessie, Alvah 941, 946, 947
Bessie, Mrs. Alvah 941
Bevins, John 881, 894
Beye, Frank 889
Biberman, Herbert 929, 946, 948
Bigelman, Leo 885, 890, 960, 961
Birnkrant, Arthur 956
Boddy, Mr 848, 849
Bogigian, Eleanor 890
Bogner, Max 885
Bognoff, Sarah 855
Boyer, Richard O 957
Briggs 877
Bromberg, ]\Irs. Goldie 954
Brooks, Miriam 880, 889
Browder, Earl 896, 899, 932, 937, 939, 948
Brown, Carter 887
Brown, Ned 912
969
970 INDEX
Page
Buehman, Bea 904
Buehiiian, Harold 954
BiH'hinan, Mrs. Harold 954
Burko 854
Burke, Bea 897
Burke, Sid 881
Burns, Jessie 930
Burrows, Ruth 903, 907, 956
Bush, Rose 886
Butler, Huw 930
Byler, Albert 885
Byrne, Norman 870
Carey, Honore Moxley 870, 875
Carlyle, Harry 903
Caroway, J 877, 880
Carson, Jules 893, 894
Cashner, IMilton 885
Chaniberlin, Howland 898
Chapman, Clarice 931
Chapman, Tom 930, 931, 941, 943
Chapman, Mrs. Tom (Clarise) 941
Clark, Maurice 931
Cline, Paul 855, 880, 889, 893
Cohen, Sue 892
€ohn, Rabbi 893
Cole, Beatrice Lubitz 959
Cole, Blanche 925
Cole, Bob 893
-Cole, Johnny 941
Cole, Lester 925, 930, 937, 941, 943, 947, 948, 967
Collins, Richard (Dick) 931, 944, 945, 958, 967
Comingore, Dorothy 931
Cullen, Tom 881
Dane, Dennis 890
Daniel, Urcel 854, 881, 882
Dare, Danny 934
Dawson, Ernest 884, 956
Dinam, Andreas 959
Douglas, Mr. Justice - 862
D'Usseau, Susan . 954
Edgley, Les 959
Edgley, Mrs. Les 959
Eliscu, Edward 927
Elzer, Norman 911
Endfield, Cyril 960
Endore, Guy - 944
Esterman, William B 859-864
Faragoh, Elizabeth 960
Fargo, Evelyn 891
Fast, Howard 957
Finn. Pauline Lauber 958
Fisher, Eddie 884, 888
Foreman, Carl 929, 930
Foster, William Z 849, 850
Pox, Jack 885
Franchia, Davida 871, 898
Franchia, Fred 897
Franko, Jack 882
Freed, Eniil 877, 878, 879, 894
Freed, Tassia 879
Freidman, Fanya 880
Froelich, Anne 930, 941
Fuller, Gertrude 936-940
Fuller, Lester 936-940
Fuss, Oscar S87
Galkin. Anna 899
•Gang, Martin 902, 904, 920
INDEX 971
Page
Gannett, Betty 890, 894
Gardner, Ava 936
Gardner, Helen 888, 893
Garrigues, Charles H. (Brick) 847-856 (testimony), 881
Gelfand, Sam 886
George, Harrison 870, 894, 895
Ginsberg, Jack 877, 880
Ginsberg, Margaret :. 880, 884
Goodman, Becky 871
Goodman, Benny 898
Gordon, Emily . 882
Gordon, Julian 882
Gordon, Mitchell 914
Gorney, Jay 958, 967
Gorney, Sondra 958, 967
Grant, Betty i 941
Grant, Carl 898
Grant, Marshall 910, 911
Grant, Morton 927, 930, 941, 949
Grant, Mrs. Morton 943
Green, Anne 941
Hancock, Stanley 851, 852
Handle, Eeva 891
Harmon, Sidney 936
Harris, Thomas L 955, 957
Hay, Marjorie 869, 870, 872, 875
Healey, Donald 894
Healey, Dorothy 854
Hecht, Harold 934, 936, 937
Hellgren, George 931
Hellsren, Nora 931
Heltness, Al 898
Henry, Milton 877, 881
Herndon, Leroy 864, 865, 871
Higman, Nell 886
Holmstock, Ethel 899
Holtz, Miriam 898
Howe, Jane 865, 867, 868, 877, 883, 890
Hull, Morgan 853
Humouna, Barta 886
Hunter, Alice 958
Ingham, Bill 869
Ingham, Nina 869
Jacobson, Libby 878, 882
Jaffee, Sam 912
James, Dan 959
James, Lilith 959
Janis, Louise 959
Jeffrey, John 885
Johnson, Philip 855
Jones, Grover 909
Jones, Lillian 882
Judson, Charles 854, 881
Kahn, Gordon 941
Kalish, Sam 898
Kanin, Michael 903, 907
Kanin, Ruth 903, 907
Kanter, Shirley 959
Keller, Evelyn 887
Kenny, Robert W 864-866
Kinney, Anne 865, 867-886 (testimony)
Kingsley, Dorothy 944
Klein, Herbert 855, 881, 944
Klein, Minna 855, 882
Koch, Mrs. Howard 941
Koenig, Lester 927
972 INDEX
Page
Kusnetz, Sara 878, 883
Lambert, Rude 897
Lambert, Walter 894
Lantz, Louis 911-915, 917, 918
Lardner, Ring, Jr 930, 958
Lask, Anna 9(H, 907
Lawrence, Jerome 910
Lawson, John Howard 920, 930, 938, 939, 941, 944, 945, 947, 948, 950, 954, 963
Leech, Elizabeth 889, 954, 955
Leech, John 896
Lees, Robert 919
LeMay, Alan 944
Leonard, Helen 955, 956
Levine, Jacob 881
Levitt, Alfred (Al) 930,941,947
Levy, Melvin (Mel) 930,941
Lewis, Al 871
Lewis, Matilda 864-866 (testimony), 871
Lewis, Richard B. (Dick) 871
Lewitski, Belle 898
Lieberson, Anya 878, 884, 888
Lockett, Albert 869, 887
Lockett, John 887
Losey, Joe 966, 967
Losey, Mrs. Joseph 966, 967
Losey, Louise 960
Lyon, Peter 957
Lytton, Bart 959
MacGregor, Marjorie 957
Maddow, Ben 958
Masnin, Rabbi 956
Maise, Wilhelmina 887
Mallof, Helen 887
Malone, Joe 911
Maltz, Albert 920, 921, 933, 941, 945-947
Manoff, Arnold 930, 941, 945, 946
March, Jane 891
Martin, Betty 889, 893
Martin, Henrietta 960
Martin, Sobey 911
Mntlin Zema 897
Matsuto, John 878
Mayer, Jean 889
Maymadus, Abraham 886
McCall, Mary, Jr 944
McCormick, LaRue 893
McElrath, Robert 894
McGinty, Leona 898
McGowan, Professor 918
McGrath, Thomas Matthew 859-864 (testimony)
McLean, George 894
McWilliams, Carey 883
INIedus, Libby Nathan 886
Mpyex's, Henry 930
Minkus, Abe 871
Mischa 902-904
Miscbel, Josef 931
Mitclinm, Robert 936
Moore, Jack 898
Moore, Patricia (Patsy) 956, 960
Morgan, Ann Roth (see also Ann Roth Morgan Richards) 940,943
Morris, M 877
Moss, Jay 881
Moss, Louise 960
Most, Brodia 871
Most. Rose 885
INDEX 973
Pag'
Murray, Donald 89S
Nadler, Morton 892
Nelson 877
Oatis, Prank S7S
Ober. Ruth 8S4
O'Connor, Oleta 894
O'Connor. Tom 855
Offner, IMortimer 927, 928, 930
Oliver, William E_ 855, 882
Orr, Violet 887
Oppenheimer, Frank 871, 872
Palley, Henrietta 885
Palmer, Harlan 851
Pellman, Matt 890
Penneman, Alice 944, 945
Perry, Pettis 890, 893
Petos, Margaret 890
Pezman, Dorothy 897
Place. Joan 887, 892
Polonsky, Abe 946, 948
Pomerance, Bill 958
Pomerance. Edwina 956
Posell, Joseph J 8S5
Posell, Rose 871
Praeger. Stanley 959
Radin, Benedict 965-968 (testimony)
Radin, Mary 897
Radin, Max 965
Radin, Paul 959, 965, 966
Rapf, Maurice 930, 954
Rasmussen 877
Reddock, Arcus 894
Reis, Meta 914, 943, 958, 967
Richards. Ann Roth Morgan (see also Ann Roth Morgan) 959
Richards, Dick 852
Richards, Pamela 959
Richards, Robert 959
Richards, Mrs. Robert 959
Richardson, Barbara 894
Richardson, Jean 894
Rinaldo, Fred 954
Rinaldo, Marie 903, 956
Riskin, Alexander (Al) 885
Riskin, Angelina 871
Rivers, W. L 927
Robbing, Ed 855, 881
Roberts, Barbara 960
Roberts, Holland 874
Roberts, Maggie 941
Roberts, Marguerite 961
Robeson, Naomi 942, 943
Robison, David 931
Robinson, Jerome i857-858 (testimony)
Ro?;ell. Sid 911
Rolf, Ed 914
Rosenfeld, Paul 959
Rossen, Robert 954
Rossen, Sue (Mrs. Robert Rossen) 954
Rubin, Stanley 909-921 (testimony)
Ruthven, Madelaine 930, 954
Ryan, Al 890
Ryan, Maurlne 885
Ryan, Ruth Stoddard 871
Salemson, Harold 926, 927
Salt, Waldo 930, 954, 967
;Saudy, George 889
974 INDEX
Page
Sanford, John 930, 941, 961
Sanford, Mrs. John 961
Saul, Oscar 914
Schary, Dore 951
Schneid<n", Benno 936
Schneidermann, William 897
Scolt, E 855
Scott, Lew 876, 877
Segure, Rose 885, 890
Seldcn, Betty 884
Selfrid, Leo 898
Selig, Gertrude 891
Selkowski, Leo 854
Shaffer, George 855, 882
Shapiro, Vic 940
Shaw, Artie 950
Shaw, Mary 959
Shaw, Robert (Bob) 959, 962, 963
Sheff, Eve 884
Shoff, Sanders 884
Shepro, Harry 870, 872, 875
Ship, Reuben 960
Shire, Henry 897
Shire, Marian 897
Shor, Sol 923-933 (testimony)
Silver, Max 880, 888, 890, 891, 894, 956
Silver, Sam 925
Simonsgard, Jens 892
Simonsgard, Sarah 892
Skadron, Bernard 926
Skadron, Lillian 92o
Small, Edward 950
Siuolan, Morrie 852, 896
Solatoy, Sonya 885
Solomon, Louis 954
Sparks, Nemmy 947, 963
Spears, John 869
Spencer, Ray 929
Stapp, John 963
Stark, Ray 912
Steel, Peter 877, 881
Steinmetz, Harry 874
Stevens, Bishop 956
Stevens, Clara 887
Stevenson, Janet 959
Stevenson, Phil 944, 959
Stevenson, Mrs. Phil 959
Stilwell, General 862
Stone, Bert 887
Strawn, Arthur 941
Swanson, Carl 801
Tiiffel, Bess 914, 940
Taft, Lynn 884
Tarloff, Frank 961
Tarnoff, Harry 887
Tashjian, Dr. Vaughan A, K 869,895
Thorme, James 896
Todd, Louise 894
Townsend, Leo 953, 958,967
Townsend, Pauline Swanson 903, 953-963 (testimony), 967
Trivers. Paul 927", 929
Trunibo. Dalton 904, 920, 948
Trumbo. Mrs. Dalton 904
Tuttle, Frank 930
Tuttle, Tania 903, 956
Uris, Mickey 927, 929
Vale, Rena 897
INDEX 975
Page
Vorhaus. Bernard 029
Waklen, Clara (Mrs. Mischa Walden) 956
Walden, Mischa 956
Wales, Beulah 871
Wallace, Henry A 962
Wallace, Jane : 886
Weber, John 930, 950, 958, 967
Weber, Ruth (Mrs. John Weber) 930, 950
Weil, Everett 961
Wellman, Bill 944
West, Lawrence 878, 882
Wetherwax, Jack 886
Wexley, John 959, 967
Wexley, Cookie (Mrs. John Wexley) 959
White, Irving 929
Winner, George 936-939, 943, 951
Wilson, Betty 930, 941
Wilson, Jane 886
Wilson, Margaret 894
Wilson, Michael 929
Wilson, Mitchell 913, 914
Weinberg, Meyer 892
Winebrenner, Dolph 881
Winter, Carl 890, 891, 953
Wixman, Myrtle 875
Wixman, Sam 870, 872, 875, 876
Wooley 960
Wooley, Angus 959
Wooley, Barbara 959
Wooley, Mrs 960
Yanoff, Morris 888
Tates, Allen 894
Zadow, Dorothy 894
Zadow, Joseph 884
Zimet, Julian 959
Organizations
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 919
American Council on Soviet Relations 955
American Federation of Teachers 866, 872-874
American Federation of Teachers, Los Angeles ^ 865
American League Against War and Fascism 869, 897
American Newspaper Guild 852
California Labor School 966
Chicago Normal College 867
Chicago Teachers' College 867
China Aid Council 899
Classroom Teachers' Federation 876
Colby College 860
College of the City of New York 923
Columbia Broadcasting System 910
Columbia University 864
Committee for the Care of Children in Wartime 960
Congress of Industrial Organizations 852, 891, 892, 899
Contemporary Theater 885, 886
Dependable Printers 877
Dramatists' Guild 949
Federal Bureau of Investigation 869, 911, 921
German-American Bund S79
Hollywood Anti-Nazi League 924
Hollywood Democratic Committee 958
Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences, and
Professions 919-921, 958
International Workers' Order 886
King-Conner-Ramsey Defense Committee 851
976 INDEX ,
Page
Labor's Nonpartisan League 877-879
League of American Writers 966
Levee-Stark 912
Los Angeles City Board of Education 874
• Los Angeles County Board of Education 874
Los Angeles Labor School 919
Los Angeles Newspaper Guild 853, 855
Los Angeles State College 859, 863
Louisiana State University 800
New York State P^mployment Service 861
National Council of American- Soviet Friendship 954—956, 962
New York University 923, 965
Office of Naval Intelligence 911
Ohio University 953
Oxford University 860
People's Educational Center 918, 919
Philippine Committee, Communist Party 895
Progressive Citizens of America 920
Public Works Administration 898
Russian War Relief 902
San Diego State College 864
Screen Writers' Guild 915, 916, 920, 940, 943, 944, 948, 949, 959
Service Command Intelligence 911
State Relief Administration 886
Theater Guild 935
United Auto Workers 891
United Office and Professional Workers of America 886-888
University of California at Los Angeles 864, 909. 918, 919
University of North Dakota 859
University of Southern California 848, 864
Washington Book Shop 966
Workers' Alliance 877-879
Works Progress Administration 849
AVriters' Congress 918
Yale University 935
Publications
Beverly Hills Citizen-News 909
Brooklyn Eagle 935
Daily News 848, 849, 851
Daily Worker 891, 899
Hollywood Citizen-News 877, 878
New Masses 933, 945, 966
People's World 895, 897, 919, 948
San Francisco Examiner 848
Santa Ana Register 865
Science and Society 966
Soviet Russia Today 966
Two Decades of Progress, Communist Party, Los Angeles County,
1919-39 880-883, 877
Utopian News 848
Western Worker ^ 966
o
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