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U. S; SUPT. OE DOCmiENTS
3^
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
SAN FRANCISCO AREA-Part 2
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTY-THIKD CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
DECEMBER 2, 1953
Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities
INCLUDING INDEX
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
41002 WASHINGTON : 1954
Boston Public Library
Superintendent of Documents
MAR 1 6 1954
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
United States House of Repeesentatives
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, JB., Tennessee
Robert L. Kunzig, Counsel
Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., Counsel
Lodis J. Rdssell, Chief Investigator
Thomas W. Beale, Sr., Chief Clerk
Raphael I. Nixon, Director of Research
n
CONTENTS
December 2, 1953, testimony of: Page
Rov Hudson 3159
John W. Mass 3184
Dickson P. Hill 3193
George Van Frederick 3238
James Fenton Wood 3242
Eugene Alexander Toopeekoflf 3246
Eugene Eagle 3251
Dan Kew Mah 3254
Kenneth Craig Austin 3257
Index 3261
EXHIBITS
Hudson Exhibit No. 1. Letter dated November 27, 1939, written on letterhead
of the Communist Party of U. S. A., national office, addressed to counsel of the
Committee on Un-American Activities, signed by Earl Browder, general
secretary of the Communist Party, U. S. A. (see pp. 3160-3162).
Hudson Exhibit No. 2. Letter, dated February 8, 1934, to H. Jackson, signed
"fraternallv yours, Hudson" (see pp. 3164-3166).
Hudson Exhibit No. 3. Daily Worker, November 6, 1933, article entitled, "38
Workers' Organizations Endorse Communist Party Program" (see pp. 3167-3169).
Hudson Exhibit No. 4. Letter, dated February 5, 1934, addressed to H. Jackson,
and signed Hudson (see pp. 3172 and 3173)."
Hudson Exhibit No. 5. Partv Organizer, Mav-June 1934, pages 25-30, article
entitled "The Work of the Marine Union," by Roy Hudson (see pp. 3174-3176).
Hudson Exhibit No. 6. Party Organizer, August 1937, pages 6--12, article
entitled, "Building the Party in Marine," by Roy Hudson (see pp. 3177-3180).
Hudson Exhibit No. 7. Party Organizer, May 1938, pages 10-13, article entitled,
"Work Among the Masses," by Roy Hudson (see pp. 3180 and 3181).
Mass Exhibit No. 1. San Francisco Unified School District, oath of allegiance,
signed by John W. Mass on October 19, 1950, on reverse side of which is a
statement written by John W. Mass as to his past Communist Party member-
ship and other affiliations (see pp. 3187 and 3188).
tu
Public Law 601, 79th Congress
The legislation under which the House Committee on Un-American
Activities operates is Public Law 601, 79th Congress [1946], chapter
753, 2d session, which provides :
Be it enacted iy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assemhled * * *
PART 2— RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rtjle X
SEC. 121. STANDING COMMITTEES
* * * 4: * * *
17. Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members.
RXILE XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
* * * * i^ * *
(q) (1) Committee on Un-American Activities.
(A) Un-American activities.
(2) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee,
is authorized to make from time to time investigations of (i) the extent, charac-
ter, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States,
(ii) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propa-
ganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks
the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and
(iii) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any nec-
essary 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.
V
RULES ADOPTED BY THE 83D 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 :
^f * if m * *i *
(q) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members.
Rule XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
17. Committee on Un-American Activties.
(a) Un-American Activities.
(b) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee,
is authorized to make from time to time, investigations of (1) the extent, char-
acter, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States,
(2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American prop-
aganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and
attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitu-
tion, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress
in any necessary remedial legislation.
The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the
Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi-
gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American
Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times
and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has
recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance
of such witnesses and the production of such books, pai)ers, 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
SAN FEANCISCO AKEA— PAET 2
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1953
United States House of Representatives,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Un-Amerigan Activities,
San Francisco^ Calif.
PUBLIC hearing
The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities
met, pursuant to adjournment, at 9 : 35 a. m. in the hearing room of the
board of supervisors, city hall, Hon. Harold H. Velde (chairman of
the committee) presiding.
Chairman members present: Representatives Harold H. Velde
(chairman), Donald L. Jackson, Gordon H. Scherer, Morgan M.
Moulder, and Clyde Doyle.
Staff members present : Robert L. Kunzig and Frank S. Tavenner,
Jr., counsel ; William A. Wheeler, investigator ; and Juliette P. Joray,
acting clerk.
Mr. Velde. The committee will be in order, please.
This morning I am happy to welcome our colleague, the Honorable
Morgan Moulder, of Missouri, who completes our subcommittee, to
be here from now until Saturday, at which time we will be obliged to
adjourn the hearings.
Mr. Counsel^ do you have a witness?
Mr. Tavenner. Yes, sir ; Mr. Roy Hudson, will you come forward,
please ?
Mr. Velde. In the testimony you are about to give before this sub-
committee do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Hudson. I do.
TESTIMONY OF ROY HUDSON, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL,
GEORGE ANDERSEN
Mr. Tavenner. Wliat is your name, please, sir?
Mr. Hudson. Roy Hudson.
Mr. Tavenner. Are you acompanied by counsel?
Mr. Hudson. I am.
Mr. Tavenner. Will counsel please identify himself for the record?
Mr. Anderson. My name is George Andersen.
Mr. Tavenner. Wlien and where were you born, Mr. Hudson ?
Mr. Hudson. Nevada, Tonepah, Nev., April 9, 1904.
Mr. Tavenner. Where do you now reside ?
Mr. Hudson. San Francisco.
3159
3160 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Tavenner. Will you tell the committee, please, what your
formal educational training has been ?
Mr. Hudson. Grammar school through eighth grade.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, I desire to offer in evidence, and
ask that it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 1," a letter from Earl
Browder, general secretary of the Communist Party, addressed to
counsel for this committee under date of November 27, 1939, in which
he gives a list of the national committee of the Communist Party,
elected at the 10th convention.
Mr. Velde. Do you offer that into evidence ?
Mr. Tavenner. Yes.
Mr. Velde. Without objection it will be admitted at this point.
(The letter from Earl Browder dated November 27, 1939, was re-
ceived in evidence as Hudson Exhibit No. 1.)
HUDSON EXHIBIT NO. 1
Communist Paety of U. S. A.
NATIONAL OFFICE
William Z. Foster, Chairman 35 Bast 12th St., AL 4-2215
Earl Browder, General Secretary P. O. Box 87, Sta. D., New York City
November 27, 1939.
Mr. Rhea Whitley,
Counsel, Committee on Un-American Activities,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir : I received by mail the subpena issued November 22 to me to appear
In Washington, Tuesday, November 28 at 10 a. m., and to bring vs^ith me a list of
the full names of the directors of Compro Daily, list of the full names of the
members of the National Committee of the Communist Party of the United
States, list of the full names of the members of the Political Committee of the
Communist Party of the United States, list of the full names of the Secretariat
of the Comintern, and a list of the districts of the Communist Party of the
United States.
My secretary informs me that in reply to my long-distance telephone inquiry
you stated that it would not be necessary for me to appear personally if I mailed
you the material requested.
I am therefore enclosing the follovping materials :
1. List of the full names of the members of the National Committee of the
Communist Party of the United States.
2. List of the full names of the members of the Political Committee of the Com-
munist Party of the United States.
3. List of the full names of the Secretariat of the Executive Committee of the
Communist International (Comintern).
4. List of the districts of the Communist Party of the United States.
With regard to the requested list of the full names of the directors of the
Compro Daily, I do not have such a list and have never had it. I have requested
the lawyer of the Compro Daily to furnish me with such a list and whenever it
comes to my hand I will send it on to you.
I wish to call your attention to a correction in the list of the members of the
National Committee of the Communist Party of the United States as T submit it
herewith which omits the name of Mr. Rubin, which I gave to you in my letter of
September 8. Since submitting the original list on September 8 I have learned
that Mr. Rubin had tendered his resignation in October 10.38, and it had been
accepted. This occurred at a time when I was absent from the country and it
had not been called to my attention until the question came up on the basis of
the list which I originally gave you. Please take note of this correction.
Very truly yours,
(s) Earl Browder,
Earl Browder,
General Secretary, Communist Party, U. S. A.
EB:EC
UOPWA LOC. 16
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3161
National Committee of the Communist Party, U. 8. A., elected at the Tenth
Convention
Wm. Z. Foster, Chairman ; Earl Browder, General Secretary
Members
Israel Amter
Max Bedacht
Alex Bittelman
A. W. Berry
Ella R. Bloor
Louis Budenz
Peter V. Cacchione
Morris Childs
Gene Dennis
Sam Don
Elizabeth G. Flynn
Candidates
John Ballam
Herbert Benjamin
W. G. Binkley
Don Burke
Rose Biltmore
Isadore Begun
Ann Burlak
Margaret Cowl
James W. Ford
Harrison George
Ben Gold
Gil Green
Ray Hansboro
Clarence Hathaway
Jasper Haaland
Angel Herndon
Roy Hudson
Jack Johnstone
Charles Krumbein
Sam Darcy
Phil Frankfeld
Harry Gwynn
Robert Hall
Albert Lannon
Andrew Onda
William Patterson
Pettis Perry
Robert Minor
Steve Nelson
William Schneiderman
Jack Stachel
Pat Toohey
Alex Trachtenberg
William Wiener
Anita Whitney
John Williamson
Henry Winston
Rose Wortis
Morris Raport
Earl Reno
Carl Rose
Nat Ross
Otto Wangerin
Maude White
Wm. W. Weinstone
Robert Woods
Members of the Secretariat, Executive Committee of the Communist International
(As elected at the Seventh World Congress, 1935)
George DimitrofE, General Secretary
M. Ercoli
D. Z. Manuilsky
Wilhelm Pieck
Otto Kuusinen
Andre Marty
Klement Gottwald
Candidate-members
M. Florin
M. A. Moskvin
Members of Political Committee, CPTJSA
Wm. Z. Foster James W. Ford
Earl Browder C. A. Hathaway
Alex Bittelman Roy Hudson
Morris Childs Charles Krumbein
Gene Dennis Robert Minor
Wang Ming
Jack Stachel
Henry Winston
Rose Wortis
LIST OF DISTRICTS OF THE COMMUNIST PAETY, V. S. A., AND ADDRESSES
Box 23, Essex Station, Boston, Mass. (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont)
35 East 12th Street, New York, N. Y.
250 South Broad Street, Room 701, Philadelphia, Pa.
729 Central Avenue, Kansas City, Kans.
305 Seventh Avenue, Room 406, Pittsburgh, Pa.
1524 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
5969 14th Street, Detroit, Mich.
208 North Wells Street, Room 201, Chicago, 111.
10 South 10th Street, Room 2, Minneapolis, Minn.
516 Karbach Block, Omaha, Nebr.
Post Office Box 1467, Fargo, N. Dak.
Post Office Box 332, Seattle, Wash (Idaho, Washington)
121 Haight Street, San Francisco, Calif. (Arizona, California, Nevada)
1 William Street, Room 405, Newark, N. J.
6 Church Street, Room 212, New Haven, Conn.
Post Office Box 521, Greensboro, N. C. (North Carolina, South Carolina)
Post Office Box 1871, Birmingham, Ala. (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi)
617 North Second Street, Room 902, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Post Office Box 2823, Denver, Colo. (Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming)
3162 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Post Office 1834, Houston, Tex.
506 North Vandeventer Street, Room 21, St. Louis, Mo. (Arkansas, Missouri)
Post Office Box 92, Charleston, W. Va.
Post Office Box 1043, Louisville, Ky.
Post Office Box 465, New Orleans, La.
Post Office Box N, West Bay Annex, Jacksonville, Fla.
Post Office Box 366, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.
Post Office Box 496, Ironvpood, Mich.
Meridian Life Building, Room 401, Indianapolis, Ind.
Post Office Box 132, Richmond, Va.
Post Office Box 77, Butte, Mont.
Box 245, Oklahoma City, Okla.
222 Youngerman Building, Des Moines, Iowa
Post Office Box 1692, Knoxville, Tenn.
501 B North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, Md.
74 West First Street South, Salt Lake City, Utah
Mr, Tavenner. This list of the membership of the national com-
mittee of the Communist Party includes William Z. Foster as chair-
man, Earl Browder, general secretary, and among the members are
such leaders in the Communist Party as Israel Amter, Max Bedacht,
Alexander Bittelman, Ella R. Bloor, Liouis Budenz, Gene Dennis,
Harrison George, Ben Gold, Clarence Hathaway, Steve Nelson — and
without naming others, I will refer to just one more — Roy Hudson.
Now, Mr. Hudson, the Committee on Un-American Activities has
received a great deal of evidence since 1939 or really since 1934 re-
garding the prominent part that you have played in the activities of
the Communist Party.
I will refer to only a few of them, such of them as designate what
your official position has been from time to time as a leader in the
Communist Party. The committee has received evidence that you
were a delegate to the Seventh World Congress at Moscow July 1935,
that is the World Congress of the Communist International; that
you were a member of the central committee of the Communist Party
in 1936 and for a number of years thereafter : that in 1938 you were
trade union secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party; that in 1938 you were a member of the presiding committee
for the 10th national convention; that in 1939 you were a fraternal
delegate to the Communist Partv convention of Mexico and at the
same time you were a member of the presiding committee of the Com-
munist Party of Mexico.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Tavenner. I have just introduced in evidence as a part of this
hearing the letter from Earl Browder as secretary showing that in
1939 you were a member of the national committee of the Communist
Party.
Our records show that in 1940 you were a member of the political
bureau of the Communist Party and that in 1942 you were a member
of the political committee of the Communist Party ; that is, the Com-
munist Party of the United States. Our records show that in 1944
you became vice president of the Communist Political Association.
In 1946 our investigations have disclosed you were acting as a district
secretary of the Communist Party of Pittsburgh, and that in 1948
you were chairman of the western Pennsylvania district of the Com-
munist Party.
Now, this testimony has shown that you were an open member of
the Communist Party up through the year 1938, and there has been
evidence as to some of your activities since that time.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3163
However, there has been information which has come to the com-
mittee indicating that sometime after 1948, due to internal fights
within the Communist Party, you had been more or less put on the
shelf; that you have not for the past few years occupied the same
prominence in the Communist Party that you had prior to that time
and that you have not been active in the same way.
There may be many reasons for that.
Now, I want at this time to give you the opportunity, if you will
take advantage of it, to declare yourself publicly and state whether
or not at this time you still declare your allegiance to the Communist
Party, an organization which is directed by a foreign power, or
whether or not you will declare your allegiance directly and un-
reservedly to the United States.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson, Your question is so involved and complicated that I
find it impossible to answer as it is. If you break it down, I will to
the best of my ability answer it.
Mr. Tavenner. I will be very glad to attempt to break it down.
Are you now a functionary in the Communist Party?
Mr. Hudson. I stand on the fifth amendment and refuse to answer
that question on the grounds of possible self-incrimination.
Mr. Tavenner. Are you now engaged in active work for the Com-
munist Party ?
]\Ir. Hudson. I stand on my previous answer.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Hudson, I hand you a photostatic copy of a
typewritten letter bearing date of February 8, 1931:, addressed to H.
Jackson, signed "Fraternally yours, Hudson," and I will ask you to
examine the signature and state whether or not it is your signature.
The signature is on the last page, the third page.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Tavenner. May I suggest that you answer the question instead
of reading the entire 3-page letter at this time?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Tavenner. You have not yet looked at the signature which is
on the third page.
Mr. Hudson. I would like to get acquainted with the document if
it is supposed to be my signature.
Mr. Tavenner. I will give you that opportunity, but first will you
examine the signature and state whether or not it is yours ?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. I would like to read the document first.
Mr. Andersen. I might add that the witness doesn't have his read-
ing glasses with him. I happen to have mine, so I have to read it to
him.
Mr. Velde. Will the reading of the document enable you to deter-
mine whether or not that is your signature ?
Mr. Hudson. It might.
Mr. Velde. Is that your position ?
Mr. Ta\'enner. Well, first, will you examine the signature and state
if you are in doubt that it is your signature ? Again I ask you to look
at the third page.
Mr. Velde. I believe the witness should be permitted to read the
letter in its entirety.
Mr. Tavenner. Very well.
3164 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr, Velde. If you will answer that question,
Mr, Hudson, I am sorry ; I didn't hear you,
Mr. Velde. Read the letter in its entirety, and then I hope that you
"will answer the question as to your signature.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr, Tavenner, Did you examine the signature ?
Mr. Hudson. Yes. My answer is that I refuse to answer on the
grounds of the fifth amendment. It might be possible self-incrimina-
tion.
Mr. Tavenner, Were you acquainted with H, Jackson?
Mr, Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Tavenner. Is H. Jackson the same person as Harry Jackson?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Moulder, Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that counsel identify
H. Jackson more specifically ?
Mr. Tavenner. Harry Jackson was identified by the witness here
yesterday, Mr. Lou Rosser, as being a person known to him to have
been a member of the Communist Party and engaged in certain other
activities.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Tavenner. I desire to offer the photostatic copy of the letter in
evidence and ask that it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 2."
Mr. Velde. Without objection it will be admitted in the record at
this point.
(Photostat of letter to H. Jackson, dated February 8, 1934, was
received in evidence as Hudson exhibit No. 2.)
HUDSON EXHIBIT NO. 2
February 8, 1934.
H. Jackson,
437 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Comrade Jackson : The news you write regarding the response of the
Northwest to the convention is very good — and the rank and file delegation that
went up certainly seenas to indicate that our policies are getting root. I trust
that we are consolidating a real firm opposition group. In view of the ILA stand
at the code hearings we certainly should be able to make headway all around —
and should give an impetus to the convention. There is little to add upon
my previous remarks and the wire concerning the stand of the officials. It is
doubtful whether we will be able to get minutes of this hearing in view of my
failure to pay the $80 for the last one. In case I do get them will shoot them
right out. I agree with you that the place where the convention should be
held should not become a breaking point — although it would be much more favor-
able if it were held in Frisco.
In regards to Saurwin — I believe I already mentioned that a new fellow there
is now active by the name of Maxton. Do you know him? While it is true
that Saurwin is not developed — it is also true that he is well acquainted with
Pedro, has personal connections and seems to be fairly active and is getting some
results — it might be a question whether it is advisable to withdraw him?
Some of the Scharrenberg story will be used in the next Saturday's Daily —
also next issue of Voice. I note that it was published in the Western Worker.
In regard to the line on the question of the ISU becoming recognized by the
code. It has been discussed — our basic task is clear — to rally the mass of
workers in the fight for our code and against the application of the shipowners'
code. This is the main tactic in defeating any move to herd them into the ISU.
Secondly to call upon them to join our organization, etc., and to resist any effort
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3165
to force them into the ISU. What would we do in case there was a mass senti"
ment and move upon the part of the seamen for the ISU. Naturally, we would
be reduced to an oppositional role, in the same sense as what happened in Frisco
amongst the longshoremen. However, at the present the perspective and swing
is all toward us — and if there was any widespread effort toward forcing the
seamen into the ISU at the present time it is my opinion that it would even help
us. We can say that during the past few months we have delivered some smash-
ing blows to the ISU — although it would be an exaggeration to say that they are
completely isolated. I will not go into details, but at the present moment we
can say that in at least one port, Baltimore, the seamen are 100 percent behind
us and our program — that in other ports, there has been a marked increase in our
influence — that because of our recent strikes, the mass delegation, the present
Munson line developments, and the Baltimore victories — that we are the
organization that the seamen are thinking about. Finally, all reports at present
indicate that on more and more ships the ISU officials are meeting with strong
opposition from the crews — where a few months ago they were somewhat
neutral, and your report about the ISU on west coast — makes our perspective
even more favorable. With a continued energetic effort upon our part, par-
ticularly upon the west coast, there is every possibility that we can defeat the
ISU — even with the support of the NRA.
Am glad to hear that you are going to write an article for the Voice. Now
for Christ's sake don't forget it and get it in here on time.
Things are moving fast around here. The Greylock, in Baltimore, is out on
strike and has been offered a $10 wage increase. The Munsome still is 100 percent
out — there are no other Munson Line ships in any of the ports — I won't say we
will be able to pull many of them immediately — but we feel confident that within
a week or 10 days we will have several more of the Munson ships out. I'm so
damn busy that work piles up like hell.
Now Harry, in connection with your statement on Mink. This statement will
not be taken up in the fraction — and in my letter of the December 15 I told
you that if you thought you must raise objections, it should be through the
center.
I want to make myself very clear on this — especially in view of your statement
in the letter accompanying the statement. It is unfortunate that you don't keep
carbon copies so therefore I will quote from your letter to make myself clear.
You state "and we will not let anyone's petty politics take away from us capable
forces etc. * * * i refer to Stachel in particular."
From this you frankly state that George is where he is because of "someone's
petty politics." I have the utmost confidence in you Jackson and under no gir-
cumstances (sic) would I accuse you of factionalism — but frankly this is only-
speculating on decisions and trying to find "factional" reasons, or "petty political"
reasons for them being made. We must not only reject "petty politics" — but
we must just as severely reject tendencies that see petty politics in every
decision.
Again why were the reasons he went:
(1) He proposed, very strongly himself.
(2) An even greater insistence upon the party of Ray — who when it looked
like George might not go, raised particular hell.
There were other factors, but these were the basic ones, and if there is any
petty politics in them I will eat my hat.
Now, final reasons why your recommendation is not going to be raised in the
fraction —
(1) Recommendations came from top "fraction — final decisions made by P. B. —
and this year a stronger insistence that the candidates not become public prop-
erty. Very few people know who they are — incidentally you should not have been
informed — and I had hell raised with me already because people knew who
shouldn't. Therefore to raise it in the fraction would be incorrect.
(2) Fraction meetings — and Buro have been held — and no one has raised any
objections and agreed with the formal "proposal" for his temporary leave.
I have other ideas on the whole subject — but I believe the above make it
clear why I take the stand I do and I hope you will understand them and the
spirit I make them — even though there might be some sharp criticism. I still in-
sist that the decision was a correct one and that you have no basis upon which
to raise serious objections. However, if you are still of the same opinion, then
you should and must raise them directly with the center. But imder no cir-
cumstances is the question of where George is at to be raised with anyone on the
coast.
3166 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Well, giiess that's all. I have expressed myself rather honestly in order to
clarify my stand — and hope you agree with it — but I am sure that any sharpness
will not be taken in an uneomradely manner.
With best of luck and drop a line from the North.
Fraternally yours,
Hudson.
Am sending Telford the supplies you req (sic).
Mr. Velde. Mr. Hudson, when you answer by saying "the same
answer," you mean you are refusing to answer on the ground that it
might tend to incriminate you?
Mr. Hudson, Fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. I desire at this time to read certain portions of this
letter and ask you questions with a view of obtaining an explanation
of the meaning of certain things, whether or not you admit having
written this letter :
Now, Harry, in connection with your statement on Mink. This statement will
not be taken up in the fraction — and in my letter of the December 1.5th I told
you that if you thought you mnst raise objections, it should be through the
Center.
Is the term "center" the term usually used in connection with the
central committee of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Tavenner. What was Mink's first name?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Ta\^nner. Are you acquainted with George Mink?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Tavenner. I continue to read as follows :
I want to make myself very clear on this — especially in view of your state-
ment in the letter accompanying the statement. It is unfortunate that you
don't keep carbon copies, so therefore I will quote from your letter to make
myself clear.
You state "and we will not let anyones petty politics take away from
us capable forces, etc. * * * I refer to Stachel in particular."
What position did Stachel hold at that time in the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. Do you know what position Harry Jackson held in
the Communist Party at that time?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. I continue to read :
From this you frankly state that George is where he is because of "someone's
petty politics." I have the utmost confidence in you Jackson, and —
the following words are underscored —
under no circumstances would I accuse you of factionalism — <but frankly this is
only speculating on decisions and trying to find "factional" i-easons, or "petty
political" reasons for them being made. We must not only reject "petty poli-
tics" — but we must just as severely reject tendencies that see petty politics in
every decision.
Again, why were the reasons he went? Before proceeding with
the reasons, where did George Mink go ?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same.
Mr. Ta"\^nner. Was George Mink connected with the shipping
strike on the west coast in 1934?
Mr. Hudson. Still stand on the previous answer.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3167
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Chairman, may the record show at this point
that tlie witness declines to answer when he says "the same answer" ?
Mr. Velde. Yes, the record will so show.
IMr. Tavetstner. Mr. Chairman, I have before me the Jul}^ 1939 issue
of the American Mercury. On page 305 this reference is made to
George Mink :
George Mink, once in the Moscow Profintern (Red International of Labor
Unions), later a fourth section operative in Philadelphia and with Rubens on
the New York waterfront. In July 1935 a Copenhagen court sent Mink to prison
for Soviet espionage.
Now, this letter was written in February 1934, the letter which I
presented to you and which you read.
I want to know if the mission on which George Minlc was sent was
that which resulted in his arrest in Copenhagen and his trial for
espionage in 1935?
Mr. Hudson. I stand on the fifth amendment and refuse to answer
on the grounds of possible self-incrimination.
INIr. Tavenner. Was George Mink given a release from his ac-
tivities in connection with the strike on the west coast and sent to the
Continent of Europe on a mission for the Communist Party in con-
nection with that strike ?
Mr. Hudson. In my reply I stand on the same grounds, the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. I will proceed to read again.
Aeain, why were the reasons he went:
1. He proposed, very strongly himself.
2. An even greater insistence upon.the part of Ray — who, when it looked like
George might not go, raised particular hell.
Who is Ray?
Mr. Hudson. I stand on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. "What official position did Ray hold at that time in
the union or any other organization to your knowledge ?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Ta^t.nner. Mr. Chairman, I have before me a photostatic copy
of the Daily Worker of November 6, 1933. There is an article here,
the headline of which is "38 Workers' Organizations Endorse Com-
munist Party Program." The names of those organizations and the
workers representing them appear in the article. Under the name of
Marine Workers Industrial Union I find the name of Roy Hudson, na-
tional secretary ; Thomas Ray, secretary ; and desire to offer the photo-
static copy into evidence and ask it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 3."
Mr. Velde. Without objection it will be included at this point.
(Photostat of article from Daily Worker of November 6, 1933, was
received in evidence as Hudson Exhibit No. 3. )
HUDSON EXHIBIT NO. 3
[From Daily Worker, New York, November 6, 1933]
38 Workers' Organizations Endorse Communist Party Program
party's fight fob masses' needs cited in statement
industrial unions, unemployed councils, women's councils among backers
OP RED candidates
New York. — Thirty-eight workers' organizations have endorsed the Communist
Party ticket and program in the New York municipal elections. "No other has
3168 COMJVIUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
shown daily its stubborn and ceaseless fight in the shops and streets for the needs
of the masses," says the statement signed by these unions, unemployed councils,
and fraternal organizations.
Headed by such fighting unions as the Marine Worlcers Industrial Union, thc»
Needle Trades Workers Industrial Union, the Steel and Metal Worliers Industrial
Union, the organizations supporting the Comnjunist Tarty, state :
"Only the Communist Party as the party of the working class represents the
interests of the entire working population, stands squarely on the principle that
the provision of adequate food, clothing, and shelter and the defense of the
rights and living standards of the workers are the primary issues in this
campaign."
Among the organizations signing endorsement for the Communist candidates,
are the Unemployed Councils, Friends of the Soviet Union, Councils of Working
Class Women, Anti-Imperialist League, Workers Ex-Servicemen's League, and
the Labor Sports Union.
Needle Trades Industrial Union :
Ben Gold, general secretary
Louis Hynian, president
Irving Potash, secretary
Isadore Weisberg, manager, dress department
Joseph Boruchowitz, manager of cloak department
Samuel Burt, fur dressing department
Ben Stallman, organizer of bathrobe department
Dominick Montello, organizer of custom tailors
Steel and Metal Workers Industrial Union :
James Lustig, organizer
James Matlis, secretary
Marine Workers Industrial Union :
Ray [sic Ray] Hudson, national secretary
Thomas Ray, secretary
Food Workers Industrial Union :
Jay Rubin, general secretary
William Albertson, organizer of hotel and restaurant department
Sam Kramberg, organizer of cafeteria department
Alteration Painters Union : Morris Kushinsky, secretary
Shoe and Leather Workers Industrial Union :
Fred Biedenkapp, organizer
Isadore Rosenberg, secretary
Building Maintenance Workers Industrial Union : Mort Sher, secretary
Drygoods Workers Union :
Louis Kfare, vice chairman
Chester Fierstein, chairman
Furniture Workers Industrial Union : Morris Pizer, secretary
Independent Carpenters Union :
Isaac Berman, organizer
Herman Bogartz, secretary
Nathan Ellin, treasurer
Taxi Workers Union :
Harold Eddy, organizer
Abner Feigin, financial secretary
Cleaners and Dyers Union : Max Rosenberg, secretary
Laundry Workei-g Industrial Union : Sam Berland, secretary
Building and Construction Workers League :
Jack Taylor, secretary
Sam Nessin, general secretary
Trade Union Unity Council :
Andy Overgaard, secretary
Rose Wortis, assistant secretary
Sheppard, organizer
Office Workers Union : Laura Carmon, organizer
Unemployed Council :
Israel Amter, national secretary
Carl Winter, secretary of Greater New York
Richard Sullivan, organizer of Greater New York
International I^ibor Defense:
William Lawrence, secretary. New York district
William Patterson, national secretary
William Fitzgerald, organizer, Harlem section
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3169
Workers International Relief :
Pauline Rogers, New York City secretary
Alfred Wagenknecht, national secretary
Friends of the Soviet Union : B. Friedman, secretary
Anti-Imperialist League :
William Simons, national secretary
John Bruno, secretary, New York.
Anti-Imperialist Alliance : Y. Y. Hsu, national secretary
AVorkers Ex-Servicemen's League :
Harold Hiekersou, national secretary
Joseph Singer, secretary, city committee
Emanuel Levin, national chairman
P. Cashione
Council of Working Class Women :
Clara Bodian, secretary
Clara Shavelson, educational director
Sarah Licht, organizer-secretary
Labor Sports Union : Mack Gordon, secretary, New York district
International Workers Order :
Max Bedacht, national secretary, Jewish section
Harry Schiller, New York City secretary
Sadie Doroshkin, secretary city central
Russian Mutual Aid : Joseph Soltan, president. New York district committee
English Workers Clubs :
J. Landy
Edith Zucker
Finnish Workers Federation
Jewish City Club Committee :
Abraham Laschowitzky, secretary
Harry C. Costrell, national secretary
Icor :
S. Almazov, national secretary
Abraham Olkin, secretary, New York district
John Reed Club : Moe Brogin, executive secretary
Peu (sic) & Hammer: M. Vetch
League of Workers Theater :
Harry Ellon, national secretary
Alfred Sacks, executive director
Mr. Tavenner. "Were 5^011 the national secretary of the Marine
Workers' Industrial Union the date of the publication of this paper,
November 6, 1933?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. You take the position that to admit you held the
position of national secretary of the Marine Workers' Industrial
Union might subject you to criminal prosecution ?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. ScHERER. Mr. Chairman, I ask the witness be directed to answer
the question.
Mr. Velde. Yes, the question ^is a very simple one. I can see no
way in which the answer to the question could possibly incriminate
you. You are directed to answer the question.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. I understand from the press that that organization
that was mentioned has been placed on the so-called subversive list
by the Attorney General, and therefore I stand on the fifth amend-
ment and refuse to answer the question. I will not testify against
myself.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, I did not want to speak on the
matter without refreshing my recollection. An examination of the
41002 — 54 — pt. 2 2
3170 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Guide to Subversive Organizations and Publications, issued by this
committee in 1951, does not contain a citation by any Government
agency of the organization Marine Workers' Industrial Union.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred witli Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Tavenner. So I again ask tlie witness to answer the question.
Mr. Hudson. I still stand on the fifth amendment and decline to
answer. But I read it some place in the paper somewhere. My mind
is very distinct about it.
Mr. Tavenner. Was Thomas Ray secretary of the Marine Workers'
Industrial Union?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Scherer. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully ask that you direct
the witness to answer that question.
Mr. Velde. Yes, the Chair can see no reason
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Velde (continuing). That that would incriminate you, and
you are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Tavenner. Now continuing to read from the letter :
There were other factors, but these were the basic ones, and if there is any
petty politics in them I will eat my hat.
Now final reasons why your recommendation is not going to be raised in the
fraction
1. Recommendations came from top fraction — final decisions made by P. B. —
Does P. B. stand for politbureau of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
JNIr. Tavenner (continuing to read).
And this year a stronger insistence that the candidates not become public
property.
Did that not mean that persons on the politbureau were not to be
publicly known as members, and that that was the position that you
took at that time ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Tavenner (continuing to read).
A very few people know who they are — incidentally you should not have been
informed — and I had hell raised with me already because people knew who
shouldn't. Therefore to raise it in the fraction would be incorrect.
"Wliy all the secrecy about this matter ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Jackson. Can counsel define further for the record a "fraction"
at this time ?
Mr. Velde. I think it was defined by our witness yesterday, Mr.
Rosser, but the Chair would appreciate it.
Mr. Tavenner. That very question was asked the witness yester-
day, a person who had been a high functionary in the Young Com-
munist League, Mr. Lou Rosser, and he defined "fraction" as being
a group of representatives in an industry who were members of the
Communist Party and met on the Communist Party level to consider
Communist Party affairs within that particular industry or unit.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3171
Mr. Tavenner (continuing to read) .
2. Fraction meeting — and Buro have been held — and no one has raised any
objections and agreed with the formal "proposal" for his temporary leave.
Does that not indicate that the matter of George Mink's leave and
his assignment to a place other than the west coast had been passed
upon by the politbureau of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Tavenner. I continue to read :
I have other ideas on the whole subject — but I believe the above make it clear
why I take the stand I do and I hope you will understand them and the spirit I
make them — even though there might be some sharp criticism. I still insist that
the decision was a correct one and that you have no basis upon which to raise
serious objections. However, if you are still of the same opinion, then you
should and must raise them directly with the center. But under no circum-
stances is the question of where George is at to be raised with anyone on the
coast.
What reason was there for the Communist Party to conceal from the
rank and file labor-union members on the coast or even Communist
Party members the fact that George Mink was being assigned to some
particular process ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer as the previous stand on the fifth amend-
ment.
Mr. Tavenner. And on the same grounds ?
Mr. Hudson. Fifth amendment, won't be a witness against myself.
Mr. Tavenner (continuing to read) :
Well, guess that's all. I have expressed myself rather honestly in order to
clarify my stand— and hope you agree with it — but I am sure that any sharpness
will not be taken in an uncomradely manner.
With best of luck and drop a line from the North.
Fraternally yours, Hudson.
Didn't you severely take Harry Jackson to task for questioning a
directive of the Communist Party with regard to an assignment to
George Mink ?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. Do you know where George Mink is now ?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer left the hearing room at this
point.)
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Hudson, I hand you a second letter, photostatic
copy of a letter, bearing date of February 5, 1934, addressed to H.
Jackson, purportedly signed "Hudson," and I will ask you to examine
the signature of this letter and state whether or not it is a copy of your
signature.
(Representative Donald L. Jackson left the hearing room at this
point.)
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
(Representative Donald L. Jackson returned to the hearing room at
this point.)
Mr. Tavenner. Did you examine the signature, Mr. Hudson ?
Mr. Hudson. I did ; my answer is the same as the previous one.
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer returned to the hearing room at
this point.)
Mr. Tavenner. I desire to introduce the photostatic copy of the
letter into evidence and ask that it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 4.'"
Mr. Velde. Hudson Exhibit No. 4?
3172 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Tavenner. Yes.
Mr. Veli^e. Without objection it will be admitted at this point.
(Photostat of letter addressed to H. Jackson, dated February 5, 1934,.
was received in evidence as Hudson exhibit No. 4.)
HUDSON EXHIBIT NO. 4
February 5, 1934.
H. Jackson,
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear Comrade Jackson : Have finally time to briefly answer your letter of
the 30th, which came during the time I was out of town.
It sure was too bad that I did not have the material sent out by the ILA before
we went to Washington — especially the one containing the telegram to Ryan
insisting upon their demands for a $1 hour — if we had of had this one — or
known about it — we would have presented it there and it would have been
dynamite.
Today I have already sent you a wire containing the stand of the ILA at
the hearing. There is little to add to this — there was absolutely no word saidb
about the demands of the west coast or of their other peculiar problems.
In connection with mistake in connection with calling the convention — it
seems to me that this mistake about the convention being called for the purpose-
of electing a new executive, originated, not in Everett, but in Frisco by this-
guy Holman.
In view of the stand taking (sic) by the ILA at the hearings — and on the basis
of the more or less favorable report contained in your letter regards the ILA.
response — there should be good ground for doing things, if a real push is started.
Yes, I'm raising hell about no articles from you — and still don't think you
can get out of it by passing the buck to Telford. You can write and the articles
contained in the Waterfront Worker are god damn good — and there is no reason
why we can't get some for the Voice.
Right now I hereby give you an assignment to write a general article reviewing;
the whole situation, past and present, in connection with the ILA for the coming
issue of the Voice.
And in regards to the tecknical (sic) help — I haven't got any "it" either,
and certainly none to spare in sending you. Consequently no steno — and haven't
bad none for 3 or 4 months. And we have 100 times more work here — say yoa
should see the correspondence that piled up in my absence — it makes me sick
to look at it all. So brother, steno or no steno — do your stuff.
Am glad to hear that you got the guy off the mudflats and down on the water-
front.
Just a few words very briefly about here. The code delegation was a tre-
mendous success. We have a mass movement in Baltimore, practically control-
ling the town (hope we maintain and consolidate it). They have now began a
struggle there for central shipping. The Munson Line plan looks good. I just
spoke to Baltimore long distance and they inform me that the Munsomo is out
100 percent in favor of our demands which will be presented on a company scale
here in New York Wednesday. Our last Buro meeting was good and made a
number of important decisions — will not go into detail concerning them because
the minutes will be out shortly and will be sent you. So to conclude things are
beginning to look a little better.
In connection with the Northwest — the reports that I receive from there are
fairly encouraging and some progress is to be recorded. I believe that now is-
a very opportune time for you to go up there — not only will you be able to.
stimulate the v/ork, but also will be able to clarify some problems that are
developing there in regard to methods of work, etc. One thing that must be
done is put the work inside the ILA on a more definite oppositional basis, in the
sense that it will function through the medium of the opposition group and not
solely through the channels of our union.
In connection with the code — I think it is clear that our task is to intensify
all of our work, both amongst the seamen and longshoremen, around the slogans —
smash any attempt to enforce the shipowners code — strike for the code of the
MWIU.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3173
Will close this letter because have a large amount of other correspondence to
answer.
Best of luck,
Hudson.
P. S. — I have received vpord from Pedro that a new fellow by the name of
Maxon has also been drawn into activities along with Saurin (sic) and that he is
functioning as secretary, with Saurwiu as port organizer. Do you know unything
about this — and do you know who this bird is?
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Chairman, may I interpose a question at this
point ?
Mr. Velde. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Hudson, what was the date of that letter?
Mr. Tavenner. February 5, 1934.
Mr. Moulder. On the fifth day of February 1934 did you own a
typewriter ?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Velde, You are directed to answer that question.
Mr. Hudson. I still stand on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Velde. There is no way that owning a typewriter that I can.
possibly see can tend to incriminate you. You certainly are directed
to answer that question.
Mr. Hudson. I read about them bringing in typewriters on other
people. I stand on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Velde. That was a matter of evidence. I know what you are
referring to, but the mere owning of a typewriter would not tend to
incriminate you.
Mr. Jackson. Are you under the apprehension that there is a type-
writer that might be brought in in case you answered the question?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. I refuse to answer on the grounds of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, I will not take the time to read the
second exhibit, as I do not think it is necessary to ask any question
based on it at this time.
Mr. Hudson, a witness by the name of Whittaker Chambers testi-
fied before this committee on xA.ugust 30, 1948. In the course of his
testimony he described the method of travel that he was accustomed
to resort to in going from New York to Washington. He was asked
the question by Mr. Nixon, now Vice President Nixon, "Did you
travel to and from New York and Washington with him on any oc-
casion?" "With him" meant J. Peters.
Mr. Chambers. Yes, I did, both by train and by car.
Mr. Nixon. With Mr. Peters?
Mr. Chambers. Yes, sir. The car might make an interesting aside.
Mr. Nixon. What?
Mr. Chambers. The car might make an interesting aside.
Mr. NixoN. Yes.
Mr. Chambers. There was at that time working in the Bureau of Indian
Affairs a Hungarian girl Communist
And Mr. Chambers described her as a person who may have lived
at your home, and he referred to you as a maritime organizer of some
kind, and then he continues to state,
and it was in her car that we traveled down there together. What year that
would be I am not quite certain, but I should think it might be in 1936 or some-
thing like that.
3174 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Nixon. Was it just you and Mr. Peters alone in the car?
Mr. Chambers. No, the girl was driving. I don't remember her name.
Mr. NixoN. She drove the car?
Mr. Chambers. I believe she was assistant to Mr. Collier.
Can you identify the girl referred to by Mr. Chambers in that
testimony ?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Hudson, I present to you photostatic copies of
excerpts taken from the Party Organizer, a publication issued by the
Communist Party, the issue being for May-June 1934, in which the
article referred to is the Work of the Marine Union by Roy Hudson.
I will ask you if you wrote that article and submitted it for publi-
cation.
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson, Without reading it thoroughly my answer is the same
as the previous one.
Mr. ScHERER. Mr. Chairman, I again ask that the witness be di-
rected to answer that question, whether he wrote the article in this
book entitled the Work of the Marine Union. How can that possibly
incriminate him?
Mr. Velde. Yes, the Chair agrees. I don't see how it could possibly
incriminate you, and so you are directed to answer the question, Mr.
Hudson.
Mr. Hudson. I stand on the fifth amendment and will not testify
against myself.
Mr. Ta\'enner. I desire to offer the document in evidence and ask
that it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 5".
Mr. Velde. It will be admitted without objection at this point.
(Photostat of excerpts from the publication. Party Organizer for
May-June 1934, was received in evidence as Hudson exhibit No. 5.)
HUDSON EXHIBIT NO. 5
[From the Party Organizer, May-June 1934, pp. 26-30]
The Work of the Marine Union
By Roy Hudson
Fascism, war and revolutionary uprisincrs are on the order of the day. All
of lis nocpnt these statements contained in the analysis of the ECCI and in
Comrade Browder's report as undisputed facts. But when our comrades do
th"ir evpryday work they say : "These thines are coming: on us maybe — but
not now." Comrades, these facts are on us today; tomorrow they will be even
closer upon us.
Recently, we know every force in Cuba was mobilized to crush the revolutionary
movement of the Cuban masses. Tn attempting to destroy the revolutionary
organizations they aimed their main blow acainst the Cuban dock workers union
and to dramatize their determination to smash this, the first blow was struck
when an American ship left the Cuban port loaded with scab car^ro.
The Cuban workers had more than a right to expect support from us. Their
strugjrle was primarily acainst our own bos'^es here. What support did they
get from us? It is true that on this ship in Havana members of our union
succeeded in mobilizins; the seamen to refuse to unload the carffo. Tn New
York we made feeble attempts to stop the unloadini?. The situation found us —
the Communist Party, particularly in New York — orsranizationally weak, and
slow politically in reacting to the situation, in realizing our responsibility and
tasks. But here, riffbt on the order of the day, was a revolutionary situation
where the masses were in motion, where we had concrete immediate tasks to
support the Cuban workers who were moving forward toward the seizure of power,
and struggling primarily against American imperialism.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3175
Our comrades in the trade unions and in the party itself were not up to this
situation. We were not prepared to act in a truly Bolshevik manner. We
cannot be satisfied with some of the improvements in our work, in our small
successes among the basic workers of the American working class.
MASS AND NATIONAL STRUGGLE LED BY UNION
This is true of what we have accomplished in the marine industry. We can
say that in the period since the extraordinary conference there have been a num-
ber of struggles of seamen and longshoremen led by our party — a mass campaign
carried on against the NRA. We have seen the organized growth of the MWIU.
Bringing the marine workers into the party has improved. There has been a
beginning of a more serious approach on the part of the party committees to the
question of work in this basic industry. I would like to touch upon a few of the
lessons to be drawn as a result of some of our experiences.
First, a number of strikes have taken place aboard ship. These struggles
are beginning to take on a mass and national character. For instance, the strike
of 14 coal ports in Boston is an example. We have been able to initiate these
struggles, extend them to other ports, broaden them out from individual ship
strikes to larger mass struggles becaose [sic] we have carried on the policy of
concentration. Our main energy was concentrated upon 1 company and 45
ship strikes were developed out of this concentration. As a result these struggles
have become a lever which we are now using to set the masses into action and
winning the mass of the workers.
GOVERNMENT FORCED TO GRANT WORKERS CONTROL OF BELIEF
In the field of unemployment in our union — the main impetus to the growth
of struggles was the fact that our union participated in struggles of the unem-
ployed. Some outstanding victories have been won, especially in Baltimore.
What are the main results? Through the proper approach of our marine union
to the question we forced real concessions in the form of relief from the Gov-
ernment. More than this. In Baltimore we see this : that with our organized
power, even at this time, we succeeded in forcing tlie Government to concede
the right of the workers to control all the relief through their elected committees.
The next question is. Is it possible at this time for us to build the revolutionary
unions here in the United States? I say "Yes," comrades. This experience we
have had among the seamen especially proves it. In this war industry the bosses
recognize and fear us and have given full support to the officials of the ISU who
have carried on a mass campaign in connection with the NRA. Despite this,
we have prevented them from reestablishing themselves with any kind of mass
base in our industry. We have placed ourselves at the head of every struggle of
seamen that has taken place. The ISU and independent unions have not been
able to push us aside. On the contrary, it is our union, the revolutionary union
alone which can register growth amongst the seamen on the basis of the struggle
against the NRA. This does not mean that we have exposed or isolated the
fakers. On the contrary, they are still the main danger, but we have some suc-
cesses. We have the initiative and our perspective here among the seamen must
be to prevent the establishment of the ISU or independent unions, to win the
masses of seamen from the revolutionary union.
I think it is important to point out that we were able to conduct a successful
struggle against the reformists because we are a national union and we have
carried on a uniform fight in the principal ports of the United States. Another
lesson that we must drill into the consciousness of all coastland districts is that
a strike in the marine industry cannot be confined to one port. We must mobilize
all the forces in various ports. The weakness of the Boston coal boat strike was
precisely because the party was not conscious of this. We were not able to coordi-
nate our work effectively in Norfolk by bringing the coal trimmers into action.
OPPOSITION WORK IN REFORMIST UNIONS
Not only have we made some headway in building our union as a revolutionary
union. There have been some successes in developing an opposition movement.
At the code hearings in Washington our union presented a statement defending
the right of these workers, 12,000 of them, to organize into the ILA, protesting
against a ruling of the NRA, and demanding the recognition of the union that
the masses had gone into, the ILA. The officials who were present did not take
any stand upon these matters. When the workers learned of our stand in
3176 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
fighting for their rights, for the right of their organization to be recognized,
what was the result. The result was that we won their confidence, that the
opposition movement which we had built up over a period of time received
a tremendous impetus. At one of the meetings, where they read the minutes,
a proposal was made by a rank and file worker that they should give the
$200 which they were going to give to some shyster lawyer, to the Red union,
because we fought in their interest. As a result of adopting this correct position
toward those workers inside the reformist union, our opposition movement de-
veloped. We forced the calling of a rank and file convention. At this convention
our whole program, including refusal to load ships flying the Nazi flag was
adopted.
There has been during this period some mobilization of the party apparatus
of the mass organizations for support of winning the workers in the basic
industries. I can cite some examples in this respect. Members of the needle
trades attended our convention and they voluntarily decided as a part of the
revolutionary working class they would assume some responsibility toward
help extending the influence of the revolutionary movement where we were
weakest. They pledged $25 a month to the Marine Workers Voice and kept
this pledge. It is my opinion that we have many lessons to learn from the
needle trades, and I say this is one example many other sections of the revolu-
tionary movement could follow to good example. For instance. New Orleans
which is a forgotten outpost of the revolutionary movement. We could make
headway much faster if some sections who are stronger would realize the impor-
tance of this work and undertake to support it.
These are the signs showing the possibilities we have. They are fruits of an
attempt to apply the open letter. But we have just scratched the surface.
What things hold us up? We don't go ahead fast enough.
Let us take the west coast. It is true we have established ourselves at the
head of the fishermen and loggers, an agricultural union. These are tremendously
important. But marine out there is still the basic task. What is happening
there? While we captiired the agricultural workers 1,200 longshoremen joined
the ILA. It does not help to say we are beginning to do opposition work there.
If there had been a real orientation, if the pai*ty had mobilized its forces and
given more guidance to marine, we would be more in the leadership, we would
have organizational control of the longshoremen, who at one time refused to load
munition against the Soviet Union.
In New York there is a jieculiar problem. We cannot criticize New York as
elsewhere because here there has been a more serious attempt to solve some of
the problems, to work out a plan of action and mobilize the party forces. Let
us just look at some of the things done in New York recently since the party
conference. These are things we have been talking about for years. Some of
the proposals just being put into effect, they were made so long ago and nothing
done about them, that I forgot them all. It took so long to get arovmd to them.
Such hesitation, such slowness, and even unwillingness to completely utilize all
of our resources for realizing our concentration task. What New York needs
now more than anything else is maybe an open letter on Bolshevik tempo.
"we have the forces, we can go foewaed"
Comrades, I say that this convention proves one thing: That the party is
beginning to have an understanding of the open letter, has begun to learn how to
apply it, is beginning to have results, and the result for one thing is, that we
now have such a convention that has never taken place before in the history of
the party. This convention shows us that the task can be done, that we are
learning how. But we have been slow. Out of this convention must come the
determination, grown out of the fact that it is possible for us to realize the
tasks we set ourselves, that we are going to accomplish these things at the
rate of 100 percent faster than in the past period.
We have the policy, we have the experience, we have the forces. These forces
are to be seen at this convention. I say, with this experience behind the line
of the party presented to the convention by Comrade Browder, with Comrade
Browder leading us, I say we can go forward to win the masses of workers of
America, to go forward toward a Soviet America.
Mr. Tavenner. I hand you another issue of the same publication
for the month of August 1937 wherein appears an article entitled
"Building the Party in Marine" by Roy Hudson, and I will ask you
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3177
whether or not you were the author of that article and submitted it
for publication?
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. 'I devsire to offer the document in evidence and ask
it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 6."
Mr. Velde. Without objection it will be admitted at this point.
(Photostat of excerpts from the Party Organizer for August 1937
was received in evidence as Hudson exhibit No. 6.)
HUDSON EXHIBIT NO. 6
[From Party Organizer, August 1937, pp. 6-12]
Building the Party in Marine
(By Roy Hudson)
I wish to deal with some of our experiences in the marine industry in rela-
tion to the present problems of the building and functioning of the party. The
solution of these questions, in my opinion, is decisive in determining whether or
not we will continue to give leadership to the masses.
Today, in the marine industry, the militancy of the workers is high, the con-
sciousness of their strength is increasing. Powerful unions have been estab-
lished which, generally, have a wide degree of democracy. There is mass
sentiment for and support of militant policies, progressive measures, and for
the C. I. O. In this generally favorable situation, our party members have a
chance to worli with tens of thousands of workers. We are an influence in
determining policies. Large numbers of seamen, longshoremen, and other
workers from the industry have joined the party in various ports from coast
to coast.
ACTIVIZINQ CUE PARTY MEMBERS
How are we going to activize our party members, increase our influence, and
build the party? The leadership of our party, the entire membership, in fact,
must first of all understand more clearly than we do now what our tasks are in
the present situation. Masses are in motion, fundamental changes are taking
place, but all forces of labor of a progressive character are not yet utilizing their
full strength to rally great masses of the people to combat and defeat reaction in
this country, are not yet the backbone of the peace movement, and so forth.
We Communists know that the masses cannot consolidate their present gains,
increase their strength and continue to march forward unless their support for
these questions is won, and unless out of the struggle for such issues there
emerges a movement that will unite all the forces of labor, progressive and
democratic, in this country.
What is clear to us must be made clear to the masses. That is our task. We
cannot influence the great movement of the people, we cannot give leadership
solely through improving and strengthening our work within the mass organiza-
tions of the people. We must also learn how to develop more the independent
activities of the party, to establish the legality and citizenship of the party, as
Comrade Browder put it.
Because of our weakness in this respect, I say that the development of our
independent activities is the key to the question at the present time, not only
for the correct functioning of the party organization, for increased recruitment
into the party, but for finally establishing leadership of our party among the
masses. This is one of the conclusions we have come to in marine in tackling
the problem of how to improve the life of our units and increase the effectiveness
of our work.
OUR party's work to aid SPAIN
Let us take one example, the campaign for Spain. Up until a short time ago,
Spain had not been made an issue among the masses in marine. We finally
decided to raise the question, and let the party directly take the initiative.
Through our party unit we got out a pamphlet ; we issued a number of leaflets
in the name of the party, telling the marine workers concretely what they
could do. We started a campaign openly in the name of the party. We tied up
this work especially with the activities of our individual comrades on the
docks, on the ships, and among the unemployed.
3178 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
What results can we report? Take New York. Remember, the masses of
the workers, and particularly the seamen, knew it was the party that took the
initiative in raising this question. The union has now taken official action,
has established an oflBcial seamen's committee in support of Spain. Large
numbers of ships are taking up collections of funds. And if you will read the
Daily Worker, next to the I. W. O. in New York, the seamen's union is leading
in the collection of funds for Spain. Nearly every other seaman on the water-
front is wearing a Lincoln Battalion button at this time.
Among the longshoremen, where our movement is weakest, where the fear
of intimidation exists, here it is very difficult to work; nevertheless, substantial
sums of money are being collected.
nEVELOPING INDEPENDENT ACTmTY
In developing our independent activity it seems to me that agitation and
propaganda will be of tremendous importance. To a certain extent the Daily
Worker has been one of our main means of popularizing the role of the party
among the maritime workers. This can be reflected in a number of places, at
least in the East, where on nearly every major problem that has confronted
the workers in the industry, the party had made clear its position in the Daily
Worker, which in the struggle has been pretty well distributed and accepted
by the workers. As a result of this systematic presentation of the party's
policies on major questions, the party has established quite an authoritative
position among large sections of the seamen.
Take an example in connection with the recent change here in establishing
the new union. A ship came in on the Pacific coast whose men couldn't under-
stand the change which seemed to have happened overnight. The information
they got from the union members thore did not convince them. One of the
Avorkers on the ship, a nonparty worker, happened to get hold of the Daily
Worker, in which there was an article explaining the policy. He took the
article aboard the ship, where others read it and the policy was cleared up.
Or take the example of a statement made b.v one of the workers in the union
who is not too friendly toward the Communists, who occasionally Red-baits.
When the men were confronted with diflSculty and a complicated situation in
which the workers were uncertain because they weren't clear on policy, this
worker made a remark, "It's time the Daily Worker came out with an article
telling us what it is all about and what we should do." Large sef'tions of
workers are beginning to look towards the party for some explanation of the
policies confronting them.
On the other hand, while we can report in strikes and struggles a real utiliza-
tion of the Daily Worker and mass distribution of it, systematic efforts to build
the Daily Worker do not exist. The fact that there is not a mass sale of the
Daily Worker upon the waterfront is due mainly to neglect of this point. We
must convince our comrades that we can establish the party among the workers
openly.
For example, about 8 or 9 months ago we had a situation in New York where
the rank and file came into control of one of the unions. The workers elected
new officials, among whom were some Communists. These had been active
as Communists on the waterfront for years before the elections. Wliat was
the first thing that happened after they were elected? Some of them came
forward with the idea that a separate unit of officials only should he organized
so as not to be exposed. We did not accept this proposal. We said that for
us the time is past when, in order to maintain our position, we have to hide;
the time has arrived when we are able to maintain our position only on the
basis of establishing the right of the Communists to function in the union and
to occupy posts when elected by the workers. For the Communists have no
interests separate from those of the workers. The Communists have been in
the forefront in efforts to strengthen and build the unions of the marine workers.
The comrades remained in the unit and we recruited many new members.
Strange to say, these comrades are not on the spot. With the help of the new
members they are being more effective in their woi-k.
ESTABLISHING THE LEGALITY OF OITR PARTY
We have got to convince our comrades on two points. First of all, wh?n
the work reaches a certain stage in the union, we must establish the "legality"
of the party — the right of the Communists not alone to belong to the imions,
but to hold positions. This is the most effective means of preventing the Red
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3179
scare from arising, and of defeating it when it does arise. We must show our
comrades that after a certain period, concealing our identity deliberately breeds
distrust among workers. They cannot xniderstand wliy we are ashamed ; why
we hide the fact that we are Communists. This makes it possible for the
reactionaries to raise the Red scare and conduct a campaign against us. But
once we establish the fact that we are Communists, especially through leading
people who have previously shown fighting ability and have prestige among
the workers because of their activity in building the union, we don't have to
take a negative position but can take the offensive.
Secondly, we have got to convince our comrades tliat only through the party
taking the initiative on many questions, systematically coming forward as
an organization, will we be able to win the workers on many important issues
and thus improve the work of our comrades in strengthening the union.
Let us take one example. A few weeks ago in New York a small ship with
three comrades aboard held an open meeting on the ship which most of the
crew who are not Communists attended. A discussion was held on the ship
regarding the party and as a result of the discussion three of the members
of the crew were recruited.
Comrades, when we begin to see even isolated cases like this, it is important
for us. It shows that our party members on the job felt that they had the
confidence of the workers who were not Communists and knew that the workers
had the strength in their union to give them protection. They were not afraid
to come forward. Furthermore, all of these comrades had joined the party
in recent months and were proud of the fact. Tliey were convinced they had
the right to belong to the party ; they wanted to bring the party forward and
show the party to the workers. The new comrades are showing more initiative
in bringing forward the party. They avoid antagonizing tlie workers, and
increase our influence.
BECRUITING
I want to deal now with recruiting and the functioning of the units. One
of our units which had not been functioning proi)erly during the last few months
began to function better as a result of developing independent activity. We
then decided to strengthen the leadership of the unit and to give it a plan of
action. Too often we come before workers with general tasks, with nothing
specific. When we come to them with specific proposals the unit can become
active in establishing leadership. Then we considered establishing more democ-
racy in the unit. My opinion is that aside from the question of proper people
to lead units and more clarity as to our tasks, the next thing is democracy,
greater democracy, in the unit. I know that in the unit I belong to, the election
of an organizer was rather formal. Until recently we did not even bother to
elect an auditing committee to go over the finances of the unit and we did not
bring the financial problems of the unit before the membership. We have begun
to do this now and can note some change.
The party, for the first time, is beginning to establish itself on the job as a re-
sult of the work of the Communists on the ships. On 1 passenger ship a unit of
about 6 people recruited 10 new members. On another large passenger ship a
party unit of 2 or 3 people has grown to 16. A number of the people recruited
into the party are a direct result of our work on the ships by the comrades who
are on the job.
During the strike in New York among the seamen we recruited between 250
and .300 new people into the party. Following the strike some dropped out in the
first month, but during the following 3 months 50 new members were recruited
by the seamen, with a steady increase each month.
Who are recruiting these people? The rank and filers are the main forces
who are recruiting at this time, but leading comrades also participate. The
Negro comrades, in the past 4 or 5 months, have shown the most initiative in
recruiting. Eight or 9 months ago the seamen in New York had only 1 Negro
comrade in the party ; now we have 40.
During the strike we had open unit meetings a number of times. Sometimes
we had as many as five or six hundred seamen at these meetings. Party lead-
ers would speak on the program of the party. At these open unit meetiuTs lead-
ers of the strike would act as chairmen. We not only recruited people, but the
Red scare wasn't raised on the waterfront.
On the question of education and training of forces. I want to speak about
the idea of orgnnizing training schools on an industrial basis. Following the
strike here we had a 3-week marine school, to which we sent the most capable
3180 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
people who were in the strike. We found that it enabled us to teach these com-
rades more effectively, to get more results. In the future, I think that we
should not only have these schools in marine, but in steel, auto and other
industries.
Mr. Tavenner. I hand you a tliird and last article from the same
publication, the issue being that of May 1938, and the article is en-
titled "Work Among the Masses, a discussion on fractions," by Koy
Hudson. Will you please state whether or not you were the author
of the article and whether you submitted it for publication ?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. My answer is the same as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. I desire to offer the document in evidence and ask
it be marked "Hudson Exhibit No. 7."
Mr. Velde. Without objection it will be so admitted.
(Photostat of excerpts from the Party Organizer for May 1938 was
received in evidence as Hudson exhibit No. 7.)
HUDSON EXHIBIT NO. 7
[From Party Organizer, May 1938, pp. 10-13]
Work Among the Masses
a discussion on fractions
(By Roy Hudson)
The increased influence and strength of the party, as well as the growth of the
general projrressive movement, necessitate that we adjust our methods of work
to the conditions which confront us. In doing so we take into account the
changes in the mass organizations in the direction of a more progressive and
democratic character, as well as our relationship not only to the masses in these
organizations, but to the progressive sections of the leadership.
At the Party Builders Congress, Comrade Stachel, speaking of our work in
trade unions and mass organizations, emphasized the need for a complete change
in our fraction system and pointed out that we were already on the road to
abolishing the party general fractions.
What are the reasons for these changes? Will it lead to strengthening or
weakening our work, and how will we be able to establish the influence of the
party over wider sections of the working class movement? These are questions
that will require examination and clarification at the coming convention.
These steps do not mean changing our fundamental policies. The policy of
the party has always been and remains that of helping to build and strengthen
the mass organizations of the workers and people and to help realize the aims
and purposes of these organizations. By exercising the same rights as other
members. Communists always attempt to secure the adoption of policies that
will most effectively enable the membership to advance and protect their interests ;
and at the same time have the duty of supporting and fighting for those policies
democratically arrived at and approved by the membership. Thus, the changes
proposed do not mean revision of fundamental policies, but adjustment of
methods in the light of changing conditions.
FACTORS INFLUENCING OUR CHANGE
What then are some of the factors that infiuence our whole approach to the
problem ?
First, the question of our work in fields under the influence of progressive
policies, in which there is considerable democracy, and where the Communists
are being accepted on a wider scale as part of the progressive movement and
where in a number of cases we have established our "citizenship." Surely, here
we must endeavor to influence the policies of these organizations in collabora-
tion with all other progressive forces through the correctness of our arguments,
and through exercising those rights guaranteed to every member — that of par-
ticipating in shaping policies and determining leadership, through the exercise of
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3181
democratic processes. In such circumstances, it would be harmful to carry over
methods of work that were and are correct in organizations where reactionary
bureaucrats use their usurped power to prevent democratic participation of the
workers in the affairs of an organization.
Organized fraction work, which under certain conditions serves to rally all
scattered progressive forces and strengthen the fight for democracy and progres-
sive policies, would, under different circumstances, build an artical [sic] bar-
rier between the Communists and nonparty workers and seriously hinder the
cooperation of all progressive forces.
Let us see how the growth of the party affects this problem. Not only is our
party a united party, whose membership can be relied upon to fight for its gen-
eral policies, but the party is no longer the weak force it was a few years ago.
We have cases, which unfortunately are not yet characteristic of the party's
strength everywhere, where as many as seven or eight hundred Communists be-
long to a given mass organization in one locality. That such organizations are
democratic and progressive goes without saying: otherwise there would be
something wrong with the Communists who are members of it.
Here, the holding of general fraction meetings to discuss problems coming
before the union is bound to create the feeling among nonparty workers that we
have no confidence in them, that we are trying mechanically to influence and
control the policies of the organization. Also, it contributes to an unhealthy
atmosphere in the organization, in as much as it discourages the widest possible
exchange of opinion at the meetings of the organization and the drawing in of
the largest possible sections of membership into discussing the problems before
their organization.
Such a situation would inevitably breed distrust agains the Communists. The
changes in our methods of work are a concession to this distrust, aimed at
improving the relationship between the party and the masses, but a concession
which will not weaken the activities of the party or the masses.
EESPONSIBILITY OF COMMUNISTS IN MASS ORGANIZATIONS
As for Communists who have been elected into the leadership by the members
of the organization to which they belong, surely, the prestige of such Com-
munists, and the confidence of the workers, would not be deserved if their
authority and leadership were not won and maintained as a result of their own
individual activities and ability to help the masses to arrive at correct decisions,
as well as their direct responsibilty to the rank and file.
If we are to lead, not through organized fraction work, but through greater
Communist understanding, responsibility and work, then there will have to be
greater emphasis upon individual responsibilitif, ability and knowledge. Every
Communist will have to acquire a better understanding of the general policies
and tactics of the party, of the teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin.
Only if we are armed in this manner will the Communists be able even more
effectively to help the masses, among whom we are working and whose problems
we know, to arrive at correct answers to the immediate problems confronting
them and systematically to win them for greater support of the policies of our
party. It will also mean that the work of each comrade will be subject to
a more critical review by the party and a consequent higher degree of discipline
and Communist responsibility.
Carrying through these changes will attach even greater importance to the
work of shop, industrial and branch vmits, as the medium not only of develop-
ing- the independent activities of the party, but as a most important center for
arming our forces with the policies of the party. Greater stress will have to be
laid upon regular attendance at unit meetings, upon improving the political life
and the functioning of the lower party organizations through the more active
participation of leading comrades.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Cliairman, I should like the record to show that
in each instance the documents in question, the articles in question,
were examined by the witness and by his attorney.
Mr. Velde. The record will so state.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, I shall not attempt to base ques-
tions on these articles because of the shortness of time. I may want
to refer to them at another time.
Mr. Hudson, what is your present occupation ?
3182 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hudson. At present I am unemployed.
Mr. Tavenner. What was your last occupation?
Mr. Hudson. Working- as a house painter.
Mr. Tavenner. How long have you been working as a house
painter?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. A few years.
Mr. Tavenner. What years ?
Mr. Hudson. Well, I started working originally, as I recall it, in
the trade about 1930.
Mr. Tavenner. What time?
INIr. Hudson. About 1930.
Mr. Tavenner. Over what period of time were you regularly em-
ployed in that work?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. I refuse to answer on the grounds of the fifth amend-
ment.
Mr. Tavenner. When did you take up your residence in San
Francisco?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. ScHERER. I ask that the Chair direct the witness to answer
when he took up his residence in San Francisco ; I mean, it is getting
silly.
Mr. Velde. Absolutely; there is no reason why you should not
answer that question. It couldn't possibly incriminate you. You
are directed to answer that question.
Mr. ScHERER. I think it is a nice town.
Mr. Velde. Upon direction do you still refuse to answer?
Mr. Hudson. Still refuse.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Hudson, were you assigned by the Communist
Party to the west coast in 1950 as the coast labor coordinator?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. As a matter of fact, although assigned to that posi-
tion, yon were never able to actually serve in that capacity because
of internal disputes within the Communist Party; isn't that true?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer as the previous one.
Mr. Tavenner. How long have you been unemployed ?
Mi\ Hudson. About 2 weeks.
Mr. Ta\tenner. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Hudson, have you ever resided in New York
City?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer as the previous one.
Mr. Jackson. Have you ever been employed in New York City ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer as the previous one.
Mr. Jackson. Have you ever lived in Chicago ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer as the previous one.
Mr. Jackson. I ask that the witness be directed to answer.
Mr. Velde. You are directed to answer the question, Mr. Hudson,
Mr. Hudson. I stand on the fifth amendment and refuse to testify
against myself.
Mr. Jackson. Have you ever been employed in Chicago?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Velde. You are directed to answer the question.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3183
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Chairman, I should like directions on all of these
questions that I am asking. Have you ever resided in Detroit?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer as the previous one.
Mr. Velde. You are directed to answer that question.
]\Ir. Hudson. I stand on the fifth amendment.
Mr. Jackson. Have you ever resided in Los Angeles?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Velde. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Hudson. Same as the previous answer.
Mr. Jackson Have you ever resided in San Francisco?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
Mr. Hudson. I really think that — is that a serious question?
Mr. Jackson. That is a very serious question, Mr. Hudson ; it may
develop to be quite a serious matter.
Mr. Hudson. I have already answered it.
Mr. Jackson. Will you answer it again, please?
Mr, Hudson. I have.
Mr. Jackson. You have resided in San Francisco?
Mr. Hudson. I have.
Mr. Jackson. Have you ever resided in Washington, D. C?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Jackson. Were you ever employed in any capacity in Wash-
ington, D. C. ?
Mr. Hudson. Same answer.
Mr. Jackson. Are you here in response to a subpena?
Mr. Hudson. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. When was the subpena delivered to you ?
Mr. Hudson. Two or three weeks ago. I couldn't tell you the
exact date.
Mr. Jackson. Where was the subpena delivered to you ?
Mr. Hudson. My home.
Mr. Jackson. Did you receive it personally ?
Mr. Hudson. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. I have no further questions.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Scherer. I have no questions.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Counsel asked you the question as to whether
or not you were a functionary, or ever had been, of the Communist
Party. I want to ask a question whether or not you are now or ever
have been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hudson. I stand on the fifth Amendment and refuse to testify
against myself.
Mr. Moulder. That is all, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. DoYLE. No questions.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Hudson, you have undoubtedly been a high func-
tionary in the Communist Party. We are ascertaining from previous
hearings that the Communist Party worked with Soviet Russia
through the Soviet Embassies and consulates to give some of our
scientific secrets to Soviet Russia. Have you ever participated in
an espionage plot against the United States?
(At this point Mr. Hudson conferred with Mr. Andersen.)
3184 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hudson. I refuse to answer on the same basis as previous
answers.
Mr. Velde. Is there any reason why this witness should be further
retained, Mr. Counsel '^
Mr. Tavenner. No, sir.
Mr. Velde. If not, the witness is dismissed.
Call your next witness.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. John W. Mass.
Mr. VeIjDE. In the testimony you are about to give before this sub-
committee do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the
■whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Mass. I do.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN W. MASS, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL,
LAWRENCE SPEISER
Mr. Tavenner. What is your name, please, sir?
Mr. Mass. John W. Mass.
Mr. Tavenner. Are you accompanied by counsel ?
Mr. Mass. I am, sir.
Mr. Tavenner. Will counsel please identify himself for the record?
Mr. Speiser. Lawrence Speiser, and I am the staif counsel of the
American Civil Liberties Union, 503 Market Street, San Francisco.
Mr. Tavenner. When and where were you born, Mr. Mass ?
Mr. Mass. In Chicago, December 24, 1911.
Mr. Tavenner. Where do you now reside ?
Mr. Mass. In Walnut Creek, Calif.
Mr. Tavenner. How long have you lived in California ?
Mr. Mass. Since 1939 except for 3^ years in the service during the
war.
Mr. Tavenner. Where did you live prior to 1939 ?
Mr. Mass. Chicago, 111.
Mr. Tavenner. Will you tell the committee, please, what your edu-
cational training has been ?
Mr. Mass. Parochial and public grammar school, public high
school, public junior college in Chicago, a junior year at the University
of Chicago, a senior year and a year and a half of graduate work at
the University of California.
Mr. Tavenner. Wlien did you complete your graduate work at the
University of California?
Mr. Mass. In 1942.
Mr. Tavenner. Will you tell the committee, please, what your record
of employment has been since the completion of your service in the
Army?
Mr. Mass. I have had a semester as junior high school teacher in
Richmond, Calif.
Mr. Tavenner. Wliat year?
Mr. Mass. 1946, 1946. For a while, part time in an insurance office
here in San FranciscOj probably 1947, and then since the fall of 1947
to the present at the City College of San Francisco.
Mr. Tavenner. From 1947 until the present time ?
Mr. Mass. Yes, sir.
Mr. Tavenner. At what institution?
Mr, Mass. The City College of San Francisco.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3185
Mr. Ta\t:nner. Did you have any other employment during the
period from 1947 until the present time?
Mr. Mass. As well as I can recall there was simply some incidental
aid on the writing of school papers, perhaps; perhaps an editing job
on a master's thesis occasionally and so on.
Mr. Tavenner. Did you have any other teaching experience between
1947 and the present time other than that which you have mentioned?
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Tavenner. Will you answer the question, please ?
Mr. Mass. I refuse to answer the question on the basis of the fifth
amendment which provides that no person shall be compelled to be a
witness against himself.
Mr. Tavenner. Did you engage in any form of teaching during the
year 1948 ?
Mr. Mass. My answer
Mr. Tavenner. Of which you have not advised the committee?
Mr. Mass. My answer is the same as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. In the year 1949 ?
Mr. Mass. My answer is the same as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. In 1950?
Mr. Mass. My answer is the same as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. Have you engaged in teaching since 1950 in any
school or in any group or in any institutions as to which you have not
already advised us ?
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. May I have the date again, Mr. Counsel ?
Mr. Tavenner. Have you taught at any time since 1950 ?
Mr. Mass. Since 1950 ?
Mr. Tavenner. Since 1950. I think I see what is perplexing you.
Have you engaged in any teaching since October 19, 1950, which you
have not advised the committee about in your former testimony ?
Mr. Mass. Not as I can recall, sir.
Mr. Tavenner. Have you engaged in any teaching between the 1st
day of January 1950 and the 19th day of October 1950 about which you
have not advised the committee ?
Mr. Mass. I refuse to answer on the same basis as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Mass, the committee is in receipt of information
which would indicate that you have a knowledge of Communist Party
activities in this area. I am anxious to know whether your knowledge
goes to the question of the existence of Communist Party activities
within the teaching professon. Do you have any knowledge of Com-
munist Party activities within the teaching profession? If you do,
we want to know about it.
Mr. Mass. I refuse to answer on the basis of the fifth amendment as
I have previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. Do you now consider that it is your duty to advise
this committee regarding any knowledge you may have regarding the
existence of Communist Party teachers that you may know about?
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. I refuse to answer on the same basis as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. Are you aware of the Communist Party purposes
in organizing cells or groups of the Communist Party within the
teaching profession?
41002 — 54^pt. 2 3
3186 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. I refuse to answer on the same basis as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. During the period in which you have been engaged
as a teacher have you been affiliated in any way with the American
Federation of Teachers?
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. Yes, sir; I have.
Mr. Tavenner. Did you observe, while a member of that organiza-
tion, that any effort was made by the Communist Party to capl ure it
or to exert influence and control over it in the conduct of its affairs?
Mr. Mass. Again I refuse to answer on the same basis as previously
stated.
Mr. Tavenner. Have you read the testimony of the first witness that
the committee heard in the field of education, Dr. Robert Gorham
Davis, taken on February 25, 1953 ?
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. No, sir ; I haven't.
Mr, Tavenner. Well, in his testimony and in the testimony of many
other patriotic teachers who were deceived in entering into the Com-
munist Party, it was testified that the Communist Party had as one of
its main objectives the capture of that organization. The committee
has endeavored to find out to what extent that has been true in various
sections of the country. Not only was it true at Harvard, and not
only was it true at Yale, and not only has it been true in southern
California, but we would like to ask you to tell this committee whether
or not it was true here.
Mr. Mass. I refuse to answer again on the basis as I have previously
stated.
Mr. Tavenner. And I may say, in behalf of that organization, that
when it discovered wliat the purpose of the Communist Party was, it
reorganized, and I do not mean to cast any reflection on the organiza-
tion as such today, but it is important for this committee to know the
workings of the Communist Party and the insidious means by which
it endeavors to advance its principles through propaganda.
Now, will you help us ?
Mr. Mass. Again I choose not to be a witness against myself.
Mr. Tavenner. I have before me a photostatic copy of an oath
allegedly taken by you on the 19th day of October which is the oath
of allegiance required by the San Francisco Unified School District.
Will you examine it and state whether or not it is a copy of your
signature?
Mr. Mass. Again I refuse to answer on the basis that in doing so
I would be simply testifying against myself.
Mr. Tavenner. I desire to offer the document in evidence and ask
that it be marked "Mass Exhibit No. 1."
Mr. Velde. Without objection it will be so admitted.
(Photostat of oath of allegiance required by the San Francisco Uni-
fied School District was received in evidence as Mass Exhibit No. 1.)
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3187
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3188 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
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COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3189
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, I would like to read the oath.
San Francisco Unified School District — Oath of Allegiance.
I, John W. Mass, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend
the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of Cali-
fornia against all enemies, foreign and domestic ; that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the
State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion ; and that I will well and faithfully discharge
the duties upon which I am about to enter.
And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member
of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that now advocates the over-
throw of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by
force or violence or other unlawful means ; that within the 5 years immediately
preceding the taking of this oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of
any party or organization, political or otherwise, that advocated the overthrow
of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or
violence or other unlawful means except as follows : .
And the exception is written in handwriting in ink :
To the best of my knowledge and belief, no exceptions [over].
And on the back appears in ink in handwriting :
Since it has been alleged by certain persons that the Communist Party and
the California Labor School fall in the category described in the oath I am now
taking, I feel compelled to state that I had been a member of the Communist
Party from the fall of 1947 to the fall of 1949 and of the California Labor
School from the fall of 1946 to the summer of 1950. However, I am definitely
no longer connected with either of the above groups. Finally, at no time was
I aware of nor did I hear of any person or group within these two organizations
advocating either the overthrow of the Government by force or any other ac-
tivity described in the oath.
John W. Mass.
Written before me this 19th day of October, 1950
O. E. Anderson.
'V\^iy haven't you been as frank with the committee as you were
with the school authorities with regard to your knowledge of Com-
munist Party activities in your field ?
(At this point Mr, Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. My answer is the same as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. Well, was the statement that you made under oath
true when you made it ?
Mr. Mass. IVIy answer is the same as previously stated.
Mr. ScHERER. Mr. Chairman, I ask you to direct the witness to
answer that question.
Mr. Velde. Yes.
Mr. Scherer. As to whether he told the truth under oath, how
could that incriminate him ?
Mr. Velde. You are directed to answer the question.
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. Again I refuse to answer the question on the same basis
as previously stated.
Mr. Scherer. You mean to say that if you tell this committee that
you told the truth when you swore to that affidavit, that that would
incriminate you ?
Mr. Mass. My answer is the same as previously stated.
Mr. Scherer, Then I would ask you, did you tell the truth when
you signed that affidavit ?
Mr. Mass. Again, sir, my answer is the same.
3190 coMMTnsriST activities in the san francisco area
Mr. ScHERER. Have you been a member of the Communist Party
since that date ?
Mr. Mass. My answer is the same as previously stated.
Mr. ScHERER. Are you a member of the party today ?
Mr. Mass. My answer is the same as previously stated.
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Tavenner. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Jackson. I have no questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Scherer. No.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. Did I understand you to state your present occupa-
tion?
Mr. Mass. I am sorry, sir, I
Mr. Moulder. Your present occupation.
Mr. Mass. I am employed — I think — still at the City College of
San Francisco.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. Dotle. Professor, you stated that you were a member of the
American Federation of Teachers, I believe, at one time.
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. Yes, sir.
Mr. DoTT.E. Were you an officer of that group ?
Mr. Mass. No, sir.
Mr. Doyle. Wlien were you a member of it, during what period of
time ?
Mr. Mass. As well as I can recall, from about sometime in 1947 to
the present.
Mr. Dotle. And you are now a member of it?
Mr. Mass. Yes, sir.
Mr. Doyle. During the time that you have been a member of it
have you ever been approached by any person known to you to be a
member of the Communist Party inviting you to affiliate with the
Communist Party ?
Mr, Mass. Again I refuse to answer on the same basis as previously
stated.
Mr. Doyle. May I see that affidavit, please, Mr. Tavenner, by the
gentleman before the school board of San Francisco ?
Mr. Moulder. May I ask one question while you examine the affi-
davit?
Mr. Doyle. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. What subjects do you teach — do I understand it to
be the City College of
Mr. Mass. San Francisco.
Mr. Moulder. San Francisco ?
Mr. Mass. Yes, sir.
Mr. Moulder. What subjects do you teach in college?
Mr. Mass. English and developmental reading.
Mr. Moulder. In the teaching of those subjects does that include
any teaching or discussion of philosophy or political science or gov-
ernmental philosophy?
Mr. Mass. No, sir.
Mr. Moulder. Has it ever been discussed in your classes?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3191
Mr. Mass. Maybe incidentally in relation to perhaps a reading or
something, but never as a program.
Mr. Doyle. May I renew, Mr. Chairman, my question ?
According to your own affidavit, professor, you were a member of
the Communist Party in the fall of 1947 to the fall of 1949 for a
period of 2 years. Before you became a member of the Communist
Party you read a good deal about it, didn't you, its objectives and
purposes? You studied it before you joined it. You are an edu-
cated man.
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Mass. My attorney advises me that this is a compound ques-
tion.
Mr. DoTLE. A what?
Mr. Mass. A compound question.
Mr. Doyle. I will make it simple. Before you joined the Com-
mimist Party you read its principles, didn't you ?
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Doyle. Is that simple enough for you ?
Mr. Mass. I refuse to answer again on the same basis as previously
stated.
Mr. Doyle. During the time you were a member of the Commu-
nist Party, 2 years, did you read any of its platforms or declara-
tions ?
Mr. Mass. Again I refuse to answer on the same basis.
Mr. Doyle. Did you subscribe to the People's Daily World or
the Daily Worker or read any of its literature during the 2 years that
you were a member of it ?
Mr. Mass. Again I refuse to answer on the same basis.
Mr. Doyle. I can only draw one conclusion, and I feel that it is
fair for me to say it to you. I can only draw one conclusion, and
that is that when you signed this oath before the Board of Educa-
tion of the City of San Francisco, you were covering up something.
I am very disappointed that you, a public school teacher, should take
the position before a committee of your own Government that you
are in no position to help the committee know the manipulations of
the Communist Party.
If you were in good faith when you signed this oath before the
school board, then there should be no compunctions on your part
to help this committee uncover the facts with reference to the opera-
tions of the Communist Party. In making that statement, professor,
I just wish to call your attention that you have stated to the best of
your knowledge and belief the Communist Party, when you were a
member of it, did not advocate the forceful overthrow of our form
of government. Now, if you believed that when you were a member
of the Communist Party and when you signed this oath, why can't
you come clean and help this committee understand how the Com-
munist Party manipulated when you were a member of it ?
In other words, sir, if the Communist Party, the cell of the Com-
munist Party that you were a member of, did not advocate, so far
as you knew, the forceful overthrow of the United States Govern-
ment, then why don't you say so, and why don't you help this com-
mittee in its search for the facts, to understand what the facts were.
I am trying to be perfectly fair with you, sir; believe me, I am. I
3192 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
am trying to be eminently fair with you. You have reserved excep-
tion, and you have made it clear under oath that so far as you knew,
you were not a member of any party that advocated the forceful over-
throw of the United States. Now, having said that, why do you
come here and refuse to help your own congressional committee get
whatever facts you can give toward our job of legislating?
You see what I am getting at, professor ? I am not trying to put
you on the spot. I am just trying to help — well, I will put it to you
this way : I am trying to put you on this sort of spot, that you may
realize the kind of spot I am trying to put you on — the position that
you take is that you are refusing to help your own United States con-
gressional committee know what the facts are, even though you have
sworn under oath that you didn't advocate the forceful overthrow nor
did the Communist cell of which you were a member advocate the
forceful overthrow. If it didn't, what are you afraid of ? How could
it embarrass you ? How could it incriminate you, because, as I under-
stand it, the violation of the law involved — if there was any — Mr.
Counsel, is advocating the forceful and violent overthrow. That is
the conspiracy.
Now, if this gentleman was not a party to that, why shouldn't he
come and help us know the facts ?
(At this point Mr, Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser,)
Mr, Mass. Sir, again my answer is that I do not wish to be a wit-
ness against myself.
Mr, Doyle, I am very sorry, sir,
Mr. Moulder. I observe in this affidavit which counsel referred to
as Mass Exhibit No. 1 that the handwriting referred to in his ques-
tion states that
Finally, at no time was I aware of nor did I hear of any person or group
within these two organizations advocating either the overthrow of the Govern-
ment by force or any other activity described in the oath.
This, I believe, states that Mr. Mass did not hear nor was he aware
of any such of the Communist Party advocating the overthrow by
force. Now, can you answer this question, whether or not in your
opinion now it is the objective of the Communist Party or of the Soviet
Union to overthrow our form of government by force, if necessary ?
(At this point Mr. Mass conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr, Mass, Sir, you are now in the realm of opinions, and I can
merely say that again I do not wish to be a witness against myself,
Mr. Velde. Mr. Mass, I have no questions to ask you, but I would
like to make this observation : in my opinion any intelligent person —
and I believe you certainly are an intelligent person — who in 1947
became a member of the Communist Party, after having certainly
read information put out by this committee and other committees of
the CongTess concerning the nature of the Soviet conspiracy, the
nature of the Communist Party conspiracy here in the United States
must certainly be aware of the true facts or wants to give the true
facts or is disloyal.
(Representative Donald L. Jackson left the hearing room at this
point.)
Mr. Velde. Mr. Counsel, is there any reason why this witness
should be further retained ?
Mr. Tavenner. No, sir.
COMMUTSriST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3193
Mr. Velde. The witness is dismissed, and the committee will stand
in recess for 10 minutes.
(Whereupon, at 11 : 08 a. m., the hearing was recessed, to reconvene
at 11 : 18 a. m.)
(The hearing reconvened at 11 : 23 a. m.)
Mr. Velde. The committee will be in order.
Are you ready to proceed, Mr. Kunzig ?
Mr. Kunzig. Yes, sir.
Mr. Velde. Call your first witness.
Mr. Kunzig. Dickson Hill, please step forward.
Mr. Velde. In the testimony you are about to give before this sub-
committee do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Hill. I do.
TESTIMONY OF DICKSON P. HILL
Mr. Kunzig. Will you give your full name, please, Mr. Hill ?
Mr. Hill. My name is Dickson P. Hill.
Mr. Kunzig. I note that you are not accompanied by counsel. You
understand, of course, Mr. Hill, your right to have a lawyer at your
side if you so desire. Do you desire counsel.
Mr. Hill. No, I don't. I am perfectly willing to give testimony as a
service.
Mr. Kunzig. Thank you, sir. Would you state, Mr. Hill, when and
where you were born ?
Mr. Hill. I was born in the State of Iowa in June of 1913.
Mr. Kunzig. Would you give the committee briefly your educational
and occupational background ?
Mr. Hill. Well, after leaving high school I went into the radio
repair business, and I pretty much followed that line since that time.
For a number of years I worked for a large company, Montgomery
Ward Co. In fact, up until 1913, at which time I opened by own radio
and television service shop in the Montclair district in Oakland.
Mr. Kunzig. Is that your present occupation ?
Mr. Hill. That is.
Mr. Kunzig. Where do you presently reside, Mr. Hill ?
Mr. Hill. In Oakland, in the Montclair area.
Mr. Kunzig. Sir, this committee in the process of investigating
Communist infiltration in and around the bay area of San Francisco
has obtained evidence to the effect that you joined the Communist
Party at the request of a Government agency ; is that correct ?
Mr. Hill. That is correct, sir. ^
Mr. Kunzig. Would you tell the committee, sir, what Government
agency requested you to join the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Kunzig. Are we to understand then that you operated as an
undercover agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI,
within the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. That is correct, yes.
Mr. Kunzig. Were you married at the time ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
(Representative Donald L. Jackson returned to the hearing room
at this point.)
3194 COMMUNIST ACTIVrriES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNZiG. Was your wife cognizant of this?
Mr. Hill. My wife was also doing the same type of work that I had
been doing.
Mr. KuNziG. Your wife was also an undercover agent for the FBI
within the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. That is correct, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In what year did you become members of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Hill. "We were contacted in the late summer or fall of 1944
by the Bureau and asked to join or work, and we actually joined the
party in the spring of 1945.
Mr, KuNziG. When did you leave the party, if you have left the
party ?
Mr. Hill. I left the party in the fall of 1949.
Mr. KuNziG. So that the testimony you are about to give would
cover the period from 1944 roughly until 1949 of your own personal
knowledge ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, that is correct.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you have any children, sir ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, sir ; I have three.
Mr. KuNziG. What are their ages?
Mr. Hill. Eight, thirteen, and eighteen.
Mr. KuNziG. I think the committee would be interested in knowing
something you have discussed with me. Did your children know of
your activity within the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. No, they didn't. I am very much surprised. Naturally,
when my wife went east in the spring to testify in Pittsburgh, and the
first knowledge of it they had was when they picked up the evening
paper and saw her picture.
Mr. KuNziG. They never had any idea at any time that you were
leading these dual lives, so to speak ?
Mr. Hill. No, they didn't.
Mr. KuNziG. Is it correct, sir, that you have never testified before?
This is the first time that the testimony you are giving here today has
ever been given by you ?
Mr. Hill. That is correct ; yes.
Mr. KuNZTG. We don't wish to go into any great detail, Mr. Hill,
concerning the methods employed by you and your wife in joining the
Communist Party for the FBI. However, we would like to know
when you actually contacted these individuals whom you thought to
be Communists and what actions led up to your membership. Would
you describe that in some detail ?
Mr. Hill. Well, we originally — my wife requested through sending
a postcard to the Alameda^County office on Webster Street— requesting
information on various subjects connected with liberal political activ-
ity, and instead of mailing it to us, 2 people brought the literature and
became quite closely acquainted with us.
Mr. KuNziG. Who were those two people, Mr. Hill ?
Mr. Hill. Katrina Manley and Marie Phillips.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell those names so we get them abso-
lutely correct?
Mr. Hill. Katrina is spelled in the conventional manner, I believe,
K-a-t-r-i-n-a, and Manley, of course, is M-a-n-1-e-y. The Phillips girl
was M-a-r-i-e. Her last name, I believe was spelled P-h-i-1-l-i-ps.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3195
Mr. KuNziG. Wlien those 2 people came to you what transpired ?
Mr. Hill. Well, they came and struck up a conversation along the
lines of the literature my wife had requested, as I recall, and brought
her some literature, and tried to make contacts for future social as-
sociations.
Mr. KuNziG. What Communist activity did you engage in from
the time of your first contact until you were asked to become a mem-
ber of the party ; in other words, prior to the time ? I am interested
in the period prior to the time you actually became a member.
Mr. Hill. Well, we were taken to several meetings. I don't re-
call the exact number, but I would say 2 or 3 at the Oakland Tech-
nical High School, a meeting of the Communist Party, and we were
taken to a meeting of the Communist Party held in an upstairs room
at the Oakland Auditorium, at which I believe Anna Louise Strong
gave an address.
Mr. KuNziG. I would like to just go back one minute to pick up
something you said there a moment ago because it quite surprised
me. Do you mean that you attended meetings of the Comnmnist
Party at a public high school ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, that is correct.
Mr. KuNziG. Where is this high school ?
Mr. Hell. It is located on Broadway in Oakland. The reason
there, I believe, for that is that at that time the party was considered
strictly a political party and had access as any other political party
to public buildings for meetings.
Mr. KuNziG. This was 1944, if I recollect your testimony, is that
right, the beginning of 1945 ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, in that area.
Mr. Velde. Wlio considered the Communist Party a political party
at that time?
Mr. Hill. Well, I understood at the time that we went in that it
was considered that by the public, at least by the party members;
at least that was explained to us in that way.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Jackson. Were these meetings closed meetings in the sense
that only members of the Communist Party were present, or were
they more or less indoctrination meetings in which there was a mixed
crowd of Communists and non-Communists?
Mr. Hill. I couldn't state that definitely. As I recall, at least two
of the meetings were, I believe, for just party members. We were more
or less under the sponsorship of Katrina and Jack Manley.
Mr. Jackson. But you do not know positively whether or not these
were closed meetings?
Mr. Hill. I couldn't say positively. The one at the Oakland Audi-
torium was, I believe, a public meeting.
Mr. Jackson. A public meeting ?
Mr. Hill. I believe so.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know — and we would like to know if you do
know — who secured the building? Who arranged the getting the
use of the high school for these meetings ?
Mr. Hill. I believe a person by the name of Willie Laughery was in-
strumental.
Mr. KuNziG. Is that Wilhelmina Laughery ?
3196 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr, HiIjL. That is correct.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell Laughery , please ?
Mr. Hill. L-a-u-g-h-e-r-y, I believe is the spelling on that.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know Wilhelmina Laughery to be a member
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. You have mentioned the two people who first came to
your home. Did you know them then to be members of the Com-
munist Party as you went to meetings with them ?
Mr. Hill. Well, at that time of course we had no way of knowing,
but we assumed because of the fact that they were sponsoring us.
Mr. KuNziG. And later did you find out that they were members of
the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, definitely.
Mr. KuNziG. So the names of these 3 people that you have mentioned
so far this morning, you knew them of your own knowledge to be
members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Correct.
Mr. KuNziG. At the time about which we are speaking ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Who actually recruited you in the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I would say that Katrina and Jack Manley were
most instrumental, although Marie Phillips, as I say, made 1 or 2
of the original contacts.
Mr. KuNziG. You mentioned Katrina Manley before. Is Jack
Manley related to Katrina Manley ?
Mr. Hill. That is the husband of Katrina Manley ; yes.
Mr. KuNziG. And you knew Jack Manley also to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes, correct.
Mr. KuNziG. And those two, husband and wife, recruited you into
the party ?
Mr. HiiJ.. That is right.
JNIr. KuNziG. Can you give us any further identification and de-
scription of Katrina and Jack Manley ?
Mr. Hill, Well, they were people I would judge in their fifties;
possibly Jack was a little older than that. Katrina Manley had a
daughter by a previous marriage by the name of Dildar Sandow.
That is about all I can give in the way of description.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you have any description as to whether this Dildar
Sandow was a member of the Communist Party or a member of any
group affiliated with the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, later in our association she was attending Cal
Mr. KuNziG. You mean the University of California ?
Mr. Hill. That is right — and was connected with the YCL group
there.
Mr. KuNZiG. The Young Communist League ?
Mr. Hill. That is right; yes, sir.
Mr. KuNziG. You know that as a matter of your own knowledge?
Mr. Hill. Well, being told by Katrina.
Mr. KuNziG. I see. Were you ever issued a membership card in
the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, we were.
Mr. KuNziG. Wlio issued the card ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3197
Mr. Hill. Well, they were presented to us by the Maiileys ; they were
actually issued, of course, by the county.
Mr. KuNziG. When you say the county, what do you mean ?
Mr. Hill. The Alameda County office of the Communist Party.
Mr. KuNziG. Were you given any sort of specific instructions when
you received this membership card, Mr. Hill ?
Mr. Hill. Only general instructions that it must be kept well pro-
tected and hidden, not to be shown to anyone.
Mr. KuNziG. You, in other words, reached the conclusion then that
this was a secret organization ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I would say so.
Mr. KuNziG. Were you assigned to any specific group or cell of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Well, I wouldn't say assigned in that sense. We were
taken to further meetings of the north Oakland branch, which was
considered a branch of the party.
Mr. KuNziG. I see. Well, now, where were these meetings of the
north Oakland branch held, if you remember ?
Mr. Hill. To the best of my recollection they were almost all held in
the Oakland Technical High School, possibly — no, I believe they were
all held in the Oakland High School.
Mr. KuNziG. How long were you a member of this north Oakland
club?
Mr. Hill. I would say 4 or 5 months, possibly 6 months.
Mr. KuNziG. Who were the officers of the north Oakland club ?
Mr. Hill. A man by the name of George Edwards was the chairman.
Mr. KuNziG. This would be the beginning of 1945, 1 assume, is that
right?
Mr. Hill, Yes, in the spring of 1945.
Mr. KuNziG. George Edwards was the chairman ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Who else?
Mr. Hill. I believt Katrina Manley was the secretary, and a man
by the name of Eugent Toopeekoff .
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell that, please, if you can?
Mr. Hill. I don't know that I can. I believe it is T-o-o-p-e-e-
k-o-f -f ; I believe that is the correct spelling.
Mr. KuNZiG. Eugene was the first name ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, Eugene.
Mr. KuNZiG. What was his function ?
Mr. Hill. Well, he took care of membership and dues collecting.
I believe he was treasurer and membership director.
Mr. Jackson. What was his occupation ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I inquired of Katrina at the time, and she said
he was a civil engineer.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know whether Toopeekoff at any time left
the party, and if he did, if you know about it, would you describe
the situation to us?
Mr. Hill. Well, I know that after the north Oakland group was
broken up into other groups, at that time he went into the county
office as the county membership director, I believe, and then I pretty
much lost track of him after that until he moved into our district,
and in the course of club activities and club meetings — this goes on
further into the story — in the course of an executive meeting deciding
3198 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
why our membership was not as active as it should be, the question
that was brought up was as to why Eugene Toopeekoff hadn't been
active, and why, since he was in the Montclair district, in the 16th
A. D. district, why he wasn't active in our group, and quite a num-
ber of people had talked to him, had spoken to him, not getting very
far, and I believe that it was recommended that a committee be sent
to contact him and ask him to become active in our branch.
(Representative Harold H. Velde left the hearing room at this
point.)
Mr. Hill. And he was pretty cold toward the thing; the com-
mittee wasn't well received. He had excuses that he was busy build-
ing a wall around his home and had other activities and wasn't very
much interested.
Mr. KuNziG. This was at a later period, of course?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; that was in a later period.
Mr. KuNziG. Roughly, when ? Would that be 1948 or so ?
Mr. Hill. Oh, I would say late 1947 or possibly 1948.
Mr. KuNziG. You were giving us the names of the officers of the
north Oakland club during the period of time that you were affiliated
with it. Would you continue, if you can remember any other names
of any other officers of the Communist club there ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I just couldn't tie down more than that. Being
new in the party, we were kind of feeling our way around and trying
to determine what was the structure.
(Representative Harold H. Velde returned to the hearing room at
this point.)
Mr. KuNziG. Can you remember any of the names of the members
of the north Oakland club during this early period of your Communist
Party activities ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I can some. Can I refer to some notes that I made ?
Mr. KuNziG. Please do.
Mr. Hill. Well, on this list that I have I recognize a William
Creque.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell that, please, sir ?
Mr. Hill. That is C-r-e-q-u-e. I believe that is the correct spelling.
Mr. KuNziG. You remember him as a member of the north Oakland
club in early 1945?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know what his occupation was or anything
about him ?
Mr. Hill. I do not.
Mr. KuNziG. You just recollect the name?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Any others ?
Mr. Hill. His wife, Rosalie Creque.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you have any specific knowledge about her other
than the name ?
Mr. Hill. Well, she was a rather picturesque person. She dressed
Tather differently than most people and was quite an interesting per-
son, in appearance.
Mr. KuNziG. Did she have any occupation or was she a housewife?
Mr. Hill. I believe she was primarily a housewife. I once asked
one of our other friends in the party if she was a fortune teller by any
chance ; she gave that impression.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3199
Mr. KuNziG. Any other names ?
Mr. Hill. I believe Frances Tandy.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell that one, please, sir?
Mr. Hill. That is T-a-n-d-y.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Jackson. You say you believe this person was. On what do
you base your belief ?
Mr. Hill. What was that?
Mr. Jackson. I say your statement was that you believed Frances
Tandy, or whatever the last name was, to have been a member of the
north Oakland branch. Upon what do you base your belief in that
regard ?
Mr. Hill. I am going by a list here which I have prepared of names
I have come in contact with in the party.
Mr. Jackson. Did you determine at any time that she was a member
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hell. Oh, yes.
Mr. Jackson. Very well.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any other names ?
Mr. Hit J.. Why I hesitated there, I wasn't just dead positive of the
north Oakland branch.
Mr. Jackson. I see.
Mr. KuNziG. But you were positive that she was a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Oh, j^es.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any others now with regard to the north
Oakland branch before we turn to the other branches with which you
were affiliated ?
Mr. Hill. A man by the name of Bill Kutter, R-u-t-t-e-r ; I recall
him well.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you give us his occupation, please ?
Mr. Hill. He had a connection with railroading.
Mr. KuNziG. You don't have any idea
Mr. Hill. I believe subsequently that I found out that he was the
organizer or the chairman of the railroad branch or cell.
Mr. KuNziG. Of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Of the Communist Party, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In Alameda County ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Any others ?
Mr. Hill. Well, there are others here, but I would rather not go on
record as placing them in the north Oakland branch. I feel that they
were, but I couldn't
Mr. KuNziG. We will come to them later then. Let me ask you then,
Mr. Hill, were you subsequently transferred to a second club or group
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; Alameda County was somewhat reorganized into
better geographical breakdown, locations, and we were broken down in
our area into what we called the 16th A. D., 16th assembly district
branch of that party. That included the section in which we lived,
Montclair section, of Oakland.
Mr. KuNziG. When you say 16th assembly district, do you mean
the regular assembly district for the California government?
3200 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know the reason why the party was reorgan-
ized as you just mentioned?
Mr. Hill. Well, that was pretty early in our experience in the party,
and to my best knowledge it was a case of breaking the party up for
better security, to lend better security measures to the thing, and also
to bring people closer, meeting places closer, to their living quarters.
Mr. KuNziG. Is that why you were transferred, for example?
Mr. Hill. Yes, we were right in the center of the district.
Mr. KuNziG. Was this about the time that you had the problem be-
tween the Communist Political Association and the Communist Party
and so forth regarding the Duclos letter ?
Mr. Hill, Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. It was at that time ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you describe your knowledge of that to the
committee ?
Mr. Hill. Well, the leadership, the leader of the Communist Party
at that time. Earl Browder, had been criticized naturally by this man
Duclos of France for his belief that the capitalistic system and the
Communist system could work side by side in this country, and the
criticism stemmed from Duclos' belief and understanding of Marx-
ism and Leninism ; it appeared that it was impossible for the party to
act properly in close relationship to capitalism. It had to be one or
the other.
Mr. KuNziG. This then is when Browder was removed and replaced
by William Z.Foster?
Mr. Hill. That is correct.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you ever attend a Communist Party meeting
where the Duclos letter was discussed ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Where was this meeting held, and who was the princi-
pal speaker?
Mr. Hill. That was held in San Francisco, when an attorney, I
believe, by the name of Aubrey Grossman, I believe — Grossman,
yes
Mr. KuNZiG. A-u-b-r-e-y?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. G-r-o-s-s-m-a-n, is that correct?
Mr. Hill. Yes — and William Schneiderman spoke at that meet-
ing.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know later, at that time or later, Aubrey
Grossman to be a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I did; I mean, through intraparty communica-
tions; yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How long were you a member of the 16th Assembly
District Club?
Mr. Hill. Until we left the party in the fall of 1U49.
Mr. KuNZiG. So for the entire time you were in the party your
aflfiliation was with this 16th Assembly District Club ?
Mr. Hill. That is correct.
Mr. KuNziG. If you can recall, could you give us the names of
officers and members of the 16th Assembly District Club? I real-
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3201
ize that is over a period of time, but give them to us to the best of
your ability.
Mr. Hill. Well, that is rather a hard thing to pin down be-
cause most of the officers in the club were shifted around quite a bit.
I can give you the names of people who have at one time or other
held office.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you please do that ? We will understand that
it was during that period of 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1949.
Mr. Hill. Membership chairman at one time was Katrina Manley.
At one time it was James Wood.
Mr. KuNziG. James Wood ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Is that his full name ?
Mr. Hill. So far as I know.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew James Wood, then, of course, to be a
member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Hill. Yes. For a short period of time Emma Stanley.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know anything about her, her occupation,
residence, or anything of that nature ?
Mr. Hill. She was a county functionary. She had the office of
treasurer, I believe, of Alameda County. I know she was in charge
of making contacts both within the party and outside of the party
for the purpose of collecting contributions, and she practically al-
ways picked up the dues at our local meeting and took them to the
county office. She was financial secretary, I believe was her title.
Mr. KuNziG. These were Communist Party officers of which you
were speaking ?
Mr. Hill. These were the Communist Party officers of Alameda
County.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. In response to counsel's question a moment ago you
said you knew someone to be a member of the Communist Party. May
I suggest you state your reason as to how and why you knew him to
be a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Do you recall the person I mentioned ?
Mr. Moulder. I believe you named James Wood. I think that same
rule should apply to anyone else you named as a member of the Com-
munist Party.
Mr. Hill. Well, in the case of James Wood, the people in our
branch, I have personal knowledge of because I subsequently became
the membership director of the branch, and I kept all the records, and
I issued cards to the other membei-s, so I had direct, first-hand knowl-
edge there.
In the case of other people, some of them that I have mentioned have
been through association, seeing them at closed meetings where you
could only get in with a card.
Mr. Velde. How would you describe a closed meeting, Mr. Hill ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I recall a meeting that was called at the Norway
Hall in Oakland which was a closed meeting, and someone stayed at
the door and actually checked cards in, checked people in from posi-
tive knowledge. There is no secondhand arrangement; it was first-
hand knowledge.
41002^54 — pt. 2 4
3202 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
This particular meeting that I recall to some extent — I recall a girl
and her mother who had been previously expelled I believe previous to
my time with the party, who, from information I had received from
the Manleys, had been a long-time member, had tried to crash this
party, and they had actually got in, and when it was discovered that
she was there, she was carried out bodily by a man by the name of
Bill Clifford and another man by the name of George Edwards, so
they were very strict.
Mr. Velde. In that particular instance they had determined that
this person was no longer a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill.. That is right.
Mr. Velde. So she could not attend a closed meeting ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. Doyle. Mr. Chairman, may I ask this question right along that
line?
Mr. Velde. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. Doyle. Was it an established practice during the time you
were in the party to always require the identification of a party card
to attend a closed meeting ? In other words, was that the only way you
could attend?
Mr. Hill. Further on in my experience in the party carrying a
card was frowned on very definitely for security reasons because there
had been occasions, especially in the case of women, where their
purses had been lost ; they had been carrying them in their purses, and
they were constantly afraid of the FBI finding or having them turned
in, and so later on in the thing, when security was tightened up more,
carrying cards was definitely frowned on, and admission to meetings
of that sort was by recognition by responsible people.
Mr. Velde. About what year was this that the carrying of cards
was frowned upon ?
Mr. Hill. Well, security tightened up strongly in about late 1947
and 1948 — 1948 was a strong year for security.
Mr. Velde. Again may I ask you, you are talking about the security
within the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; that is right.
Mr. Velde. Not the security of the United States ?
Mr. Hill. No ; the security of the Communist Party.
Mr. Moulder. That is, the secrecy of it?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. Doyle. Then as I understand it, your statement would be that
substantially beginning in 1947, if it was a closed meeting of the
Communist Party, no cards were being carried or required, and it
would at least require the identification at the door or some place
before a person could get in ?
Mr. Hill. Yes; definitely.
Mr. Velde, Proceed, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. KuNziG. You had mentioned a moment ago Bill Clifford. I
want to make sure the record is straight. Do you know any further
facts about him, his occupation or anything of that nature?
Mr. Hill, Well, later in my experience he was transferred — well,
T believe at the time we were broken down into the 16th AD he was
brought into our group, and as a card-carrying member — I issued 1
or 2 cards to him.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3203
Mr. KuNZiG. You therefore, of course, knew liim to be a member
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr, KuNziG. Do you happen to know Ms occupation at all, or is that
not within your knowledge 'i
Mr. Hill. He worked at several different jobs. The thing that
stands out most is something to do with the plastering trade.
Mr. KuNziG, You were going through various names of people
whom you laiew to be members of the 16th AD club of the Communist
Party. Would you continue with those names, please, sir?
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer left the hearing room at this
point.)
Mr. Hill. Well, so far as the executive officers are concerned, Ida
Wood and Emma Stanley both held offices from time to time. My
wife held an office for quite a length of time. She was an educational
director.
Mr. KuNziG. What was Ida Wood's occupation if she had one and
if you remember ?
Mr. Hill. She was part of the time a secretary or office worker in
the Alameda County office.
Mr. KuNziG. She was actually a paid worker, too, for the party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes; and then either in that time, in between that
time or previous to it, she had worked for one of the CIO unions.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you happen to know which one or what type of
union ?
Mr. Hill. It was one of the unions that was housed in the CIO
building on Grant Avenue there. She made mention, dropped it
several times, that she worked there.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you go on with any other names of members
whom you knew ?
Mr. Hill. Emma Stanley I believe I named. She was the county
functionary. She held office on several different occasions. A Eugene
Eagle.
Mr. KuNziG. Eugene Eagle?
Mr. Hill. E-a-g-1-e, He was an optometrist.
Mr. KuNziG. Where?
Mr. Hill. I hope I used the right word there — optometrist, in the
business of fitting glasses, at any rate. In San Francisco. He lived
in Oakland.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew him, of course, to be a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; I issued cards to him.
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer returned to the hearing room at
this point.)
Mr. KuNziG. Any others?
Mr. Hill. A1 Stanley.
Mr. KuNziG. Al?
Mr. Hill. I believe the name was Albert; I wouldn't state that
positively. Al, he always went by.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know his occupation or residence?
Mr. Hill. My first knowledge of him was as he came out of the
service, and I don't recall what he was doing. Later he had an agency
for one of the hearing aid companies.
Mr. KuNziG. In San Francisco or Oakland?
3204 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hill. Berkeley, I believe.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew him of your own knowledge to be a mem-
ber of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Any others ?
Mr. Hill. Charlotte Kyer.
Mr. KuNziG. How do you spell that last name ?
Mr. Hill. I am not sui^e of the spelling on that. I have written
down here K-y-e-r, but it could have been K-e-i-e-r. I wouldn't state
definitely.
Mr. KuNziG. For the record would you put it down as K-y-e-r,^
Charlotte Kyer. Do you know lier occupation or residence?
Mr. Hill. She lived in Oakland. She lived within the 16th as-
sembly district. She did secretarial work, I believe. She was in-
volveci in typing and that sort of thing.
Mr, KuNziG. x ou knew her to be a member of the party. Did you
issue a card to her ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; I have issued cards to her.
Mr. KuNziG. Wlio else ?
Mr. Hill. For a short period of time a girl by the name of Janet
McHarg.
Mr. KuNziG. How do you spell that ?
Mr. Hill. I have M-c-H-a-r-g, which I believe is correct.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know her occupation?
Mr. Hill. She was a student.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliere was she a student ?
Mr. Hill. At UC, California.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliile she was a student at the University of Califor-
nia you knew her as a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. I wouldn't want to state that positively.
Mr. KuNziG. Did she attend Communist
Mr. Hill. She was definitely a member of the party because I have
issued cards to her, but I don't recall whether it was that period that
she was a student.
Mr. KuNziG. I see. But you know definitely she was a member of
the party during that period of time ?
Mr. Hill. Yes. She was considered in the Alameda County Com-
munist Party structure ; she was recognized as a more or less leader
of People's Songs.
Mr. KuNziG. People's Songs?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. What do you mean by that ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I don't know just how to explain that, but the
party has songs which are more or less traditional with people in
struggle and in getting along, and they are very much along the line
of some of the things that Burl Ives does, chanties and
Mr. KuNziG. Chants and that type of music, but as far as the words
and the things used, it was Communist Party propaganda; is that
right?
Mr. Hill. In many cases ; yes.
Mr. Jackson. I believe that People's Songs has been cited.
1 Investigation reflects K-y-e-r to be correct spelling.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3205
Mr. KuNziG. Yes, sir; I was just going to read that. It has been
cited by the California Committee on Un-American Activities in
1948 as a Communist front which was incorporated January 31, 1946,
in New York City.
All the productions of People's Songs, Inc. follow the Communist Party line
as assiduously as do the people behind the organization.
Mr. Chairman, this would be a good place to stop.
Mr. Velde. At this time the committee will stand in recess until
1:30.
(Whereupon, at 12 noon, the hearing was recessed, to reconvene at
1 : 30 p. m. of the same day.)
AFTERNOON SESSION
(At the hour of 1 : 39 p. m. of the same day, the hearing was
resumed, the following committee members being present: Repre-
sentatives Donald L. Jackson (presiding), Gordon H. Scherer
(appearance noted in transcript), Morgan M. Moulder, and Clyde
Doyle.)
Mr. Jackson. The committee will be in order.
Let the record show that for the purpose of the hearing this after-
noon the subcommittee will consist of Messrs. Scherer, Moulder, and
Doyle, with Jackson as acting chairman. Congressman Velde is
forced to be absent from this session on official business and for that
reason will not be here this afternoon.
Mr. Counsel, are you ready to proceed?
Mr. KuNziG. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
TESTIMONY OF DICKSON P. HILL— Eesumed
Mr. KimziG. Mr. Hill, we had stopped your testimony at lunch
time, and you had been discussing Janet McHarg. I think that was
the last person about whom you gave testimony, and you were dis-
cussing the various members that you knew to be Communist Party
members of the 16th assembly district. Could we continue where
we stopped, and would you continue giving the names of those people
whom you knew as members of the party ?
Mr. Hill. Would you like me to continue with the official member-
ship first?
Mr. KuNziG . That is right.
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer entered the hearing room at
this point.)
Mr. Hill. At one time for a short period a Mr. George Bratoff
Mr. KuNziG. How do you spell that ?
Mr. Hill. The spelling I have is B-r-a-t-o-f-f.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know the employment of George Bratoff ?
Mr. Hill. The only thing that I knew regarding his employment
was that he had a small store next to the union hall, the CIO hall, I
believe, on Grant Avenue in Oakland, in which he sold dolls and art
items, which he had explained during the course of one of our talks,
he purchased through Amtorg, the Russian trading company.
Mr. KuNziG. And you knew him to be a member of the Commu-
nist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I issued cards to him.
3206 COMMUTSriST activities in the SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNziG. If you know, did Bratoff have any other connections
with the Russian Government beyond what you just testified to? ^
Mr. Hill. Well, on one occasion in talkino; with him at a meeting,
he explained that he knew the people at the Russian consulate in San
Francisco and was a guest there quite often and apparently had very
close contact with the Russian Embassy.
Mr. KuNziG. Were there any other members ?
Mr. Hill. Jack Burris, B-u-r-r-i-s.
Mr. KuNziG. What was his occupation, if you know ?
Mr. Hill. I don't know that. He was a relative, cousin, I believe,
of Jim Wood.
Mr. KuNziG. Whom you have already mentioned this morning ?
Mr. Hill. Mentioned before.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew tliis Jack Burris to be a member of the
party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you give him a card ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; he was recruited during the time I was in the party.
Mr. KuNziG. That is all you know about him at the present time?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you continue, please ?
Mr. Hill. I have Hilda Woods, W-o-o-d-s, I believe, and she is, so
far as I know, a housewife. She is not employed.
Mr. KuNziG. Is that Hilda Woods ?
Mr. Hill. Hilda Woods, and her husband, Harrie Woods. That
is spelled H-a-r-r-i-e. He was a woodworker, a carpenter, and at
one time Katrina Manley explained to me that he helped to organize
a club or a branch of woodworkers, and they were both apparently
party members, affiliated with the Communist organization away
back, as they seemed to know things and discuss things with other
older people in the movement.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew them, however, both to be members of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. I issued cards to them both ; yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Any others?
Mr. Hill. Emma Stanley I believe I have covered.
Mr. KuNziG. You mentioned her ; yes.
Mr. Hill. A1 Stanley, her husband, was covered?
Mr. KuNziG. Yes.
Mr. Hill. Elizabeth Augustine.
Mr. KuNziG. Could you spell it?
Mr. Hill. A-u-g-u-s-t-i-n-e, I believe.
During her period in the party, the time I had contact with her,
she married another member who was recruited, an Arthur Mayhew,
M-a-y-h-e-w.
Mr. KuNziG. Arthur Mayhew ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know anything either about her occupation
or Mr. Mayhew's occupation ?
Mr. Hill. She was the legal secretary to Bertram Edises.
Mr. KuNziG. She was a secretary employed in Bertram Edises' law
firm?
Mr. Hill. That is right, and Mr. Mayhew was, I believe, going to
school and doing some theater work at the time.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3207
Mr. KuNziG. Please continue.
Mr. Hill. Now, since that time there has been another change in
her name. It is now Elizabeth McMullen, I believe.
Mr. KuNziG. Can you spell that?
Mr. Hill. M-c-M-u-1-l-e-n, if I remember correctly. He was also
one of our members in the Communist Party in our group.
Mr. KuNziG. What was McMuUen's first name ?
Mr. HiiJL. Louis.
Mr. KuNziG. L-o-u-i-s?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Him also you knew to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I issued cards, and his wife, Martha McMullen, his
former wife, Martha McMullen, was also a member of our group.
Mr. KuNZiG. Do you know anything about McMullen's occupation
or his residence ?
Mr. Hill. Mr. McMullen was employed in the automobile industry,
I believe something in connection with radiator repairing, some phase
of the automotive
Mr. KuNziG. Wliere was that, do you know ?
Mr. Hill. In Oakland, I believe.
Mr. KuNziG. In Oakland?
Mr. Hill. Yes. Mrs. McMullen, Martha McMullen, was employed
possibly all the time I was contacting her with the VA, Veterans'
Administration, Government employee.
Mr. KuNziG. You mean she was an employee of the United States
Government ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. Moulder. In what position of the Veterans' Administration?
Mr. Hill. Well, it was clerical work of some sort. She did typing
and filing and that sort of
Mr. Moulder. What year was that ?
Mr. Hill. 1947, 1946, 1947, possibly into 1948.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know whether she is still employed with the
Federal Government?
Mr. Hill. I don't believe she is. The last I heard she was working
for Edises.
Mr. KuNZiG. Is this the same Edises that you mentioned previously ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. The lawyer ?
Mr. Hill. I don't know that personally. I was told by another
member.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any other people whom you knew to be
Communist Party members of the 16th Assembly District Club ?
Mr. Hill. Well, these people I am mentioning, I have issued cards
to all of them, so there is no doubt there as to their affiliation. I issued
actual Communist Party cards, serially numbered.
A lady by the name of Miriam Chown, C-h-o-w-n.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know her occupation?
Mr. Hill. She was primarily a housewife. She worked from time
to time on a number of county Communist Party committees, helping
out in the party office, but I don't believe she had other employment
than a houswife, formal employment. Her husband, Paul Chown,
3208 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SA^T FRANCISCO AREA
was never a member in our group, but he was always spoken of very
highly by our older membership who knew that he was doing a very
good job with the trade unions and that he belonged to a special
group.
Mr. KuNziG. You mean a special group of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Of the Communist Party.
Mr. KuNziG. So he was not a member of your group, but you knew
him to be a member of a special group of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. Doyle. I think, Mr. Kunzig, it is only in the interest of accuracy
that the gentleman state at least who told him this. He says they
always told him. It is hearsay. I don't want to be technical, but I
think the record ought to show who told him he was doing a good job
in the Communist cell in labor, for the purpose of accuracy of the
record.
Mr. Hill. On one occasion it was brought up in the course of being
the membership director of the 16th Assembly District group. We
were in executive meeting, going over possible new members of recruit-
ment and objectives that we could work on, and from time to time,
primarily to get information, I brought up people whom I had reason
to believe were in the party, who were living in our area, who were
not attending our meetings, and Mr. Chown was one of these people,
and at least 2 people, Emma Stanley and Ida Wood, and on another
occasion Katrina Manley, gave me that answer, that he had other
assignments in a special group.
Mr. Jackson. Is it your clear understanding that the other assign-
ments were assignments in the Communist Party and for the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Hill. That was the assumption that I — —
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. May I pursue this question further : The name of the
person you said was with the Veterans' Adnpdnistration in the year
1947 or 1948, did you report that fact to the FBI at that time ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I did.
Mr. Moulder. As soon as you discovered that she was an employee
of the Government, did you report it to the FBI ?
Mr. Hill. Yes -complete records.
Mr. Moulder. Do you recall more definitely the date when you so
reported ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I am bringing this up from my own recollection.
I don't have actual records to go on. Those are the property of the
Bureau.
Mr. ScHERER. Do you recall how long after you made that report
that this woman maintained her position with the United States Gov-
ernment, or was she one of those who has never been fired ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I don't recall during my time with the party that
she was ever away from that job — oh, she had to leave when the Vet-
erans' Administration program was curtailed in Oakland.
Mr. ScHERER. Not, though, until it was curtailed ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. SciiERER. About how long was it after you made this report to
the FBI before she was separated as a result of the curtailment of
the program ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3209
Mr. Hill. Well, I would state 2 years.
Mr. KuNziG. For the record may I state, Mr. Chairman, that Paul
Chown has been subpenaed for these hearings. I was going to ask
you a bit later, but I will ask it now since it has already come into
the picture, Mr. Hill. You have testified that you became a member
of the Communist Party at the request of the Federal Bureau of In-
vestigation, that you joined the end of 1944 roughly, or early in 1945,
and left the Communist Party in the fall of 1949. I want to get
this question on the record and get it absolutely clear for the record :
During the period of time of your Communist Party membership did
you report regularly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation all of
your activities in the Communist Party and the activities of the other
individuals you knew to be members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, all was reported in many different ways.
Mr. KuNziG. Regularly reported to our FBI ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, would you continue naming the people whom you
knew to be members of the party ?
Mr. Hill. Jack Manley did we cover ?
Mr. KuNziG. Yes.
Mr. Hill. And Katrina Manley, of course, we covered. Dr. Eugene
Eagle.
Mr. KuNziG. Yes, you mentioned him.
Mr. Hill. He was at one time one of the functionaries of our group,
too. I don't recall, I believe at one time he was educational director.
Mr. KuNziG. What would be the duties, Mr. Hill, of an educational
director of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, the idea behind the educational director is having
someone who can coordinate the Communist teachings between the
county and State offices and the particular groups. I would say it
was pretty much of a liaison job between the national, State, county,
and the local cells.
Mr. KuNziG. While we are on the subject, you have said that you,
yourself, issued the membership cards. Would you tell the committee,
please, what were the duties of the membership director, such as
you^—
Mr. Hill. Well, naturally the first duty was to issue cards and to
keep track of dues payments, keep track of special contributions, and
part of the time to keep track of whether or not people were subscrib-
ing to the Political Affairs magazine and to the People's World, the
Communist paper, and one very definite function was to do as much
as possible toward effecting security within the party. If you saw
anything out of line, it was pretty much the duty of the membership
director to bring it up before the executive committee, and in some
cases a person might be called up and asked questions.
In 1948, I believe it was, when there was great pressure on
security
Mr. KuNziG. You mean within the party ?
Mr. Hill. Within the party. There was great stress put on the
handling of registration cards, the reregistering of people. In the
past the method of issuing a new card was not too well cut, well de-
fined. We might ask for their old card ; we might not — usually not —
but the party security commission found that some of the cards were
getting out and getting into Government files, and so there was a
3210 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
membership meeting called for all the membership directors in the
party, in the section. One of these meetings I attended where instruc-
tions were given to under no circumstances reregister a member unless
they turned in their old card or signed a formal statement explaining
the disposition of their card.
Now, some people automatically, when they received a card, would
tear it up ; they would destroy it right there, so that there was no pos-
sibility of its being found. Those people would have to write a
statement giving the reasons for doing that and the fact that they
had done it and sign their names.
Mr. KuNziG. Who would keep those statements then ?
Mr. Hill. Those were given to me or the membership director, who-
ever it might be.
Mr. KuNziG. Were they locked in files then ?
Mr. Hill. No, they were taken at the end of the registration pe-
riod — at that i)articular time they tried to organize the registration
all for one evening. At the close of that meeting we had to take those
cards personally and the statements to an East Oakland address,
where happened to live the head of the Alameda County — or the sec-
tion, I should say — membership director, and they told us that they
were to be destroyed there by fire, to be burned there. I didn't see
them burned. I did deliver them there.
Mr. KuNziG. You turned them over, in other words, then to the
membership director of a higher echelon of the department ?
Mr. Hill. That is right, of the section.
Mr. KuNziG. That being higher than the group you were connected
witli ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Could you give us further names that you recollect of
peoj)]e whom you knew to be members of the Communist Party with
you during the time that you were reporting regularly to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation ?
Mr. Hill. There was a man by the name of Gene Lien. Whether
that is L-e-i-n or L-i-e-n, I don't know.^
Mr. KuNziG. Is that G-e-n-e ?
Mr. Hill, I had him written as Gene, G-e-n-e, and that is all I ever
had was G-e-n-e. That could be short for Eugene or a wrong spelling
of G-e-a-n, I don't know.
Mr. KuNziG. It is a man, I take it ; is that right ?
Mr. Hill. A man. The joker there is, though, his wife whose
name was also Jean Lien.
Mr. KuNziG. J-e-a-n, I take it, this time.
Mr. Hill. Right. And he had something to do with the laboratory
at Berkeley, at the University of California.
Mr. KuNziG. Was he an employee or professor ?
Mr. Hill. Well, that I don't know. This information came to me
when I questioned someone in the executive committee meeting.
These people were transferred in from southern California, I believe.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know what laboratory he had anything to do
with?
Mr. Hill. What was that ?
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know what laboratory it was at all ?
1 Further investigation indicates that the correct spelling is L-l-e-n,
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3211
Mr, Hill. Well, the atomic energy laboratory at Berkeley is what
I was told.
Mr. KuNziG. You were told this by Communist functionaries ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. But the two people, the husband and wife, you knew
them personally to be members of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I issued them cards and later transferred them out
and back to southern California, to Sherman Oaks.
Mr. MouLDEE. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder, You say you issued the cards.
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. Did you ever get the spelling of their names ?
Mr. Hill. Wliat?
Mr. Moulder. You had to spell their names when you issued the
cards ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, right. I had her as J-e-a-n ; I had him as G-e-n-e.
Mr. Moulder. How did you spell the full name on the cards when
they were issued ?
Mr. Hill. I am bringing this up from memory, I don't know, L-i-e-u
or L-e-i-n.
Mr. Moulder. Wlio told you
Mr. Hill. L-e-i-n, as I recall, was the correct one.
Mr. IMouLDER. Wlio told you they were employed at the laboratory ?
Mr. Hill. Katrina Manley.
Mr. Moulder. Wliat was the approximate date ?
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer left the hearing room at this
point.)
Mr, Hill. That must have been in 1947.
Mr. Moulder. Did you make a record of those names that you
issued cards to for the use of the FBI ?
Mr. Hill, Yes ; the cards were all photostated.
Mr. Moulder. And did you then copy those ? I see you are reading
from notes.
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr, Moulder. Did you copy the names then on the notes that you
are now^ reading from?
Mr. Hill, No ; I just brought these out of memory.
Mr. Jackson. I gather you kept no duplicate records.
Mr. Hill. I kept no records at all.
Mr. KuNziG, Would you continue then, sir, with the members of
the 16th Assembly District Club.
Mr. Hill. Incidentally, on that- Mr. Lien, he told the membership
at one time that he was working as a carpenter and trying to build
a home for himself on Grizzly Peak Boulevard. That is all the in-
formation I have on that.
I have Jean Hedley, H-e-d-1-e-y, J-e-a-n. She was primarily a
housewife. She did help out on county committees.
I have Marie Phillips. I believe that was covered. I have Earl
Phillips, the husband of Marie Phillips.
Mr. KuNziG, Wliat was his occupation, if you know?
Mr. Hill. He worked for the Shell Development Co. in Emeryville.
He worked as a mechanic there, I believe.
3212 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr, KuNZiG. You knew him to be a member of the party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes; I issued a card. However, later on in the associa-
tion he had slowed down very definitely on attending meetings of our
branch, and then they moved to another location in Oakland, and I
brought up in executive meeting one day that I thought that a com-
mittee should go and see them and see why they weren^ attending our
meetings, and someone came up very quickly, someone from the county
office, that he was going to transfer to another branch.
I said, "Well, then, we had better find out what branch and issue
a transfer card so that they have a record of dues," and they said, well,
they weren't sure what branch he was transferring to, but that he was
doing organizational work at the Shell Development Co., and the thing
so far as I was concerned was dropped about there. I couldn't bring
it up conveniently to get any more on it. That was the end. I didn't
ever issue a transfer card.
Mr. KuNziG. I would like to say at this point, Mr. Hill — and this
statement goes for all the coming questions and past ones, too, for
that matter — with regard to membership of various people, if you
know, if it lies within your knowledge, that some of these people or
any of these persons left the party and resigned from the party, would
you please state that as we go along. I just want to make that flat
statement to cover any situation that may arise along those lines.
We would, of course, like to laiow very much if some of these people
left the party.
Now, are there any other members of the IGth Assembly District
Club?
Mr. Hill, I have Godine Eagle. She is wife of Dr. Eugene Eagle,,
housewife and Cal student, G-o-d-i-n-e.
Mr. Ktjnztg. You knew her to be a member of the party ?
Mr, Hill, Yes, although she was quite inactive.
Mr. KuNziG. She was less active than her husband ?
Mr. Hill. Definitely, yes. I have Pete Matanami.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell that ?
Mr, Hill. I don't know.
Mr. KuNziG. To the best of your ability,
Mr, HiiJL., M-a-t-a-n-a-m-i to the best of my ability. He was an
auto worker. He worked at the east Oakland Chevrolet plant.
Mr. KuNziG, You knew him to be a member of the party ?
Mr, Hill, He was a member in the north Oakland group and was
transferred with the rest of us to the 16th Assembly District group.
I did issue him cards,
Mr, KuNziG. He was in both the groups of which you were a
member ?
Mr, Hill, That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Any others?
Mr. Hill. I have Emmett Teague, T-e-a-g-u-e.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know his occupation, if any?
Mr. Hill. He worked in the sign industry, sign painting. He was
a very close friend of Clarence Tobey, both in the same union.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell Tobey?
Mr. Hill. T-o-b-e-y.
Mr. KuNziG. Did vou know him to be a member of the party, too?
Mr. Hill. Mr. Tobey?
Mr. KuNziG. Yes.
COMIVIUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3213
Mr. Hill. Yes; he was the county chairman for quite some time.
He, I believe, was instrumental in recruiting Mr. Teague into the
party, Mr. Teague was never very active. We had a great deal
of trouble getting him to meetings; he just drifted off, nothing much
happened.
I have a lady by the name of Rosalind Lindesmith, L-i-n-d-e-
s-m-i-t-h as I have the spelling. She was an Oakland public health
nurse and did quite a lot of work in trying to organize people, recruit
people, within the Oakland city nurse corps into the Communist
Party. She distributed literature, took out the People's World
paper, people who were interested, and invited them to open meetings.
Mr. KuNziG. Who was her employer? Was she in public
employment ?
Mr. Hill. City of Oakland, I believe.
Mr. KuNziG. She attempted to recruit members, as you say, of
the nursing group employed by the city of Oakland ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you happen to know whether she presently is
employed by the city of Oakland?
Mr. Hill. I think she is not.
Mrs. Englehart.
Mr. KuNziG. Will you spell that ?
Mr. Hill. E-n-g-1-e-h-a-r-t.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know her first name ?
Mr. Hill. The initial, I believe, was "A." I didn't know what it
stood for, no.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew her as Mrs. Englehart ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know her to be a member of the party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, we had a great deal of difficulty getting her to
meetings. She was a garment worker in San Francisco. She was
transferred out in New York City, and she worked rather long hours,
and the only way we could get her to meetings was to send someone
over after her and take her back. She was very inactive.
A young man by the name of Sig, S-i-g,^ Hesse, H-e-s-s-e. Now
that could be just one "S."
Mr. KuNziG. What was Mr. Hesse's occupation ?
Mr. Hill. He was a UCLA student in southern California and was
transferred up here. He was a student at Cal. I was told that he
was active in the YCL, Young Communist League, at Cal.
Mr. KuNziG. And you knew him to be a member of your own group
of the Communist Party.
Mr. Hill. I picked up his transfer card from Los Angeles and
issued him a new card in our group.
Mr. KuNziG. How old was he, roughly, if you know ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I would say just under or slightly over 20, 19
to 21.
Mr. KuNziG. And this would be in the period of 1947, roughly,
1948?
Mr. Hill. Somewhere in there, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In that period of time ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
* Identified further as Sigfried Hesse.
3214 coMMxnsriST activities est the san francisco area
(Eepresentative Gordon H. Seherer returned to the hearing room
at this point.)
Mr. KuNziG. Would you continue, please?
Mr. Hill. Now, those are primarily the people that I can readily
bring to mind in our particular branch.
Mr. KuNziG. I see. Well, we will come to some of the others then
perhaps later.
Mr. Hill, could you explain to the committee : For what reason did
you sever your membership in the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, the main thing, there was the tremendous mental
pressure on my wife and myself. It came to the point where she
was so upset by the meetings, by the agitation that constantly went
on in the meetings, the running down of everything, that she would
shy away from meetings.
She refused practically to attend for the last 6 or 7 months of our
association. I consequently had to cover up for her, which made
an extra burden. As I told you before, I am in business, and I was
attempting to run a business and attempting to keep my Communist
Party affiliation covered up there, and on the other hand, I was try-
ing to keep my other connections covered up within the party, and
I found myself under mental pressure that was just too great, and an
opportunity arose to drop out, which we did.
The Bureau tried very hard to get us to continue, but we both
felt that we had contributed something, and we just couldn't really
take too much more so far as the pressure was concerned.
Mr. KuNZiG. You had been contributing and working for the FBI
as an undercover agent then for a little over 4 years ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. When you felt that the pressure was such that you
finally left the party?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNZiG. In your position as membership director of the 16th
Assembly District Club did you ever have occasion, Mr. Hill, to at-
tend various meetings of the Communist Party other than your own
regular group ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I attended section membership directors' meetings.
Mr. KuNZiG. The section is the next higher echelon, is that it?
Mr. Hill. That is right. I attended county membership directors^
meetings, which is the next higher step. I attended State function-
aries' meetings. I will say "meetings" — possibly two ; one definitely.
Mr. KuNziG. When would that have been, if you know ?
Mr. Hill. That was early in the association.
Mr. KuNZiG. Can you remember any of the names of the Commu-
nist Party members with whom 3^011 met in these various higher meet-
ings of higher echelon groups?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. We are only interested in the people whom you knew
to be members of the Communist Party at that time.
Mr. Hill. I have a Frank Parsons.
Mr. KuNziG. How do you spell that, sir ?
Mr. Hill. P-a-r-s-o-n-s.
Mr. KuNziG. What was Mr. Parsons' occupation, if you know?
Mr. Hill. I do not know.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3215
Mr. KuNZiG. Did you meet with him in a closed session of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Hill. I have attended meetings that were — I don't recall
whether it was membership or a general meeting, but they were closed
meetings, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In other words, to get in everybody had to be a
member of the Communist Party 'i
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. You met him inside?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. May I ask, can you further identify the man, be-
cause there may be several people by the name of Frank Parsons.
It would be an injustice to persons of that name unless you can
specifically state the person named so we know more about him.
Mr. Hill. So far as identifying him is concerned, I couldn't say
that I could make a definite identification. As I recall, it rose through
hearing the name spoken when I was attending a meeting he
addressed.
Mr. Moulder. Did you meet him ?
Mr. Hill. Not directly ; no. In the course of the meeting he spoke.
Mr. Moulder. On what subject did he speak?
Mr. Hill. I don't recall.
Mr. Moulder. How do you know of your own knowledge that he
was a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. By the fact that he was at the meeting.
Mr. Jackson. Proceed, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any others, and let us be — as Mr. Moulder
was trying to say — as specific as we possibly can be on identifications.
Mr. Hill. Bill Lowe.
Mr. KuNziG. Spell it.
Mr. Hill. L-o-w-e.
Mr. KuNziG. Bill Lowe?
Mr. Hill. Right. He was affiliated with one of the Berkeley
groups, and I met him at a fund-raising party at Emma Stanley's
home. I beg your pardon, I don't mean to say I met him. I was
at this function with him where he was being addressed.
Mr. KuNziG. It was a closed function of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. I wouldn't say it was closed; no.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. May I ask. Can you specify where the meeting was
held ? Be a little more specific.
Mr. Hill. Yes; it was held at 6682 Pinehaven Road in Oakland.
Mr. KuNziG. Will you tell us, then, how you know that this par-
ticular person was a member of the Communist Party? As we said,
we are only interested in those who are members.
Mr. Hill. The only information I have is from other people on the
executive board mentioning Bill as being — whatever his function was.
I think he was — well, he was a functionary at any rate. I can't recall
his capacity.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any others, Mr. Hill ?
3216 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hill. I have a Leila Thompson.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell Leila ?
Mr. Hill. Well, actually I have seen it spelled several ways.
Mr. KuNziG. Thompson is the last name ?
Mr. Hill. Thompson is the name.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know where she works ?
Mr. Hill. I can't recall. She has had committee jobs with the
county — functionary jobs.
Mr. KuNziG. You mean of the county of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. The Communist Party ; right.
Mr. KuNziG. How do you know that she was a member of the party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, I attended a session of a Marxist seminar at her
home.
Mr. KuNziG. Was this a Communist Party meeting ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; it was definitely a closed meeting.
Mr. KuNziG. At her home ?
Mr. Hill. At her home, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know where that was ?
Mr. Hill. In east Oakland, upstairs, as I recall. I couldn't give
you the address. *
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any other people whom you met as members
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. I have one which actually, so far as I am concerned — I
have no definite knowledge, only indirect. Rose Segure.
Mr. Doyle. I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that if he has nothing except
indirect knowledge, that he doesn't give the name in public.
Mr Tackson. Yes, I think that unless he has positive personal
knowLdge, unless there is positive personal knowledge on the part of
the witness as to membership, the identification should be stricken
from the record. It would be appreciated by the committee if the
press will bear with us in that regard.
Mr. Doyle. May I say, Mr. Chairman, that I make that observatidm
subject, however, to the possibility that the witness has been able to
identify this person definitely through our staff or the FBI. If that
is the case, even though he doesn't remember it now, I think that is a
different situation. I want to emphasize, I think the witness only
ought to give us the names of people that he personally knows were
Commimists.
Mr. Jackson. Yes, I think the witness understands that the com-
mittee is not interested in hearsay, but we want to know the names of
those individuals who are positively known to you personally to have
been members of the Communist Party.
If there is any question, the additional information can be given
to the investigative staff.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Hill, the 16th Assembly District Club of the Com-
munist Party was in Oakland as you have testified; that is correct,
is it not ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Is it a correct assumption that your club fell within
the jurisdiction then of the Communist Party of Alameda County?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. Kttnzig. Into how many sections, if you can tell us, of the Com-
munist Party was Alameda County divided ?
Mr. Hill. I couldn't tell you that definitely.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3217
Mr. KuNziG. Can you give us a rough number, I mean, to the best
of your knowledge?
Was it 2; was it 30?
Mr. Hill. Well, there was West Oakland, East Oakland, Alameda,
Berkeley, and
Mr. KuNziG. They are the ones of which you know definitely your-
self?
Mr. Hill. I mean, they are basic ones. How those are split up in
addition
Mr. KuNziG. If there were others, it doesn't lie within your knowl-
edge, in other words.
Now, who were the top Communist Party officials for Alameda
County while you were a member?
Mr. Hill. Steve Nelson was the first chairman or organizer of the
Alameda County branch of the party when I came in. When he left
for the East, Clarence Tobey.
Mr. KuNziG. T-o-b-e-y?
Mr. Hill. T-o-b-e-y.
Mr. KuNziG. You have already mentioned him this morning ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliat other officers ?
Mr. Hill. And after that I believe Mr. Lehman, Lloyd Lehman.
Mr. KuNziG. L-1-o-y-d L-e-h-m-a-n ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. What position did he hold ?
Mr. Hill. He was the county organizer.
Mr. KuNziG. Of course it goes without saying you knew hi> to be
a member of the Communist Party. What other officials of th© party
in Alameda County?
Mr. Hill. At one time a Mary Sherwood was the county membership
director.
Mr. KuNziG. Mary Sherwood ?
Mr. Hill. Sherwood.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know anything about her occupation or where
she lived ?
Mr. Hill. I don't know.
Mr. KuNziG. The sum total of your knowledge is that a Mary Sher-
wood was the membership director ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. For the county.
Mr. Hill. Tliat is riglit, county.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any others ?
Mr. Hill. And a Carol Barnes, C-a-r-o-1 Barnes.
Mr. KuNziG. That was a man ?
Mr. Hill. Right. I believe at the time of my association with him
he was the Peoples' World, the Communist paper director for the
county.
Mr. KuNziG. What would his function or duties be as the People's
World director for the county of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, he would contact the various People's World direc-
tors of the branches and coordinate their activities with the county and
the State office in stimulating circulation of the paper^ stimulating
41002 — 54^pt. 2 5
3218 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
interest in the paper. I don't believe he had anything to do with press
releases. It was primarily a circulation job, to build circulation.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew Carol Barnes to be a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know any other officials for Alameda County?
Mr. Hill. Katrina Manley.
Mr. KuNziG. Whom you have already mentioned this morning?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a Wayne Hultgren, H-u-1-t-g-r-e-n ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliat was his capacity ?
Mr. Hill. I don't recall. He was a county functionary, though.
Mr. KuNZiG. He was a county functionary of Alameda County of
the Conmiunist Party ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew him to be such?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know anything about his occupation or his
work, employment?
Mr. Hill. That I don't.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any others in this capacity at this county
level?
Mr. Hill. Emma Stanley.
Mr. KuNziG. Whom you have already mentioned.
Mr. Hill. Mentioned before.
Mr. KuNziG. She was a county functionary ?
Mr. Hill. She was a county functionar3\ and I believe she was the
financial director of the Alameda County Communist Party.
Mr. KuNziG. How about a Wesley Bodkin, B-o-d-k-i-n ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In what capacity?
Mr. Hill. I don't recall.
Mr. KuNZiG. You mean you knew Wesley Bodkin as a party func-
tionary ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. At the county level ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. And you knew him to be a member of the party, but
you don't know what his specific function was ?
Mr. Hill. That is right ; I did know, but I don't recall.
Mr. KuNziG. Are there any others that you can recall from the
county level, before I turn to the section level ?
Mr. Hill. Eay Thompson.
Mr. KuNziG. Is that R-a-y T-h-o-m-p-s-o-n?
Mr. Hill. Right. He was on the security commission, the county
security commission.
Mr. KuNziG. Now that you have mentioned the county security
commission, Mr. Hill, could you tell the committee briefly what a
county Communist Party security commission is ?
Mr. Hill. Well, their responsibility there is to maintain a well-
integrated organization within the party. Part of their responsi-
bility is to attempt to prevent security leaks, to try to straighten out
people who are not following the party line in any way. In other
COMJNIUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3219
words, it is more or less of a policing body. They interrogated people
on cliarges brought up against them.
Mr. KuNziG. Charges brought up by the Communist Party against
them, you mean ?
Mr. Hill. That is right. And they recommended or executed ex-
pulsion where they found it was necessary.
Mr. KuNziG. Was being hauled up before a meeting of the security
committee a serious matter to be considered in the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Very definitely ; yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. Did members worry about that sort of thing?
Mr. Hill. Well, I have heard mentioned several times that certain
people were brought before the county security commission and ex-
pelled, brought up by charges, and it was said in a manner that would
indicate that they thought that was the lowest conduct.
Mr. KuNziG. I think it is interesting to note for the record, Mr,
Chairman, that this coincides exactly with the testimony of Dr. Bella
Dodd taken before this committee in New York City, the opposite
end of this country, the same effect as to the working of the security
commission of the Communist Party.
Did you know a Nori Lafferty, N-o-r-i L-a-f-f-e-r-t-y?
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes; I attended a meeting at her home.
Mr. KuNZiG. You knew her to be a member of the Communist
Party ?
Mr. Hill. At the time I attended the meeting she was the county
membersliip director.
Mr. KuNziG. Of Alameda County ?
Mr. Hill. Of Alameda County.
Mr. KuNziG. How about Bernadette Doyle?
Mr. Hill. I attended 1 or 2 early meetings with her,
Mr. KuNziG. Were these closed meetings so that only Communists
got in ?
Mr. Hill. One was.
Mr. KuNziG. So you knew her to be a member of the Communist
Party of your own personal knowledge ?
Mr. Hill. Yes. I, however, didn't issue a card or anything of that
sort.
Mr. KuNziG. Your knowledge comes from sitting in a meeting with
her?
Mr. Hill. And from her writings in the party and her functions in
the party.
Mr. KuNziG. What were her functions, if you know ?
Mr. Hill. I believe that she was the educational director for the
State at one time.
Mr. KuNziG. Can you estimate a date to the best of your knowledge?
But it would have been from the period from 1945 to 1949.
Mr. Hill. Much of the information there was filled in for me by
Katrina Manley, questioning her about certain people that we met.
She would outline the background in an educational manner.
Mr. KuNziG. Now I would like to turn your attention, Mr. Hill, to
the section that encompassed your club. We will turn from the county
down to the section. Who were the officials of the section ?
Mr. Hill. Well, of course that changed at least twice during the
time I was in the party.
Mr. KuNziG. Give it to the best of your recollection.
3220 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hill. Part of the duration of my membership Florence Tobey
was the section chairman or organizer.
Mr. KuNziG. You have already mentioned her. Is she any relation
to Clarence Tobey ?
Mr. Hill. The wife.
Mr. KuNziG. And you knew both husband and wife to be members
of the party ?
Mr. Hill. Right. They were expelled from the party during the
time I was in, and a man by the name of Jim JNIcFadden took her posi-
tion as the chairman of the section, east Oakland section.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know what his occupation was?
Mr. Hill. I don't recall now.
Mr, DoTLE. I will ask the counsel if the witness can say what the
cause of expulsion was.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you tell us the cause of the expulsion, if you
know?
Mr. Hill. I believe basically it was the charge of white chauvinism,
a term that is used in the party. I mean, is it all right to bring up
another member of the family ?
Mr. Jackson. A member of the party?
Mr. Hill. I only know on hearsay.
Mr. Jackson. I would suggest that you do not mention the other
party.
Mr. KuNziG. Then you can't state the reasons for expulsion, I take
it, without mentioning the name of the other person whom we do not
wish
Mr. Hill. I can't explain it, no.
Mr. KuNZiG. I suggest, Mr. Chairman, perhaps we could get this
explanation in executive session.
Mr. Jackson. Very well. Proceed, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a Frances Capelle?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. What position did she hold with your section ?
Mr. HiLi.. She was the membership director of the section.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know any further identification on Frances
Capelle, her occupation or anything of that nature ?
Mr. Hill. I don't recall.
Mr. KuNZiG. But since you knew her as the section membership
director, of course it goes without saying that you knew her as a mem-
ber of the Communist Party.
You testified that you attended executive meetings of your branch.
Do you recall, Mr. Hill, what was generally discussed at these meet-
ings? What took place ?
Mr. Hill. Well, a very wide variety of subjects, one of which, of
course, was always stimulating membership, stimulating the process
of recruiting new members to the party, methods of so doing, plan-
ning meetings, planning group meetings, planning educational talks
to be given at future meetings, planning concentration points — a term
used in the party — and one of our concentration points happened to
be the Westinghouse Electric plant in Emeryville.
Mr. KuNziG. What would be discussed about the Westinghouse
Electric plant?
Mr. Hill. Methods of selling the People's World at the gate, meth-
ods of getting workers there interested in the party.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3221
Mr. KuNziG. What would be the purpose of getting workers from
Westinghouse into the party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, of course the basic idea there was to try to organize
a Communist cell in the plant. The objective at that period of the
party all the way through after the change in party line, after the
Duclos letter, was to do everything possible to work into industrial
plants in the country. That was nationwide. That wasn't just locaL
Mr. KuNziG. But you saw of your own knowledge and with your
own eyes that policy of attempting, on the part of the Communist
Party, to work into industrial plants was carried out? You saw them
endeavor to do that?
Mr. Hill. Oh, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. You endeavored yourself?
Mr. Hill. Right. That was also a good source of getting signers
for the third-party petitions, the Independent Progressive Party
petitions to hairye it placed on the ballot.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you explain about this Independent Progres-
sive Party ?
Mr. Hill. Well, as much as I know, the party felt that in
Mr. KuNziG. When you say ''the party," let us make it specific.
Mr. Hill. The Communist Party.
Mr. KuNziG. You mean the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. All right.
Mr. Hill. Leadership felt that the development of a third party
as a media to work around, as an issue to work with, would be very
advantageous. The object, of course, was to give the party rank and
file, the party membership, a chance to go to homes, to distribute and
sell the People's World, the Communist paper, to get into the homes
after taking out free copies for a f ollowup, to try to sell a subscription,
to get third-party petitions signed ; in other words, to give the party
a chance to bring in new people.
It was considered, hoped, to be a very rich source of new recruits,
using another political party as an issue. They felt that they could
give very good reasons for people not supporting the Republican or
the Democratic Parties, and they felt there was a great need for
another party, and that it was a very opportune moment to work in
that manner in enlarging the party.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you ever hear of a Political Affairs Committee
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I did.
Mr. KuNziG. What was the Political Affairs Committee of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. I can't say enough on that to be very revealing. I know
there was a Political Affairs Committee, and I know that many house-
wives were asked to help out in the thing. But the complete function
of it escapes me.
Mr. Jackson. At this time the committee will stand in recess until
3 o'clock.
(Whereupon, at 2:43 p. m., the hearing was recessed, to reconvene
at 3 p. m.)
(The hearing reconvened at 3 p. m.)
Mr. Jackson. The committee will be in order.
Will you proceed, Mr. Counsel.
3222 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr, KuNziG. Mr. Hill, you have mentioned your own club of the
Communist Party, and you have mentioned section and the county
group. I am going to read to you a list of alleged Communist Party-
clubs in this area in Alameda County and ask you whether you have
heard of these clubs, whether you know of the existence of these clubs.
I realize that clubs rise and then die again, and the time element in
these clubs is during the period of time that you were active in the
Communist Party.
Do you know of a Harbor Homes Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I have heard of that club. I have seen it listed in
financial drives, and I have talked to people about the club.
Mr. Ktjnzig. How about the Abe Lincoln Club ?
Mr. Hill. I have just heard of that.
Mr. KuNziG. You heard it mentioned in your Communist meet-
ings and so forth ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Albany El Cerrito Club?
Mr. Hill. I have heard that mentioned on several occasions.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you ever hear of an Anita Whitney Club in
Oakland?
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes.
Mr. Ktjnzig. You knew of the existence of that club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. Do you know generally where these were located?
If you do know, in the course of the interrogation will you indicate in
what particular area of the section or district it was located ?
Mr. KuNziG. How about a Ben Davis Club ?
Mr. Hill. I have heard that mentioned.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know an Anna Mcintosh ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. What was Anna Mcintosh's connection with the Ben
Davis Club?
Mr. Hill. Katrina Manley told me that she was the organizer of
that branch.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know Anna Mcintosh to be a member of tho
Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. I have attended meetings, meetings that would be closed
if she wasn't.
Mr. Jackson. That is, closed meetings of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, the Bernadette Doyle Club. You have already
mentioned Bernadette Doyle today.
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you ever hear of a Bernadette Doyle Club?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. You have mentioned Nori LafFerty. Did you know
her to be a member of that club?
Mr. Hill. I can't say that I did, no.
Mr. KuNziG. But you knew Nori Lafferty to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, definitely.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a Florence Hutchinson?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3223
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know her to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. Only that she attended the functionary meetings.
Mr. KuNziG. Communist Party functionary meetings?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Were they meetings at which only party members were
allowed in ?
Mr. Hill. Eight.
Mr. KuNziG. You attended them with her?
Mr. Hill. Eight — not with her in the sense that I went with her,
but was in a group.
Mr. KuNziG. You sat in a meeting with her and other people?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, did you ever hear of the Mother Bloor Club?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know where that was, where it was situated?
Mr. Hill. I am afraid I can't say.
Mr. KuNZiG. You just knew of the existence of the club?
Mr. Hill. That is right. I have seen it listed on the reports.
Mr. KuNziG. Party reports which came before your eyes, is that
it?
Mr. Hill. Well, generally fund-raising campaigns where we had
certain quotas; one branch was pitted against another, lists come
through to the executive officers as comparison of the standings and
also on People's World drives.
Mr. ScHERER. Were all these clubs in the general Bay area?
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. How about any campus clubs? Did you ever know
of the Merriman Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Where was that?
Mr. Hill. That was in Berkeley.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the H. Alden Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. These are all clubs
Mr. Hill. Those are young college people primarily.
Mr. KuNziG. Any connection with the university ?
Mr. Hill, Yes — well, that is, they were students of the university
largely.
Mr. KuNziG. I want to make it very clear for the record, Mr.
Hill, all these clubs are clubs which you have known of as Com-
munist Party clubs?
IMr. Hill. Yes.
]Mr. KuNziG. Actual groups in which Communists met?
Mr. Hill. Eight.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the Cannery Workers' Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes; I know of that through a person with whom I
have attended meetings, a girl by the name of — her nickname was
Dobie Walker Eoberson. Dobie was the name she went by in the
party.
Mr. KuNziG. Could it have been Doris Walker Eoberson?
Mr. Hill. Yes, that would be it ; Doris, that is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know her to be a member of the Commu-
nist Party ?
3224 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you tell us something about Doris Walker
Roberson ?
Mr. HiLi^. Direct knowledge, the only knowledge I have is that
she was the organizer of the Cannery Workers' branch ; that was her
responsibility. Indirectly, through briefing by other people on the
executive board, that she was an attorney.
Mr. KuNziG. A member of the bar ?
Mr. Hill. A member of the bar, and that she had gone into this
other work ; that she actually was a member of the bar.
Mr. KuNziG. And you knew her definitely to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes — well, I knew her in that she attended meetings that
were definitely closed, that is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you ever hear of the Central Berkeley Club?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. About the Dorie Miller Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a Lily Belle in connection with the
Dorie Miller Club?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. "Wlio was Lily Belle?
Mr. Hill. She was a Negro lady who had a connection with — what
I am trying to say is that I believe she and Katrina Manley and my
wife were part of the committee on women's problems in the party.
I realize that is rather vague, but that is what is coining to my mind.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew Lily Belle then to be a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the Codornices Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. Was there such a club in the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. Did you know a Mary Bradsher in connection with
that club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. B-r-a-d-s-h-e-r?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. Did you know Mary Bradsher to be a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. In that she came into the Alameda County office of the
Communist Party and was a rather close friend of Emma Stanley and
Ida Wood.
Mr. Jackson. Did you ever attend a meeting of the Communist
Party where she was present?
Mr. Hill. Wliere she was present?
Mr. Jackson. Yes.
Mr. Hill. I probably did, but I would rather not say definitely
because I can't recall a definite instance.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, I have in my hands a deposition taken
the second day of November 1953 from Mary Elizabeth Parrott Brad-
sher in which she goes into detail under oath before this committee as
to her previous Communist Party activities, and cooperated at length
with this committee.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3225
JNIr. Jackson. Very well.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know of an East Oakland Club of the Com-
munist Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In connection with that club did you know Clarence
Tobey ? You have already mentioned Mr. Tobey.
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. And how about Roger Capelle ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. And Frances Capelle I believe you already discussed.
Mr. Hill. Wife.
Mr. KuNziG. All those three people you Imew as connected with
the East Oakland Club of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, how about the East Lake Club, did you ever hear
of that?
Mr. Hill. Yes, T have heard it mentioned. It wasn't in existence
at the time I was in the party, I believe, or possibly it was
Mr. KuNziG. Prior to that time?
Mr. Hill. Just prior to that time, but I have definitely heard the
name.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the Encinal Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the Evans Carlson Club ?
Mr, Hill. I know the name.
Mr. KuNziG. Was that a club of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. These clubs — and I want this to be clear for the rec-
ord — Mr. Hill, were all in Alameda County, is that right ?
Mr. Hill, Kight, yes.
Mr. KuNziG, How about the Railroad Workers' Club, does that
strike a chord in your memory ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes ; a man by the name of Bill Rutter, I believe I
have already testified, was the organizer of that group at one time
at any rate.
]\Ir. KuNziG. Did you ever hear of a Frances Brown Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Was that a club of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the Harriet Tubman Club ?
Mr. Hill, Yes,
Mr, KuNziG. The Haywood Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes,
Mr. KuNziG, H-a-y-w-o-o-d?
Mr. Hill. No, I believe that that would be Hayward.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell it then to the best of your knowledge?
Mr. Hill, H-a-y-w-a-r-d, To the best of my knowledge there was
no activity there. It was primarily Russell city, which is quite con-
nected with Hayward. There was a Russell city branch.
Mr, KuNziG, How about the Herman Boetcher Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew that as a club of the Communist Party in
Alameda County?
Mr. Hill. Yes, right.
3226 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNziG. Joe Hill Club?
Mr. Hill. I have heard the name. I don't recall having seen it
on lists.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the Mome Smolan Club?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew that to be a club of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. Do you know where any of these were located geo-
graphically ?
Mr. Hill. Actually it is hard for an outsider to believe that you
can be in the party and not know the location of a branch, but you
can be. There are many things that you know of in the party that
you don't know, the physical location or you don't know the whole
detail, but you know of it.
Mr. Jackson, Very well.
Mr. KuNziG. We are to understand then that the knowledge of these
clubs came from records and documents and so forth which would come
before you, and you would know they existed, even though perhaps
you never attended any meetings at these clubs?
Mr. Hill. Right, right.
Mr. KuNziG. How about the Steve Nelson Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I have heard the name, but I frankly don't believe it
ever existed. I think it was an honorary name of a club that was used
temporarily.
Mr. KuNziG. In honor of Steve Nelson, in other words ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. So you don't know if there was any actual membership
of that club ?
Mr. Hill. I couldn't say that there was. I don't recall anything of it.
Mr. KuNziG. How about a John Reed Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. The Transformer Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. What field was the Transformer Club in, if you know ?
Mr. Hill. Well, that was in the electrical workers' field, and while
about all I had was second-hand information, Katrina Manley ex-
plained that it was an organization of people in the electrical workers'
industry, Westinghouse, and I believe General Electric.
Mr, KuNziG. Did you ever hear of a super-hush-hush group called
the special section in connection with that ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; not just in that way, but the special section was re-
ferred to often.
Mr. KuNziG. And what was it, if you know ?
Mr. Hill, Well, from what I could glean it was professionals who
didn't want to be known even within the party.
Mr, KuNziG. How about the Maritime Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. That is a club that you knew of in the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. The Mike Quinn Club ?
Mr. Hill. I believe that was Berkeley.
Mr. KuNziG. Was that a student group, too ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3227
Mr, Hill. I believe so. I am a little confused on that because there
was a Mike Quinn Club in Los Angeles in connection with UCLA, and
I have seen it in the reports, but I am also j)Ositive there was one in
Berkeley, a branch.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know of the Bethune Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. That was in Alameda County also ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. The North Oakland Professional Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes. That was referred to commonly, but in my own mind
I always felt that the special section and the professional club were one
and the same.
Mr. KuNziG. You have already mentioned Paul Chown. Did you
know him to be active in the North Oakland Professional Club ?
Mr. Hill. On two occasions where I brought up the issue of why he
wasn't attending our meetings, why he wasn't coming to our meetings,
since his wife was, and since they were living in our area, and the
answer was that he was in the special club or in the professional club,
I beg your pardon.
Mr. KuNziG. Which you just said you thought were the same ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How about Eobert Treuhaf t ?
Mr. Hill. The same there.
Mr. KuNziG. The same thing ; in other words, he was
Mr. Hill. I was questioned there, too, and the answer was that
he attended another branch, the professional.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew Robert Treuhaft to be a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you have any further identification of Robert
Treuhaft?
Mr. Hill. He is an attorney; he is associated with the Bertram
Edises firm. His wife, Decca Treuhaft, D-e-c-c-a, was a member of
our 16th Assembly District group.
Mr. KuNziG. You knew her to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Decca Treuhaft ?
Mr. Hill. I issued cards to her. She also was one of our func-
tionaries at one time ; I mean in our particular branch, and then she
had county functionary jobs. I think toward the last she headed
the political affairs committee while in the county.
Mr. KinsrziG. Did you know of a Paul Robeson Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. South Berkeley Club?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Southwest Berkeley Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. These are all different clubs, is that right?
Mr. Hill. To my knowledge, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know of a Thomas Jefferson Club in con-
nection with Government employees?
3228 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hill. I have heard it mentioned; I have heard it on two
occasions, and on both occasions it was pointed out that they were
Government workers in a very small club.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know the Tom Paine Club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. West Oakland Club?
Mr. Hill. Well, I think the West Oakland Club, as was the East
Oakland Club, was more or less of a section rather than a club. I think
it was all-inclusive of the various branches in the section.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a Morris Keller in connection with
this group ?
Mr. Hill. I have heard the name, yes, and I attended a meeting
where he had been. I was told afterwards, so that is as close as I can
come on that.
Mr. KuNziG. This meetinoj that he had attended was a meeting of
members of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. It was a security meeting.
Mr. KuNziG. A security meeting, you say ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Doyle. Counsel, wait just a minute, please. I have asked the
chairman whether he thought that sort of testimony ought to stand
as sufficient naming of a man as a Communist. Personally I don't.
All this witness says is that he was told that this man had been at
a meeting. He has no personal knowledge himself. I think that is
going pretty far afield.
Mr. Jackson. Did you receive any information subsequently in any
other way which would serve to strengthen your identification of the
individual in question ?
]Mr. Hill. Well, the name was discussed — I mean, the name was
brought up by several people on the executive committee from time
to time ; the name arose.
Mr. Jackson. Specifically as a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Doyle. Well, that is different testimony. I mean, that is addi-
tional to what he stated before.
I want to say again, counsel, I think this witness ought not to give
hearsay. He is going far afield in my book, and I simply want to be
very careful ; otherwise we will do damage to people that aon't deserve
it.
Mr. KuNZiG. I have instructed and will continue to instruct, and I
have said several times, Mr. Doyle, today that we are only interested —
I will say it again to Mr. Hill — in people whom you can identify and
whom you knew to be members of the Communist Party.
Mr. Doyle. I know you have, counsel, and I want to compliment
you on taking that position.
Mr. Jackson. Very well ; proceed, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know the Woodworkers' Club ?
Mr. Hill. I have heard of it, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. You have already mentioned, I believe, Harrie Woods
and Hilda Woods in connection with that group ?
Mr. Hill. Well, Harrie Woods possibly, but I don't think Hilda
Woods. They were both, of course, members of our group.
Mr. Ktjnzig. I see. But you don't know whether Hilda Woods was
a member of the Woodworkers' Club ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3229
Mr. Hill. No, I don't.
Mr. KuNziG. But Harrie Woods was?
Mr. Hill. At one time. .
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know Josephine Woods Eidenoff, E-i-d-e-n-
o-f-f?
Mr. Hill. Yes, but I don't think that is the correct spelhng. I
was trying to think.
Mr. KuNziG. What is the spelling to the best of your recollection i
Mr. Hill. I don't think it is "hoff."
Mr. KuNziG. E-i-d-e-n-o-f -f ^
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. Thank you. What is your knowledge of Josephine
Woods Eidenoff ?
Mr. Hill. She is the daughter of Hilda and Harrie Woods. She
was a Communist Party member. 1 issued cards.
Mr. KuNziG. So you knew all of them to be Communist Party mem-
bers when you issued cards ?
Mr. Hill. Also her sister, Dorothy.
Mr. KuNziG. Dorothy Woods?
Mr. Hill. Dorothy Woods, right.
Mr. KuNziG. How about a Canal Club, C-a-n-a-1?
Mr. Hill. I have heard of it.
Mr. Ktjnzig. Victory Club ?
Mr. Hill. I have heard of it.
Mr. Ktjnzig. Now, that concludes the list of names of clubs that I
said I wanted to read to you. All those clubs that you have heard of
were Communist Party clubs in Alameda County, right?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, there are a few more names here I would like
to go into, Mr. Hill. I will ask you whether you knew these people
to be members of the Communist Party. Did you know a Kobert
Neville, N-e-v-i-1-l-e?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How did you know Robert Neville, and what was his
occupation if you can tell us ?
Mr. Hill. I don't know what his occupation was. I attended meet-
ings with him at the labor school in Oakland.
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer left the hearing room at this
point.)
Mr. KuNziG. A Communist Party meeting?
Mr. Hill. Closed meeting, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How about Billie Wachtel, B-i-1-l-i-e W-a-c-h-t-e-1 ? ^
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know her to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. I attended closed meetings with her.
Mr. KimziG. Where would they have been if you remember,
Mr. Hill. One was at Norway Hall, as I recall.
Mr. KuNziG. Roughly when, if you know. Was it the early part
of your membership or the latter part ?
Mr. Hill. I would say in the early part.
Mr. KuNziG. Which would be 1946 or that period of time?
1 This person is believed to be the same as Billie Wachter, identified by Ames.
3230 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Hill. I would say 1946 probably.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a Nat Yanish, Y-a-n-i-s-h, and Ann
Yanish?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Were they related ?
Mr. Hill. Husband and wife, yes.
Mr. KuNZTG. Did you know them both to be members of the Com-
munist Party ? v^i
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliat was Mr. Yanish's occupation, if you know?
Mr. Hill. He worked for the People's World.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know in what capacity he worked ?
Mr. Hill. He was from the State, from San Francisco.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a Doris Fogarty ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In what capacity did you know her ?
Mr. Hill. She attended our meetings when I was in the north Oak-
land branch.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know her work or her residence or any further
identification of Doris Fogarty ?
Mr. Hill. I have been to her home, but I can't recall right off.
Mr. KuNziG. You don't remember where ?
Mr. Hill. No.
Mr. KuNziG. Were you at Communist Party meetings in her home ?
Mr. Hill. No.
Mr. KuNziG. Not party meetings ?
Mr. Hill. No.
Mr. KuNziG. The meetings you attended with her were elsewhere?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. How about a Bimbo Brown?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How did you know Mr. Bimbo Brown ?
Mr. Hill. He gave a talk before a panel in a meeting at San Fran-
cisco at the time of the Duclos letter revelation.
Mr. KuNziG. Communist Party meeting? Did you know any other
members of the Brown family as Communists?
Mr. Hill. I can't say that I do.
Mr. Doyle. May the witness fix the date of that Duclos letter which
was considered out here by the Communist Party club, out here in the
West ? A month, if you know ; approximately the month and the year.
Mr. Hill. It was very early in my career in the party. It must have
been in the spring of 1945, 1 believe.
Mr. Doyle. Thank you.
Mr. KuNziG. How about a Pat Fogarty ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Is that any relation to the previous Doris Fogarty
that we mentioned ?
Mr. Hill. I believe they were husband and wife, to the best of my
knowledge.
Mr. KuNziG. How about a Gordon Williams ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How did you know Gordon Williams? Was that in
connection with the labor school !
Mr. Hill. Right.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3231
Mr, KuNziG. You knew him to be a member of the Communist
Party ?
Mr. Hill. Only through the fact that I attended a meeting there
that was a closed meeting with his presence.
Mr. KuNziG. We will understand for the future testimony here, Mr.
Hill, that if you attended a closed meeting of the Communist Party
where only Communist Party members were in attendance, that you
knew them to be members of the Communist Party.
Mr. Hill. In that particular case he was another person who lived
in our community, and I brought the issue up in an executive com-
mittee as to why he wasn't attending and why his wife wasn't attend-
ing our meetings, and it was pointed out that they were in another
group, and nothing more was brought up on it.
Mr. Jackson. But prior to that you had attended closed meetings of
the Communist Party
Mr. Hill. I wouldn't say whether it was prior or after on that.
Mr. Jackson. Well, on some occasion ?
Mr, Hill. Yes, and the same with his wife.
Mr. KuNziG. How about an Edward Barlow, B-a-r-1-o-w ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. And Elizabeth Barlow?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Were they related?
Mr. Hill. Husband and wife, I believe, at the time.
Mr. KuNziG. Where did you meet with them as members of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Several meetings which I can't recall ; one I recall very
vividly, a meeting in east Oakland, in the rumpus room of their home.
Mr. Jackson. Closed meeting of the party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes ; security meeting, in fact.
Mr. KuNziG. Jessie Pedrick, P-e-d-r-i-c-k?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know her to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. In what capacity? How did you get this knowledge?
]!ilr. Hill. Well, she may have at sometime held a position ; so far
as 1 know, just rank and file.
Mr. KuNziG. Rank-and-file member?
JMr. Hill. Yes.
]Mr. KuNziG. Did you meet with her as a member ?
Iilr. Hill. At a meeting, yes ; closed meeting.
]Mr. Jackson. The Chair avouM like to say that in the matter of
identifications which are made from the witness chair that the policy
of the committee has long been that any person who feels that he or
she has been adversely affected by such testimony should contact the
counsel of the committee in order that an official denial or affirmation
may be entered on the record and that the person be given an oppor-
tunity to so confirm or deny the allegations.
Mr. DoTXE. Mr. Chairman, I think as long as our subcommittee
chairman has specifically mentioned that, it might be appropriate
for me at this point, instead of later in the record where I intended
to have it introduced, to read rule 10 of our committee.
3232 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
I would like permission to read it at this point. It will just take a
minute.
Mr. Jackson. Very well.
Mr. Doyle. It is right on the same subject.
I read rule 10 of the rules of procedure of the Committee on Un-
American Activities adopted July 15, 1953 :
THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS AFFECTED BY A HEARING
Where practicable, any person named in a public hearing before the com-
mittee or any subcommittee as subversive, Fascist, Communist, or aflSliated
with one or more subversive-front organizations who has not been previously
so named shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, be notified by registered
letter to the address last known to the committee of such fact, including (1)
a statement that he has been so named; (2) the date and place of said hearing;
(3) the name of person who so testified ; (4) the name of the subversive, Fascist,
Communist, or front organization with which he has been identified; and (5)
copy of the printed rules of procedure of the committee.
(b) Any person so notified who believes that his character or reputation has
been adversely affected or to whom has been imputed subversive activity may,
within 15 days after receipt of such notice (1) communicate with the counsel of
the committee and/or (2) request to appear at his own expense in person before
the committee or any subcommittee thereof in public session and give testimony
in denial or affirmation relevant and germane to the subject of the investigation.
Any such person testifying under the provisions of (b) (2) above shall be
accorded the same privileges as any other witness appearing before the com-
mittee and may be questioned concerning any matter relevant and germane to
the subject of the investigation.
Mr. Jackson. Thank you, Mr. Doyle.
The committee is anxious to insure that no innocent parties be
damaged in any way by testimony. It is certain that in extensive
hearings of this kind there will be duplications of names of indi-
viduals who are not in fact the persons intended by the witness. The
committee invites those individuals to communicate with the commit-
tee in order that it may be clear, wherever possible, that they were not
the ones so identified.
Proceed, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. KuNziG. Van Frederick ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. How did you know Van Frederick ?
Mr. Hill. I met him at the home of Emma Stanley. He was intro-
duced as a functionary of the Codornices Village branch.
Mr. KuNziG. As a Communist Party functionary ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. Did you know him ever as George Van Frederick?
Mr. Hill. I don't recall that I ever heard the name George. "Van"
they always called him.
Mr. KuNZiG. You knew him as Van Frederick ?
Mr. Hill. Eight.
Mr. KuNziG. Buddy Green?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I attended meetings with him.
Mr. KuNziG. You attended meetings with Buddy Green of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know what his work was, his employment,
address, any information?
Mr. Hill. He was Negro.
Mr. KuNziG. Negro?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3233
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know where he was employed ?
Mr. Hill. That I don't, no.
Mr. KuNziG. The sum total of your knowledge then is that you at-
tended meetings with a Negro by the name of Buddy Green ^
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Who was a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. How about Paul Heide, H-e-i-d-e, and Ruby Heide?
Mr. Hill. Well, I brought both of those names up before the execu-
tive committee several times in a search for membership, and on the
occasions that they were brought up they were in their own group
branches.
Mr. KuNziG. Of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Of the Communist Party.
Mr. KuNziG. And therefore did not come into your group, is that it?
Mr. Hill. Did not attend our group.
Mr. KuNziG. This came to your attention then in the capacity you
have already testified before, that you were a membership director,
and as membership director, you would bring these people's names up ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. KuNziG. And so the records would come to your attention ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. How about Herb Kalman, K-a-1-m-a-n ?
Mr. Hill. I knew of him as the husband of
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know a group of Kalmans as members of
the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, I have attended meetings with some of them.
Mr. KuNZiG. Can you give any information as to their first names
or identify them further?
Mr. Hill. One was Bernice.
Mr. KuNziG. Bernice Kalman ?
Mr. Hill. One was Herb.
Mr. KuNziG. You did attend meetings with Bernice Kalman and
with Herb Kalman ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliat does Bernice Kalman do, if you know ?
Mr. Hill. I can't recall.
Mr. KuNziG. David Kinkead, K-i-n-k-e-a-d ?
Mr. KuNziG. David Kinkead?
Mr. Hill. Well, there is another case where — on many occasions I
had to get names by asking other people who a person was that I saw
at a meeting.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you see a person at a meeting which was a Com-
munist Party meeting who was then identified to you by someone else
as David Kinkead?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. I think that should stand, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. jACKsoisr. Very well.
Mr. KuNziG. And again for the sake of getting the record correct,
Mr. Hill, you made such reports to the Federal Bureau of Investi-
gation ?
Mr. Hill. Right.
41002— 54— pt. 2 6
3234 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNziG. Johnny Lindesmitli, L-i-n-d-e-s-m-i-t-li?
Mr. Hill. Right.
Mr. KuNziG. Do you know Johnny Lindesmith's occupation, work ?
Mr. Hill. He was a piano tuner.
Mr. KuNziG. And a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. He was not a member of our branch, and I would say that
I had never determined that he was. He was the husband of Rosalind
Lindesmith, and he did stay in the house during meetings sometimes,
and he did come to pick her up for meetings and would sit through the
latter part of the meeting.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you know Rosalind Lindesmith to be a member
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. I have issued cards to her.
Mr. KuNziG. You have issued cards to Rosalind Lindesmith?
Mr. Jackson". Were these closed meetings of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. He would come into a closed meeting during the
latter part of the meeting and remain and take her out of the meeting ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. Doyle. I think, Mr. Chairman, that is pretty close there. I am
not sure ; I think we ought to have further identification. The fact
that a group of neighbors let a man come in and take his wife home
is no sign that he was a member of the group, as I see it.
Mr. Jackson. The Chair is constrained to say that it depends on
what the group of neighbors was doing.
Mr. Doyle. That is right.
Mr. Jackson. It has been testified by the witness that this group
of neighbors was engaged in a Communist Party meeting which was
closed. Therefore, it would seem to me that closed meetings of the
Communist Party where none but Communist Party members could
enter would well establish
Mr. Moulder. I think the record speaks for itself. You don't say
he is a Communist or was ; is or was ?
Mr. Hill. That is right.
Mr. Moulder. Just as you describe, if you want to let the record
stand that way.
Mr. Jackson. Very well.
Mr. Kunzig. Joseph Melia ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
(Representative Gordon H. Scherer returned to the hearing room
at this point.)
Mr, Kunzig. How did you know Joseph Melia ?
Mr. Hill. I attended several meetings, closed meetings, where he
was in attendance. The final thing was he was set up as a director
of the IPP within the party, and he came to the various branches and
made talks, lectures, on the formation of the Independent Progressive
Party.
Mr, Kunzig. You knew him to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. To that extent, yes. That was a coimty job that he had,
this IPP job.
Mr. Doyle. Mr. Chairman, may I ask how that record stands?
T\niat was the name of the last man that you said came to the meetings
and talked about the IPP? Do you identify him as a Communist?
COM]MUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3235
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Doyle. That last man ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. At closed meetings of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. Proceed, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. Counsel, may we have the remaining names upon which the
committee has information?
Mr. KuNziG. Yes, sir.
Mr. Jackson. Will the investigator please take the list to the wit-
ness, and if the witness is able to identify any of the names out of his
own knowledge from attendance at closed sessions of the Communist
Party or by the fact of having issued a card, will the witness please
state those names and pass over the others ?
Mr. Hill. Eude Lambert, in attendance at a closed meeting.
Mr. Jackson. Do you have any further identification as to occupa-
tion or the location of the meeting ?
Mr. Hn.L. He was referred to as a member of the security com-
mission, Alameda County Security Commission.
Mr. Jackson. Eef erred to in the meeting ?
Mr. Hill. As a member of the commission.
Mr. Moulder. That is the Communist commission you are referring
to?
Mr. PIiLL. Yes.
Josephine Eidenoff, who has been covered.
Loretta Starvus of the California State board of the Communist
Party.
Celeste Strack of the California State board of the Communist
Party.
George Edwards as the West Oakland organizer of the Commu-
nist Party.
There are three names here I would like to confer with somebody
on.
(At this point Mr. Hill conferred with Mr. Wheeler.)
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Counsel, quite obviously there is some ques-
tion as to the names involved. Is the committee in possession of the
information ?
Mr. Wheeler. He is ready, Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Hill. I have a case here of a man who lived in our district, was
within our jurisdiction. His wife attended our meetings, was a mem-
ber of our group, but the man himself did not attend our group. Again
I brought this up in executive committee meeting, and it was pointed
out that he attended meetings in Itis own branch.
Mr. Jackson. This was an authoritative statement in a committee
meeting, in closed meeting of the Communist Party by someone who
had enough authority to speak on the subject?
Mr. Hill. Yes, yes. Should that name be brought up ?
Mr. Doyle. I would object to it. I think it has to be personal knowl-
edge rather than hearsay in this kind of a case.
Mr. Jackson. Very well ; the committee is in possession of the in-
formation in any event.
Mr. Hill. I will pass the others.
Mr. Jackson. Very well ; proceed, Mr. Counsel.
3236 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, the witness has gone into great detail
concerning chibs which he knew, members, people with whom he met as
Communists, and he has completed the testimony, and I have no fur-
ther questions to ask at this time.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Scherer. I have no questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
IMr. Moulder. Just 1 or 2, Mr. Chairman. In order to clear up some
of the possible inferences that might be drawn from your testimony,
the position M^hich you held was in the l()th Assembly Club ; is that the
way you referred to it ?
Mr, Hill. Yes, Assembly District.
Mr. Moulder. Would you give us the approximate total member-
ship, Communist membership, of that organization which you have re-
ferred to as the 16th Assembly Branch of the Communist Party?
Mr. Hill. It would be rather hard to give that as of a particular
date.
Mr. Moulder. Well, I am just referring to the approximate average
membership of that organization.
Mr. Hill. I would say in the twenties.
Mr. Moulder. Approximately 20 in number?
Mr. Hill. In the upper twenties, 24, 25, 22.
Mr. Moulder. Within that area of the 16th assembly district were
there other clubs such as you mentioned awhile ago ; that is, by local
names ?
Mr. Hill. No, our 16th Assembly District was the branch.
Mr. Moulder. I see.
Mr. Hill. It was under the east Oakland section.
Mr. Moulder. In your testimony you have identified or referred to
approximately 30 local clubs that were named to you by counsel. Can
you give us, according to your best opinion, the approximate or average
number or membership of the Communists in each of those clubs ?
Mr. Hill. I am afraid that would just border on guess work en-
tirely, sir.
Mr. Moulder. Isn't it true that sometimes there may have been a
club, say, here in Alameda County called the Ben Davis Club that may-
be only 3 or 4 persons were actually members of that club ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. Isn't it true that in many instances they didn't get — in
fact, it would be a rather large club that would be composed of 20 mem-
bers, such as your 16th assembly 1
Mr. Hill. In some cases, yes.
Mr. Moulder. It would be what you might call a little home club
where 2 people might invite 2 or 3 other people, and that is called a
club ; is that it ?
Mr. Hill. It could be very easily, yes.
Mr. Moulder. For example, I especially want to clarify your testi-
mony when you made refei-ence to the Railroad Workers' Club. That
might have been composed of only 1 or 2 railroad workers or maybe
1 or 2 persons that once worked with a railroad that might have been
members of that club ; isn't that so ? The point I am getting at is not
to give the impression that there was a large number of railroad work-
ers because that was not true ; isn't that so ?
Mr. Hill. That would be true ; yes.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3237
Mr. Moulder. It might be only 2 or 3 or 4 people belonging to that
club, and one of which might have been a railroad worker, or there
might not have been any railroad workers as members of the club, but
just a name given to it by Communist leadership in order to give the
impression the railroad workers were participating in their organiza-
tion ; isn't that so ?
Mr. Hill. True, for propaganda purposes.
Mr. Moulder. Yes. That is all.
Mr. Hill. xVnother point on that issue : It could also parallel our
club, which I can recall was as low as 5 members and as high as 35
members.
Mr. Moulder. Which club is that ?
Mr. Hill. Our 16th Assembly District group. There was quite a
lot of fluctuation.
Mr. Moulder. I am just clarifying those things just so that someone
might not get the erroneous impression, the basis for exaggeration
that this was composed of thousands and thousands of people, some-
thing of that sort.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. Doyle. Mr. Hill, please tell us the month in 1945 you went to
work for the FBI and the month you left the FBI in 1949 for the
record. I think it is important that we have that — not the day, but
the month. You began in the early spring in 1945, you said, and you
left in the fall of 1949.
Mr. Hill. I would say we left in — this is as nearly as I can figure —
in September or October, possibly as late as November in 1949.
Mr. Doyle. You went to work what month ?
Mr. Hill. In approximately April of 1945.
Mr. Doyle. Your wife went to work the same month and quit the
same month ?
Mr. Hill. Yes, although we were actually reporting information of
meetings and things, names and one thing and another, back as far as
the late summer and fall of 1944.
Mr. Doyle. And then after you quit with the FBI, did you continue
to furnish classified information to them after, say, November of
1949?
Mr. Hill. On anything that we could ; yes.
Mr. Doyle. How long did you continue doing that ?
Mr. Hill. Up until the time we were uncovered, when my wife
testified in the east this spring in Pittsburgh.
Mr. Doyle. One more question. We all know that the Duclos letter,
which was released from France in the early spring 1945, was a very
important document in the interests of the Communist conspiracy all
over the world. At that time he testified, and we know as a matter
of record. Earl Browder was deposed or removed, and Will Foster
was put in.
Now, do you know whether or not it is a fact that in connection with
the promulgation of the Duclos let.ter, when Mr. Foster came in,
there was almost a complete reversal in policy within the Communist
Party?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr, Doyle. In other words, they began again to advocate more
openly force and violence?
3238 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr, Hill. Yes.
Mr. Doyle. They began to do it in their meetings ?
Mr. Hill. Closed meetings, yes.
Mr. Doyle. Closed meetings. All right, thank you.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Hill, when you were subpenaed did you go up
to the Federal Bureau ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. When you were subpenaed by this committee ?
Mr. Hill. Yes.
Mr. Jackson. Did the Federal Bureau have any knowledge of your
subpena at the time you appeared there ?
Mr. Hill. I can't answer that question ; I mean, I don't know the
answer to the question.
Mr. Jackson. I understood from the staff
Mr. Hill. I believe they did know of it.
Mr. Jackson. Were you given any promise or payment or any
emolument for your appearance here today ?
Mr. Hill. No.
Mr. Jackson. On behalf of the committee and Congress I want to
extend our thanks to you for your testimony which has given some
indication of the wide extent of Communist operations in the Alameda
area. It is through the nature of testimony of this kind and through
the nature of the reports which you submitted to the Federal Bureau
over a long period of time that this committee and others have been
able to piece together the pattern of Communist operations.
I think that the Congress and the Nation owe a debt of thanks to
those who are willing to in large part cut themselves off from family
life and other social life in order to enter into the conspiracies for
the purpose of gathering vital information of this kind.
You will be continued under the protection of Federal subpena until
notified to the contrary.
Mr. Counsel, is there any reason why the witness should be further
retained ?
Mr. Kunzig. No, sir ; there is none.
Mr. Jackson. Very well ; with the thanks of the committee you are
excused.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr, Van Frederick, please.
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemnly swear in the testimony you are about
to give you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Frederick. I do.
Mr. Jackson. Proceed, please.
TESTIMONY OF GEORGE VAN FREDERICK, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS
COUNSEL, RICHARD GLADSTEIN
Mr. Kunzig. Will you state your full name, please?
Mr. Frederick. George Van Frederick.
Mr. Kunzig. How do you spell Frederick ?
Mr. Frederick. F-r-e-d-e-r-i-c-k.
Mr. Kunzig. Wlien and where were you born, sir?
Mr. Frederick. Close to Enid, Okla., July 2, 1910.
Mr. Kunzig. Would counsel please state his name and address for
the record?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3239
Mr. Gladstein. Yes. My name is Richard Gladstein, attorney at
law, 240 Montgomery, San Francisco.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Frederick, were you present in the room to hear
the testimony of the last witness, at least in the last hour or two 'i
Mr. Frederick. I was.
Mr. KuNziG. Then you heard the last witness identify you as a mem-
ber of the Communist Party ?
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. I heard what he said.
Mr. KuNziG. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party?
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. Mr. Counsel, I feel that my political convictions,
my political ideas, are my own business. I decline to answer
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. KuNziG. Are you attempting to say, sir, that you do not wish to
answer the question and that you refuse to answer on the ground
that you might incriminate yourself ?
Mr. Frederick. Mr. Counsel, I wish to answer this question in my
own way.
]Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, I recommend that the witness be di-
rected to answer the question. Have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party ? It is very simple ; he can say "Yes" or "No," or
he can refuse to answer.
Mr. Jackson. The witness is directed to answer the question. Fol-
lowing that answer he will be given every opportunity to explain his
reasons.
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. I decline to tell this committee anything of my
political activities, based upon the grounds of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Jackson. And in response to the specific question you decline
to answer ?
Mr. Frederick. Yes.
Mr. KuNZiG. Are we to understand, Mr. Frederick, that you feel
that membership in the Communist Party is merely a political matter?
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. Mr. Counsel, Mr. Chairman, I believe it is written
in the laws of this country that you can be a member of any political
organization, any organization, without having to be interrogated or
intimidated.
Mr. KuNziG. Then you feel the Communist Party is merely a politi-
cal organization and nothing more ?
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. I understand that the laws are written such that
you can be a member of the Communist Party, because the Commu-
nist Party legally — it is legal to belong to the Communist Party ; also
to be an officer of this party.
Mr. KuNZTG. You are absolutely right ; it is not illegal to be a mem-
ber of the Communist Party. Therefore, how could you possibly
feel it would incriminate you to answer the question?
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. Because I heard your chairman say that being a
member of the Communist Party is the same thing as being a part of a
subversive conspiracy.
3240 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNZiG. That was not only said by the chairman, but was also
said, Mr. Frederick, by justices of the Supreme Court of the United
States of America.
Now I have another question to ask you. I have here testimony by
Mary Elizabeth Parrott Bradsher, taken the 2d day of November 1953,
when she was asked the following question :
Mrs. Bradsher, to the best of your recollection can you tell me whom you met
and worked with as members of the Communist Party since the reformation of
the Communist Party in October 1945 until you became inactive?
And her answer was :
There was a fellow named Jerry ; there was a Jean Fredericks and a Van
Fredericks, man and wife; Marian Redner, R-e-d-n-er, whom we knew as Marian
Hammond and Jean Hammond ; Bill Redner ; Clara and Bob Ragland,
R-a-s-1-a-n-d ; Bimbo Brown ; Ella and Jack Gonzales, G-o-n-z-a-l-e-s ; Bruce An-
derson ; June and Herb Naboisek, N-a-b-o-i-s-e-k ; Frank Parsons ; Bob Neville,
N-e-v-i-1-l-e
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. KuNziG (continuing to read) .
Ray Thompson ; Naomi and Al White ; Gene and Jean Lien ; and Willie
Laughery, L-a-u-g-h-e-r-y ; and a D. D. Jones.
In that group named by Mrs. Bradsher is Van Fredericks named
as a member of the Communist Party. Do you wish to affirm or deny
that statement ?
Mr. Frederick. Mr. Counsel, before I answer this question I would
like to understand as to whether the committee, according to what I
read in the paper, is going to refuse to answer the questions to me and
my lawyer for the suit I have filed against them, causing me to lose
my job with the corporation with which I was working here m San
Francisco, or if by the fact that you refuse questions, refuse to answer
questions, as the press has stated, that if this is the case, then are there
2 laws written, one for Congressmen, and one for common citizens like
myself.
Mr. Jacilsgn. There has been — while the chair is not inclined to
engage in personalities — no refusal on the part of anyone with respect
to the suit in question. The matter is taking its due course and due
process in the courts, it is my understanding, and we will see what
comes out of that action.
However, at the present moment there is a question pending from
the counsel which I wish we could have answered,
Mr. Frederick. I read in the paper, in the San Francisco
Chronicle
Mr. Jackson. What you read in the paper, sir, is not of the slightest
moment at this time. There is a question pending, and I wish you
would answer it or decline to answer it.
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. May I consult with my attorney for a moment 'i
Mr. Jackson. Of course, at any time.
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. Mr. Counsel and Mr. Chairman, I am not inter-
ested in commenting on what this last witness has said. I decline on
the grounds of the fifth amendment which the Constitution affords
me.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, Mr. Frederick, would you state your address,
please, for the record ? I don't believe we got that.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3241 j
Mr. Frederick. My address at present is 2011 Bridgeway, Sausalito,
Calif.
Mr. KuNziG. And what employment have you had recently that
you just discussed where you are no longer employed?
(At this point Mr. Frederick conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Frederick. For the past 3 years I have been a draftsman. This
was up until the time your man served me with a subpena in my home,
and I was iired by the company with which I was employed at that
time.
Mr. KuNziG. What was the company ?
Mr. Frederick. Bechtel Corp.
Mr, KuNziG. Would you spell that, please?
Mr. Frederick. B-e-c-h-t-e-1 Corp.
Mr. KtTNziG. What type of work does that corporation do?
Mr. Frederick. Engineering and construction,
Mr. KuNziG. Does the company, if it lies within your knowledge,
do any defense work of any kind whatsoever ?
Mr, Frp:derick, Not to my knowledge, I was strictly on power-
plant for Pacific Gas & Electric,
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions of this
witness.
Mr. Jacksgist. Mr, Scherer.
Mr. Scherer, No,
Mr, Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder, No questions.
Mr, Jackson, Mr, Doyle,
Mr. Doyle. I think, Mr. Chairman, the record ought to show —
and I may say for the gentleman — the fact that a man is subpenaed
is no sign that he is guilty of anything, and this committee regrets
that any employer discharges any person merely because a person
has been subpenaed to come before this committee.
This committee is interested in finding facts, whatever they may
be. I wish to say that so far as I am concerned that the fact that any
witness is subpenaed before this committee doesn't mean in my book
that he is a bad citizen
(At this point Mr, Frederick conferred with Mr, Gladstein,)
Mr. Doyle, Nor that he is subversive necessarily.
Of course I do think very clearly the record shows that by and
large men who have continued to be Communists since 1945, since the
Duclos letter, do it Avith their eyes open, and that most of them are
probably members of the Communist conspiracy if they are still
Communists after April 1945,
I just wish to say, Mr. Chairman — and I know you other members
quite agree with me — the fact that a man is subpenaed is no sign he
is a bad citizen in any sense.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness — —
Mr. Frederick. Mr. Doyle — may I ask Mr. Doyle a question?
Mr. KuNziG. There is no further
Mr. Frederick. May I say something to Mr. Doyle ?
Mr. Jackson, Is there a question pending?
Mr. KuNziG. There is no question, Mr, Chairman,
Mr, Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused ?
(At this point Mr, Frederick conferred with Mr, Gladstein.)
*3242 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNziG. No, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Frederick. May I reply to Mr. Doyle ?
Mr. Jackson. I don't know that the observation
Mr. Doyle. I didn't make a statement in order to ask for a reply
at all. I just felt that you were entitled to have that statement from
me as one member of the committee, and I know no record to the
contrary.
Mr. Frederick. I would like to invite you, Mr. Doyle, to talk to
Bechtel and get my job back for me, and I will tell you why. I have
a daughter 17 years old who lives with me, one that does not live with
me that I have to support. I have a pregnant wife. This job is very
important to me. I invite you personally to go to Bechtel and get my
job back for me.
Mr. Jackson. May I extend you an invitation to answer the ques-
tion as to whether you are now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Frederick. I have answered that.
Mr. Jackson. You decline to answer that question ?
Mr. Frederick. I have answered it. It is in the record.
Mr. Jackson. Very well.
Is there any reason why the witness should not be excused?
Mr. KuNziG. There is no reason, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. The witness is excused.
Mr. KuNziG. James Fenton Wood.
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemnly swear in the testimonj?^ you are
about to give you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Wood. I do.
Mr. Jackson. Proceed.
TESTIMONY OF JAMES FENTON WOOD, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS
COUNSEL, RICHARD GLADSTEIN
Mr. Wood. Mr. Chairman, I don't wish to have these photographers
photograph me while I am testifying. They can photograph me be-
fore or afterwards. Is that permissible?
Mr. Jackson. Yes, if the press will.
Mr. Wood. Is that agreeable with the press? Before or after,
please.
Mr. Jackson. Let it be understood that the press is here as a public
information media. I am not going to restrict them unduly to any
activities that may take place during the course of your interrogation.
If it is convenient for the press to get their pictures now or later,
that is quite all right.
If there are developments
Mr. Wood. I asked the press to agree to that.
I have one more request : I would like them not to turn up this
microphone when I am consulting. There was a return when he was
turning up that microphone. I want private.
Mr. ScHERER. If counsel will leave his hand off the microphone
when he talks to you, that won't happen.
Mr. Wood. I know enough about electricity to know they were
turning it up.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3243
Mr. Jackson. There will be no changing of the volume unless it
is necessary because someone has placed his hand over it and we are
getting feedback, in which instance it will be turned down.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you state your full name for the record, please?
Mr. Wood. James Fenton Wood.
Mr. KuNziG. Would counsel please state his name and address for
the record ?
Mr. Gladstein. My name is Richard Gladstein, attorney at law,
240 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.
Mr. KuNziG. When and where were you born?
Mr. Wood. Ogden, Utah, 1918.
Mr. KuNziG. What is your present address, sir?
Mr. Wood. 975 Grove Street.
Mr. KuNZiG. Where is that?
Mr. Wood. San Francisco.
Mr. KuNziG. And your present occupation, sir ?
Mr. Wood. I was a draftsman until I was laid off just recently due
to a subpena.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliere were you a draftsman ?
Mr. Wood. At Bechtel Corp.
Mr. KuNziG. The same corporation as the last witness?
Mr. Wood. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, were you present in the room and did you hear
the testimony previously given during this day with regard to
yourself ?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Wood. I heard part of this testimony that was given.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you hear the testimony of Mr. Hill to the effect
that he knew you as a member of the Communist Party in Alameda
County ?
Mr. Wood. I heard the testimony.
Mr. KuNziG. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Wood. I first want to say that I would never admit having
known Mr. Hill. I think it would be the most degrading thing I
could think of doing.
Mr. KuNziG. Just answer the question instead of worrying about
degrading yourself. Just answer the question. Have you ever been
a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Wood. Well, I wish to say that I decline on the first amend-
ment because this is an invasion of my private political beliefs. I
fought in the Army as a citizen to insure that private political free-
dom of thought would continue to exist and also
Mr. KuNziG. You do know, don't you, the Supreme Court of the
United States has settled the question of whether you can use the
first amendment in a situation like this? The people who used it
went to prison. Is there any other amendment you would like to
use?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Wood. I have no knowledge that the Supreme Court has
made such a decision. If they are about to act on it, that may be a
different thing.
3244 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. KuNZiG. This was several years ago, but just answer the ques-
tion. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Wood. I want to state that I still believe that the first amend-
ment is a very valid reason for declining to answer such a question,
and once more, I am told that I should invoke the fifth amendment,
so I will.
Mr. KuNZiG. Now, you are refusing then to answer on the ground
that to answer might incriminate you, is that correct?
Mr. Wood. Could you state the question again ?
Mr. KuNZiG. I am stating so w^e get the record straight, I want
to understand : Are you refusing to answer the question on the
grounds that it may incriminate you to so answer ?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr, Wood. Yes, I am.
Mr. KuNziG. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Wood, I decline to answer on the grounds that the fifth amend-
ment to the Constitution gays I do not have to be a witness against
myself.
Mr. Jackson. The committee is aware of what the Constitution
says.
Mr. Wood. You asked me my reason. You asked me a question;
I am answering.
Mr, Jackson, The committee has listened for a long time to what
the Constitution says, and I am sure they are as fully aware of it as
is the witness,
Mr, Wood, I think they should take it to heart a little bit,
Mr, Jackson, That we are doing and trying to preserve it. Are
there any further questions?
Mr. KuNziG. I would just like to aslv one more. Was Dickson
Hill correct in his identification of you as a member of the Commu-
nist Party ?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr, Gladstein,)
Mr, Wood, I have answered the question that you infer, and I de-
cline to answer further,
Mr. KuNziG. You refuse to answer this particular question on the
grounds of the fifth amendment, is that right ?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Wood. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG, No further questions, Mr, Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Scherer. None,
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr, Moulder, Did you ever meet or know Mr. Hill before in your
life?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Wood. Same answer,
Mr, Jackson, For the same reasons ?
Mr. Wood, Same reason.
Mr. Moulder. How old are you ?
Mr. Wood. Thirty-five.
Mr. Moulder. Are you married?
Mr. Wood. Yes.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3245
Mr. Moulder. Have you ever served in any branch of the armed
services ?
Mr. Wood. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. Wliat branch?
Mr. Wood. Army,
Mr. Moulder. How long were you in the Army ?
Mr. Wood. Three years. I would like to make a statement for the
reason I was there.
Mr. Moulder. I was asking that for the record for your own
Mr. Wood. I would like
Mr. Mout.der. You were three years in the armed services?
Mr. Wood. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. In the Army ?
Mr. Wood. Yes.
Mr. Moulder, Did you serve overseas?
Mr. Wood. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. As what?
Mr. Wood. I was with the Air Force ?
Mr. Moulder. In the Air Force ?
Mr. Wood. Yes.
Mr. Moulder. What section of the overseas service were you in ?
Mr. Wood. I was a radio technician.
Mr. Moulder. Where?
Mr. Wood. I was in England for most of the time and went to
France, Belgium, Holland.
Mr. Moulder. In what business is the Bechtel Corp. engaged ?
Mr. Wood. Engineering, construction.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. Doyle. No questions.
Mr. ScHERER. Were you a member of the Communist Party while
you were in the United States Army ?
(At this point Mr. Wood conferred with Mr. Gladstein.)
Mr. Wood. I think this question has been previously asked, and I
refuse to answer further.
Mr. ScHERER. For the same reason ?
Mr. Wood. Same reason.
Mr. Moulder. One more question : Was your discharge honorable or
dishonorable ?
Mr. Wood. Honorable.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused ?
Mr. Wood. I also have citations, I might mention.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused ? The witness is excused.
Mr. Wood. Will the committee take action to get me my job back?
Mr. Jackson. Will you take action to cooperate with the committee
in telling us what you know about the Communist conspiracy ?
Mr. Wood. If the committee will abide in a constitutional
manner-
Mr. Jackson. The witness is excused.
Next witness.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Eugene Toopeekoff.
3246 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemnly swear in the testimony you are about
to give to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
so help you God ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. I do.
TESTIMONY OF EUGENE ALEXANDER TOOPEEKOFF, ACCOMPANIED
BY HIS COUNSEL, LAWRENCE SPEISER
Mr. KuNziG. Will you state your full name, please ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. Eugene Alexander Toopeekoff.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell that, please ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. T-o-o-p-e-e-k-o-f-f.
Mr. KuNziG. I see that you are represented by counsel. Would
counsel please state his name and office address for the record ?
Mr. Speiser. Lawrence Speiser, and I am the staff counsel of the
American Civil Liberties Union. My office address is 503 Market
Street, San Francisco.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, would you state when and where you were born,
Mr. Toopeekoff?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I was born in Russia on February 12, 1900.
Mr. KuNziG. What is your present residence, sir ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. 1050 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland 11, Calif.
Mr. KuNziG. Where are you presently employed, Mr. Toopeekoff ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. C. C. Moore & Co., engineers.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you spell that company, please ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. C. C.— that is initials — Moore, M-o-o-r-e.
Mr. KuNziG. Is that at 450 Mission Street ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. That is correct, sir.
Mr. KuNziG. In San Francisco ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. San Francisco.
Mr. KuNziG. What type of work do you do there ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Draftsman.
Mr. KuNziG. Were you present in the room to hear the testimony
of the witness, Mr. Hill, today ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. A part of the time.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you hear Mr. Hill's testimony regarding yourself
as a member of the Communist Party ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. Yes, I have.
Mr. KuNziG. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party,
Mr. Toopeekoff?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Would you state your answer once more ?
Mr. KuNziG. What is that ?
Mr. Toofeekoff. Wliat was the question once more?
Mr. KuNziG, I believe it was, Have you ever been a member of the
Communist Party?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds of
self-incrimination, or I don't want to be a witness against myself.
Mr. KuNziG. You refuse to answer ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. But at the same time I would like to state that I
am not now and I have not been a member of the Communist Party
for the past 5 years.
Mr. KuNziG. For the past 5 years ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Yes, sir.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3247
Mr. Jackson. Wlien did vou leave the Communist Party ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. I claim the privilege of the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. Were you a member of the Communist Party in 1950?
I presume the answer is "No" since you said you were not in the
last 5 years.
Mr. TooPEKOFF. That is correct ; last 5 years.
Mr. KuNziG. The answer is "No," you were not a member of the Com-
munist Party in 1950 ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. That is correct.
Mr. KuNziG. How about 1949; were you a member of the Com-
munist Party in 1949 ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Well, I believe that the 5-year period will take
you to December 1, 1948, sir, if my calculations are correct.
Mr. KuNziG. Then suppose I ask you, were you a member of the
Communist Party on December 2, 1948 ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I would say "No."
Mr. KuNziG. How about November 30, 1948 ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. KuNziG. Were you a member of the Communist Party on
November 30 ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I will claim the privilege of protection,
Mr. KuNZiG. Of the fifth amendment?
Mr. Toopeekoff. That is right.
Mr. KuNZiG. So you refuse to answer the question as regards to
November 30, 1948, but you were not a member on December 2 '? How
about December 1 ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I would claim the protection, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. The switch came somewhere between the first and the
second ; is that right ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. I claim the privilege, sir.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Toopeekoff', are you a naturalized citizen at the
present time ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I am, sir.
Mr. KuNziG. When did you become a naturalized citizen?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I believe that was in May 1934. That is correct,
yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, I would like to ask you, going back through the
years now, Mr. Toopeekoff, were you a member of the Communist
Party in 1947?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. I wish to claim the privilege of the fifth amend-
ment, protection of the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNZiG. 1946?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Answer would be the same.
Mr. KuNziG. 1945?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Would be the same.
Mr. KuNziG. 1944?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. I would like to claim the privilege of protection,
Mr. KuNziG. 1943 ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Same thing, sir.
Mr. KuNZiG. 1942?
3248 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. I came to California in April 1942.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you join the Communist Party when you came to
California ? Is that the point ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. I would claim the protection of the Constitution.
Mr. KuNziG. You didn't answer my other question, though. In
1942 were you a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. No ; I was not a member of the Communist Party
on the day when I went to California.
Mr. KuNziG. So you refuse to answer the question between 1942 and
1948, I guess it was, wasn't it ? Check the record again, will you ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. Yes, sir; December 1, 1948.
Mr. KuNziG. I see. Did you ever engage in your work that you
told us about as an engineer — as a draftsman, did you ever engage in
war work of any kind, any confidential work?
Mr. TooFEEKOFF. I dou't believe so, sir.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you do any work that had to do with the war
during those periods in the United States ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. Yes, I did ; yes.
Mr. KuNziG. What type of work was that?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. Draftsman, drafting work.
Mr. KuNziG. Draftsman work that had to do with the war eilort?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. That is right, sir.
Mr. KuNziG. During the time that you were doing that work were
you a member of the Communist Party ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. ToopEEKOFF. I will claim the protection of the fifth amend-
ment to the Constitution.
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr, KuNzm. Would you give the committee a resume of your em-
ployment background, Mr. Toopeekoff, since you came to this coun-
try, let us say ?
Mr. Toopj:ekoff, Since I came to this country. Would you mind if
I will refer to the records I have here ?
Mr. KuNziG. No ; go right ahead.
Mr. Toopeekoff. Since I came to United States in the fall of 1923,
I was employed at Armour & Co. in Chicago, stockyards.
Mr. KuNziG. Wliat type of work?
Mr. Toopeekoff, I was steamfitter helper.
Mr. Jackson. How long did that employment last ? What period
of time ?
Mr, Toopeekoff, I would say it lasted from 1923 through 1928,
sir,
Mr, Jackson, If you can, will you give the approximate period of
time involved in each of your
Mr. Toopeekoff, Well, I would say I was employed on and off
while going to school — that is, at the same job — and that was about 5
years altogether, in the capacities of steamfitter helper first, and then
in the engineering department of the same company, Armour & Co.
stockyards.
That was Armour. Then I was also employed by X-L Refrigerat-
ing Co., also in Chicago, I would say maybe for a year.
Then again I was intermittently employed by a fellow by the name
of G. P, Swartz, also in Chicago, I believe his name was S-w-a-r-t-z,
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3249
G. P. The work also was of an intermittent nature while going to
school.
Then I was employed by Emergency Relief Commission. That was
a period, I don't remember exactly, of perhaps a year, year and a half.
I have down here 1932, 1934.
Then I went to Rochester, N. Y., and I worked with American Zinc
Corp. I have it down here as 1934, 1935. Then I came back to Chi-
cago and worked for United States Cold Storage Co. in Chicago on
Pershing Road, and the period I have here is close to 6 years. That
takes me down to 1941.
I was unemployed for a period of time, 1941, and then I went to
Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and at the end of my unemployment period I
found a job with Leathem D. Smith Co. They were shipbuilders
located in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and I was with them until spring of
1942.
Then I came back to Chicago, and I worked for perhaps a couple
of weeks at the Aircraft Production Engineers. That was in the year
1942, spring of it, and then I boarded a bus and came to California.
That was in the spring, April of 1942.
Mr. Jackson. What is your record of employment since 1942?
Mr. ToopEEKOFF. When I came to California I started to work
for Pacific Bridge Co. in Alameda, and I was there, I believe, up to
February 1943. Then I changed the employment to Kaiser Cargo
offices in Oakland, downtown Oakland, and I believe I worked there
up to October of 1943. Then I changed employment to that of Walsh-
Kaiser Co. — W-a-1-s-h, Their offices, temporary offices, were located
in San Francisco in the same building where — I think it was on Mont-
gomery Street.
Mr. Jackson. What type of work was performed by that organiza-
tion?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. That particular work, draftsman also. That was
as a draftsman, too.
Mr. Jacksox. What type of work did the firm do ? ^"SHiat was the
nature of that ?
Mr. TooPEEKOFF. That was in connection — Walsh-Kaiser were
building some of the cargo ships, I think, and the ships were designed
by another engineering office — what was it, I am sorry, I have forgot-
ten ; it was on Montgomery Street, an engineering office specializing
in maritime construction, and we did some work in connection with
their work. I believe we were subcontractors or something like that,
doing some detail work for that company.
I am sorry I don't remember the name of that, that Walsh-Kaiser.
Then I changed my employment to that of United Engineering in
Alameda where I was up to November 1945. Then I was employed by
E. J. Wegener, AY-e-g-e-n-e-r, and I believe I was with his office up to
May 1946.
Then I went back to Cincinnati Engineering and stayed there up
until December of 1946, and then I changed the job and went to work
for C. C. IMoore Co., and I was then employed by that concern as of
the moment.
Mr. KuNziG. ISIr. Chairman, I have no further questions to ask.
I would like to suggest that since the witness obviously keeps most
exact records about various things that he has done in his life, that
41002—54 — pt. 2 7
3250 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
I am sure if he would answer the questions that were asked, he could
be of oreat assistance to this committee from the records which he
obviously keeps.
I hope that at some time in the future, if this witness sees fit to
answer these questions, he can come before this committee and an-
swer them and be of the gi*eat assistance that I feel sure he could
be.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Sclierer.
Mr. ScHERER. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. How old were you when you came to the United
States from Russia?
Mv. TooPEEKOFF. I camc in 1923, so that makes it 23 years old,
sir.
Mr. Moulder. Are your parents still living over there ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. No, they are not. I mean, they are deceased.
Mr. Moulder. Since arrival in this country have you at any time
been in contact with the Soviet Union consul or Embassy or any of
their representatives over in this country ?
Mr. Toopeekoff. I don't believe so, sir.
Mr. Moulder. Tliat is all.
Mr. Doyle. After you left the Communist Party as a member, did
you take any steps to let your friends and neighbors know that you
retired from the party, and if so, what steps ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. I am sorry, sir; that is a compound question.
Would you please break it down so that I can answer it?
Mr. Doyle. I note the same distinguished counsel is with you now
as was here this morning. He called attention then that it was a com-
pound question that was asked. Well, I will try to make it simple for
you. Wliat have you done, if anything, since you left the Communist
Party membership to inform any of your friends and neighbors that
you no longer were a member of the Communist Party ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. It sounds exactly the same way, sir. It is a com-
pound question. I am sorry, but that is the way it looks and sounds
to me.
Mr. Doyle. In other words, you don't want to answer it. You know
what I mean by the question, don't you ? That is in plain English lan-
guage, isn't it? You understand what I am asking you to answer,
don't you ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. Well, sir, you have asked me a question on which
I have claimed the privilege of protection under the fifth and the first
amendments before, and I have answered those.
Mr. Doyle. I am sure you didn't answer that question before, sir.
I am sure that it was not asked you.
Mr. Toopekoff. Well, the implication is still there, sir.
Mr. Doyle. I think I have no more questions.
Mr. Jackson. I believe j^ou said, sir, tliat you were not presently
a member of the Communist Party ; is that correct?
Mr. Toopeekoff. Yes, yes.
Mr. Jackson. The only conclusion that one can draw is that during
the period about which you refused to testify you were a member of
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3251
the Communist Party or were otherwise involved in something which
would involve a measure of self-incrimination for you to answer
questions. Over that period of time did you take any step or make any
move which you consider to have been the act of a disloyal citizen
during the period of time in question ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. Would you let me read a statement which I have
prepared for the committee ? That would answer your question.
Mr. Jackson. The committee will be very happy to receive in
written form any statement that you have, and, subject to the rules
of the committee, it may be inserted in the record.
Mr. Toopeekoff. I see.
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
Mr. Toopeekoff. I am pretty sure the statement will answer the
question, sir.
Mr. Jackson. Is it possible to answer the question briefly as to
whether or not you engaged in any disloyal activity or any activity of
a subversive nature during the period of time about which you refused
to answer questions ?
(At this point Mr. Toopeekoff conferred with Mr. Speiser.)
^Ir. Toopeekoff. I am not going to read the whole statement. 1
will just read the part of it that applies to your question :
I have never been a spy nor have I ever advocated the overthrow of our Gov-
ernnient by force and violence. I have not been a witness to anyone advocating
the overthrow of our Government by force and violence.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused, Mr. Counsel ?
Mr. KuNziG. No, sir.
Mr. Jackson. The witness is excused.
Mr. KuNziG. Dr. Eugene Eagle.
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemnly swear in the testimony you are about
to give you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help you God ?
jMr. Eagle. Yes, I do.
TESTIMONY OF EUGENE EAGLE, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL,
JULIUS M. KELLEE
INIr. KuNziG. Would you state your full name, please, sir ?
Mr. Eagle. Mv full name is Eugene Eagle, E-a-g-1-e.
Mr. KuNziG. Would counsel please state his name and address for
the record, sir ?
Mr. Keller. Yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Counsel, would you kindly now state your name and
address for the record?
Mr. Keller. My name is Julius INI. Keller, 68 Post Street, San
Francisco.
Mr. KuNziG. Dr. Eagle, would you please state your present
address?
Mr. Eagle. 1324 Broadway, San Francisco.
. Mr. KuNZiG. And your occupation, sir ?
]\Ir. Eagle. I am an optometrist.
IVIr. KuNziG. Were you present in the room to hear the testimony
of the witness prior
3252 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Eagle. I heard the testimony, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Did you hear the testimony given by Mr. Hill earlier
that he kneAv you to be a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Eagle. I heard the testimony, yes.
Mr. KuNziG. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party,
Dr. Eagle?
Mr. Eagle. For the last couple of days and weeks I have been won-
dering just what Congress took up before they began these un-Ameri-
can investigations •
Mr. Jackson. Will the witness kindly confine his remarks to the
answer of the question.
Mr. Eagle. I am going to answer that question, sir, and I would like
for the committee
Mr. Jackson. Very well, answer it, and then if you have any ex-
planation to make, we will be very happy to
Mr. Eagle. I would like for the committee to accord me the same
courtesy in answering these questions as they did a couple of other
witnesses here yesterday,
Mr. Jackson. You will be accorded every courtesy which is consis-
tent with your own conduct toward the committee. If you will an-
swer the question which is presently pending, you will be given an
opportunity to explain your answer.
Mr. Eagle. The sum total of my answer to that question is that I
refuse to answer that question on various grounds.
I was very much struck with awe at the friendly witnesses. I have
been and am very much an admirer of the American production tech-
niques, and I notice that one of the things we produce best and quickest
today are Communists. In Hitler Germany they produced Jews
Mr. Jackson. The committee is not here to listen to a lesson in his-
tory nor in constitutional law. It is here to ask you some questions, to
seek some information from you, to elicit some answers from you.
(At this point Mr. Eagle conferred with Mr. Keller.)
Mr. Jackson. You have declined to answer tlie question?
Mr. Eagle. I decline to answer the question on the grounds of the
fifth amendment, and I mean the entire fifth amendment. I also de-
cline to answer on several other grounds. I decline to answer on the
grounds of the fourth amendment ; I decline an answer on the grounds
of the first amendment and on the grounds of the tenth amendment.
Such an answer maybe is a compound answer.
Mr. Jackson. That is sufficient answer.
Mr. Eagle. I would like to
My. Jackson. Nothing further is needed.
Mr. Eagle. This committee came all the way from Washington to
hear me say that ?
I understand this committee came
Mr. Jackson. Jnst a moment. The Chair again feels constrained
to warn the audience that any demonstration of any sort, of approval
or disapproval, will immediately result in the clearing of the hearing
room. This is the second time that it has been necessary to bring
this to the attention of the audience. This is a congressional com-
mittee operating under the authority and the power of the United
States Government. There will be dignity and decorum in the hear-
ing room if it is necessary to clear the entire hearing room in order
to achieve it.
COMMXmiST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3253
The officers about the hearing room will please observe those who
are responsible for any further outbreaks and will take them out of
the hearing room.
Proceed, Counsel.
Mr. KuNziG. Now, Dr. Eagle, would you answer this question:
Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Eagle. In view of what has gone before in this hearing, and
in view of the fact that people like Truman and Clark are suspected
of harboring or aiding or aoetting foreign countries, in view of the
general situation in this country, I will have to plead and stand on
the privilege guaranteed in the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, this witness does not have to stand on
anything. Do you stand on the fifth amendment?
Mr. Eagle. I do stand on the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Let the witness clearly understand that lie is under
no compulsion to stand on anything. If he chooses to take his con-
stitutional privilege, that is his privilege. He is under no compulsion
to do so.
Mr. Eagle. I feel that I am
Mr. Jackson. Do you liave any questions, Mr. Scherer?
Mr. Scherer. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. No questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. Doyle. No.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused ?
Mr. KuNziG. No, sir.
Mr. Jackson. Tlie witness is excused.
Mr. KuNziG. Mrs. Bernice Kalman.
Mr. Treuhaft. That witness was called for yesterday's session, I
believe ; she received a telegi'am stating that she should be here yester-
day. She was here with her attorney at that time. Her attorney
is unable to attend today and asked me to state that if the committee
wishes to notify her of some convenient time when she may be heard,
that she will be here.
She was not given any instructions yesterday about returning.
She was subpenaecl for yesterday, not for today.
Mr. Jackson. I am advised by counsel that the earliest time that we
can accommodate the witness will be Friday. However, I am further
advised that the subpenas which are issued are on a continuing basis,
subject to the work of the committee which it is not possible to plan
in advance to an hour. Therefore, any other witnesses who may be
in the hearing room are expected to return tomorrow.
Mr. KuNZiG. Would the gentleman who has just spoken please
identify himself for the record ?
Mr. Treuhaft. Yes; my name is Robert Treuhaft. I am an at-
torney.
Mr. Jackson. Very well; Friday morning at 10 o'clock for the
witness.
Do 3"ou liave any further witnesses?
41002— 54— pt. 2-
3254 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Treuitaft. I might say that I am not the attorney for this
Avitness. All I can do is communicate the information to the attor-
ney for the witness.
Mr. ScHERER. Who is the attorney for the witness?
Mr. Treuhaft. The attorney for the witness is Mr. Edward Gro-
gan, G-r-o-g-a-n.
Mr. Doyle. You a])peared here at his request, didn't you?
Mr. Treuiiaft. I did.
Mr. DoYLfi. You appeared here at the request of the attorney for
the lady?
Mr. TRP:uiiArT. I did.
Mr. Doyle. You apj^eared here, therefore, officially for him as her
attorney.
Mr. Treuiiaft. I appeared here at his request and as a courtesy to
him.
Mr. Doyle. And you will report to him immediately that that hour
is set? 4
Mr. Treuiiaft. I will likewise, as a matter of courtesy, infonn him
of what the members of the committee have said.
Mr. Doyle. Well, I am a member of the bar also, and I know that
we will receive his and your cooperation.
Mr. Treuiiaft. Yes. I trust that tlie subpenas that are issued and
the proceedings in which you are a member of the bar are in better
form than the subpenas that are issued here.
Mr. Jackson. Very well. As long as the subpenas are answered,
that is all.
Do you liave any further witnesses?
Mr. KuNziG. Dan Mali, M-a-h.
Mr. Jackson. Do you solemuly swear in the testimony you are
about to give to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help you God ?
Mr. Mah. I do.
TESTIMONY OF DAN KEW MAH, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL,
CHARLES R. GARRY
Mv. KuxziG. Would you state your full name for the record, please?
Mr. Mah. Dan Kew Mah.
Mr. KuxziG. Would you spell it, please ?
Mr. Mah. D-a-n K-e-w M-a-h.
My. Kunzig. Wliat is your present address, Mr. Mah ?
Mr. Mah. San Francisco, Calif.
Mr. Kunzig. And your street address, please ?
Mr. Mah. San Francisco, Calif.
]Mr. Kunzig. There must be more. Would you give us the street,
jjlease ?
(At this po'mt INTr. Mah conferred with Mr. Garry.)
Mr. Mah. I will write the address down and give it to the com-
mittee secretly.
Mr. Jackson. Very well, if you will furnish the committee with
your address, it will be satisfactory.
Mr. Kunzig. Would the counsel please state his name and address
for the record ?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3255
Mr. Garry. Charles E. Garry, G-a-r-r-y, 68 Post Street, attorney
at law.
Mr. KuNZiG. Mr. Mali, what is j'oiir present employment?
(At this point Mr. Mah conferred with Mr. Garry.)
Mr. Mail I refuse to answer on the grounds of the fifth amend-
ment.
Mr. SciiERER. I suggest, Mr. Chairman, you direct the witness to
answer.
Mr. Jackson. Yes, it is part of proper identification. I think the
question is entirely proper. You are directed to answer the question
as to your present occupation.
(At this point Mr. Mali conferred with ISIr. Garry.)
Mr. Mail On the following grounds.
Mr. Jackson. Do you persist in your refusal to answer ?
Mr. Mah. Well, this is a private matter. From some of the testi-
mony I have heard today, people has been deprived of their jobs, and
I don't wish to be deprived of my job.
Mr. Jackson. Do you persist in your declination to answer?
Mr. Mail I certainly do.
Mr. Jackson. Very well. For what reasons ?
Mr. Mah. On the ground that I do not wish to be a witness against
myself.
Mr. Jackson. Would disclosing the true nature of your employ-
ment be a criminal offense ?
(At this point Mr. Mah conferred with Mr. Garry.)
Mr. Mau. I decline to answer that.
(At this point Mr. Mah conferred with Mr. Garry.)
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Mali, in the case of the United State,^ of America
V. William Schiielderman. in the United States District Court, South-
ern District of California, Central Division, there was testimony taken
Tuesday, April 1, 1952, where testimony was given by William Ford
to the following effect — I will read it to you :
Have you attended any Communist Party meetings at which Oleta O'Connor
Yates was present other than the one you have just related ?
Yes; I have. She attended a meeting of the executive committee of my
branch of the party in my apartment at 926 Grove Street, San Francisco.
And when did that take place?
That took place in about, as near as I can recall, September of 1946.
And who else was present at that meeting?
Harry Williams was present and Dan Mah. D-a-n M-a-h.
Then Mr. Ken Stone says :
Your Honor, may I assist the reporter on that? It is my understanding the
name is spelled M-a-h.
The court asked, "Does that refresh your recollection?"
x\nd the witness said, "yes, sir."
Now, Mr. Mah, have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party ?
(At this time Mr. Mah conferred with Mr. Garry.)
Mr. Mail Before I answer this question I wish to state that I
didn't get an opportunity to finish my answer to the last question
because I did not wish to interrupt the chairman when he spoke.
Mr. Jackson. Very well. Complete the answer to your last
question.
Mr. Mail What I wished to say, following what I said, was that
on the same ground, which I failed to inject into the record.
3256 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Jackson. Very well, and now, the question, I believe, pending
is, have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Mail I refuse to answer that question on the ground of the
fifth amendment.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder,
Mr. Moulder. May I suggest you give him an opportunity to deny,
affirm, or explain that testimony which you have read to him, Mr.
Counsel.
Mr. KuNziG. I now wish to ask you, Mr. Mali, whether you would
please affirm or deny this testimony taken in the United States court
record in which you were identified as having been present at Com-
munist Party meetings.
(At this point Mr. Mali conferred with Mr. Garry.)
Mr. Mah. I would decline to answer that question on the ground
of the first amendment and also on the ground of the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. When and where were you born, Mr. Mali?
Mr. Mail When was I born ?
Mr. KuNziG. And where; yes.
Mr. Mail I was born in Fresno, Calif., in the year August 27, 1899.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. JVIali, are you now a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Mail I decline to answer on the ground of the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. Would you give the committee a resume of your
employment background?
(At this point Mr. Mali conferred with Mr. Garry.)
Mr. Mah. I decline to answer that question on the ground of the
first amendment, because I don't think this is any affair of this com-
mittee. It is a private matter, and also on the ground of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Mali, I will come back to this in a moment.
Wliere did you attend school here ?
Mr. Mah. In Fresno, Calif.
Mr. KuNziG. How far did you go in school ?
Mr. Mail First year high.
Mr. KuNziG. What was the name of the high school ?
Mr. Mah. Fresno High School.
Mr. KuNziG. What year did you graduate?
Mr. Mail I did not graduate. I said first year high.
Mr. KuNziG. You are absolutely correct. What year did you leave
high school, to the best of your recollection ?
Mr. Mah. Approximately 1914.
Mr. KuNziG. In 1914 what was the first employment you had after
you got out of school, after you left school ?
Mr. Mah. I have already stated the reason I will not answer that
question.
Mr. KuNziG. You refuse to answer — let me make sure that this is
clear for the record — what your employment was in 1914 when you
left high school at the end of the first year because you fear that
to answer that question might tend to incriminate you, is that correct?
In 1953 ?
Mr. Mah. For the same three reasons I gave.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request that the witness
be directed to answer this question.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3257
Mr. Jackson. The witness is so directed.
Mr. Mah. On the ground of the first amendment, because I don't
believe it is any concern of the committee, and also as a private matter,
and thirdly on the ground of the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Mah, I now ask you this question : Will you give
the committee, please, in detail your employment from the time you
left school until the present time ?
Mr. Mah. For the very same reason I just gave previously.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request the witness be
ordered to answer this question.
Mr. Jackson. The witness is directed to answer the question.
Mr. Mah. Mr. Chairman, I can't understand ; I have already gave
the reasons.
Mr. Jackson. That is quite all right; you can persist in your
declination if you desire. However, you are directed to answer the
question.
Mr. Mah. On the grounds of the first amendment, I don't believe
it is any concern of this committee; secondly, it is purely a private
matter ; thirdly, on the ground of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Jackson. You decline to answer?
Mr. Mah, I decline to answer on all those grounds.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions of this
witness.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Scherer. I have no questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Moulder.
Mr. Moulder. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. Doyle. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused ?
Mr. KuNziG. No, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. The witness is excused.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Kenneth Austin.
Mr. Mah. May I ask a question, Mr. Chairman, before I am ex-
cused ? I would like to ask a question. I have been served a subpena
to be here, and I am here, but I also would like to make the statement
to the committee
Mr. Jackson. The committee will receive the statement, and if it
is in accordance with the rules of the committee, it may be incor-
porated in the record. The statement will be received. The witness
is excused.
(Addressing Mr. Austin.) Do you solemnly swear in the testimony
you are about to give you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Austin. I do.
TESTIMONY OF KENNETH CRAIG AUSTIN, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS
COUNSEL, LAWRENCE SPEISER
Mr. KuNziG. Would you state your full name, please, sir ?
Mr. Austin. Kenneth Craig Austin.
Mr. Kunzig. What is your present address, Mr. Austin?
3258 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Mr. Austin. Apartment 33, 535 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco,
Calif. ; phone number is Douglas 2-5055.
Mr. KuNziG. Thank you very much for the complete answer. Now,
Mr. Austin, would you tell us your present employment, please ?
Mr. Austin. My present employment is longshoreman.
Mr. KuxziG. Where are you employed ?
Mr. Austin. I decline to answer that on the grounds of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Kunzig. Are you connected with the ILWU, Mr. Austin ?
Mr. Austin. I decline to answer that on the grounds of the first and
the fifth amendments for the reason that I believe the committee ask-
ing me such a question would open the gate so that they could ask me
questions as to the names of persons, and at this time I would like to
state that on the grounds of the first amendment and the fifth amend-
ment I would like to inform the committee that I will ansAver no ques-
tions as regards my private opinions
Mr. Jackson. You can inform the committee — —
Mr. Austin. My religious convictions
Mr. Jackson. The witness will be in order. You can inform the
committee as to your intentions when the questions are asked you. I
understand that the first declination is on the grounds of the first and
fifth amendment, is that correct ?
Mr. Austin. That is true, sir.
Mr. Jackson. Thank you.
Mr. Kunzig. Counsel, we recognize you as having been here previ-
ously today with other witnesses, but would you kindly state your
name again for this record?
Mr. Speiser. My name is LaAvrence Speiser. I am the staff counsel
of the American Civil Liberties Union, 503 Market Street, San Fran-
cisco.
Mr. Kunzig. Now, ]\Ir. Austin, in the same testimony given in the
United States District Court, Southern District Court of California,
Central Division, in United States of America v. William Schneider-
man et al, on Tuesday, April 1, 1952, testimony Avas taken as follows :
Question of INIr. William Ford, Mr. Ford was asked,
Mr. Ford, were you present at a meeting of the Cominunist Party in which
action was tal^en with respect to Walter Lambert?
Yes, I was.
Where did that meeting take place?
The meeting took place at 10 Golden Gate Avenue.
And when did it take place?
I think I stated previously here May or June of 1946.
Who was present at the meeting?
William Schneiderman, Oleta Yates, Rude Lambert, and that is all the de-
fendants that I know of that were present.
Is this the same meeting that you were testifying to a few moments ago?
It is the same meeting.
Anyone else present besides the defendants in this case whom you have named?
The defendants, Mr. Chairman, were defendants in the Smith Act
case that was being tried.
And the answer says :
There are two different defendants, persons who were brought up on charges
within the party of antiparty and antilabor activity.
Suppose you name them.
Levin Mosskoff ; Rude Lambert's brother.
What wasi his name?
Walter Lambert ; Kenny Austin, and Elaine Jay.
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA 3259
Then he went on to say :
The majority of my particular branch were members of this meetin.a', Com-
munist Party meeting.
Mr. Austin, do you care to affirm or deny that testimony as to
Avhether you were present at this Communist Party meeting as testi-
fied to in public record of a court of this State ?
Mr. Austin. I decline to answer on the grounds of the first and the
fifth amendments to the Constitution of the United States ; it is none
of the business of this committee.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Austin, have you ever been a member of the Com-
munist Party ?
Mr. Austin. I decline to answer on the first and fifth amendments.
Mr. KuNziG. Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Austin. I decline to answer on the grounds of the first and
the fifth amendment.
Mr. KuNziG. Mr. Chairman, I have no other questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Scherer. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. INIoulder.
Mr. Moulder. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Mr. Doyle.
Mr. Doyle. No questions.
Mr. Jackson. Is there any reason why the witness should not be
excused ?
Mr. KuNziG. No, sir, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jackson. The witness is excused.
Mr. Austin. Thank you. I would like to make formal request that
I be paid for today inasmuch as I lost a day's work.
Mr. Jackson. If you will see the administrative clerk of the com-
mittee, you will get your transportation, which is the custom of the
committee.
Mr. KuNziG. I am glad the witness just mentioned that. I was
about to make a statement, Mr. Chairman, that all those who testified
today please, if you will, report to the committee clerk sitting on
my right to sign proper papers for the witness fees and transportation.
Mr. Jackson. At this time the committee will stand in recess until
9 : 30 tomorrow morning.
(Whereupon, at 5 : 15 p. m., the hearing was recessed until 9 : 30
a. m., Thursday, December 3, 1953.)
INDEX
Individuals
Page
Albertson, William 31GS
Aldeu, H 3223
Almazov, S - 3169
Amter, Israel 3161, 3162, 3168
Andersen, George 8159-3184
Anderson, Bruce 3240
Anderson, O. E 3187-3189
Augustine, Elizabeth 32U6
Austin, Kenneth Craig (Kenny) 3257-3259 (testimony)
Ballam, John 3161
Barlow, Edward 3231
Barlow, Elizabeth 3231
Barnes, Carol 3217, 3218
Bedacht, Max 3161, 3162, 3169
Begun, Isadore 3161
Benjamin, Herbert 3161
Berland, Sam 3168
Bernian, Isaac 3168
Berry, A. W 3161
Biedenkapp, Fred 3168
Biltmore, Hose 3131
Binkley, W. G 3161
Bittelman, Alexander (Alex) 3161,3162
Bloor, Ella R 3161,3162
I'.loor, Mother 3223
Bodian, Clara 3169
Bodkin, Wesley .3218
Boetcher, Herman 3225
Bosartz, Herman 3168
Boruchowitz, Joseph '. 3168
Bradsher, Mary Elizabeth Parrott.: 3240, 3224
Bratoff, George 3205, 3206
Brogin, Moe 3169
Browder, Earl 3160-3162, 3174, 3176, 3177, 3200, 3237
Brown, Bimbo 3230, 3240
Brown, Frances 322.")
Bruno, John 3169
Budenz, Louis 3161, 3162
Burke, Don 3161
Burlak, Ann 3161
Burris, Jack 3206
Burt, Samuel ? 3188
Cacchione. Peter V 3161
Capelle, Frances 3220, 3225
Capelle, Roger 3225
Carlson, Evans 3225
Carmon, Laura 3168
Cashione, P 3169
Chambers. Whittaker 3173
Childs, ISIorris 3161
Chown, Miriam 3207
Chown, Paul 3207-3209, 3227
Clifeord, Bill 3202
Collier, Mr 3174
Costrell, Harry C 3169
3261
3262 INDEX
Page
Cowl, Margaret 3161
Creque, Rosalie 3198
Creque, William 3198
Darcy, Sam 3101
Davis, Ben 3222, 323(5
Davis, Robert Gorliam 318(>
Dennis, Gene 3161, 3162
Dimitrofe, George 3161
Dodd, Bella . 3219
Don, Sam 3161
Doroslikin, Sadie 3160
Doyle, Bernadette 3219, 3222
Dnclos ^- 3200, 3221, 3230, 3237
Easle, Eugene 3203, 3209, 3212, 3251-3253 (testimony)
Eddy, Harold 3168
Edises, Bertram 3206, 3207, 3227
Edwards, George 3197, 3202, 3235
Eidenoff, Josephine Woods 3229, 3235
Elion, Harry 3169
Ellin, Nathan , 3168
Enalehart, Mrs 3213
Ercoli, M , 3161
Feigin, Abner 3168
Fierstein, Chester 3168
Fitzgerald, William 3168
Florin, M 3161
Flynn, Elizabeth G 3161
Fogarty, Doris 3230
Fogarty, Pat 3230
Ford. James W 3161
Ford, William 3255, 3258
Foster. William Z 3160-3162, 3200, 3237
Frankfeld, Phil 3161
Frederick. George Van 3232, 3238-3242 (testimony^
Fredericks. Jean 3210
Freilericks, Van 3232, 3240
Friedman. B 3169
Garry. Charles R 3254-3257
George. Harrison 3161, 3162
Gladstein, Richard 3238-3245
Gold. Ren 3161. 3162, 3168
Gonzales, Ella 3240
Gonzales. Jack 3240
Gordon, Mack . 3169
Gottwald. Klement .3161
Green, Buddy 32.32, 32.'^3
Green. Gil 3161
Grogan, Edward 3254
Grossman. Aubrey 3200
Gwynn. Harry 3161
Haaland. Jasper .3161
Hall, Robert 3161
Hammond, Jean 3240
Hammond, Marian (Marian Redner) 3240
Hansboro, Ray 3161
Hathaway, Clarence 3161, 3162
Hedley. Jean 3211
Heide. Paul 3233
Heide. Ruby 32.33
Herndon, Angelo 3161
Hesse. Sigfried (Sig) 3213
Hickerson. Harold 3169
Hill. Dickson P 3193-3238 (testimony), 3243, 3244. .32.52
Holman 3172
Hsu. Y. Y 3169
Hudson, Rov 3159-3184 (testimony)
Hultgren, Wayne 3218
INDEX 3263
Page
Hutcliinson, Florence 3222
Hyman, Louis 3168
Ives, Burl 3204
Jackson, H 3163, 8164, 3165, 3171, 3172
Jackson, Harry 3164, 3166, 3171
Jay, Elaine 3258
Johnstone, Jack 3161
Jones, D. D 3240
Kalmau, Bernice 3233, 3253
Kalman. Herb 3233
Keller, Julius M 3251-3253
Keller, Morris 3228
Kfare, Louis 3168
Kinkead, David 3233
Kramberjr, Sam 3168
Krumbein, Charles 3161
Kushinsky, Morris 3168
Kuusinen, Otto 3161
Kyer. Charlotte 3204
Lafferty, Nori 3219, 3222
Lambert, Rude 3235, 3258
Lambert, Walter 3258
Landy, J 3169
Lannon, Albert '. 3161
Laschowitzky, Abraham 3169
Laughery, Wilhelmina (Willie) 3195,3196,3240
Lawrence, William 3168
Lehman. Lloyd 3217
Levin, Emanuel 3169
Licht, Sarah 3169
Lieu, Gene 3210, 3211. 3240
Lien, Jean 8210, 3211, 3240
Lindesmith, Johnny 3234
Lindesmith, Rosalind 3213, 8234
Lowe, Bill 3215
Lustig, James 3168
Mah, Dan Kew 3195,3196,3202,3209 (testimony)
Manlev. Jack 3195,3196,3202,3209
Manley, Kathrina 8194-3197.
3201, 3202, 3206, 3208, 3209, 3211. 3218. 3219, 8222, 3224. 3226
Manuilsky, D. Z 3161
Marty. Andre 3161
Mass, John W 3184-3192 (testimony)
Matanami, Pete 3212
Matlis, James 316S
Maxon 3173
Maxton 3164
Mayhew. Arthur 3206
McFadden. Jim 3220
McHarg. Janet 3204, 3205
Mcintosh, Anita 3222
McMuUen. Elizabeth I 3207
McMullen, Louis 8207
McMullen, Martha 3207
Melia. Joseph 3234
Miller, Doris 3224
Ming, Wang 3161
Mink, George 3165-3167, 3171
Minor. Robert 3161
Montello, Dominick 3168
Moskvin. M. A .3161
Mosskoff. Levin .3258
Naboisek, Herb 3240
Naboisek. June 3240
Nelson, Steve 3161, 3162, 3217, 3226
Nessin. Sam 3168
3264 INDEX
Pag«
Neville, Robert (Bob) 3229,3240
Nixon, Vice President 3173
Olkin, Abraham 3169
( )nda. Andrew 3161
Over^'aard. Andy 3168
Parsons, Frank 3214, 3240
Patterson. William 3161, 3168
Pedrick. Jessie 3231
Perrv, Pettis 3161
Peters. J 3173, 3174
Phillips, Earl 3211
Phillips. Marie 3194, 3196, 3211
Pieck. Wilhelm 3161
Pizer. Morris 3168
Potash. Irving 3168
Quinn. Mike 3226, 3227
Ragland, Bob 3240
Ragland, Clara 3240
Raport, Morris 3161
Rav, Thomas 3167, 3168, 3170
Redner, Bill 3240
Redner. Marian. (See Marian Hammond.)
Reed, John 3226
Reno, Earl 3161
Roberson, Doris Walker (Dobie) 3223, 3224
Robeson, Paul 3227
Rogers, Pauline 3169
Rose, Carl 3161
Rosenberg, Isadore 3168
Rosenberg, Max 3168
Rose, Nat 3161
Rosser, Lou 3164, 3170
Rubens 3167
Rubin, Mr 3160
Rubin, Jay 3168
Rutter, Bill 3199, 3225
Ryan 3172
Sacks, Alfred 3169
Sandow, Dildar 3196
Saurwin 3164, 3173
Rcharrenberg 3164
Schiller, Harry 3169
Schneiderman, William 3161, 3200, 3255, 3258
Segure, Rose 3216
Shavelson, Clara 3169
Sheppard 3168
Sher, Mort 3168
Sherwood, Mary 3217
Simons, William 3169
Singer, Joseph 3169
Smolan, Morrie 3226
Soltan, Joseph 3169
Speiser, Lawrence 3184-3192, 3246-3251, 3257-3259
Stachel, Jack 3161, 3165, 3166, 3180
Stallman, Ben 3168
Stanley, Al 3203, 3206
Stanley, Emma 3201, 3203, 3206, 3208, 3215, 3218, 3224, 3232
Starvus, Loretta 3225
Stone, Ken 3255
Strack, Celeste 3235
Strons, Anna Louise 3195
Sullivan. Richard 3168
Tandy, Frances 3199
Taylor, Jack 3168
Teague, Emmett 3212, 3213
Thompson. Leila 3216
Thompson, Ray 3218
INDEX 3265
Page
Tobey, Clarence 3213, 3217, 3220, 3225
Tobey, Florence 3220
Toohey, Pat 31G1
Toopeekoff, Eugene Alexander 3197,3198,3245,3246-3251 (testimony)
'J'rachteuberg, Alex 3161
Treuhaft, Decca 3227
Treiihaft, Robert 3227, 3253, 3254
Tubman, Harriet 3225
Vetch, M 3169
W'achtel, Billie 3229
Wachter, Billie 3229
Wagenknecht, Alfred 3169
Wangerin, Otto 3161
Weinstone, William W 3161
Weisberg, Isadore 3168
White, Al 3240
White, Maude 3161
White, Naomi 3240
Whitley, Rhea 3160
Whitney, Anita 3161, 3222
Wiener, William 3161
Williams, Gordon 3230
Williams, Harry 3255
Williamson, John 3161
Winston, Henry 3161
Winter, Carl 3168
Wood, James Fenton 3201,3242-3245 (testimony)
Wood, Ida 3203, 3208, 3224
Wood, Jim 3206
Woods, Dorothy 3229
Woods, Harrie 3206, 3228, 3229
Woods, Hilda 3206, 3228, 3229
Woods, Robert 3161
Wortis, Rose 3161, 3168
Yanish, Ann 3230
Yanish, Nat 3230
Yates, Oleta O'Connor 3255, 3258
Zucker, Edith 3169
Organizations
Air Force 3245
Alteration Painters' Union 3168
American Civil Liberties Union 3184, 3246, 3258
American Federation of Teachers 3186
Amtorg 3205
Anti-Imperialist Alliance 3169
Anti-Imperialist League 3168, 3169
Bechtel Corp 3241, 3243, 3245
Board of Education of the City of San Francisco 3191
Building and Construction Workers League 3168
Building Maintenance Workers Industrial Union 3168
Bureau of Indian Affairs . 3173
California Labor School 3188, 3189
Cannery Workers 3224
City College of San Francisco 3184
Cleaners and Dyers Union 3168
Comintern 3160
Congress of Industrial Organizations 3177, 3203, 3205
Councils of Working Class Women 3168, 3169
Drygoods Workers' Union , 3168
ECCI 3174
English Workers' Clubs 3169
Federal Bureau of Investigation. 3193, 3202, 3208-3211, 3214, 3216, 3233, 3237, 3238
Finnish Workers Federation . . 3169
3266 INDEX
Page
Food Workers Industrial Union 3168
l-'riends of tlie Soviet Union 3168, 3169
Furniture Workers Industrial Union 3168
(Jreater New York Unemployed Council 3168
Greylock 3165
Harvard University 3186
K'Oli 3i(;y
Independent Carpenters Union — 3168
Independent Progressive Party 3221, 3234
International Labor Defense 3168
International Longshoremens Association 3164, 3172, 3175, 3176
International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union 325S
International iSeamans' Union 3164, 3165, 3175
International Workers Order 3169, 3178
Jewish City Club Committee 3169
John Keed Club 3169
Labor Sports Union 3168, 3169
Laundry Workers Industrial Union 3168
League of Workers Theater 3169
Lincoln Battalion 3178
Marine Workers' Industrial Union 3167-3170, 3172, 3175
IMunsome 3165
^lunsonio 3172
Munson Line 3172
Nati(mal Recovery Administration 3165, 3175
Needle Trades Workers' Industrial Union 3168
Norway Hall (Oakland) 3201
Oakland Auditorium 3195
Oakland High School 3197
Oakland Technical High School . 3195, 3197
Office Workers' Union 3168
Pacific Gas & Electric 3241
IVople\s Songs 3204, 3205
I'olitical Affairs Committee of the Communist Party 3221
Protintern ., 3167
Red International of Labor Unions 3167
Russian Mutual Aid 3169
San Francisco Unified School District 3186, 3187, 3189
Sheet Development Co., Emeryville 3211,3212
Shoe and Leather Workers Industrial Union 3168
Steel and Metal Workers' Industrial Union 3168
Supreme Court of the United States 3240, 3243
Taxi Workers' Union 3168
Trade Union Unity Council 3168
United States Army 3245
University of California 3184, 3196, 3204
I^niversity of California, Berkeley 3210
T'niversity of California, Los Angeles 3213, 3227
University of Chicago 3184
Veterans' Administration 3207, 3208
Workers Ex-Servicemen's League 3168, 3169
Workers International Relief 3169
Yale University 3186
Young Communist League 3170,3196,3213
Publications
American Mercury 3167
Daily AVorker 3167, 3178, 3191
Marine Workers' Voice 3164, 3165, 3172, 3176
Party Organizer 3174, 3177, 318O
People's Daily AVorld 3191, 3209, 3213, 3217, 3220, 3221, 3230
Political Affairs 3209
San Francisco Chronicle 3240
Waterfront Worker 3172
Western Worker 3164
o
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