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THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY
Structure — Objectives — Leadership
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HEARINGS
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMEEICAN ACTIVITIES
HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTY-SIXTH CONGKESS
SECOND SESSION
PART 3
MAY 14 x\ND JUNE 10, 1960
Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities
(Including Index)
««««» ^^ i'r
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
56597 WASHINGTON : 1960
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
United States House of REa?EESENTATivES
FRANCIS E. WALTER, Pennsylvania, Chairman
MORGAN M. MOULDER, Missouri DONALD L. JACKSON, California
CLYDE DOYLE, California GORDON H. SCHERER, Ohio
EDWIN E. WILLIS. Louisiana WILLIAM E. MILLER, New York
WILLIAM M. TUCK, Virginia AUGUST E. JOHANSEN, Michigan
RicuARD Arens, Staff Diredor
n
CONTENTS
PART 1»
Page
Synopsis (See Part 1, p. 1921)
May 12, 1960:
Testimony of —
Irving Fishraan, Harlin Wong, Stephen K. Louie 1934
William A. Wheeler 1952
Barbara Hartle 1 956
Douglas Wachter 1 966
AFTERNOON SESSION
Barbara Hartle (resumed) 1969
Merle Brodsky 1984
Martin Irving Marcus 1995
PART 2
Synopsis (See Part 1, p. 1921)
May 13, 1960:
Testimony of —
William A. Wheeler (resumed) 2000
Barbara Hartle (resumed) 2003
Leibel Bergman 2004
Vernon Bown 2012
Joseph Figueiredo 2017
Noel Harris 2024
Ann Deirup 2027
AFTERNOON SESSION
Karl Prussion 2031
Elizabeth M. Nicholas 2055
Donald H. Clark 2057
Morris Graham 2059
Martin Ludwig 2062
William Mandel 2065
Jack Weintraub 2068
John Andrew Negro 2071
Sally Attarian Sweet 2074
Tyler Brooke 2076
Elmer E. Johnson 2079
Karl Prussion (resumed) 2080
Elmer E. Johnson (resumed) 2080
PART 3
Synopsis (See Part 1, p. 1921)
May 14, 1960:
Testimony of —
Karl Prussion (resumed) 2083
Thomas Cahill 2088
Michael J. Maguire . _ 2091
Tillman H. Erb 2092
Archie Brown 2096
Louis Zeitz 2099
Matthew C. Carberry 2101
» Documents referred to In Part 1 of the proceedings appear In the Appendix, Part 4
of this series, see pp. 2205 — 2404.
m
IV CONTENTS
May 14, 19(50— Continued
Testimony of — Continued I'age
Thomas Grabor 2107
Rayme Ellis 2109
Lottie L. Rosen 2111
Betty Halpern 2116
Lillian Ransome 2118
Edward Ross 2120
Karl Prussion (resumed) 2124
Edward Ross (resumed) 2125
Ruben Venger 2120
Ralph Izard 2128
William Reich 2139
Ralph (Kenneth) Johnsen 2142
Doris Dawson 2145
Karl Prussion (resumed) 2146
Doris Dawson (resumed) 2146
Travis L. Laflferty 2147
Saul Wachter 214S
John Allen Johnson 2151
Laurent B. Frantz 2156
Bertram Edises 2161
June 10, 1960:
Testimony of Karl Prussion (resumed) 2177
Index i
APPENDIX— PART 4
Committee Exhibits 1 through 31 2205—2384
Prussion Exhibit 1 2385
Prussion Exhibit 3 2401
Index i
Public T.aw 001, 79tii Congress
The legislulion iiiidor wliich the House Cominittee on l^n-American
Activities operates is Public Law 601, 79th Congress [194G]; GO Stat.
812, which provides:
Be it enarted by the Senate and Hoin^c of Representatives of the United States of
Afncrica in Congress assembled, * * *
PART 2— RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rule X
SEC. 121. STANDING COMMITTEES
*******
17. Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine Members.
Rule XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
*******
(q) (1) Committee on Un-A.merican Activities.
(A) Un-American activities.
(2) Tiie Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcom-
mittee, is authorized to make from time to time investigalions of (i) the extent,
character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States,
(ii) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propa-
ganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks
the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and
(iii) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary
remedial legislation.
The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the
Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi-
gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.
For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American
Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such
times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting,
has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance
of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and
to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under
the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any
member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person
designated by any such chairman or member.
Rule XII
LEGISL.\TIVE OVERSIGHT BY STANDING COMMITTEES
Sec. 136. To assist the Congress in appraising the administration of the laws
and in developing such amendments or related legislation as it may deem neces-
sary, each standing committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives
shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the execution by the administrative
agencies concerned of any laws, the subject matter of which is within the juris-
diction of such committee; and, for that purpose, shall study all pertinent reports
and data submitted to the Congress by the agencies in the executive branch of
the Government.
RULES ADOPTED BY THE 86TH CONGRESS
House Resolution 7, January 7, 1959
Rule X
STANDING COMMITTEES
1. There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Con-
gress,
****** *
(q) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine Members.
*******
Rule XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
• ****«*
18. Committee on Un-American Activities.
(a) Un-American activities.
(b) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee,
is authorized to make from time to time investigations of (1) the extent, char-
acter, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States,
(2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American prop-
aganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and
attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitu-
tion, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress
in any nece'ssary 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.
*******
26. To assist the House in appraising the administration of the laws and in
developing such amendments or related legislation as it may deem necessury,
each standing committee of the House shall exercise continuous watchfiihiess
of the execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws, the subject
matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such committee; and, for that
purpose, shall study all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by
the agencies in the executive branch of the Government.
VI
THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT OF THE
C03IMUNIST PARTY
Structure — Objectives — Leadership
(Part 3)
SATTJEDAY, MAY 14, 1960
United States House of Representatives,
Subcommittee of the
Committee on Un-American Activities,
San Francisco^ Calif.
public hearings
The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities
met, pursuant to recess, at 9:30 a.m., in the Supervisors Chambers,
City Hall Building, San Francisco, Calif., Hon. Edwin E. Willis
(chairman of the subcommittee), presiding.
Subcommittee members present: Representatives Edwin E. Willis,
of Louisiana; August E. Johansen, of Michigan; and Gordon H.
Scherer, of Ohio.
Staff members present: Richard Arens, staff director; William A.
Wheeler, investigator; and Fulton Lewis III, research analyst.
Mr. Willis. The subcommittee will please come to order.
We are glad to have with us this morning our colleague from Ohio,
Representative Gordon Scherer,
Mr. Scherer is a member of the full committee, and due to the inabil-
ity of Mr, Moulder, of Missouri, to be here, he was designated in his
stead.
However, Mr. Scherer was delayed in coming to the hearing. It
looked as though yesterday we might have to go over imtil Monday,
We asked him to please come to San Francisco. However, last night
we had a rather late session and heard quite a number of witnesses.
It is quite definite that we will not go over until Monday, but will
complete the hearings today.
Nevertheless, we are very happy to have with us today as a member
of the subcommittee, our friend and colleague from Ohio, Mr.
Gordon Scherer.
Will you proceed Mr. Arens?
Mr. Arens. Mr. Prussion, will you kindly resume the witness chair.
TESTIMONY OF KARL PRUSSION— Resumed
Mr, Arens, You were sworn yesterday on this record ?
Mr, Prussion, Yes, sir,
Mr, Arens, Mr. Prussion, yesterday in the course of your testimony
you stated in essence, among other things, that the Communist opera-
2083
2084 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
tion now on American soil, in your jiuljrnient, based upon your back-
ground and experience in the Communist Party, Avas more serious and
more deadly and menacing than ever Ix-fore in the history of this
Nation.
Two obvious questions would then come to mind. Why would you,
then, as a patriot who was serving in this conspiratorial force at the
behest of your Government get out of the Communist Party ? Wliy
wouldn't you stay in the force if it is so serious at this time?
Mr. Prussion. I came to tlie conclusion while I was working
to the best of my ability in the interests of the preservation of our
democratic foj-m of government, by being an informant for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, I realized that the manner in
which America was fighting communism was indeed an utter and com-
plete failure.
I Avatched the Communist International gain more and more
ground, and I watched the freedom-loving world retreat step by step
before the Soviet onslaught.
I felt, in view of the fact that the Communists were having consider-
able success with their deceitful peace campaigns and coexistence cam-
paign, that millions of Americans were becoming victims of this
deceit, and I believed that I could serve my country much better by
leaving the services of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and doing
what I can to try to change, in my small way, tlie complacency and
indifference of our citizenry to this menace.
I felt that this complacency and indifference should be changed
to an acute awareness of the danger, and that this acute awareness
should express itself by our citizenry in proper, effective legislation to
contain, pigeonhole, and destroy this menace in our midst. This is
why I left at this time.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Prussion, I have a few areas of inquiry which I
should like to pursue with you. We were unable to cover them yester-
day.
The first is this : With respect to the number and effectiveness of the
Communists in the United States, a^ou stated A^esterdav that there are
people Avho ai-e Communists under Communist discipline, but that
they do not have technical affiliation with the Communist Party as
such.
I would like to ask you a few general questions.
In the first place, based upon your information as a recent mem-
ber of the Communist Party, hoAv many UHMubers are there of this
formal entity Avho now maintain a technical relationship Avith the en-
tity knoAvn as the Communist Party, roughly speaking? What is
your best estimate?
Mr. Prussion. My best testimony would be that the national mem-
bership of the Commmiist Party at this moment would be approxi-
mately 10,000.
Mr. AuExs. PIoAv many Communists are submitting themselves to
Communist discipline, Avho are in the operation as dedicated Commu-
nists, but Avho do not haA^e technical relationship to the Communist
Party?
How many are there in the nonformal membership category?
Mr. Prussion. In my testimony yesterday, I said that that type
of membership is equal to the actual fonnally enrolled membership in
the Communist Party.
COJMIMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2085
So you have an additional 10,000 members who are active Commu-
nists.
Mr. Arens. Would it be a fair approximation to say that there are,
in your judgment, based upon your experience, approximately 20,000
Communists under Communist discipline at the present time on Ameri-
can soil ?
Mr. Prussion. That would be a modest figure ; yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. That would be I'ar in addition to a division of troops,
that is, in numerical strength?
Mr. Prussiox. That is correct, sir.
Mr. Arens. Tell us, if you please, then, why you have concluded
that these 20,000 Comnnuiists constitute a menace, or are more threat-
ening now than ever before in a population of 180 million people.
Surely, someone would ask, "Twenty thousand people of a particular
political vein, a particular political concept, a particular idea would
have no appreciable impact in a society of 180 million people."
'\Aniat is your response to that inquiry based upon your intimate
experience in the hard core of this operation ?
Mr. Prussion. My experience within the ranks of the conspiracy
definitely indicates that individual Communists are capable, under
certain conditions, of leading hundreds and thousands on certain
issues, and that it is through their infiltration, especially in various
mass organizations, as they call them, that they are able to motivate
and move people in what they call the class struggle.
Numbers are not too important insofar as membership is con-
cerned in the Communist Party. There are many prospective little
Castros in the Communist Party in the United States and many pros-
pective little Lenins in the Communist Party in the United States.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Prussion, during the course of your work in the
Communist Party, you told us that you were subjected to certain
courses, attended certain training schools, and were taught and prac-
ticed as a comrade, first, as a sympathetic comrade and later as an
undercover agent for the FBI, that you were taught certain tech-
niques, certain strategies, and tactics to be used as a trained agent
of the conspiracy.
Can you give us, please, sir, a word about the techniques of the
Communists, in what those of us in this work call provocation to
violence?
Did you have a training and did you have experience in that type
of activity ?
Mr. Prussion. I had considerable training in provocation to vio-
lence. The Communist Party, being, of course, a party of Lenin,
believes that it should use legal methods and illegal methods to con-
clude a certain situation. It uses violence and it uses peaceful meth-
ods, either one.
The purpose of the Communist Party is to raise what it calls the
class-conscious level of the working class, and it is its purpose to
educate the working class through incidents such as we had here
yesterday, in methods and techniques of class struggle.
I believe that all of those present here yesterday witnessed a tech-
nique commonly used by the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. Do the Communists in the attaimnent of their goals
actually desire to see strife, actually desire to see bloodshed ?
2086 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Prussion. In this particular situation, as "vve are experiencing
it in the last few days, the Communist Party has tried every possible
l)eaceful method, through petition, organization meetings, and so
forth, to stop the hearings of the Committee on Un-American
Activities.
In this they have failed and, as a result they resorted to this spec-
tacle that many witnessed here, of trying to close the hearings of a
legally constituted body of our Government through force and vio-
lence, such as demonstrated by their leader yesterday, Archie Brown.
Air. Abens. Now, sir, during the course of your training and your
experience in the Communist Party, did you receive any instructions,
any pattern of activity, which the comrades were to use with reference
to the Committee on Un-American Activities, and what, in general,
was and is the objective of the conspiracy toward this committee ?
Mr. Prussion. Well, at all times one of the major targets, and at
(liis time, of course, the major target of the Communist Party, is
the Committee on Un-American Activities, because the committee,
tliey feel, is the biggest stumbling block that they have at this time in
their effort to break out in a full-fledged Communist operation of
peaceful methods and violent methods in their efforts to overthrow
our Government by force and violence.
Mr. Arens. Is this just your conclusion as a student of communism,
or is it your conclusion, based upon your experience in the operation,
itself, and your directives which you have received from other com-
rades?
Mr. Prussion. It is a combination of all, from my training and
education and experience and directives on situations pertaining to the
( 'ommittee on Un-American Activities.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word about this breakout technique which
you alluded to a moment ago, which you say is now in process by the
conspiracy on American soil.
Mr. Prussion. The greatest stimulant that the Communist Party of
the United States has ever received has been the recent visit by Mr.
Khrushchev who came here with a dove of peace in one hand and a
dagger in the other hand.
One of his motives in coming here was to stimulate, arouse, and build
the Communist Party and the activities of the Communist Party in
1 1 ic United States.
Mr. Arens. Were you instructed in that vein while you were in the
Communist Party prior to the time that Khrushchev set foot on
American soil ?
Mr. Prussion. I was not in the Communist Party when Khrushchev
set foot on American soil.
However, during the period up until the time I dropped out of the
conspiracy, the motivations of Khrushchev's visit here were well
Uiiown and talked about within the ranks of the Communist Party.
Every Communist in the United States knew the reasons why Kliru-
shchev came herCj as well as Khrushchev himself.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word more, sir, about this breakout teclmique.
Is this what you alluded to yesterday when you were characterizing
ill nitration of mass organizations by the comrades?
Mr. Prussion. The new policy of the Communist Party, and they
always come up with new policies — their dialectical materialism tells
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2087
them "now times, new soiiiis, now conditions, new activities" — at5 the
hist meet in*:; of tlie Connnunist International the Communist Party of
the United States came back with directives to use an all-out efi'ort of
infiltration into all mass organizations in an effort to^ as they say,
organize America socially, economically, politically, agamst monopoly
capital.
This is their program today, and tliis is the program whereby they
are infiltrating, and T believe at this time successfully, hundreds of
organizations throughout our country.
Mr. Akens, Mr. Pinission, give us a word, please, about your experi-
ence in the Communist Party in provocations to violence and assess-
ment of the ensuing violence by the comrades in their conduits of
public expression, and what they call police brutality.^
Mr. Prussion. Do you want me to give you a specific example of
what I experienced?
Mr. Akens. I wish you would ; yes, sir.
Mr, Prussion. Forty members of the Communist Party had infil-
trated the Packard Motor Car Company in 1934. The Communist
Party at that time decided to see how effective those forty members
could be in influencing the workers in the plant.
A strike was provoked by these forty members ; the plant was shut
down; picket lines were thrown around the plant, with no obvious
reason for a strike whatsoever.
The strike continued for about four days, and it was obvious that the
strike was to be lost.
I attended a meeting of the Industrial Commission of the Commu-
nist Party, and at this meeting one Nat Ganley stated
Mr. Arens. Was he a comrade ?
Mr. Prussion. He was a member of the National Committee of the
Communist Party at that time.
Mr. Arens. All right, sir.
Mr. Prussion. He stated, in essence, as follows :
It is obvious that we are going to lose the strike, but we have shown the
effectiveness of the Communist Party in being able to call out all the workers.
But in order to bring this strike to a proper conclusion there will have to be
violence and bloodshed on the picket line tomorrow morning. Without that, we
cannot hope to arouse public interest and support, we cannot hope to embarrass
the local government through bitter complaints — police brutality, and so on.
Bloodshed and violence did take place that next morning.
Mr. Arens. Was he alluding to bloodshed and violence of the com-
rades? Was he suggesting that the bloodshed be the bloodshed of his
own people?
Mr. Prussion. The bloodshed and the violence, of course, included
some Communists, but in the main it was quite a bloody battle in
which innocent victims suffered as a result of this violence.
Mr. Arens. Was he calling for bloodshed and violence for the sake
of bloodshed and violence, or to obtain an objective, or for propaganda
purposes ?
Mr. Prussion. He called for bloodshed and violence in this instance
because he felt that this was an opportunity to arouse the indignation
of the citizenry against the management and against the government
of the city, and what they later called police brutality, sadism, et
cetera, very similar to the provocation that we had here in San Fran-
cisco yesterday.
2088 COMMUNIST PARTY — ^NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. Based upon your background and experience in the
Communist operation, what can be expected in the Communist press
and through the Communist channels, and in the form of Communist
expressions witli respect to the violence which took place here yester-
day?
Mr. Prussion. The Communist press will carry out a campaign of
vilification of the Committee on Un-American Activities.
They will hurl invectives ; they will accuse the city of San Francisco
of police brutality, sadism, denial of democratic rights, and a whole
series of false accusations will flow from the Communist press and
all their agencies, through infiltrated organizations, in the interest of
the Communist Party. They will get well-known people, professors,
ministers, and others to sign petitions and protests — all to embarrass
American processes.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
temporarily excused.
I should like to call now Chief of Police Tom Cahill.
Chief Cahill, will you kindly come forward and remain standing
while the chairman administers the oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give to
this subcommittee, will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, so help you God.
Mr. Cahill. I do.
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS CAHILL, CHIEF, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE
DEPARTMENT, CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Cahill. Thomas Cahill, chief of police of the Police Depart-
ment of the city and county of San Francisco. I live at 248 Seven-
teenth Avenue, San Francisco.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been chief of police of this city?
Mr. Cahill. Since September 1948.
Mr. Arens. And can you give us — although it ought to be obvious on
the record — the general nature of your duties and responsibilities?
I think your title probably would cover that, but jou might give us
a word about that, please, sir.
Mr. Cahill. To enforce the laws, that is, the penal laws, over which
we have jurisdiction, in the city and county of San Francisco, and, of
course, all of us as law enforcement officers have the duty to maintain
law and order.
Mr. Arens. Chief, the gentleman who just preceded you to the
stand, Mr. Prussion, served for a number of years in the Communist
Party.
First of all, for a number of years as a dedicated Communist and,
thereafter, for a number of years as an undercoA-er agent of the Fed-
eral Bureau of Investigation, after he had broken from the Com-
munist Party, severed his ideological affinity to the party.
He testified, which I can say is just confirmation of testimony we
have received elsewhere, that part of the Communist strategy and
technique is to incite violence, part of the Communist tactic is to incite
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2089
the use of force so that the Communists can, in turn, attempt to turn
the tables on the enforcement agencies, complain of police brutality,
and complain of arbitrary action by tlie committees such as the Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities and the like.
I think that is a fair summary of the testimony he just gave. I
don't believe you were present in the hearing room at that time.
In view of the fact that he said he can now anticipate a turn of
tables on the incident of the last day or so, we should like to ask you,
sir, as the chief law enforcement officer of the city, to give us a brief
account of the orders and directives which you gave to your officers
respecting the maintenance of peace and order here in anticipation of
these hearings, and based upon the information w^hich has been re-
ported to you by your subordinates in the course of the last 24 houi-s,
the essence of the position of the police department here, under your
jurisdiction, in respect to the incidents in which force was employed
in the course of the last several hours.
Mr. Cahill. Sir, when we have any proceedings of this type an-
ticipated, the men in my department make contact with members of
the committee to start with, and it is ascertained what, if any, trouble
may be anticipated.
We then, in turn, deal with those people who are interested from a
standpoint of protesting, and we attempt to set ujd an orderly and
an organized protest system.
That was done by some of the men in my bureau of detectives in
dealing with the civil liberties student groups.
And as a result of that work which was clone over a period of possi-
bly a week, the demonstration at the Union Square, the march to the
City Hall, and the conduct of the students of that group, or identified
with that group outside of the City Hall was carried on in an orderly
manner and we did not have any trouble.
However, because of the fact that the City Hall is a public build-
ing, we could not prevent people from coming in and as a result, a
group of some two hundred — I was not here at the time — estimated at
some two himdred, gathered outside the hearing room doors.
It became impossible to get the witnesses in and out of the doors
because they w^ere crowding against the doors. They became so un-
ruly that a conference took place at noon to determine what action
should be taken, and that it would have to be more drastic than had
been taken.
During the first day of the hearings, even though the crowd out-
side had become unnecessarily unruly, their conduct was such that it
disturbed the conduct, that is, the normal conduct, of operations in the
City Hall.
However, we in tlie police department put up with that situation
in an effort to be overly fair.
Yesterday morning, the situation was growing in intensity, tension
and emotions were running higli. There seemed to be no leadership
whatever to the group who gathered outside the hearing room
here in contrast to the student group which was under the control
of some leaders who were able to reason "with those young people.
The group here were infiltrated with individuals who, in some in-
stances, were older than the average, and who agitated it
Mr. Arens. Were you advised by your subordinates in the secur-
ity unit that these persons who were old(ir and who were the agitators
2090 CO]VIMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
were persons whom your security officers knew to be members of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Cahill. They told me that a number of those who seemed to
whip those people in the group into a mob frenzy, were individuals
who had been hostile and who had testified at the hearing.
Mr. Arens. As hostile witnesses ?
Mr. Cahill. Yes. Some of them. Not all of them.
Mr. Arens. Proceed, if you please, sir.
Mr. Cahill. At noontime yesterday, of course, it had become very
apparent that additional barriers, in addition to those that had been
set up yesterday morning, would be necessary.
However, before that happened an additional 20 men were called
in to assist the officers directly outside the doors of the hearing.
Again, no action was taken by the police other than continued pleas
on the part of Sheriff Carberry and others, to these young people, to
tone down their conduct and to refrain from interrupting the normal
proceedings of the City Hall, that we had to have a lawful assemblage
and that the hearings would have to be not interrupted ; were not to
be interfered with, I should say.
The whole incident which resulted in violence yesterday was trig-
gered when, according to my officers who were on the scene, they say
that a member of tlie group charged one of my officers assigned to the
Northern District Station, a police officer in uniform. They took his
night club away from him, struck him over the head, and the incident
was triggered which resulted in the police being forced to take the
necessary action to control the group, to bring the whole situation
under control, and to restore order.
The action taken by the men in the police department was not started
by us. We had put up with a great deal. We were charged with
the responsibility and it is our sworn duty to maintain law and
order. We will do that.
Mr. Arens. Thank you, Chief.
Mr. Willis. May I say to the gentleman that we appreciate the
efficiency, and tolerance, and at the same time the firmness of his
department, which includes also the department of the sheriff.
Frankly, I only met Chief Cahill yesterday, after the incident he
referred to. From information that comes to me and to us, his recita-
tion of the incident and the events leading up to the triggering of the
unfortunate affair, is accurate.
That is my understanding; it is our understanding of what
occurred.
Neither Chief Caliill nor I was around when the actual physical
demonstration took place.
I would like to say especially that I speak not only for this sub-
committee, but for the full committee, and just as sure as I sit here I
feel I reflect also the sentiments of the Members of the Congress of
the United Stales. It was a very well done job. Chief Cahill, liis
officere, the slierilf and his deputies, deserve, and I tender to all of
them, the highest commendation possible.
Proceed Mr. Arens.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2091
Mr. JoiiANSEN. Mr. Cliaimian, I wanted, as the other member of
the subcoinniitteo wlio has been hero present for tlie entire proceetl-
ings, to associate myself completely with the statement of the chair-
man and to express our appreciation to the law enforcement officials
for the very excellent, restrained, but firm job that they have done.
Mr. Caiiill. Mr. Chairman, I want to make this last statement, and
I want to em])hasizc the fact, that wo at no time have objected to
orderly, peaceful demonstrations.
This morning there is demonstration in an orderly fashion. It is
being conducted in the proper way, and we have no problems.
Plad tliat been maintained yesterday, and if it continues today, 1
see no trouble. It will certainly not bo brought about by us.
Mr. Willis. Thank you very much.
Mr. Arens. Inspector INIaguiro, please come forward and remain
standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. ^ViLLis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before this
subcommittee, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?
Mr. ^SIaguire. I do.
TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL J. MAGUIRE, POLICE INSPECTOR, CITY
AND COUNTY OE SAN ERANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation ?
Mr. ]Maguire. My name is Michael J. Maguire. I live at 2647
Thirty-Sixth Avenue, San Francisco.
I am a police inspector, city and county of San Francisco.
Mr. Arens. Inspector Maguire, were you in charge of a unit of the
police force which has been operating here in the City Hall in the last
two or three days, during the hearings of this committee?
Mr. Maguire. At times I was in charge. Yesterday I was in charge.
Mr. Arens. Did you, in the course of the discharge of your duties
in City Hall, observe the activities among the young people who had
been assembled here in the hall, by certain people who were known by
you from confidential sources to be members of the Communist Party ?
(At this point ]\Ir. Johansen left the hearing room.)
Mr. ]SL\GUiRE. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you see agitational activities among the young peo-
ple by iSIerle Brodsky, who was ejected twice from this committee
hearing ?
Mr. Maguire. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you see agitational activities among the young peo-
ple by Archie Brown, who likewise has been identified as a member
of the Communist Party and who likewise has been twice ejected from
this hearing room because of his disturbances of the proceedings ?
Mr. Maguire. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you see among the young people, Frank Wilkinson ?
Mr. Maguire. No, sir ; I can't truthfully answer that one.
Mr. Arens. Did you know that Frank Wilkinson has been in town
in the course of the last several days ?
Mr. Maguire. Yes, sir ; we did.
2092 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. I )o you know that Frank "Wilkinson has been repeatedly
identified under oath before this committee as a member of the hard-
core of the Communist Party, and that the Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities has issued a report entitled "Operation Abolition," in
which it is revealed that Frank Wilkinson has responsibility of the
conspiracy to direct the activities of the Emergency Civil Liberties
Committee and of an organization Imown as the Citizens Committee
To Preserve American Freedoms, with the avowed objective of the
party of discrediting the Committee on Un-x\.merican Activities and
attempting to discredit the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its
great director, J. Edgar Hoover ?
Are you aware of that ?
Mr. ^Iaguire. Yes, sir ; I am.
Mr. Arens. Are you aware of the fact that Harry Bridges, of the
International Longshoremen's Union, has arrived in this commimity
and was yesterday participating in the affairs in the hall?
Mr. ISIaguire. I did not observe him participating, but I arrived
shortly after he was creating a scene.
Mr. Arens. Did you observe Sally Sweet participating as an agita-
tional force among the young people ?
Mr. IVIaguire. No, sir ; I did not.
Mr. Arens. Did you observe Kalph Izard participating in agita-
tional activities among the young people ?
Mr. Maguire. No, sir.
Mr. Arens. Are there any others whose names come to your mind
at the moment whom you know from your security information to be
members of the Communist Party who were participating in agita-
tional activities among the young people?
(At this point Mr. Johansen returned to the hearing room.)
Mr. IVIaguire. No, sir.
Mr. Arens. Thank you very much.
Mr, Willis. Inspector, you are included among the highest of the
deserving ones in the remarks I made a while ago concerning your
chief. We appreciate your cooperation, and you, particularly, the day
before yesterday, took a very prominent, active and admirable part.
We are very grateful to you.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Tillman IT. Erb.
Mr. Erb, please come forward.
Please remain standino; while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr, Wn.Lis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you shall give before this
subcommittee, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so hel]) you God ?
Mr. Erb, I do.
Mr. Edises. May we have the lights turned off, please ?
Mr. AViLLis. Yes.
TESTIMONY OF TILLMAN H. ERB, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BERTRAM EDISES
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Erb. My name is Tillman Erb. I reside at 336 Kings Drive,
Campbell, California. I am a school teacher.
COIMIMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2093
Mr. Arexs. You are api)e:ii'in<r today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by tliis conmiittee?
Mr. Erb. I did not understand the question.
Mr. Ain:xs. You are appearing in response to a subpena which was
served upon you by tliis connnittee ?
(Tlie witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. Yes, the answer is I was served.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Erb. I am represented by counsel.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself on this record.
Mr. Edises. Bertram Edises, Oakland, California.
Mr. Erb. At this time, Mr. Chairman, may I make a statement
for personal privilege ?
Mr. Willis. Pardon?
Mr. Erb. A statement of very important personal privilege ?
INIr. "Willis. "We will develop the facts on the basis of questions and
answers in the regular order. Proceed.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Erb, how long have you lived in California or in
this general area ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr. Erb. In answer to that question, I wish again to request this
committee personally to relieve me of the ordeal of this inquiry because
of my wife's serious heart condition.
"When I received the subpena to appear before this committee, last
June, she suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized.
During the past year, her condition has steadily deteriorated be-
cause of the necessity for a year-long search for a position and the
security and the work for which I have been trained and in which
I have devoted 30 years of my life.
This committee has received letters from two of her physicians,
testifying to the commitment and the uncertainty of my appearance
at these hearings, that it would have on her physical condition. I
most earnestly request that you do not endanger her life further.
I might further add that the faculty of my school yesterday sent
a telegram to the chairman of this committee to the same effect.
Mr. Arexs. She is not in the hearing room, is she, Mr. Erb ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. Yes, she is here.
Mr. "Willis. That puts a different complexion on it. You seem
to want to expose her to the things you want to save her from. You
have been summoned, you are here now. "We must proceed.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Erb, did you live in Denver, Colorado, prior to the
time that you moved to California ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. Mr. Chairman, before I answer that question, I would
like to state to the committee that I am ready and willing to answer
questions pertaining to my life and activities regarding myself,
personally.
Mr. "Willis. "What is the question ?
Mr. Arens. I asked him if he lived in Denver, Colorado, before he
lived out here.
Mr. "Willis. You are ordered
Mr. Erb. For myself, personally, on condition that no questions
will be asked me regarding any persons or associations.
56597— 60— pt. 2 2
2094 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Willis. You answered the question. If that is your answer,
proceed.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. I repeat my offer that I will answer any of these questions
pertaining to my life and activities regarding myself personally, on
condition that
Mr. Willis. I have ordered you to answer the question. You have
not answered it.
Counsel, proceed with the next question.
Mr. Arens. The next question is the fii"st question which he didn't
answer.
How long have you lived in this area, in California.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. I take it from what you say that you are rejecting my
request, my offer to talk about myself ?
Mr. Arens. Kindly answer the question. You can talk about how
long you lived here. That would be a start in the direction.
How long have you lived here in California ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. Well, since you refuse me the privilege of answering only
questions pertaining to myself, I will in no circumstances be an in-
former; you now force me to stand on my constitutional right of not
being compelled to testify as a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Erb, did you run for Congress from a congressional
district in Denver back in 1950 ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. You now have my answer to these questions. It will be
the same answer to any other question you may give.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Erb, I have in my hand
Mr. Willis. That is not an answer.
Do you mean you decline to answer for the same reason you have
given?
Mr. Erb. I am standing on my constitutional right of not being
compelled to testify as a witness against myself.
Mr. Willis. All right.
Mr. Arens. I have in my hand a photostatic reproduction of the
Rocky Mountain News of October 20, 1950. I should like to read it
to you, then I expect to interrogate you with reference to the facts
revealed in this article.
Congress Candidate Erb Denies Any Ties With Reds
Tillman H. Erb, independent candidate for Denver's congressional seat, yes-
terday denied that he is in any way associated with the Communist Party after
the question had been raised by a group of persons who had signed his petition
for nomination.
The signers, in a letter to the candidate, said that "rumors have come to our
attention that as a candidate for Congress, you are acting as a front for the
Communist Party."
They asked that "in all fairness to us and others who signed your petition at
face value, that you openly disassociate yourself from the aims of Russian
imperialism in the Far East and Europe, and the role of the Communist Party
on the American scene."
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2095
The letter was signed by —
and I will skip their names, but it is a number of people.
lu bis categorical douial of the question, Mr. Erb stated "I am not associated
with any Communist or Communist front organization and I never have been."
"Anyone who opposes our bipartisan foreign policy in anyway is liable to that
charge these days," he said.
In announcing his candidacy Sept. 23, the former South High School history
teacher sent a telegram to President Truman calling for the issue of a cease
fire order in Korea, the withdrawal of all foreign troops there and admission
of Korea into the United Nations.
*******
Mr. Erb has taken a leave of absence from bis teaching position while cam-
paigning for election to Congress.
]Mr. Erb, I ask you, sir, when you, as reported in this Rocky Moun-
News, stated "I am not associated with any Commmiist or Communist
front organization and I never have been," were you then telling the
truth?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. Mr. Chairman, since you have sources that you have just
read which are from highly reliable sources, I can see no pertinency
to asking me to verify this.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. Because you have what you claim are highly reliable
sources.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest now, so that this
record is clear, the witness be ordered and directed to answer the
question.
Mr. Willis. You have not answered the question. I direct you to
answer it.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. I refuse to answer on the grounds previously stated.
(Document marked "Erb Exhibit No. 1" and retained in committee
files.)
Mr. Arens. You were not under oath, not subject to the pains and
penalties of perjuiy, Mr. Erb, were you, when you stated, "I am not
associated with any Communist or Communist front organization and
I never have been" ?
Mr. Erb. You are just asking the same question in another form,
and I refuse to answer on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Now, Mr. Erb, I have in my hand a photostatic repro-
duction of a document applying for credentials authorizing public
school service in California, dated July 5, 1957, signed by Tillman
H. Erb.
In the course of this document there appears on oath of allegiance
in the form of an affidavit :
I solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States
of America, the Constitution of the State of California, and the laws of tlie
United States and the State of California, and will by precept and example,
promote respect for the Flag and the statutes of the United States and of the
State of California, reverence for law and order, and undivided allegiance to
the Government of the United States of America.
On July 5, 1957, at the hour and the minute and the second at which
you affixed your signature to this application, "Tillman H. Erb," were
you then a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel. )
2096 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Erb. Before giving a direct answer, I state to you that I do
not stand second to anyone in my allegiance to the Constitution of
the United States of America. But in response to your direct ques-
tion, I will stand on the same grounds as previously stated.
(Document marked "Erb Exhibit Xo. 2'' and retained in committee
files. )
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member, and are you now a member,
of an organization which is an organization allied with the interna-
tional Commmiist operation ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Erb. Once again I state I am willing to answer questions like
that if you will accept my offer.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Erb, are you now, at this instant, a member of the
Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with liis counsel.)
Mr. Erb. If you will not require me to be a stool pigeon, to any
people or associations, I will gladly answer that question. I repeat
the offer.
Mr. Willis. I direct you to answer the question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis. We are inquiring about yourself.
Mr. Erb. I respectfully decline
Mr. Willis. Nobody else is involved in that question. I direct you
to answer.
Mr. Erb. I respectfully decline to answer on the grounds previously
stated.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude
the staff' interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Mr. Archie Brown.
Please come forward and remain standing wliile the chairman ad-
ministers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
You do solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God ?
Mr. Brown. I do that.
Mr. Andersen. Ask them to turn off tliose lights, Archie.
Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, can we shift tlie lights a bit, just shift
them.
Mr. Willis. Yes, if that is your desire.
Mr. Andersen. Can't we have the lights off? Well, that is a lot
better.
Mr. Willis. Proceed.
TESTIMONY OF ARCHIE BROWN, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
GEORGE R. ANDERSEN
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Brown. My name is Archie Brown. I live at 1027 Brussels
Street, San Francisco ; I am a longshoreman.
I want to state, Mr. Chairman, that
C0RI3MUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2097
Mr, Willis. "We will develop the story on a qiiestion-and-answer
basis.
jNIr. AuEXS. You are lioi-e today in response to a subpena whicli
was served upon you by tliis committee ?
;Mr. Browx, I want lo tell this committee
^[r. Arkxs. You are ai>]iearing today in response to a subpena
wliicli "was served ujion you by tliis committee ?
]\rr. Brown. My family is being threatened
Mr. ^\jiENS. Are you a]ipearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee?
Mr. Chairman, I now request that the witness be ordered and di-
rected to answer the question.
Mr. Willis. I direct you to answer that question.
]Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today in response to a subpena
served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Browx. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arex^s. Are you represented by counsel ?
Mr. Brow^x^. Yes.
Mr. Arexs Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. AxDERSEX. George Andersen.
INIr. Arexs. "When and where were you born ?
Mr. Browx. ]\Ir. Chairman, I want to state
Mr. "Willis. I direct you to answer the question. That is the only
way we can proceed orderly.
Mr. Browx. I was subpenaed here.
]Mr. Arex's. "\Aliere and wdien were you born, sir ?
Mr. Brown. I was subpenaed here and my family
]\Ir. "Willis. Proceed with the next question.
Mr. Aeex'S. Kindly give us, if you please, sir, a word about your
education.
Mr. Browx". I was born in Sioux City, Iowa.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered and directed to answer the outstanding principal question.
Mr. Browx. "^AHiat is the outstanding principal question?
Mr. Arexs. The outstanding principal question is: "Where and
when were you born ?
Mr. Broavx. I already said.
]Mr. Arex's. Give us, then, please, a word about your education.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Browx'. Mr. Cliairman, I want to read a statement and make
a motion relative to the relevance — will I not be allowed to make a
statement here? Is this just going to be a kangaroo court where I
cannot defend myself at all, Mr. Chairman ?
Mr. "Willis. I direct you to answer the question ?
Mr. Brow^x. How come I cannot read this statement ?
Mr. Arex^s. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered and directed to answer the question respecting his educa-
tion.
Mr. "Willis. I will now do it for the second time.
]\Ir. Browx'. Let me consult with my attorney.
(The vv'itness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr. Browx'. My education consisted of the grade school and most
of junior high school in Sioux City, Iowa, and in the school of hard
knocks, which I am quite a graduate of.
2098 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Now, I want to make a motion to disqualify the committee.
Mr. Arens. Did you receive
Mr. Brown. I wish to make a motion to disqualify the committee.
Mr. Arens. You may file tlie motion. We will be glad to have you
file the motion.
Mr. Brow^n. I will read it.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, the witness should be advised that the
rules of this committee permit him to file any motion of this kind for
consideration by the committee.
Mr. Brown. I want to read a statement, my statement, and make
a motion.
Mr. Arens. Mr, Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
admonished that he will either conduct himself in an orderly manner
or he will be removed from the hearing room.
Mr. Willis. Under the rule of the committee, you may file that
paper with our director at this time, if you wish to.
Mr. Brown. I wish to read this statement.
Mr. Willis. That is the end of it.
Proceed, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. Brown. I wish to read this statement. How come you are
bridling me ? I want to express my position here.
Mr. Arens. I suggest the witness be admonished that he will either
conduct himself in an orderly manner or be removed, for the third
time.
Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, I was subpenaed here not as a willing
witness, and I want to defend myself. You have no right not to let
me read this statement.
Mr. Willis. You may file the paper, but you may not read it.
Mr. Brown. I want to read my statement if I make a motion. Be-
fore the House of Representatives of the United States
Mr. Willis. I direct you, sir, to escort the witness outside the court-
room.
Mr. Brown. Pursuant to amendment 14 of the Constitution
(Witness was removed from the hearing room.)
Mr. Willis. Call your next witness, Mr. Arens.
There will be no more demonstrations in the room. You have
seen me issuing such an order and enforcing it. We are very glad
to have everybody here. As I said yesterday, it is a privilege to
have you, you are privileged to be here, to the limit of the capacity
of this hearing room. You need not agree with what one witness
says or what another witness says, but we are conducting these hear-
ings under an order of the United States Congress, and this commit-
tee represents that brancli of the Government of the United States.
We will not tolerate any demonstration or interference.
Proceed, IVIr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if your please, !Mr. Louis Zeitz.
Kindly come forward and remain standing while the chairman
administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
T)o you solemnly swear "that the testimony you are about to give
this subcommittee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God.
Mr. Zeitz. I do.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2099
TESTIMONY OF LOUIS ZEITZ, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
FRANCIS McTEENAN
Mr. AiiENS. Kindly identify yourself, sir, by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mr. Zeitz. Louis Zeitz, 39-A, Escondido Village, Stanford, Cali-
fornia.
jMr. iVnExs. Mr. Zeitz, would it be convenient to keep your voice
up a little, or to get a little closer to the microphone? Thank you.
You are appearing today in i-esponse to a subpena which was
served upon you by this committee?
Mr. Zeitz. That is correct.
Mr. Arexs. Ajid you are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Zeitz. Yes.
Mr. Akens. Comisel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. JNIcTernan. Francis McTernan, 703 Market Street, San
Francisco.
Mr. AlKens. "\Mien and where were you born ?
Mr. Zeitz. January 22, 1922, Lakewood, N.J.
Mr. Ajiens. Give us please a word about your formal education.
Mr. Zeitz. Formal education ? I w'ent to the University of Mich-
igan for 2 years, the University of Minnesota for 1 year, and Army
Aar Force cadet meteorology training for 9 months
Mr. Arens. I do not mean to interrupt you, but did you receive a
degree from the University of Michigan ?
Mr. Zeitz. No, I did not. I enlisted in the Army Air Force. I
went to meteorology training for 9 months, graduated as a second
lieutenant, spent 3 years overseas, and came out of the Army as a
captain.
Then I went to Berkeley, gi-aduat^d in physics, and in 1946 did
graduate work at UCLA, and at present I am a student at Stanford.
Mr. Arens. I did not hear the last part; you lowered your voice.
Mr. Zeitz. I am a student at Stanford.
Mr. Arens. What degrees do you have ?
Mr. Zeitz. I have a I^A degree in physics, from Berkeley.
JMr. Arens. Do you also have teaching credentials ?
Mr. Zeitz. 1 did get a teaching credential in 1950, which I have
never used.
ISlr. Arens. Have you, except for your travels in the military,
traveled abroad since you reached adulthood?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Akens. Would you kindly keep your voice up a little bit,
please ?
Mr. Willis. Wliat wius the outstanding question ?
Mr. Arens. Have you traveled abroad, other than your travels in
the military, since you reached adulthood ?
Mr. Zeitz. "V^Hiiat do you mean by abroad ?
Mr. Arens. Outside the continental United States?
Mr. Zeitz. Only vacation trips to Tia Juana, and a vacation trip
to Toronto, Canada.
Mr. AnENS. ^^^lat instructing have you done, Mr. Zeitz?
Mr. Zeitz. I instructed while I was gomg to UCLA — I taught
radio and electronics at a radio-television institute to make money to
continue my schooling.
2100 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. Did you do any instructing in Los Angeles in 1955?
(The witness conferred witli his coimsel.)
Mr. Zeitz. I don't understand tlie pertinency of that question.
Mr. Arens. The pertinency of that question is simply tliis: that
among the rcsponsibilitias of this committee is to develop factual
information respecting Communist propaganda.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Zeitz. I still don't understand what you are driving at.
Mr. Arens. Were you an instructor for the Communist Party in
Los Angeles in 1955 in training schools?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Zeftz. I stand on my right to remain silent on questions of
thought, affiliation, and associations.
Mr. Arens. Tell us about your activity. Did you
Mr. Willis. I direct you to answer that question.
Mr. Zeitz. In response to that direction, this will be my answer:
I respect the rights of congressional committees to investigate in
the interests of developing legislation. However, it is obvious, after
sitting through sessions of this committee, that it has no legislative
purpose. This committee is an instrument of fear, its goal the estab-
lishment of conformity of thought.
This committee may be successful in establishing conformity with
the aid of clubs and water hoses that were used on the students yester-
day. But if it is successful in establishing conformity, it will have
killed Americanism, for Americanism is almost synonymous with
dissent. The birth of this country is a result of dissent, and that
which is great in this country came about because we were free to
dissent. I will take no part in the eiforts of this monstrocity to ossify
people's minds, to paralyze people with fear.
Albert Einstein, years ago, as a result of his experience with Nazi
Germany, warned of this type of committee. In 1953, Einstein stated
the strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of
each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty-
bound to do his share in its defense are the rights secure.
The intellectuals have a particular influence on the formation of
public opinion. This is the reason why those who are about to lead
us toward authoritarian government are particularly concerned with
muzzling that group. It is, therefore, especially important for the
intellectuals to do their duty.
I see this duty in refusing to cooperate in any undertaking that
violates the constitutional rights of the individual. This holds, in
particular, for all inquisitions that are concerned with the private life
and political afHliations of the citizens.
With the above in mind, I decline to answer the questions, basing
this declination on the right to remain silent on questions of thought,
affiliations, and associations guaranteed under the first amendment and
the privilege of not being compelled to be a witness against oneself
granted in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Now, let's don't talk about thought or associations or
anything of that kind. Just tell us, have you, up to this minute, been
active as a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Zeitz. The same answer as before.
COROrUNIST PARTY — NORTPIERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2101
Mr. Arens. Are you now, this very instant, a member of that con-
spiratorial force that would overthrow the Government of the United
States by force and violence and that would establish an authoritarian
government even worse than the Nazis, namely, the Communist dic-
tatorship?
Are you now, this instant, a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Zeitz. The same answer as before.
Mi\ Arexs. I would respectfully suggest, INIr. Chairman, that will
conclude the stall' interrogation of t his witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
;Mr. iVRENS. Sheriff Carberry, would you kindly come forward and
remain standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. "Willis. Please raise your right hand, Sheriff.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give be-
fore this subcommittee, will be the tiiith, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God ?
^[r. Carberry. I do.
TESTIMONY OF MATTHEW C. CARBEREY, SHERIFF, CITY AND
COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Carberry. My name is Matthew C. Carberry, slieriff, city and
coimty of San Francisco.
^Ir. Arens. Sheriff Carberry, this morning while you were absent
from the hearing room, a former undercover agent of the FBI, serv-
ing in the Communist Party was elucidating on Communist Party
techniques and activities.
We asked him to speculate what the Commimist Party would be
doing about the events that occurred, the incidents that occurred, in
the last day or so. lie said that they would, of course, try to portray
police brutality and arbitrai-y action and the like.
Well, that happened here just 30 seconds or so before you took
the witness stand. One who has been identified to us — and who would
not answer questions, of course — -as a Communist, started the technique
here of assessing the events of the last day or so against the committee,
against the police, against the law enforcement officers, so that they,
the Communists, can portray themselves as martyrs when, in fact,
they are conspirators.
We would like, therefore, to have on this record, in addition to
the sworn testimony of some several moments ago of the chief of police
and one of the inspectors, a word fj'om yourself as the sheriff of this
county with respect to tlie incidents of the last 2 days so that those
who care to know the facts may, when this record is printed, read the
facts.
If you will proceed at your own pace, Sheriff, to make your state-
ment under oath, we would appreciate it.
Mr. Carberry. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, the
only things of which I have knowledge and the only things which I
can discuss, of course, were the things that I have observed in the last
2 days under my duties as sheriff of San Francisco.
2102 CO]MMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
For your information, the sheriff of San Francisco lias the prime
responsibility of maintaining order in the courts. We manage the
county jails and perform certain civil duties.
Normally, the arresting process is that of the police department.
At the request of the committee, we have had assigned to this hearing
room since the beginning of the hearing, deputy sheriffs whose duty
has been to preserve order within this courtroom. Obviously, we have
had and appreciated the complete cooperation of the police depart-
ment.
I spent all of my time on Thursday in and about the hearing room,
in the corridors and rotunda of the City Hall, with one basic thought
in mind: to preserve peace, to maintain a measure of order and de-
coinim, pursuant to the request which had been made upon us by the
committee representatives.
Incidents occurred during those 2 days which I can relate only by
way of fact and my own personal knowledge, which may be of some
assistance to better judge the incidents that happened in the last 24
hours.
On Thursday morning, as the committee well knows, the number
of persons who sought attendance in this room perhaps exceeded the
capacity of the room by three to four times. The general nature of
the room in this building makes it difficult to accommodate large
groups of persons in the corridor in view of the fact that on Thursday
and Friday we have busy days here at City Hall, with the taxpayers
entitled to their full measure of service for the duties which are part
of a normal civil process.
The same things hold true for the orderly decorum of our superior
courts on the fourth floor and municipal courts on the third floor.
These are the common ordinary routine businesses of city govern-
ment in San Francisco in these corridors.
With the desire to maintain order and decorum, I personally
appealed to those outside in the corridor, on the difficult situation of
limited capacity, and stated we would do everything in our power to
accommochite a rotation of persons witliin the limits that we had.
There was a reasonable acceptance of that idea by most of the
persons outside, with the noise, the clamor, that has been prevailing
for the last 2 days.
After a lunch recess about 1 :30 p.m., on Thursday — and I might say
this for the record: there has been a protest made by many on the
fact of admission that the room was inadequate and another protest
as to limited capacity. I state those only because of the general
nature of protests.
Among the group, and I can say this in complete truth, there were
certain individuals who would not accept any logic or reason. Tliis
was particularly demonstrated about 1 :30 p.m. when a large number
of — I would say perhaps 100 to 200 persons, of all ages, but in the
main i:)erhaps between the ages, I would guess, of 18 to 24 or 25 — con-
gregated outside the main eutiance to these ]iroceedings, this room, and
in a completely hostile and belligerent attitude made extremely loud
noises and protests. But among them were certain leadei^s who as-
sumed leadership by demanding atteiition, one in particular whom
I shall dcvscribe — I have not seen him since; I liave been looking for
him out of curiosity. He is about G ft. 21/^ in. dark hair, wearing
glasses, very lean, perhaps 165 lbs. In age perhaps 23 or 24.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2103
Tliis person was leadiiio; a hostile group, this group I mentioned of
100 to 200 persons, outside this proceeding room about 1 :''>() and mak-
ing shouts, "I^et's break down the doors. We are American citizens.
They can't keep us out."
They had already been told that the liall had been filled and the
ca]iacity was limited.
Mr. Arens. May 1 interpose this connnciit, or this question: The
hall we are meeting in now is the largest hall that is available around
town ; isn't that correct ?
Afr. Carberry. It is the largest hall that the city and county has
for any purpose such as this.
Mr. Arens. The only other larger place where we could have held
the hearings would be in the Cow Palace i
Mr. Carberry. Well, there are other public buildings.
Mr. Arens. This is the only oiiicial buildmg in which we cotdd meet
to accommodate the maximum number of people; is that right?
Mr. Carberry. Well, sir, there are larger public buildings, but
those buildings are under contract, which takes advance dating, de-
ferring to the Civic Auditorium, it would take months of advance
preparation to get into the Civic Auditorium, which is a large public
building.
To get to the incident involved, because I think it points up the fact
that the police department and the sherifi"s department exercised
restraint, caution, and attention to the rights of all persons involved,
I am covering the record on the incident which I know personally
about.
In my opinion, it appeared that an incipient riot was brewing and
there was serious danger to life and property.
Doing a thing which was almost reflex action for me, dressed as I
am, I moved into this hostile crowd and demanded attention. It was
not easy to get it. But after patiently listening to the heckling and
abuse and trying to turn some of it with whatever like remarks, I
opened by demanding attention for 1 minute, identified myself as
Matthew Carberry, sheriff, and stated : "I would like to appeal to you.
I would like to appeal to your reason."
These things that I am mentioning to you are from memory, but only
as a matter of interest to you.
I learned later that one of the local, I think it was a radio station,
had a recording of events that preceded my remarks and all of the
remarks that I have made, with all of the background sounds that
took place. I have since heard that and I found it of interest and
perhaps the committee would be interested.
I think it taught me some things. I stated to them as calmly as I
could, and I believe I was quite calm
Mr._ SciiERER. Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that the tape recording
to which the sheriff referred be made a part of the record.
Mr. Willis. If it can be spared or if a duplicate can be obtained.
Mr. Carberry.^ I would like to say only this: that it came to me as
a matter of surprise that it happened.
Apparently the reporter was on the scene. It has since been re-
peated. I know that it is available. It is not my property, but I
think it can be made available. I am interested in it only as a matter
of fact.
2104 COMMUNIST PARTY— NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr, Willis. I think by all means it should be preserved. We would
very much like to have one.
Mr. SciiERER. Whom did you say made the tape?
Mr. Carberky. I think it was one of the local reporters. I think it
is KCBS. I think his name is James Leonard. I know it is avail-
able because I was told so.
INIr. SciiERER. If a copy of that tape can be made available, I move,
Mr. Chairman, that it be made part of the hearing record in this case.
(Tape obtained and retained in committee files.)
Mr. Carberry. In regard to the instance — and I repeat, I had to
demand and fight for attention and I believe honestly did receive
rather good attention, despite certain remarks that were made — I
appealed, as I said, to their reason. I stated that all of the uniformed
men in these corridors, and at that time there were not a great many,
were uniformed police and deputy sheriffs in uniform.
When I was able to demand and receive some attention, enough to
be heard — and I think the record bears out the fact that I was heard —
I stated that these uniformed police officers and San Francisco law
enforcement people were interested in one thing and, under our
system of American government, they should understand that these
officers are essentially peace officei'S, their essential duty is to preserve
the peace.
I also stated, because I felt that I v.-as appealing to their reason, I
stated I felt they were intelligent Amei'ican citizens. These things
were happening only, so far as I am concerned, to remove the hostility
that took place. I stated that we had to respect the rights of congres-
sional committees to hold their hearings peaceably, even if we dis-
agreed w4th them. We had the right to people's free protest and,
speaking as a peace officer, if those persons chose to go outside and
demonstrate in an orderly and legal manner, they would not be in-
terfered wdth.
Other remarks were said along the same direction and they were
generally accepted, and the persons wdio were leading this, what I
believe to be an incipient riot, which could have been dangerous to
life and property, they disap]')eared and the general temper of the
crowd was at least reduced in noise.
That was maintained for all of Thursday.
At the close of the hearing, because there liad been considerable
protests made by persons who claimed that they could not get in, on
my initiative I asked the chairman of this connnittee if he would
accede to a service wdiich I would be able to perform, in having the
proceedings of this hearing carried out by loud speaker to Civic Center,
w'hich was the closest ]ilace in the area which would provide order and
a minimum of disorder for the regular order of business within this
hall.
The chairman acceded, and on Friday morning and during all of
yesterday's proceedings, and I believe today, the proceedings here
have gone out by ])ublic-address system to Civic Center.
Certain precautions were taken again yesterday morning regarding
care and order within this building, and there was a large group of
persons seeking admission yesterday morning inside these proceedings.
They were told that the room was crowded, that we would provide
replacements as vacancies occurred.
COMMXTNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2105
I niiirlit say also, that, in the course of the hostility on Thursday at
1 :30, a ffentloman who offered himself as a representative of some of
(lie jzroiip whom I had never met before, a man by the name of Mr.
Thomas, who, I believe, is at Styles Hall, University of California,
was somewhat helpful to me in trying to preserve order on a reason-
able basis; and I was able to promise, with his cooperation, some
semblance of order in providiuir a ro])lacement of persons fi-om their
•n-oup within the proceeding's, as vacant seats occurred, and it worked
out somewhat successfully.
Friday mornino; I told the irroup assembled outside that they would
be allowed to stand there, if they chose to, so long as they maintained
peace and order, were not unduly loud or noisy. If they chose to go
outside and listen to accommodations of the hearing in Civic Center,
those facilities had been provided for them.
The general temper of the crowd was orderly, except that there
were certain individuals — some of whom I can see and remember and
can find if I choose to do so — who continued to heckle and who con-
tinued, in my opinion, to excite those assembled. In my opinion, these
individuals — and I can see them and if they are in the building or
around the area, I can point them out — refused to accept any element
of order and deliberately excited the persons who were there, in my
opinion, in the main, here to seek information.
Tlie excitement was reasonably controlled until about 12 o'clock on
Friday, at which time I was official!}' apprised by one of the police
inspectors here that Judge Clarence Morris in superior court had
officially protested to the police department about the loud noise and
misconduct, which was interfering with the order of superior court.
I was told a similar protest had been made by the presiding judge of
municipal court.
I then proceeded to the rotunda and told all the persons assembled
there that we were continuing to cooperate to provide access to the
general public within this building and I was going to intercede again
with the chairman at noon on that point.
I also told them that tliey were now subjecting themselves to the
possibility of arrest for disturbing the peace, that they were making
protests about duress of law and they, themselves, were interfering
with the due process in our superior and municipal courts, and I
pointed out to them calmly and plainly the facts regarding the physi-
cal occupancy of this building.
One in particular, and I can recall him distinctly, said, "Why don't
they adjourn the courts today. We want to get in. Cut out every-
thing else. This is the only thing that is important."
I mention tliis for one reason only, that this did not reflect the
general temper of the crowd, but it did reflect the temper of certain
indi\aduals who continued to excite the crowd to, apparent!}^, some
act or incident.
These are the facts only as I saw them, as I know them.
One other point. I left this building about 12 :15 for lunch. I had
been in it all day the previous day and was in it all of yesterday ex-
cept for lunch recess. I A\as back about 1 :25, so I did not see any of
the incidents that took place during the interlude.
I did, however, approach again the chairman of this committee,
again with the desire of preserAdng peace. I stated that was the
2106 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
basic job that all of these officers had done. That was why no arrests
were made, perhaps, in the preceding day, but order was being main-
tained.
The Chair stated he would cooperate fully to provide a general
admission to the limits of this building, within whatever reason could
be provided.
Unfortunately, when we returned to tliis building at about 1 :25 p.m.,
the incidents which we all know had already taken place. This room
had already been filled. It was crowded to capacity.
During the ensuing afternoon we maintained order within it, re-
placing vacant seats on a first-come, first-served basis.
These are the facts only as I know them.
As to the activities of this committee, I assure you I have nothing
to say.
Mr. Willis. Sheriff, I expressed myself a while ago about the fine
w^ork that you and your deputies and others did. I want to now
repeat them in your presence.
I might say, when you say you were at lunch and did not witness
the demonstration here, you happened to have been eating lunch with
me and we were talking about the plan of having an exchange of
seats, if the crowd wanted that to try to be as reasonable as possible.
Mr. Carberry. For the record as well, sir, I would like to state
that my particular reason, aside from the pleasant company involved,
was to see you for the purpose of continuing to provide order in here.
Mr. Willis. That is right. That is why we had lunch together,
to discuss it.
Let me just say this, as we must proceed :
One of the great living Americans in my book is Sam Rayburn.
He told me once that the best quality, the one word that describes the
best quality of a man is a man of judgment, and I regard you as a man
of maturity and good judgment. You handled yourself admirably
well.
Mr. Carberry. Thank you.
Mr. JoHANSEN. Mr. Chairman, before the sheriff leaves, I want
again, in his presence, to associate myself with the statements which
the chairman made and to express my appreciation in behalf of the
committee and the Congress.
Mr. Carberry. Thank you.
Mr. Willis. I believe the reporter's fingers are probably getting a
little tired, so we will take a brief recess.
(A short recess was taken. Present in the hearing room. Repre-
sentatives Willis, Scherer, and Johansen.)
Mr. Willis. The subcommittee will be in order, please.
Call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. Thomas Grabor, please come forward and remain stand-
ing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
before this subcommittee, will be truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God.
Mr. Grabor. I do.
CO&niUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2107
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS GRABOH
Mr. Arj:xs. Please identity yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
]Mr. Grabor. My name is Thomas Grabor. I reside in San Fran-
cisco, at 68 State and I am a salesman.
Mr. Arkns. IIow long have you resided in these parts, Mr. Grabor?
Mr. Grabor. A little over 3 years.
Mr. Arexs. How okl are you 'i
Mr. Gr/VBOR. Thirty.
Mr. Arexs. Where did you come from just innnediately prior to
your arrival here in California?
j\Ir. Grabor. From Hungary.
Mr. Arens. From Hungary?
]Mr. Grabor. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, it is our intention to permit Mr. Grabor
to testify briefly respecting communism in action, as distinct from
connnunism as it portrays itself beliind the facade of humanitarianism.
Mr. Grabor, would you kindly tell us where you were when the
Hungarian revolution broke out in your native land?
Mr. Grabor. I was in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
Mr. Arexs. Proceed in your own words to tell us about the Hun-
garian revolution and your part as a freedom fighter in that struggle
for liberty.
Mr. Grabor. Mr. Chairman, as I told you, I came from Hmigary,
from Budapest, where thousands and thousands of students and yomig
people died wliile fighting for freedom against communism. I have
participated in this fight against communism. The uprising was
started by students who were demanding their basic rights from the
Communist regime, which basic rights were promised to them by
Communists 12 years before that date when the Commmiists took over
Hungary, and behind them was the Red Russian army.
Mr. Arexs. JNIr. Grabor, we had the testimony of a former under-
cover agent of the FBI, this morning, who testified in essence that
there were approximately 20,000 to 25,000 Commmiists, in his esti-
mation, in the United States.
How many Communists spearheaded the takeover of your mother-
land, Hmigary ?
Mr. Grabor. Well, sir, dedicated Communists were — I don't know
the correct number, but I would say 1,000 or a couple of thousand in
Hungary, among them those dedicated Communists who came back
in 1945 with the Russian army from the Soviet Union.
They took over the political power, political and economical power
in Hungarj' by force and by forgeiy. "Wlien I say forgery, I mean
they forged the elections in 1947 in Hungary.
Mr. Arens. They weren't voted into power by the people; is that
correct ?
Mr. Grabor. No, sir.
Mr. Arens. If there were an election tomorrow morning, a free
election in Hungary, would the Communists be reelected to power?
Mr. Grabor. No, sir.
Mr. Arexs. What would be a good estimate, based upon your ex-
perience under the regime, as to the percentage of the vote that the
Communists would get if there were a free election ?
Mr. Grabor. I would say 2 or 3 percent.
2108 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
]Mr. Arexs. Now, Mr. Grabor, tell us briefly just a ^vord about "what
it means to live under communism, as you lived under it in your native
land.
Mr. Grabor. Well, sir, in 1947, when they actually took over the
political and economical ])ower in Hungary hy forging the elections,
by taking the Communist Party members from town to town with
false registration cards to vote, and they have been voting five, six,
seven or eight times, one person, they were getting the majority this
way; before this they have promised everything to the people of
Hungary'. They have promised freedom; they have promised better
living standards; they have promised better education; they have
promised everj^thing that is possible.
After they have taken over in 1947, they started to destroy opposi-
tion deliberately. They destroyed and abolislied every opposition
party by force, by arresting and convicting the leaders of these opposi-
tion parties. Opposition papers were not permitted. At a later date
there were no Western newspapers and magazines that were allowed in
the state of Hungary.
Mr. Arens. Is there freedom in the schools ?
Mr, Grabor. There is no freedom, sir.
Mr. Arens. Is there freedom anywhere in Hungary ?
Mr. Grabor. No, sir.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, we don't want to prolong your testimony. We
would like just to ask you if you, as a young man, having lived under
communism, having seen communism in action, as distinct from com-
munism as it portrays itself as the pie in the sky, what word would
you have as a young man to say to the young people of your adopted
land of freedom respecting the significance of communism in the world
and the status of communism in America ?
Mr. Grabor. Sir, in my country not everybody has admission to the
schools, not every young person, even to the high schools and colleges.
Their father and grandfather had to belong to the woi'king class and
had to be trusted by the Communist Party to be admitted to the uni-
versity or colleges.
In the universities and colleges they could not study whatever they
wanted. They had to study whatever the Hungarian Government
reeded, whatever it was short of. For instance, if I wanted to be an
electrical engineer, and the state needed mechanical engineers, I could
not study for electronics engineer.
So also in the universities were the subjects of Marxism and Lenin-
ism, which everybody had to take. There was the subject of Russian
language, which everybody had to take and graduate from.
Mr. Arens. Is your native country — and I say this with great reluc-
tance, but I must ask it — is your native country, Hungary, now in a
state of "peaceful coexistence" with the Soviet Union ?
Mr. Grabor. I didn't exactly understand the question. You have to
forgive me, but my language
Mr. Arens. You witnessed the Soviet tanks rolling into Budapest,
-did you not?
]\Ir. Grabor. Yes, sir. I was fighting against them.
Mr. Arens. And you saw your own people massacred, did you not ?
Mr. Grabor. Yes, sir, I saw thousands and thousands of people
dying on the streets just because they wanted their rights, their free-
dom. They wanted the Russian army to leave Hungary. They wanted
COMIVIUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2109
the niinaai"i:in ii'oods to boloni>- to tlie ITiiiiiiariaii people. They
wanted to be patriots, and patriotism is a crime under a Connnunist
regime.
Mr, Arexs. Thank you, sir.
^fr. Chairman, it is not our intention to prolong the interrogation
of Mr. Grabor. We just thought it would be well to have in this
record some indication of what it is to live under communism and
what is in the mind of a young man who was in the schools under a
Connnunist regime, connnunism in action.
Mr. AViLLis. Thank you very nnich, sir.
Call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Kayme Ellis.
Please come forward, Mrs. Rayme Ellis.
Mr, Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
before this subcommittee, will be the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
]\rrs. Ellis, I do.
TESTIMONY OF RAYME ELLIS
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself, ma'am, by name, residence,
and occupation.
Mrs. Ellis. My name is Rayme Ellis. I live at 8926 Wonderland
Avenue, Los Angeles. I am primarily a mother of three young cliil-
dren and I do secretarial work.
Mr. Arexs. You are appearing today in response to a subpena ?
Mrs. Ellis, Right.
Mr. Arens, We observe that you are not represented by counsel.
Do you know that you have the privilege, under the rules of this com-
mittee, to be represented by counsel ?
Mrs, Ellis, Yes.
Mr, Arexs. I beg your pardon ?
Mrs. Ellis. Yes, I know that.
Mr. Arexs. Is it agreeable with you to proceed without counsel ?
Mrs, Ellis. Yes,
Mr, Arens. As we proceed, if there is any area in which, on the
basis of our experience, you might desire legal advice, we will try, so
far as we can, to give jou that advice objectively and fairly, I, my-
self, am a lawyer and I believe all of the members of the subcommittee
are lawyers.
We, of course, prefer that you do have counsel.
]Mrs. Ellis, if I ask you a question and you honestly believe that
the answer to that question w^ould be supplying information which
could be used against you in a criminal proceeding, you are not
obliged to, but you have the privilege of, declining to answer that
question by announcing to the committee that you invoke the self-
incrimination provision of the fifth amendment.
Do you understand ?
Mrs. Ellis, I do.
Mr. Arex'S. Mrs. Ellis, are yon connected with the Willowbrook
Cooperative Nursery School ?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer. I take the fifth amendment.
56597— 60— pt. 3 3
2110 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. Mrs. Ellis, it is the information of this committee that
you are now, or in the very recent past have been, a member of the
Communist Party. Would you kindly tell us now in response to my
question : Are you now a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. No.
Mr. Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. I decline to answer. I take the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Mrs. Ellis, I am put at a rather disadvantage here and
embarrassment. You have asserted that you are not now, tliis instant,
a member of the Communist Party. Ordinarily, when we have a
witness who denies present membership we attempt to develop, by
direction or indirection, on the record w^hether or not that individual
is presently within the Commmiist operation though not a technical
member of the Communist Party. We try also to develop on the
record, by our interrogation, as of what time that person ceased being
a member of the Communist Party.
I would like, if I could do so, just to speak in a rather informal
vein with you, to ask you, w^ithout any sense of an intensive interro-
gation, since what date has it been that you have not been a member
of the Communist Party. You can tell us that.
Mrs. Ellis. I decline. The fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Let me ask you this question — and I will not, under
the circumstances, attempt to proceed further, because this commit-
tee is exceedingly sensitive, although the Communists and the pro-
Communists don't give us that credit, we are exceedingly sensitive to
the fact that we are constantly criticized for being unfair- and we try
to be fair — have you been a member of the Conmiunist Party any time
since you were served with your subpena to appear before this
committee ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have not.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party at
any time in the course of the last year ?
Mrs. Ellis. I have not.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Communist Party at
any time in the course of the last 2 years ?
Mrs. Ellis. No.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a member of the Coimnunist Party any
time in the course of the last 3 years ?
Mrs. Ellis. No.
Mr. Arens. Do you, ma'am, consider yourself presently mider Com-
munist Party discipline ?
Mrs. Ellis. No. ._ i
Mr. Arens. Have you broken, finally and irrevocably, irrespective
of the time, have you broken finally and irrevocably from the Com-
munist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. I stated tliat I am not a member of the Communist
Party.
Mr. Arens. Have you broken finally and irrevocably from the Com-
munist Party ?
Mrs. Ellis. I am not a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arens. May I ask this, ma'am : AVould you desire a private
session with this committee?
Mrs. Ellis. I see no reason for it.
COAIMUNIST PARTY — NORTtlERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2111
Mr, Arens. You observed on the subpena which was served upon
you, nil indication that if 3'ou cared to discuss matters with the com-
initteo — on the bottom of tlie subpena which was served upon you,
this hmguage appeared ; did it not :
If you desire a conference with a representative of the Committee prior to the
date of the hearing, please call or write to : Richard Arens, Staff Director,
Committee on Un-American Activities, Washington 25, D.C.
and tlio telephone number.
Did vou observe tluit i
Mrs. Ellis. Yes; I saw tliat.
Mr. i\jRExs. Mr. Chairman, under the circumstances, it is my judg-
ment, and I so recommoiul to this committee, tliat we do not proceed
further in this session with the interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. I agree with that suggestion. You are excused.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this witness
is now notified that she is being released from her subpena.
The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be — I don't
know whether it is Miss or Mrs. — Lottie Laub Rosen.
Please come forward and remain standing while the chairman
administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?
]Mrs. EosEx. I do.
TESTIMONY OF LOTTIE L. ROSEN, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BERTRAM EDISES
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation ?
Mrs. Rosen. My name is Lottie Rosen. I live at 1609 Rose Street,
Berkeley. I am a teacher.
Mr. Arens. May I ask you, is it Miss or Mrs. ?
Mrs. Rosen. Mrs.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today, Mrs. Rosen, in response to a
subpena which was served upon you by this committee?
Mi-s. Rosen. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mrs. Rosen. Yes ; I am represented by counsel.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mrs. Rosen. Though I do not feel that my counsel can adequately
represent me since he is not given the opportunity to cross-examine or
to ask questions, as you are.
Mr.^ Arens. You know, as your counsel can advise you, that this is
not a judicial, adversaiy proceeding in that sense, nor has any congres-
sional committee in the history of the Nation ever assumed to function
in that capacity.
Kindly, identify yourself. Counsel.
Mrs. Rosen. But you are sitting m judgment on me and you have
said this is not a judicial pivK-eeding.
Mr. Edises. Bertram Edises, Oakland, Calif.
2112 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. How long have you lived in this area ?
Mrs. Rosen. Approximately G years.
Mr. Arens. And where did you live prior to the time that you cajne
to this area.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Rosen. May I ask what the purpose of that question is?
Mr. Arens. Yes, ma'am. We want to inquire respecting your ac-
tivities — not your tiioughts, not j-our beliefs, not your associations —
your activities, in New York City.
In anticipation of that, as groundwork, I wanted to ask you where
you lived prior to the time you came here.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.
Mrs. Rosen. What kind of act ivities are you referring to ?
Mr. Arens. Communist Party activities, ma'am.
Now, kindly tell us where you lived immediately prior to the
time that you came to this area?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Rosen. This is my answer to your question, Mr, Arens. Last
year, 110 California teachers were subpenaed by this committee. In
northern California, 40 teachers had their names smeared on the front
pages of nvimerous local newspapers.
Mr. ScHERFJt. Mr. Chairman, I ask for regular order.
Mr. Willis. Yes. Answer the question.
Mr. Arens. The outstanding principal question is : "Where did you
live immediately prior to the time that you moved to California?
Mrs. Rosen. I am answering your question. I would like to be
allowed to answer it in my own way.
Mr. Willis. What is tlie outstanding question ?
Mr. Arens. The outstanding princi})al question, sir, is: Where did
you live prior to the time that you moved to California ?
^Ir. Willis. I direct you to answer that question.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
ISfrs. Rosen. I decline to answer (hat statement upon the following
grounds-
Mr. Willis. Proceed with the next question.
Mr. Arens. The next question is
Mrs. Rosen. You are not giving me a chance to state my grounds.
Mr. Willis. Proceed with the next question.
Mrs. Rosen, Afay I say that I was subpenaed last year. My name
was smeared in the headlines of all the local newspapers.
Mr. Willis. Next question.
Mrs. Rosen. I have been harassed for 1 year, and this is now my
opportunity to speak, and T would like to have it.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly tell the committee how long you
lived in New York City?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs, Rosen, You have indicated to me alread^y the purpose of that
question, and I decline to answer that question, I would like to be
able to state my grounds for this declinal ion.
Mr, Arens. Do you decline to answer t liat question on constitutional
grounds ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Rosen. I will state my grounds as follows
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2113
'Sir. Arens. Were you a (op Communist Party functionary in the
Bronx, from 1950 (o 1954^
(The Avitness conferred with lier counsel.)
Mrs. RosEX. I repeat that you are denying me my constitutional
grounds and my reasons for answering tliis question in my own way,
and I would like to con! inuo by saying ■
Mr. Akexs. Mr. Chairman, 1 respectfully suggest that if this wit-
ness is in truth and in fact attempting to answer on constitutional
grounds, she should be permitted to do so, but if, on the other hand,
she is going to give another (\)mmunist Party speech, I think it is
quite proper that she be denied tlie opportunity to use this conmiittee
as a forum for that purpose.
Mrs. Rosen. These are my constitutional grounds, Mr. Chairman,
and I wish to state them in my own words.
Mr. Willis. State your constitutional grounds.
]Mrs. RosEX. I repeat, last year 110 teachers were subpenaed by
this committee
Mr. Willis. That is not a constitutional ground.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. RosEX. I am not a lawyer. I wnsh to state these grounds in
the best way that I can and I demand the right to do so.
yiv. Willis. You are not a hnvyer, but you have a lawyer advising
you constantly during this tactic.
Mrs. RosEX'^. Yes, but this statement was prepared by me, and I
wish to be allowed to read it.
jMr. Willis. "Wliat statement ?
Mrs. RosEX'. It is handwritten, two pages.
Mr. Willis. Go on and read it.
Mrs. RosEX". Last year, 110 California teachers were subpenaed by
this committee. In northern California, 40 teachers had their names
smeared on the front pages of numerous local newspapers. This was
done just before the end of the school semester and prior to summer
vacation.
One hundred and ten California teachers, tired from their year's
work, had no vacations, no opportunity to rest, because the committee
postponed the June 17th hearing and scheduled them for early Sep-
tember, thus harassment and continued press publicity followed the
teachers all through the summer.
The committee then postponed its hearings until October 14, no
explanations were given for these postponements.
Widespread public protest, coming from church groups, ministers,
professors, teachers' organizations, parent groups, labor unions, news-
papers and individuals finally caused this committee to cancel the
hearings entirely.
If you are interested, Mr. Chairman, in seeing documentation of
these protests, may I refer you to a document of unimpeachable in-
tegrit}^, the speech before the House of Representatives of the Hon-
orable James Roosevelt, dated INIonday, April 25, 1960, in which he
calls upon the House of Representatives to abolish this Committee
on Un-American Activities.
This story could and should have ended here, but no, this commit-
tee had not finished its dirty work. It sent its files on the teachers
to the state superintendent of instruction and then, not certain that
2114 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
these would be used against the teacliers, ran around the state and
deposited these files with local district attorneys, who then dumped
them into the laps of the school boards, whether requested by them, or
not.
I would like to quote from Mr. Roosevelt's speech :
When State Attorney General Mosk issued a formal opinion he stated,
among other things, that the committee files themselves were worthless as evi-
dence against the teachers involved. The reason, he said, was that the authors
of the information were not identified. No action for the revocation of teaching
credentials could be based on the allegations of unnamed allegedly "reliable
sources." Only if the charges could be backed up by the evidence of identified
persons could action against the teachers be initiated by the school department.
The California attorney general, in a letter to me dated February 2, 19G0, stated
the following : "I recognize that the reports, standing alone, could not be used by
the superintendent of public instruction"
Mr. ScHERER, Just a moment, Mr. Chairman. The witness said she
wanted to read a two-page statement in longhand, and now she is
reading the gentleman from California's speech that he made on the
floor of the House.
I submit she is not invoking any constitutional amendment in re-
fusing to answer this question.
Mr. Willis. I so rule. This always happens when we have a senti-
mental appeal to make a little statement. She started with a little
statement and now has gone to a large document.
I order you to answer the question outstanding.
What is it. Counsel, to be specific ?
Mrs. Rosen. I would ask the chairman, please, to be permitted to
continue with my own statement and disregard Mr. Roosevelt's state-
ment.
Mr. Willis. You started with a two-page statement.
Mrs. Rosen. This is handwritten on one side of the page. I have
just one more sheet to read, if you don't mind.
This year the committee returned. School boards were informed as
long as 3 weeks before the subpenas were served that their employees
Avere in danger. Many school boards, intimidated by the representa-
tives of this committee, informed their teachers they would not be
rehired. There are at least six such cases in this area alone.
Many teachers subpenaed last year have now been resubpenaed.
Community protests are again pouring in. The academic community
is aroused by this repeated tlireat to freedom of thought and inquiry.
This committee has no right to inquire into this area. This connnittee
has no riglit to question me as to my thoughts, associations, and activi-
ties.
Mr. Willis. Wait a moment. There is an outstanding question that
I now order and direct her to answer on constitutional grounds only.
If she goes beyond that, lier lawyer knows the significance of it,
Mr. Counselor. You will proceed Avilh the (luestion.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Rosen. I stand on my rights under the first amendment of the
Constiution of the United States, guaranteeing me freedom of speech,
thought, and association, and the ninth amendment, which guaran-
tees to me the right not to speak, and the fifth amendment, which was
placed in the Constitution by our forefathers to protect the innocent
from being compelled to act as a witness against themselves.
CORDMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2115
Mr. Arens. As of the instant that yoii were served with your sub-
pena to api)oar before this coniniittee, were you then a memDcr of the
Conmuniist Party?
(The witness oonf erred with her counsel.)
Mrs. EosEN, You have my answer, sir.
Mr. Arens. Give it to us again ]")lease.
Mr. SciiEUER. I ask tliat you direct tlie witness to answer.
Mr. Willis. The witness is directed to answer the question.
(Tlie witness conferred with her counseL)
Mrs. Rosen. I decline to answer on the <i:rounds previously stated.
Mr. ScHERER. Does that include the invocation of the fifth
amendment?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
]\Irs. Rosen. You heard my answer, sir.
]\Ir. SciiERER. I ask that you direct the witness to answer my ques-
tion, because the courts have said that when there is a question in our
minds as to Avhether or not the witness is invoking the fifth amend-
ment, we are compelled to ask the witness specifically whether the
declination involves the use of the fifth amendment.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mr. ScHERER. Mr. Chairman, I ask that you direct the witness to
answer.
Mr. "Willis. You are dircvted to answer the question.
Mrs. Rosen. Mr. Willis, I am not a lawyer. I would like to have
my lawyer have the privilege of arguing that point because he ap-
parently disagrees.
]Mr. Edises. May I be heard on that point ?
^h\ Willis. No.
Mr. Edises. I happen to disagree with Mr. Scherer's interpretation
of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Willis. That will be all.
Mv. Edises. If you will drop the question as far as this witness is
concerned ?
Mr. Willis. The question is not dropped. There is an outstand-
ing order directed to her to answer the question.
Mr. Edises. She has already declined to answer and her grounds
are in the record.
Mr. Willis. Next question.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, today, this instant, a member of the Com-
mimist Party ?
(The witness conferred Avith her counsel.)
Mrs. Rosen. I decline to answer on the same grounds.
Mr. Arens. Just one final question :
Did you happen to read the address of the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.
Scherer, who is a member of this committee, responding on the floor of
the House to the address by the gentleman from southern California,
Mr. Roosevelt ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Rosen. I happen not to have read it. I am sure it was well
publicized.
_Mr. Arens. That will conclude the staff interrogation of this
witness.
INIrs. Rosen. May I
Mr. Willis. No ; the witness is excused.
2116 COMIVIUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Call the next witness,
Mr. Arens. The next witness, Mr. Cliairman, if you please, will be
Mrs. Betty Halpern.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give to
this subcommittee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, so help you God ?
Mrs. Halpern. I do.
TESTIMONY OF BETTY HALPERN, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
ALBERT M. BENDICH
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mrs. Halpern. My name is Betty Halpern. I live at 6 Acton Circle,
Berkeley, Calif., and I am a teacher.
Mr. Arens. Is it Miss or Mrs. ?
Mrs. Halpern. Mrs., the mother of two.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena which
was served upon you by this committee ?
Mrs. Halpern. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by counsel ?
Mrs. Halpern. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, will you kindly identify yourself on this
record ?
Mr. Bendich. Albert M. Bendich, staff counsel, American Civil Lib-
erties Union of Northern California.
Mr. Arens. When and where were you born ?
Mrs. Halpern. In Rumania, 1924.
Mr. Arens. When did you come to the United States for permanent
residence ?
Mrs. Halpern. 1929.
Mr. Arens. Are you a citizen of the United States?
Mrs. Halpern. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. By derivation or naturalization?
Mrs. Halpern. By derivation, sir.
Mr. Arens. Wliere have been your principal i)laces of residence
since you established your residence in this country?
Mi's. Halpern. New York and Berkeley.
Mr. Arens. How long did you live in New York, and over what
period of time?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halpern. I lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., until 1944. Then I came
to Los Angeles, and then spent a year there and came to Berkeley,
Calif.
Mr. Arens. Give us a word, please, about your education?
Mrs. Halpern. Graduated from public elementary school in Brook-
lyn, N.Y. ; high school, Brookl3'n, N.Y. The University of California,
Berkeley.
Mr. Arens. You have a teacher's certificate to teach in the public
schools ?
(Tlie Avitness conferred witli her counsel.)
Mrs. Halpern. I had an emergency credential when I taught in the
public school, and I am now teaching in a private school.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2117
Mr. Arkns. ITavo you jiiven lis all of Hie institutions in Avhich you
liave received your ti-ainina?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx. Sir, maj- 1 have some clarification on that question ?
Mr. Arexs. Have you received any S])eciali/,ed training, let us say,
in Los Anoeles, since you have arrived in these parts?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx. Could you be a little bit more specific?
Mr. Arexs. Yes. Have you received any specialized Conmiunist
Party training?
Mrs. Halperx. Not to my know^Iedge.
Mr. Aeens. Have you attended the People's Educational Center?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx". I think I took a dance and drama course there
once, to the best of my knowledge.
Mr. Arexs. "When you so quickly denied training by the Communist
Party, that leads me to ask you this question : Were you given training
in Communist techniques. Communist activities. Communist political
warfare at any time ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx. If dance and drama covers this, then maybe it
was
Mr. Arexs. Of course, it does not. And I did not suggest that it did.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx. I again have to ask you for clarification, sir.
Mr. Arex^s. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx. Sir, I respectfully decline to answer that question
on the basis of the first and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arex's. Have you held Communist Party cell meetings in your
home ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx. Sir, I respectfully decline to answer that question
for the previous statement that I made.
Mr. Arens. When did you receive your teacher's certificate ?
Mrs. Halperx. I think it was in 1950, sir.
Mr. Arexs. Was that on October 8, 1950, do you recall ?
Mrs. Halperx'^. I am not sure.
Mr. Arexs. I have a photostatic copy here of your application,
and the date is not quite clear on here. It is in your handwriting, but
it is not quite clear.
In this application, you signed an oath of allegiance. As of that
date, on October 8, 1950 [1951], when you signed this application,
were you then a member of the Communist Party ?
Mrs. Halperx. I again repeat, sir, I respectfully decline to answer
that question on the basis of the first and fifth amendments.
(Document marked "Halpern Exhibit No. 1" and retained in com-
mittee files.)
Mr. Arexs. Are you now, this instant, a member of the Communist
Party?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Halperx. I decline on the grounds previously stated.
2118 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will conclude
the staff interrogation of this witness.
The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be Lillian
Eansome.
Mr, Willis. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are
about to give before this subcommittee, will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
Mrs. Kansome. I do.
I would like to have you turn those lights out. I didn't come here
to be cooked.
TESTIMONY OF LILLIAN EANSOME; ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
VINCENT HALLINAN
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mrs. Ransome. I am Lillian Ransome, of Wheatland, Calif., 515
State Street, Post Office Box 159. I am an agricultural worker. I
came to California in 1947, to Wheatland, Calif. I have been here
since.
Mr. Arens. Is it Miss or Mrs. ?
Mrs. Ransome. Mrs.
Mr. Arens. Mrs. Ransome, you are appearing today in response to
a subpena which was served upon you by this connnittee ?
Mrs. Ransome. I must have been, or I would not have been here.
Mr. Arens. Thank you, ma'am. And you are represented by
counsel ?
Mrs. Ransome. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, will you identify yourself ?
Mr. Hallinan. My name is Vincent Hallinan, and as to identifying
myself, I am the man who asked leave to testify here that the state-
ment made by the •
Mr. Arens. Counsel, you know your sole and exclusive prerogative
is to advise your client, and you are in violation of the rules of this
committee. You are performing unethical conduct and you know it.
I respectfully suggest that counsel be admonished to abide by the
rules of this committee, Mr. Chairman. If he wants to be a witness,
we will be glad to call him to be sworn a little later on.
Mr. Hallinan. Would you tell me what you meant by identifying?
Did you want my name ?
Mr. Arens. Counsel is violating the rules of this committee.
Mr. Hallinan. I deny that. Tell me what rule it is.
Mr. Arens. Mrs. Ransome, kindly tell us where you lived prior to
the time you came to California.
Mrs. Ransome. On the advice of my attorney, I refuse to answer that
question for the following reasons : One, it is not within the scope of
the purpose of which this committee was formed ; two, the committee
has no rights to inquire into my personal, private belief or associations.
Mr. Arens. I was not asking you if you believed where you lived ?
Mrs. Ransome. Three, it violates my rights under the Constitution
of tlie United States, particularly the first and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arens. Now, please tell us where you lived prior to the time you
came to California.
COMIMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2119
Mrs. Ransoime. I told yoii Avliere I live, in Wlieatland, California,
515 State Street.
Mr. Arens. Tell ns how lon_<; you have lived there.
Mrs. Ransosee. I have lived there since 1947.
Mr. Arens. Where did you live prior to 1947 ?
Mrs. RANsotE. I lived at 515 State Street since 1947.
Mr. Arexs. Where did yon live in 1946 ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Ransome. On the advice of my attorney I refuse to answer
that question for the folloAving reasons: It is not within the scope of
the purpose for which this committee was formed ; two, the committee
has no ri<^ht to inquire into my personal, private beliefs or associa-
tions ; three, the question violates my rights under the Constitution of
the United States, and particularly under the first and fifth amend-
ments.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly and truly apprehend that if you told
this committee where 3^ou were living in 1946, you would be supplying
information which might be used against you in a criminal pro-
ceeding ?
I ask that question Avith this explanation in the record, that it would
appear that you are not invoking the fifth amendment provisions of
the Constitution against self-incrimination in good faith.
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Ransome. It is not Avithin the scope of the purpose for which
this committee was formed ; tw^o, the committee has no right to inquire
into my personal, private beliefs, or associates. The question violates
my rights under the Constitution of the United States, and particu-
larly under the first and the fifth amendments.
]VIr. Arens. This committee is trying to develop factual information
which will be used by the United States Congress in enacting legisla-
tion to protect this country, this Constitution, this flag, this Nation,
against the onslaught of the Communist conspiracy which threatens
freedom everywhere.
Do you have information, current information respecting the activi-
ties, the program, of the Communist Party in northern California?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Ransome. On tlie advice of my attorney, I refuse to answer
Mr. Arens. You could save time if you just say "For the same
reasons." That would help all the way around.
_Mrs. Ransome. — on the following grounds : Number one, it is not
within the scope of the purpose for wdiich this committee was formed ;
two, the committee has no right to inquire into my personal, private
beliefs or associates ; and three, the question violates my rights under
the Constitution of the United States, particularly under the first and
the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a full-time, paid functionary in the
Valley Section of Northern California of the Communist Party?
I said that wrong. A full-time, paid functionary of the Communist
Party operating in the Valley Section of Northern California?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Ransome. On the advice of my attorney, I refuse to answer
that question for the following reasons : One, it is not within the scope
of the purpose for which this committee was formed; two, the com-
mittee has no right to inquire into my personal, private beliefs or
2120 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
associates; three, the question violates iny ri<:;hts under the Constitu-
tion of the United States, and particuhirly under the first and the fifth
amendments,
Mr. Arexs. Thank you, ma'am.
That will conclude, if you please, the staff interrogation of this
witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. The next witness, if you please, Mr. Chairman, will be
Ed Ross.
Kindly come forward and remain standing while the chairman
administers an oath.
Mr. Lewis. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of my client, may I request
that the lights remain off as he comes forward.
Mr. Willis. They are off.
Please raise your right hand.
You do solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God ?
Mr. Ross. I do.
TESTIMONY OF EDWAED ROSS, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
JOSEPH F. LEWIS
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Which of these are the live mikes, or are they all live?
Mr. Arens. The one you should get close to is the one there near
you.
Now, would you kindly give us your name, residence, and occupa-
tion ?
Mr, Ross. My name is Edward Ross. I live at 134 Lockhart Lane,
Los Altos, California. I am a salesman.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Ross. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And you are represented by comisel ?
Mr. Ross. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself on tliis record.
Mr. Lewis. Joseph F. Lewis, Sunnyvale, California.
Mr. Arens. Where and when were you born, INIr. Ross ?
Mr. Ross. I was born in New York City on September 3, 1915.
Mr. Arens. And give us a word, please, about your education.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Does this just concern my sckooling, my formal educa-
tion?
Mr. Arens. Well, let's start with that.
Mr. Ross. I am a gi-aduate of grade schools and high schools in
New York City.
Mr. Arens. No college or higher education ?
Mr. Ross. No.
Mr. Arens. What other training have you had ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2121
Mr. Ross. Sir, is (his for the purpose of identilication only?
Mr. Arexs. Don't you want to toll us any otiier trainiiiii- you have
had?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Koss. Sir, if this is purely for the purposes of identification, I
will assert that I am truly Ed Koss who was served witli a subpena.
Mr. Akexs. Can't you tell us what other training you have had be-
sides the schoolino- that you have just alluded to ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, I don't really understand the question.
Mr. Arexs. You have adequately identified yourself. AVe under-
stand that.
Tell us about any training you have had other than, or in addition
to, the training which you have already described.
(The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr. Arexs. Maybe I can help you. Have you taken any corre-
spondence cources from any of the universities ?
Mr. Ross. I know at one time I did that. I was interested in some
matters and took a correspondence course in some things, although
I had been through formal education.
Mr. Arexs. Have you ever had any correspondence courses in any
schools ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, I still feel that you have not made yourself clear,
Mr. Arex's. Well, have you attended any night schools ? Now we
will abandon the inquiry about a correspondence course. Have you
attended any night schools of any kind that come to your mind ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr, Ross. Sir, I am not really able to answer that question with
complete
Mr. Arex's. Shall we go further ?
Mr. Ross. Yes.
Mr. Arexs. Have you had some training of any kind in engineer-
ing:
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, I have educated myself in this field.
Mr. Arexs. Tell us about the nature of the training you have had
in engineering. Was that correspondence or just by going to the li-
brary or studying at home like Abraham Lincoln did, or how was
that? How did you acquire this knowledge you have in engineering?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, will you repeat the question, please ?
Mr. Arexs. Yes. By what devices did you train yourself in engi-
neering, and in what fields of engineering have you specialized in your
training?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, it was mostly by my own study and application.
Mr. Arexs. Are you able to read blueprints?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis. I think tlie witness is delaying too much, really, on
a simple question.
Mr. Ross. I am trying to answer these questions to the best of my
knowledge.
2122 COMMTINIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us whether or not you can read blue-
prints ? I can tell you pretty quickly I can't.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, in my field I think I can read blueprints.
Mr. Arens. Is your engineering field mechanical engineering,
chemical engineering? What type of engineering? Bridgebuilding?
AVhat is it that has been your particular training in this engineering
field?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, will you break that question up into its compon-
ents ? You have asked me about three questions.
Mr. Arens. I was asking you of tlie various alternatives. Wliich
segments of engineering are you particularly trained in ? You have
told us now that you have been studying on your own, equipping
yourself as one who is familiar in engineering fields, a very fine area
to be engaged in, particularly in this time in which we need engi-
neers, need people who will help develop weapons to defend our
great Nation.
Tell us what field have you been particularly interested in?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, as I pointed out before, I have a limited education
in engineering
Mr. ScHERER. I didn't understand your last answer.
Mr. Arens. He said he had a limited education in engineering.
Mr. Ross. Right. I am a self-taught engineer and I can read some
blueprints, not all, those applicable to the particular field that I am
in.
Mr. Sgherer. We wanted to know what field is it, sir. Is it elec-
trical, mechanical, civil ?
Mr. Ross. It could be
Mr. SciiERER. Or all three of them ?
Mr. Ross. Well, civil it wouldn't be, but it would be electrical and
mechanical, mainly.
Mr. Arens. You have been interested in electronics in the course
of your home studies ?
Mr. Sciierer. He said electrical.
Mr. Arens. That shows how little I know about mechanical mat-
ters.
Tell us how long you have been engaged as a ball-bearing sales-
man.
Mr. Ross. For about 20 yeare.
Mr. Arens. Without revealing the particular plant, what is the
nature of a plant to which you sell your ball bearings?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis. This is a very simple question. We have to move on.
I order you to answer the question.
Mr. Ross. Sir, can I decide how to answer my questions?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Scherer. Let's put it more direct. Do you sell ball bearmgs
to plants that have defense contracts ?
Mr. Ross. Well, why didn't he ask that question before ?
Mr. Scherer. I am asking it now.
Mr. Ross. Okay.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2123
Mr. Koss. Sir, I sell to plants that are in tlie missile and allied in-
dustries. I also sell to automotive users. T sell to farm machinery,
food machinery manufacturers. I sell to anybody who uses ball bear-
inirs in the manufacturin<j of anylhino; tliat moves.
Mr. Arens. In your procedures of selling to the plants that manu-
facture missiles or missile machinery, do you have access to the plants?
(Tlie witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Koss. Sir, I normally don't have access to these missile plants,
except in the lobbies.
]Mr. Arens. That is normally. Do you have access to people, or do
you eno:age in conversations with people, who do work in these missile
plants ?
( The witness conferred with his counsel . )
Mr. Eoss. I have a contact with anybody who is interested in pur-
chasino; ball bearings, not specifically those people who work in mis-
sile plants. I sell to anybody who needs ball bearings.
Mr. Arens. We understand to whom you sell. We are trying to in-
quire of you from whom you may acquire certain information.
Do you or have you, in the course of the time in which you have been
selling ball bearings to missile plants, engaged in conversations per-
sons known by you to be members of the Communist Party who are
employed in missile plants ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Will you repeat tlie question again ?
Mr. Arens. Read the question, please.
(The question was read by the reporter.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Wiixis. It sliould be noted tliat tliere have been very few ques-
tions asked thus far and the witness has been on the stand for a
very long time.
Mr. Ross. I cannot hear you.
Mr. Willis. Please answer the questions.
Mr. Ross. I think counsel is developing a line which I think is a
little unfair. I mean, he is trying to make me say something that I
don't particularly believe in.
Mr. Arens. I am not asking you to say anything that isn't the
truth. If the answer to the question is "No," just say "No."
Mr. Ross. To my best knowledge, no.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of Karl Prussion?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis. That is a very simple question. I direct you to answer
it.
Mr. Ross. Yes : I am going to answer it, sir.
INIr. Willis. All rig] it.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.
Mr. Ross. Sir, I am going to have to decline to answer that ques-
tion for the following reasons: First, I incorporate in the answer the
points made by me in the petition filed on my behalf by my attorneys
with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman
of this committee regarding the legality of the proceedings by virtue
of the participation of the congressman from Louisiana.
Second, by the very nature of the proceedings, as well as those
charges made against me, their vagueness and lack of substantiation.
2124 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
on advice by counsel tliat I liave no alternative but to invoke the first,
fifth, and fourteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United
States.
IVIi'. ScHERER. I will put it to you as a fact: Is it not a fact that you
knew Prussion as a member of the Comnninist Party when you were
a member of t he (^onnnunist Party ?
I will ask you to affirm or deny the assertion I just made.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Sir, I will have to decline to answer this question for the
same reasons that I declined to answer the last question.
Mr. ScHERER. And does that include the invocation of the fifth
amendment?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Ross. Shall I read it again to you, sir ?
Mr. ScHERER. I asked you, just to be sure, whether you are de-
clining to answer on the grounds that you decline to answer because of
your rights under the fifth amendment.
(Witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. ScHERER. I frankly didn't remember whether you cited the
fifth amendment when you read all of the reasons for which you did
not answer.
Mr. Ross. I did, sir. The stenographer should have it in the record.
Mr. Arens. Mi: Prussion, will you kindly stand up where you are,
please?
You were previously sworn on this record ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes, sir.
TESTIMONY OF KARL PEUSSION— Eesumed
Mr. Arens. Mr. Prussion, during the course of your service as an
undercover agent in that conspiratorial force known as the Com-
munist Party, did you know to a certainty as a member of the Com-
munist Party a person by the name of Ed Ross ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Do you see him in the hearing room today, now ?
Mr. Prussion. I so do.
Mr. Arens. Would you point him out to the committee?
Mr. Prussion. Tliere [indicating].
Mr. Arens. Mr. Prussion, did you, in tlie course of your knowing
Ed Ivoss as a member of the Communist Party, at any time engage
him in conversation respecting the acquisition by him of information
pertaining to the missile program of the United States?
Mr. Prussion. Yes, I did.
Mr. Arens. Kindly, in your own words and with the utmost care,
recite the essence of any conversation or conversations which you held
with him or which transpired in his presence.
Mr. Prussion. The conversation took place on May 21, 1958, at a
Commimist Party cell meeting in Palo Alto. Attending tliat cell
meeting were Michael Shapovalov, Esther Shapovalov, myself, Doris
Dawson, Gertrude Adler, INIary Field, and Sara Alchermes.
Mr. Arens. Would you repeat that and raise your voice, please?
Mr. Prussion. On May 21, 10r»8, at a Palo Alto cell meeting of the
Comnumist Party, which was attended by Michael Shapovalov, my-
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2125
self, Doris Dawson, Gortnide Adler, ]\Iary Field, Sara Alchermes,
Alary Wilson, Elizabeth Nicholas, and Isaac FolkolL
Mr, Ross, durinij: the usual educational period, as is had at all cell
ineetinjxs, was the leader of discussion on the subject "The Next Step,"
by Lenin. Ed Koss at tliat time stated
Mr. ScHERER. Just a minute, Mr. Chairman. The Witness Ross is
seated there shaking his head at the statements made by Mr. Pnis-
sion.
Have any of the statements which Air. Prussion has made up to
this point, at which you are shakinir your head, been untrue?
Mr. Chairman, I ask that you direct the witness to answer my
question.
Mr. Ross. Sir, I have to respectfully decline to answer that ques-
tion for the same reason that I have declined to answer the previous
question.
Air. SciiERER. You were sitting there shaking your head "no" to
ahuost every statement he made.
Air. Ross. I have a right to do that.
Air. ScHERER. I understand you have a right to do it, but I wanted
to give you an opportunity to say whether any statement he made up
to this point was untrue. You refused to answer.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Willis. Proceed.
Air. Prussiox. Air. Ross at that time was extremely active in the
South Palo Alto, Stanford, and Los Altos Democratic Clubs, princi-
pally the California Democratic clubs.
Mr. Arens. By that time, you mean Alay 21, 1958 ?
Air. Prttssion. That is correct. Everybody at the meeting had to
describe their activities during the past month period. Air. Ross de-
scribed his activities within the Democratic Party and described them
as very successful, functioning A'ery properly, and he also stated that
he knew when missiles were fired, and I will quote "types of missiles
and where and what direction they are fired." He did not give any
more detail.
TESTIMONY OF EDWAED ROSS— Resumed
Air. Arens. Air. Ross, you have heard the statement there by Mr.
Prussion. Is there any item of information in any degree which is
in error or which you care to deny ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Air. Ross. Sir, I think at this point I will have to again refuse to an-
swer your question for the same reasons I have declined to answer
the previous questions.
Air. Arens. Are you now, this instant, a member of the Communist
Party ?
Air. Ross. Sir, I will have to again decline to give you an answer
to this question for the same reasons as I gave before to the previous
questions.
Air. Arens. Air. Chairman, I respectfully suggest this witness be
maintained under his subpena, subject to further direction of this
committee as to a time and place for further appearance, but that he
be temporarily excused from attendance upon these hearings during
our stay in San Francisco.
56597— 60— pt. 3 4
2126 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Willis. That is the order of the Chair.
Mr. ScHERER. Mr. Ross, as a result of the contacts you had with
plants engaged in the manufacture of missiles, did you obtain any
information which you passed on to anybody in the Communist
Party?
Mr. Ross. Sir, I respectfully decline to answer that question for the
same reasons that I have given on previous questions concerning this
particular end.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. By excused, Mr. Chairman, you mean, of course, ex-
cused from immediate attendance.
Mr. Willis. Excused at this time, but he is under continuing
subpena.
Mr. Ross. Thank you.
Mr. Willis. The committee will take a 15-minute recess.
(Members of the subcommittee present at the taking of the recess :
Representatives Willis, Johansen, and Sclierer.)
(At the expiration of the recess, the following members of the
subcommittee were present: Representatives Willis and Johansen.)
Mr. Willis. The subcommittee will come to order.
Mr. Arens, call your next witness.
Mr. Arens. Ruben Venger, please come forward.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
You do solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God ?
Mr. Venger. I do.
Mr. Andersen. Mr. Arens, for the benefit of other counsel, would
it be possible to announce the order of the witnesses ? Some of them
would like to go out and get a bite to eat, if they have time.
Mr. Arens, May I suggest this: that it is our present intention
to call Mr. Ruben Venger, who is now here, and then pursuant to
your request to call Mr. Ralph Izard. Then we had in mind calling
William Reich. Then we were going to call Mr. Lafferty. Then
we were going to resume with Mr. Prussion for a short while.
So Counsel, those who would like to absent themselves to get a bite to
eat now have an idea of what our intentions are.
From the Floor. May I inquire whether the list of witnesses just
announced by Mr. Arens will represent all the witnesses?
Mr. Arens. No ; I was just giving the next few.
Mr. Willis. Please proceed, Mr. Arens.
TESTIMONY OF RTJBEN VENGER, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
GEORGE R. ANDERSEN
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Venger. My name is Ruben Venger. I live at 420 West Rail-
road Avenue, Cotati, Calif. My occupation was a tailor all the
time. Then I went chicken and poultry ranching. Now, thanks to
the administration, I had to go back to tailoring.
(At this point Representative Scherer entered the hearing room.)
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2127
Mr. Arens, You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee ?
Mr. Venger. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
ISIr. Venger. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Andersen. George Andersen.
Mr. Arens. Where were you born, Mr. Venger ?
Mr. Venger. In old czarist Russia.
Mr. Arens. When did you come to the United States for permanent
residence ?
Mr. Venger. 1912.
Mr. Arens. Are you a citizen of the United States ?
Mr. Venger. At 21 years of age I became a citizen of the United
States.
Mr. Arens. By naturalization or derivation ?
Mr. Venger. Naturalization ; of my own free will.
Mr. Arens. Do you know a man by the name of William Kimple ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
lilr. Venger. I don't think I want to talk about anybody else ex-
cept myself.
Mr. Arens. Then tell us about yourself. Are you now a Commu-
nist Party functionary in Sonoma County, in northern California?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Venger. I refuse to answer that on the first and fifth amend-
ments.
Mr. Arens. Mr. William Kimple appeared before this conamittee
and swore that he knew you as a member of the Communist Party.
Was Mr. Kimple in error in that identification of you in that capacity ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Venger. I give the same answer as I previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Do you have any mcome other than the income from
the occupation which you described a moment ago as your occupation ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Venger. I don't think it is any oi your business to know of
those incomes.
Mr. Arens. We are not concerned
Mr. Scherer. Just a moment.
I ask that you direct the witness to answer the question.
Mr. Willis. The witness is directed to answer the question.
Mr. Scherer. It is certainly our business if it comes from the Com-
munist Party.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Venger. The same as I previously stated.
Mr. Scherer. Do you mean you refuse to answer ?
Mr. Venger. I refuse on the same grounds as I previously stated.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, this instant, a member of the Commimist
Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Venger. I give you the same — I refuse to answer on the same
ground as I previously stated.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest that will conclude the staff in-
terrogation of this witness.
2128 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
t
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. Ralph Izard, please come forward and remain stand-
ing while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
You do solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?
Mr. Izard. Yes.
TESTIMONY OF RALPH IZARD, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
GEORGE R. ANDERSEN
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify youi-self by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Izard. My name is Ralph Izard. I live at 1335-A Columbus
Avenue, San Francisco. I am a writer and a student.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee?
Mr. Izard. Is that a question ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
(The witness confen^ed with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I should think that the committee would loiow the
answer to that question.
jNIr. Willis. Let me explain it to you. I would think that you
would want that question asked. In other words, you did not come
here voluntarily, you have been subpenaed, and we want the record
to reflect that.
Mr. Izard. I would never be on hand here voluntarily.
Mr. Willis. It is a proper question. Proceed.
Mr. Arens. Would you tell us if you are represented by counsel?
Mr. Izard. I am represented by able counsel who, unfortmiately, is
unable to speak up and represent me as I would like to be represented.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, will you kindly identify j'^ourself for this
record ?
Mr. Andersen. My name is George Andersen.
Mr. Arens. Where and when were you born?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Chicago, 111., the 19th of November 1905.
Mr. Arens. And a word, please, about your education?
(The witness conferred with his comisel)
Mr. Izard. Education is a broad term. My education is still going
on. I have had a very fine education the last 3 days here.
Mr. Arens. We are speaking about your formal education.
Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the Chair again admon-
ish those who are in attendance that we insist upon proper decoiiim.
Mr. Willis. I think the audience understands that very well. I
plead with them to respe<?t the rule. We will have to enforce it.
Mr. Arens. Please give us a word, sir, respecting your fomial edu-
cation.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I atteiidcMl kindergarten and, to the be,st of my recol-
lection, the lii-st grade in Chicago. 1 believe I attended another kin-
dergarten in Flint, ]Mich. By the time I arrived in Lakewood, Oliio,
COROrUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2129
I think I was in the second grade. My nieniory fails mo on this point,
but at the time I went there to be with my motlier, so she would be a
better check on this than I am.
I iinislied my lower, my element aiy schooling, in the schools of
Lakewood, Ohio, and with one gap, attended straight through them,
junior high school and high school, in Lakewood, Ohio.
Mr. Arens. Did that complete your formal education?
(Tlie witness conferred Avith his counsel.)
^h\ IzAKD. Yes. I went to college.
Mr. Arens. Kindly give use a word on that, please, sir.
Mr. Izard. Which word do you want, sir ?
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness now
be ordered and directed to answer the query.
Mr. Izard. I don't understand the query. He asked me for a word.
Mr. Arens. You don't understand what I am asking you ?
Mr, Izard. No, I don't.
Mr. Arens. Did you attend college ?
Mr. Izard. I did, sir.
Mr. Arens. What college did you attend ?
Mr. Izard. The University of Wisconsin.
Mr. Arens. "Wlien did you attend the University of Wisconsin?
Mr. Izard. From the autumn of 1925 until my graduation in the
spring of 1929.
Mr. Arens. What degree, if any, did you receive from the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin ?
Mr. Izard. The usual academic degree, AB, I believe.
Mr. Arens. Did that then complete your formal education ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. To the best of my recollection, yes. The committee may
have other interpretations on it.
Mr. AiiENS. How long have you been living in California?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr, Izard. Since 1948, sir.
Mr. AnENS. Have you, in the course of the last 5 years, traveled
abroad ?
(The w^itness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Please repeat the question.
Mr. Arens. Have you, in the course of the last 5 years, traveled
abroad ?
Mr. Izard. Will you name the interval that you mean by the last 5
years ?
Mr. Arens. Five years prior to today.
(The witness conferred w^ith his comisel.)
Mr. Izard. I take it you mean May of 1955 to May of 1960 ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
Mr. Izard. No, I did not.
Mr. Arens. Have you traveled abroad in the course of the last 6 or
7 years?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Iz.vRD. Will you repeat the question, sir? I am sorry, I am
a little
Mr. Arens. Have you traveled abroad in the course of the last 6 or
7 years?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
2130 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Izard. Well, I think I have been to Ensenada, Mexico, on a va-
cation.
Mr. Arens. Have you traveled to India and the Far East ?
Mr. Izard. Several times, sir.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time did you make these several
journeys to the Far East?
Mr. Izard. 1946-47 and 1950.
Mr. Arens. 'Where did you go in 1950 ?
Mr. Izard. This will require some consultation, if counsel will excuse
me for a moment.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Yes, Mr. Arens, I think your question was where I went ?
Mr. Arens. Yes, please, sir.
Mr. Izard. My ship took me first to Yokohama and from there I
went to Tokyo for several days while the ship was tied up, and then
from Yokohama to Manila for several days ; to Cebu City for another
day, back to Manila for a few hours, then direct to Hong Kong, where
I stayed 15 days, after which I went to Macao.
From Macao I went to Chung-shan. From Chimg-shan I went to
Yangshuo, from Yangshuo to Wuhan.
Mr. Arens. Would you hesitate to inform one who is unenlight-
ened, are these places which you are now describing within the confines
of Ked China?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Does the counsel mean the People's Republic of China ?
Mr. Arens. Well, it is not the same terminology. You use one ter-
minology and I use another. We will accept your terminology for the
purpose of this query only. Yes.
Mr. Izard. Well, you see, at Macao, Macao used to be an island,
and in the old days when the countries of the world did what they
wanted, to loot China, Macao was owned by the Portuguese, and it is
still a Portuguese entry port, although the harbor is silted up to about
6 feet and it nas no real economic significance any more. Its only real
economic significance, and the only reason it is able to sustain life,
is a causeway about 6 miles in length, which connects it with the Chi-
nese mainland and from where rice
Mr.^ Scherer. Mr. Chairman, this is just a smart-aleck answer by
the witness. I ask that you direct the witness to answer the question.
Mr. Willis. Yes. The question is : Are these places you named
within the territory of the
Mr. Andersen. He was explaining that Macao is Portuguese. That
is what he was explaining.
Mr. Arens. Go ahead, please, sir.
Mr. Izard. Well, if I have Mr. Scherer's permission, I will go ahead.
I don't want to go ahead without the consent of the full committee.
Mr. Scherer, I ask that you direct the witness to answer the ques-
tions. Are any of the places he mentioned in Red China?
Mr, Andersen. If there is a question before the witness, I want it
repeated, so my client knows Avhere he stands,
Mr. Arens. The essence of the question or thought which is intended
to be conveyed to any reasonably receptive mind is : Are the cities or
places that you have been describing Avithin the mainland of China,
which we characterize as "Red China" and which you have charac-
terized as "The People's Republic of China"?
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2131
Mr. IzARo. Cliung-slian is the birtlipliice of Sun Yat-sen, known as
the George Washington of China, the Father of his Country.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir, would you continue your description
Mr. SciiERER. He has not answered the question. I ask that you
direct tlie witness to answer the question.
Mr. AViLLis. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. IzAKD. Honorable Member Willis, I am at a loss as to what to
answer. Mr. Scherer has totally confused me.
Mr. Arens. We will "unconf use" you and start over.
Are these cities, these places that you have described, in Red China,
or are they not in Red China?
Mr. Izard. Macao is in China. It is part of China.
Mr. Arens. Thank you, sir. Now would you ^o on and tell us
the other places where you traveled in this journey in 1950?
Mr. Izard. But it is Portuguese occupied. Hong Kong is China.
Mr. Arens. Now, kindly proceed.
Mr. Izard. From Chung-shan, which, as I say, is the birthplace of
Sun Yat-sen, famous throughout China for that reason, I went to
Yangshuo, by riverboat.
At Yangshuo, after a wait of about a week, I boarded a train, a
special tram, bound for Peking, which is usually called mistakenly,
Peiping. Peking means "northern capital," and Peiping means
"northern peace."
Mr. Arens. Now we are for a certainly in Red China ?
Mr. Izard. Yes. This train carried people of the Chinese political
consultative peoples, a mouthful in English, shorter in Chinese,
bound for the second session of that congress of the Chinese people.
So we had the red-carpet treatment all the w^ay from Yangshuo to
Peking.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Could you, in summary form, tell us where else you
went on this trip in 1950 ?
Mr. Izard. I looked briefly on Mukden and Tientsin. In Tientsin I
was about a month there.
Mr. Arens. May I suggest you might move that microphone a little
closer to you?
Mr. Izard. I would have to put it my lap. Is that better ?
Mr. Arens. That is better. Thank you, sir.
Did that conclude your trip or did you go someplace else before you
returned ?
Mr. Izard. No, sir.
^ Mr. Arens. Would you kindly tell us in summary form the prin-
cipal other places where you went?
Mr. Izard. From Tientsin to Otaru, on the Island of Hokkaido, and
from Otaru into Sapporo, which is the main city on the Island of
Hokkaido, back to Otaru again, and then to the port of San Francisco.
Mr. Ajiens. Did you travel on a United States passport ?
Mr. Izard. I did, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did the passport have a provision prohibiting travel
on that passport in Red China?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Not to my knowledge, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you have a visa for admission into Red China ?
2132 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Izard. Sir, it is impossible to get visas from countries which
are not recognized by my own country.
Mr. Arens. Did you have travel documents for travel in Red
China?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. No, sir. I just went to China ; that is all.
Mr. Arens. Did you have prearranged plans, make prearrange-
ments on your trip ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. No, sir, I did not. That is why I had to wait in Hong
Kong and then wait again in Macao.
Mr. Arens. Whom did you contact in Hong Kong to make ar'
rangements for your admission into Eed China?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. How do you mean "Who did I contact ?" I don't under-
stand.
Mr. Arens. Did you contact someone to make arrangements for you
to be admitted into China, Red China ?
Mr. Izard. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Who was that person ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I talked to a Chinese news agency in Hong Kong.
Mr. Arens. Did you identify yourself to that news agency ?
Mr. Izard. I did, sir.
Mr. Arens. And did you pay a sum of money to that news agency
for the service and accommodations to be rendered to you in order to
let you travel in Red China ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I can't recall the amount of the expenditure, sir, but I
spent some money, but how much, I don't know what it was.
Mr. Arens. Did you pay all of your expenses in Red China?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Or were you in any sense a guest of some person, gi'oup,
or organization ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Will you repeat that question, Mr. Arens ?
Mr. Arens. Did you pay all of your expenses personally on your
trip into and through Red China, or were your expenses, on the other
hand, paid by some other person, group, or organization?
(The witness conferred witli his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I misplaced my books tliat I may have kept of the actual
expenditures at tliat time, but it seems to me this is very minute
and piddling information on my financial status at the time, which I
have no record of any more. That, after all, is 10 years ago, sir.
Mr. Arens. Were you the guest of the Red Chinese Government?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Yes, sir. My passage to Peking, Peiping, I was a guest
of the Chinese Government.
Mr. Arens. I am going to come back to that in a minute, but I have
to back up for just a moment.
Wlien you filed your application for a U.S. passport to travel as a
U.S. citizen abroad, did you, in your passport application, indicate
to your Government, or that agency of the Government known as the
COIVCMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2133
State Departnu'iit, (hat you intoiided in llial trip which you proposed
to tiike to travel in Ked China, or was that just as, you might say, an
after! houiiht?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. IzAKi). I annoiuiced my intention of iroing to East Asia.
Mr. Akexs. Now would you kindly answer the question?
(Tlie witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. IzAKD. 1 tliought I had, sir.
Mr. Arens. Did you, on your passport application, tell the Depart-
ment of State that you proposed and intended to go to Ked China ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. But I had no such intention when I left here.
Mr. Arens. "When did this intention formulate itself in your mind,
to go to Red China ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. When I found out that I could get into the country with
some ease and that there were no other Western newsmen there and
that I would have a free field.
Mr. Arens. Who is it on behalf of the Eed Chinese regime that
extended to you the first indication of hospitality or acceptability of
yourself into that area ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I am sorry, I don't know — I never did know his name.
Mr. Arens. Then you just walked into Eed China, got on a train,
and went in ; is that correct ?
Mr. Izard. No, sir.
Mr. Arens. Then tell us, in your own words, please, sir, man to man,
how you got into Red China.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
]\fr. Izard. Let's drop the man-to-man appeal, INIr. Arens. I know
I am speaking as a man — I speak for myself.
Mr. Arens. That is a colloquialism, and you know it, sir.
Now, kindly tell us when and how you first received word that you
were to be a guest of the Red Chinese regime.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. So far as I know, this news agency that I mentioned to
you paid for it.
Mr. Arens. Did you reveal to the news agency that you were then a
member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness confererd with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. In answer to your question, the committee is running
true to form. It has already defamed, befouled, and brutalized the
city of St. Francis.
I seek by use of the citizens' shield of the Republic, the fifth amend-
ment, the same as you, Mr. Arens, sought it yesterday when you were
not even under oath, but you were asked whether you were subsidized
by a racist propagandist, and you refused to say whether you were
or were not. You refused either to confirm or to deny that.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Izard, you certainly wouldn't suggest, you of all
people, guilt by association ?
Mr. Izard. No, I suggest
Mr. Akens. Would you kindly proceed with your response?
Mr. Izard. I already have responded to you, sir.
2134 COMMUNIST PARTY — ^NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Ahens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest this witness now
be ordered and directed to answer that question.
Mr. AViLLis. You are ordered to answer the question. We have
given you too much time already.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I avail myself of the first amendment, which you have
already trampled upon, and I avail myself also of that citizen's
shield of the Eepublic, the privilei^e of not being forced to testify
against myself, under the fifth amendment.
Mr. ScHERER. A very fine speech, coming from a Communist.
Mr. Arens. Did you, sir, have conferences with representatives of
the Red China regime in the course of your sojourns in 1950 in that
country ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Well, I couldn't certainly be in the city of Peking, which
is a city of some millions of people, and not talk with somebody, and
I did talk to the vice mayor of the city.
Mr. Arens. Did you talk with the Propaganda Ministry repre-
sentatives in Eed China ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Not to my knowledge, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Did you acquire information in Red China which you
subsequently used in your writings and in your lecturing back in the
United States of America ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Mr. Willis, there seems to be a slight misunderstanding
in the question. There is some gradation of meaning there. Will you
repeat it, please ?
Mr. Willis. You have been referring to Mr. Arens as Mr. Willis,
I believe.
Mr. Izard. Excuse me. Mr. Arens ?
Mr. Arens. Did you acquire information there which you subse-
quently used in lectures and writmgs here on American soil, in tliis
free country ?
JMr. Izard. Yes, I think I did — Yes.
Mr. Arens. Was that one of the reasons why you traveled through
Red China, to acquire information that you could use as a basis for
your lectures and writings in the United States ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Yes, that is one reason.
Mr. Arens. ^Vhile you were there, did it occur to you to inquire,
and did you inquire, respecting the commune system in Red China?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Sir, you jumped the gun by 8 years.
Mr. Arens. ^^Hiile you were there, did you make inquiry respecting
the emasculation, the crucifixion, of the Christian missionaries who
had been teaching in Red China ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. You must have visited China more extensively than
I did, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Kindly answer the question, sir.
Mr. Izard. Nothing of that kind ever happened, to my Icnowledge,
that I know about.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2135
Mr. Arexs. "Wliile you were there, did you make inquiries respecting
the conipU^te obliteration, murder, of the some 12 to 20 million peo-
ple by the l\ed China regime in its ascendancy to power on that
continent?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr, IzAKD. No, sir. What I was asked about was the obliteration
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Mr. Akexs. Wliile you were there in Eed China, did you acquire
any information — I was going to ask you if you acquired any informa-
tion that you could use in the interests of your Government in defend-
ing itself against the onrush of that Communist regime, but that w^ould
be a ridiculous question in "view of the status of the record.
Now, sir, after you came back to the United States, did you address
certain groups and organizations on the subject of your findings and
the subject of your trip to Red China ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
INIr. Izard. Yes, sir, I spoke from Bellingham, Washington, to San
Diego, along the coast here.
Mr. ScHERER. Mr. xirens, the witness indicated, if I remember the
testimony correctly, that when he went into Red China, he went in as
a newspaperman. Am I correct that that was his statement?
Mr. Arens. That is the way I interpret his testimony, at the invita-
tion and as a guest of this terror regime ; yes, sir.
Mr. ScHERER. Witness, were you employed by anyone when you
went into Red China ?
Mr. Izard. I had some understandings that my pieces would be
bought, but as for regular employment, no, sir.
Mr. ScHERER. You were a freelance newsman or writer or journalist
at that time ?
Mr. Izard. That is correct, sir. Journalists only earn $25,000 a
year or more, so I was a freelance.
Mr. Arens. Did you then subsequently sell your stories about the
situation in Red China to certain of the news outlets in this country?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. If you will be kind enough to repeat the question ?
Mr. Arens. Did you subsequently sell to certain news outlets in this
country, your stories, your pieces, your articles?
Mr. Izard. Yes, sir ; I sold some here and abroad.
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us what news outlets here carried your
material respecting the situation there as you viewed it ?
]\[r. Izard. The newspaper "The People's World'' here on the Pacific
Coast, which was then a daily paper, and Telepress News Agency in
London.
IMr. Arens. May I ask, in passing, have you also, or were you also
during the war a correspondent for Yank magazine ?
Mr. Izard. Yes, sir ; I was.
Mr. Arens. AYere you at that time a member of the Communist
Party?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. My answer is the same as it was, the shield of the Re-
public still stands, despite all your work. Fifth amendment.
Mr. Arens. Over what period of time did you continue your lectur-
ing respecting the People's RepubMc and the regmie there, as you
viewed it, when you took this trip ?
2136 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Izard. I should say, sir, until it became old hat, you know,
passe information.
Mr. Arexs. I meant from the standpoint of chronology. You be-
gan your speaking about what time ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arexs. About what year did you begin this lecturing around
the countiy ?
Mr. Izard. I began on my return from China.
Mr. Arexs. Let's get that year down.
Mr. Izard. 1950, sir.
Mr. Arexs. How long did you continue in that vehi ?
Mr. Izard. Well, I continued lecturing that way mitil, as I said, it
became passe information, about 1953 or so.
Mr. Arexs. Were you doing this lecturing during the Korean war?
Mr. Izard. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arexs. Were you doing this lecturing about the People's Re-
public of China and wdiat you beheld there, at the time the Red
Chinese armies attacked the boys who were defending this Nation,
lighting under the flag of this Government, in Soutli Korea?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Yes, I was doing it until about 1953 ; yes, sir.
Mr. Arexs. And did you express to the groups and organizations
that were listening to you, the indignation, any indignation, respecting
the atrocities committed against our soldiers in South Korea by the
Red Chinese?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Mr. Counsel, Mr. Arens, everything I said or wrote is a
matter of public record. One of your FBI boys had his microphones
planted in a Christmas tree when I spoke m Pasadena. The Christ-
mas tree was right beside the speaker's platform. So they must have
a record of all of this.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest the witness be
ordered and directed to answer that question.
Mr. Willis. You are ordered to answer the question.
Mr. Izard. Will you please repeat the question, Mr. Arens? I have
lost sight of it in the long colloquy of it.
Mr. Arexs. I will strike the question.
Are you now", at this instant, one of the propagandists for the Com-
munist conspiracy in northern California ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I avail myself of the same bright and shining shield of
the Republic, the fifth amendment.
Mr. Arexs. Were you a delegate (o the ITtli National Convention of
I ho Connnunist Party, a delegate from California to the l7th Na-
tional Convention of the Communist Partj^ in New York City?
Mr. Izard. The same answer, sir.
Mr. Arexs. That was December 1959.
Mr. SciiERER. Does the record show that he was, Mr. Arens?
Mr. Arexs. Yes. That is in the record.
Yes, on Thursday, Mr. Schercr, when the delegates were included in
the record, obtained from unimpoarhiil^lo, confidential sources.
Do you know a person by the name of Charles Blodgett?
Mr. Izard. The same answer, sir.
COIMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2137
^fr. Akexs. Cliarlos l^loduett took an oalh bol'oiv this coinniittee,
and swore, in lOaJ) that lie knew you, sir, to be a hard-core member
of (he i'onsj)iratorial force wliich operates on American soil behind
the fai'ade of the Connuunist Parly. Was he in error or was he tellint^
the truth when he swore that to this committee?
(The witnesses conferred with his counsel.)
'Mr. TzARD. I will still stand on the fifth amendmeni, although I
would like to swear at, rather than with, this committee.
Mr. Arens. AYe understand that.
Do you know a man by the name of Archie Brown ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Same answer, sir.
Mr. Arens. You were his campaign manager here, were you not,
Avhen he decided to sacrifice himself on the "altar of public service"
and run for some public office— I believe, supervisor, which meets in
the room in which we are now assembled ; isn't that correct ?
Mr. Izard. The same answer, sir.
^Ir. Arens. We would like to display to you a thermofax reproduc-
tion of a letter by the Committee to Elect Archie Brown to the Board
of Supervisors, in which the recipient of this letter, addressed as "Dear
Friend," is urged to make contributions for this campaign. It is
signed: "Yours for electing Archie Brown, Kalph Izard, Campaign
^Igr."
Kindly look at this document which Mr. Wheeler will now display
to you, and tell this committee whether that is a true and correct repro-
duction of a document which was passed out by yourself over this
community.
(Document handed to the witness.)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. It seems to be a well-written document, sir, but the
answer is the same.
(Document marked "Izard Exhibit No. 1" and retained in commit-
tee files.)
Mr. Arens. Did you write the document ?
Mr. Izard. The same answer, sir.
Mr. Arexs. Now I display to you a thermofax reproduction of an
advertisement appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle —
I will withdraw that.
Since you were subpenaed to appear before this committee, have
you been in session with people known by you to be members of the
Communist Party, respecting a concerted course of action to be taken
by people who have been subpenaed to appear before this committee
in this series of sessions here in San Francisco ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. I hope this is growing as wearisome to you as it is to me,
but the answer is the same.
Mr. Arexs. Yes, sir, over the course of many years you would be
surprised how frustrating and wearisome it gets to usl!
Have you been in session with international Communist agent,
Frank Wilkinson, in the course of the last week to 10 days, respecting
a course of action to be taken to stimulate and to incite to riot these
young people who have been in session in this courthouse, in this
City Hall, and around the City Hall, the last few days.
2138 coMMuisrisT party — ^northern California district
Mr. Izard. In answer to your question, sir, the temper of the com-
mittee was revealed in all its hideous clarity in yesterday's events.
The answer is the same.
Mr. ScHKRER. Mr. Chairman, I request that you direct the witness
to answer (lie question.
Mr. WiLi-iR. You are directed to answer the (question.
Mr. Izard. Tlie answer is the same, the bright and shining shield
of the fifth amendment.
Mr. WiLiJS. Next question.
Mr. Arens. I just want to be sure the record is clear on one
question.
Are you now, at this instant, a member of the Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard, The answer is the same, sir.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest that this will conclude the staff
interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Scherer. Let us not leave that "the same." Does he decline
to answer for the same reasons ?
Mr. Will-is. You are directed to answer the last question.
Mr. Izard. I will accept Mr. Scherer's kindly offered amendment.
Mr. Willis. It must come from your lips.
Mr. Izard. It must come from my lips, did you say ? Yes, the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Willis. Do you mean you decline to answer ?
Mr. Izard. I decline to answer on the grounds that I am not com-
pelled to bear witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a participant in the incitement of the
riotous conduct which has been witnessed here in the course of the
last 2 or o days of our committee sessions?
Mr. Izard. I charge this committee with inciting that what hap-
pened yesterday.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that the wit-
ness now be ordered and directed to answer the question.
Mr. Willis. You are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Izard. I stand on the first amendment, and I stand on my
rights not to be a witness against myself. I charge this committee
wit.li guilty responsibility in yesterday's events.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witness.
Mr. Willis. Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Izard. Oh. a fellow Ohioan.
Mr. ScTiERER. Have you ever received anything of value, either
directly or indirectly, from the Communist apparatus for your known
service to the Communist cause?
Mr. Izard. The same answer, sir.
Mr. SciiERER. The fact is, Witness, and I ask you to affirm or deny
it, that you are a paid agent of the Communist apparatus in the
United States.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Izard. Tlie answer remains the same, sir.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. SciiwiER. Now we Imow how the riots started,
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, the next witness is AVilliam Reich.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2139
Please come forward and remain standing while the chairman ad-
ministers an oath.
Mr. A\'iLLis. Please raise your right hand.
You do solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God^
Mr. IIeich. I do.
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM REICH, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
NOEMAN HOWARD
Mr. Arens. Please identify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Eeicii. My name is William Eeich. I live at 7G15 Sunkist
Drive, Oakland, California. By occupation I am an ex-teacher. At
present I am engaged in journalism and research, only part time,
however, since I suffered an attack of spinal meningitis in 1953. I
also raise Bedlingtons. The Bedlington is a dog.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee 'i
Mr. Ketch. Yes. And I would like to inform this committee how
the subpena server violated Federal law in serving this subpena, since
this person who served the subpena posed as
Mr. WiLXiis. Well, you responded to it. Proceed.
Mr. Reich. I wish to point out that the person who served this
subpena posed as a census taker to gain admittance to my home, which
is a clear violation of Federal law^, which I have taken up with proper
authorities.
Mr. Wiixis. Good. I think you should.
Mr. Arexs. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Reich. I am.
Mr. Arexs. Counsel, kindlj^ identify yourself on this record.
Mr. Howard. Norman Howard, San Jose, Calif.
Mr. Arexs. Do you know a person by the name of Charles Blodgett,
Mr. Reich ?
Mr. Reich. I don't understand the question.
Mr. Arexs. David Blodgett.
Mr. Reich. I don't recall any such person.
Mr. Arexs. Do you know a person by the name of Lloyd Hamlin ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
ilr. Reich. Mr. Chairman, I decline to answer that question on the
grounds of the first and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arexs. We would like to display to you now a photostatic
reproduction of a letter on the letterhead of the 8th Congressional
District Democratic Council, 7615 Sunkist Drive, Oakland 5, Calif.,
addressed to District Attorney J. Frank Coakley, Oakland, Calif. I
want to read this.
Deae Mb. Coaexet. The enclosed resolution was adopted by the 8th Cod-
gresslonal District Democratic Council on April 22.
At the regular monthly meeting of the Council you were charged with en-
couraging, aiding and abetting local school boards in Alameda County to harass
teachers on the basis of flimsy, unchecked evidence in the House Un-American
Activities Committee files, thereby jeopardizing the livelihood of the accused
teachers. This despite the fact that Attorney General Stanley Mosk advised
that the "evidence" submitted by the Committee be ignored.
2140 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
We feel this is a serious charge, since such harassmeut constitutes violation
of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. (persecution for per-
sonal beliefs). Furthermore, civil rights are violated since teachers have been
given no information regarding who made the accusations, and they are given
no opportunity to confront their accnisers.
Since we do not wisli to be guilty of the same unconstitutional and undemo-
cratic procedure, we will give you an opportunity to confront your accusers, if
you so desire, at our next meeting which will be held in San I^andro City
Hall, Friday, May 27, at 8 P.M.
Then there is accompanying this a resolution, on tlie face of wliich
it indicates that it was passed by the 8th Congi-essional District Dem-
ocratic Council. This letter of transmission is signed William Reich,
Corresponding Secretary.
Kindly look at this photostatic reproduction of this docmnent and
tell this committee, first of all, if this is a true and correct repro-
duction of a letter sent by you in the capacity of corresponding secre-
tary of the 8th Congressional District Democratic Council to the
Alameda County Courthouse, District Attorney Coakley, and sec-
ondly, and most importantly, whether you made known to the mem-
bers of the 8th Congressional District Democratic Council the fact
that you were at the instant you were participating in this enterprise
not a member of the Democratic Party in the concept we have in the
free world, but were then at that instant a member of the Conununist
Party.
(The document was handed to the witness.)
(The witness conferi-ed with his counsel.)
Mr. Reich. Mr. Chainnan, since I believe this committee has no
right to inquire into my political associations and beliefs, I will take
the first and fifth amendments and decline to answer that question.
(Document marked "Reich Exhibit No. 1" and retained in com-
mittee hies.)
Mr. Arens. Were you on the date on which you signed this letter
a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Reich. Again I will take the first and fifth amendments to
decline to answer.
Mr. Arens. You weren't at all hesitant to reveal in the letter that
you were then a member and corresponding secretary of the Congres-
sional District Democratic Council, were you ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Reich. Same answer. ]My political beliefs, I feel, are no busi-
ness of this committee.
Mr. Arens. You revealed your political beliefs in this letter, did
you not?
Mr. Reich. This letter was not sent to the committee.
Mr. Arens. You realize that you are under oath now, sir ?
Mr. Reich. Yes.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arens. Is it your design and your intention, after you are re-
lieved from the pains and penalties of ]ierjury, released by this com-
mittee from your subpena, to return to the 8th Congressional District
Democratic Council and say to those good people of tliat legitimate
political organization, "Of course I am not a member of the Commu-
nist Party, but I wasn't going to tell that witch-hunting, Fascist, Red-
baiting, Constitution-destroying Connnittee on Un-American Activi-
ties that I was or was not a member of the Communist Party"?
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2141
Is that your intention or design ?
]\rr. Rkk:h. ^Iv. Chairman, I will take my privilege under the first
and lifth amendments to decline to answer that question.
]Mr. Ahens. Are you, (liis very instant, a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. IxEicir. Again I take my privilege under the first and fifth
to decline to answer,
Mr. Arexs. "Were you at one time what is known as a Trotskyite?
Mr, Reich. Mr. Chairman, under the first and fifth amendments I
refuse to answer.
Mr. Arens. 1 would like to read to you a thermofax reproduction
of an article ai)pearing in the Western Worker under date of March
12, 1936. The headline of this article is "Johnson, Hallett, Reich
Repudiate Trotzky," Trotsky, of course, being a one-time member of
the Kremlin force but who fell out wdth Joe Stalin, and who subse-
quently got a pickax in his head in Mexico,
Warning their "Socialist comi*ade.s" against tlie introduction of Trotskyism
into tlio ranks of the Socialists of America, three prominent leaders of the
Trotskyite Workers Party have resigned from that group and have declared for
the realistic program of the Communist Party of the U.S.A., and of the Com-
munist International.
Among those named is the following: "Bill Reich, educational di-
rector of the Pennsylvania Unemployed League, who served 30 days
in a Columbus, Ohio, jail for fighting evictions" — and then others.
Are the facts which I have just read to you, or the statements which
I have just read to you, a true and correct representation of the facts
as they transpired and as they are revealed in this publication, the
Western Worker, of March 12, 1936 ?
Mr. Reich. May I see the document, please?
Mr. Arens. Certainly. I apologize for not si lo wing it to you,
(The document was handed to the witness,)
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Reich, Mr. Chairman, exercising my rights under the first
and fifth amendments, I decline to answer,
(Document marked "Reich Exhibit No, 2" and retained in commit-
tee files,)
Mr. Arens, Aie you now, this instant, a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Reich. The same answer.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, although we had a number of other
items we wanted to interrogate this man on, oi- thought we might
wan! to interrogate him on, in view of the time situation and other ele-
ments, I respectfully suggest that will conclude the staif interrogation
of this witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Out of consideration for the reporter, we will take a brief recess.
(Members of the subcommittee present at the taking of the recess:
Representatives Willis, Johansen, and Scherer.)
(Members of the subcommittee present at time of reconvening:
Re])i-espntatives Willis, Johansen, and Scherer.)
Mr. "Willis. The subcommittee will come to order. Mr. Arens, call
your next witness.
56597— 60— pt. 3-
2142 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. Ralph Johnsen, kindly come forward and remain
standing while the chairman administers an oath.
Ralph Johnsen ?
Mr, Wheeler, would you please see that he is paged ?
Mr. Johnsen, please come forward and remain standing while the
chairman administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
before this subcommittee will be the truth, the whole truth, and noth-
ing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Johnsen. I do.
TESTIMONY OF RALPH (KENNETH) JOHNSEN, ACCOMPANIED BY
COUNSEL, ALBERT M. BENDICH
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself my name, residence, and
occupation.
Mr. Johnsen. My name is Ralph Johnsen. I reside at 1920-A
Grant Street, Berkeley. I am a machinist.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee?
Mr. Johnsen. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Johnsen. Yes, I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Bendich. Albert M. Bendich, staff counsel, American Civil
Liberties Union of Northern California.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Johnsen, were you previously employed as a school-
teacher ?
Mr. Johnsen. That is correct, sir.
Mr. Arens. And did you resign your employment as a school-
teacher?
Mr. Johnsen. Yes, I did, sir.
Mr. Arens. And what precipitated your resignation as a school-
teacher ?
Mr. Johnsen. Would you clarify that question as to time, sir?
Mr. Arens. Yes. I can give you the approximate time. October
24 or thereabouts, 1950 ?
Mr. Johnsen. That is correct. Yes, I did.
Mr. Arens. Kindly tell us what precipitated your resignation.
Mr. Johnsen. I derided to resign as a probationary teacher at the
Tompkins School in Oakland.
Mr. Arens. Would you get closer to the microphone or keep your
voice up, please?
Mr. Johnsen. I resigned in protest against the recently passed
T^evering Act.
Mr. Ahens. That was an act that was passed in or about that period
of your resignation ; is that correct?
Mr. Johnsen. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Sliortly prior to your resignation ?
Mr. Johnsen. That is correct.
Mr. Arens. And the act required signing a loyalty affidavit as a
prerequisite to obtaining credentials ; is that correct?
Mr. Johnsen. Yes, sir.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2143
Mr. JoiiANSEN. Was that a statute of the State of California?
Mr. JoiiNSEN. Yes, sir.
Mr. Areks. Did you thereafter change your mind about your sUtus
as a then schoolteacher?
Mr. JoiiNSEN. I don't understand the question.
Mr. Arens. Did you thereafter decide that you would sigii the
loyalty oath?
Mr. JoiiNSEN. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And did you thereafter sign a loyalty oath?
Mr. JoHNSEN. Yes, sir; I did.
Mr. Arens. xVre you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
C^onnnunist Party?
(The witness conferred witli his counsel.)
Mr. JoiiNSEN. I am not now a member of tlie Communist Party.
Mr, Arens. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. JoiiNSEN. I would lilve to invoke my privilege under the first
and fifth amendments and refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Were 3^ou a member of the Communist Party at the
time 3'ou first refused to sign the loyalty oath?
Mr. Johnsen. I must invoke my right under the liflh amendment
to refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Arens. Were you a technical member of the Communist Party
as of the time you did subsequently sign the loyalty oath ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. JoiiNSEN. What do you mean by "teclmical" ?
Mr. Arens. We will eliminate the word "technical" for the moment.
Were you a member of the Communist Party when you did sign the
loyalty oath?
Mr. JoHNSEN. No, sir ; I was not.
Mr. Arens. In other words, your status of not being a member of
the Communist Party was tlie status acquired after the period in which
you refused to sign the loyalty oath and before you did sign the loyalty
oath ; is that correct ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel. )
Mr. Johnsen. I don't know what time you are referring to in that
question.
Mr. Arens. Well, we will have to be specific, then, from the affidavit,
itself. December of 1958 you signed the loyalty oath, did you not?
Mr. JoiiNSEN. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. And as of that instant you were not then a member of
the Communist Party; is that correct?
Mr. JoiiNSEN. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. Now, on September 17, 1958, did you sign a statement
which reads as follows :
To Whom It May Concern:
In regard to iny answer under item Il.b Professional conduct: I have the
following to say.
In the fall of 19,50 I was employed as an elementary school teacher in the
Oaliland School District. Shortly after I began to teach, a new requirement
was made of all State employees; namely, the signing of an additional affidavit
of loyalty contained in the Levering Act. I refused to sign and subsequently
resigned from the school system,
A number of factors were involved in my refusal to sign. I felt that insuf-
ficient thought had been given to the bill as passed by the legislature. I felt
that it contributed to an atmosphere of hysteria and that in a sense it was
2144 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
intimidation to ask State employees to further swear and affirm their political
aflSliations. On the other hand I sympathized with those who opposed the new
loyalty affidavit so I chose to resign in protest.
Since that time I have had cause to reflect and thouj^h I still disagree with
the philosophy of the law ; nevertheless, I believe it was an error on my part
to sacrifice a teaching career for such a vain i^rotest. I believe also that resig-
nation with such short notice works an unusual hardship on any school system
and that I gave insufficient consideration to this factor in my action.
I do not want to any longer dLsipialify myself from teaching in this state
and I therefore state that I will sign the oaths and affidavits as required by
school systems in which I may apply in the future.
I hope that my credential will be renewed and that I can resume status as
a teacher in the public schools of this state.
Is that a correct reading of a statement signed by yourself, Ralph K.
Johnsen, on September 17, 1958 ?
(The document was handed to llie witness.)
Mr. JoiiNSEN. Yes, sir.
(Document marked "Ralpli Johnsen Exhibit No. 1" and retained
in committee files.)
Mr. x\rens. In this statement you say that certain things liave inter-
vened since then, "A number of factors were involved in my refusal
to sign."
Was there any factor involved in your refusal to sign the loyalty
affidavit prior to September 17, 1958, which you lune not revealed in
tliis statement "To Whom It May (^oncern" ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Joi[NSEN. May I have clarification on that ?
Mr, Arens. Yes. Perhaps it isn't clear.
In your statement which you signed on September 17, 1958, you are
giving an explanation as to why you refused to sign the loyalty oath
prior to that date. In this letter of explanation, you say the reason
whv vou refused to sign was that von didn't want to contribute to
hysteria, that you didn't agree witli the concepts of the law, and it
was all intimidation, and that you therefore chose to resign in protest.
I am just asking you if there might have been some other element
which contributed to your refusal to sign the loyalty affidavit which
you didn't reveal in this statement.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnsen. I can say that those are the only things that moti-
vated me.
INIr. Arexs. Were you a member of the Connnunist Party at the
time you resigned and refused to sign tlie loyalty affidavit ?
Mr. JoiiNSEx. I stand on my constitutional rights and refuse to
answer that quesi ion, sir; the fifth amondmonl.
Mr. Arens. Did you resign membership in (he Connnunist Party
after you refused to sign the loyalty oath and before you did sign the
loyalty oath on December 18, 1958 ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnsen, 1 would like to refuse to answer that qut'slion.
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest that will conclude the staff in-
terrogation of this witness.
Mr. WiLiJS. The witness is excused.
Call your next witness.
Mr, Arens. The next witness, please, Mr. Oiainuan, will be Doris
Dawson.
COMJVIUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2145
Please come forward and leinaiii standing while the chairman ad-
minisioi's an oath.
Mr. AViLLis. IMease raise your ri<j,h( hand. Do you solenudy swear
that the (estinioiiy you are al)out to liive will be the truth, the whole
trutli, and nothing hut the tiuth, so help you God?
Mi-s. Dawson. I do.
TESTIMONY OF DORIS DAWSON, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
JOSEPH F. LEWIS
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and
occupation.
Mrs. Dawsox. My name is Doris Dawson. I live iii Los Altos, and
I am a housewife.
jSIr. Arens. You are appearing today m response to a subpena
which was served upon you by this committee ?
Mrs. Dawson. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by coimsel ?
Mi's. Dawson. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, kindly identify yourself.
Mr. Lew^s. Joseph F. Lewis.
Mr. Arens. How long have you lived in these parts, please, Mrs.
Dawson ?
JSIi-s. Daw^son. About 12 years.
JSIr. Akens. Have you been president of the Palo Alto Peace Club ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
]Mrs. Dawson. I refuse to answer the question on the grounds of
the fii'st and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arens. Surely you w^ouldn't be reluctant to answer about
presidency of a club sincerely and honestly dedicated to peace, would
you, Mrs. Dawson ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Daw^son. I refuse to answer on the gromids of the first and
fifth amendments.
Mr. Arens. Was your presidency of the Palo Alto Peace Club at
the behest and direction of that conspiratorial force known as the
Communist Party ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Dawson. I refuse to answer on the first and fifth amend-
ments.
Mr. Arens. Have you been active in the PTA, a fine organization ?
Have you been active in that, the Parent -Teachers Association?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Daw^son. May I just say that my youngest child is 30 years
old and I haven't been a PTA member for 15 years.
Mr. Arens. "Were you active as a Conunuiiist in the PTA?
Mrs. Dawson. Same answer ; the first and fifth.
Mr. Arens. What is the Council for Civic Unity ?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Dawson. I have never heard of such an organization.
Mr. Arens. Have you been a paid functionary of the Communist
Party?
(The witness conferred wdth her counsel.)
Mrs. Daw^son. Same answer; first and fifth.
2146 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arens. Do you know a person by the name of Karl Prussion ?
Mrs. Dawson. Same answer; first and fifth.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Prussion, would you kindly stand? You have
been sworn, have you not ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes ; I have.
TESTIMONY OF KARL PRUSSION Resumed
Mr. Arens. During the course of your membership, serving for your
Government in that conspiratorial force known as the Communist
Party, wliich you penetrated at the behest of that great organization,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to acquire information to help
save this society from the penetrations of connnunism, did you know
as a Communist a person by the name of Doris Dawson ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes ; I did.
Mr. Arens. Do you see that person in the hearing room today ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes ; 1 do.
Mr. Arens. Would you kindly indicate where she is ?
Mr. Prussion. Right here [indicating].
Mr. Arens. Can you tell us, please, sir, what were her duties and
responsibilities and what were her activities as a Communist when
you knew her ?
Mr. Prussion. Doris Dawson was a member of the same cell that
I was in, the Mountain View-Los Altos cell of the Communist Party
and at a later date in the Palo Alto cell of the Communist Party.
Her activities varied, such as the National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People, the Parent- Teachers Association, the
Palo Alio Peace Clnl), and the Council for Civic Unity.
At one of the meetings which I described earlier today, Doris Daw-
son reported that she was very happy to announce that the Com-
munist resolution to end atomic testing, which was presented in the
Parent-Teachers organization, will pass at the national convention of
the Parent-Teachers Association. This was 3 weeks before that
identical resolution did pass.
TESTIMONY OF DORIS DAWSON Resumed
Mr. Arens. Mrs. Dawson, will you Icindly tell this coininittee, was
this gentleman telling the truth or was he in error in his testimony
just now respecting yourself?
(The witness conferred with her counsel.)
Mrs. Dawson. Same grounds ; the first and fifth amendments,
Mr. Arens. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that will con-
clude the staff interrooation of t his witness.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. The next witness will be Travis LafTerty.
Please come forward and remain standing while the chairman
administers an oath.
Mr. Willis. Please raise your right hand.
You do solemnly swear that the testimon}^ you are about to give
will bo the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?
Mr. Lafferty. I do.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2147
TESTIMONY OF TEAVIS LAFFERTY, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL
ALBERT M. BENDICH
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oo
cupation.
Mr. Lafferit. My name is Travis Lafferty. T live at 230 Seventh
Street, Oakland; I am a teacher.
Mr. Arens. You are appearing today, JVIr. Lafferty, in response to
a subpena which was served upon you by this committee?
Mr. Lafferty. That is true.
ISIr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Lafferty. I am.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, please identify yourself.
Mr. Bendich. Albert M. Bendich, staff counsel for the American
Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.
Mr. Arens. A word, please, about your place of birth and your edu-
cation.
Mr. Lafferty. What do you mean by "a word," sir ?
Mr. Arens. I thought one sufficiently educated to be a teacher
would understand. That means, w^ould you give us a word, a de-
scription, an enumeration of the institutions in which you received
formal training.
Mr. Lafferty. I am here because I have to be here. You ask me
the questions, and I will answer the ones I have to, and I will not
answer the ones I am not required to answer.
Mr. Arens. You are required to answer this question.
Please tell us in what educational institutions you were trained.
Mr. Lafferty. I graduated from Oakland public schools and I was
educated at the University of California in Berkeley.
Mr. Arens. Did you receive a degree from the University of Cali-
fornia at Berkeley ?
Mr. Lafferty. I did.
Mr. Arens. Wliat year?
Mr. Lafferty. 1939.
Mr. Ajiens. \Yhat degree?
Mr. Lafferty. A.B.
Mr. Arens. Was it the only degree you have received from a formal
institution?
Mr. Lafferty. Yes.
Mr. Arens. How long have you been a teacher ?
Mr. Lafferty. One year.
Mr. Arens. When did you acquire your status as a teacher ?
Mr. Lafferty. About last June.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Communist Party ?
Mr. Lafferty. I have been advised by coimsel that I do not have
to answer any questions of that nature, so I refuse to answer on the
basis of my privileges under the first and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arens. Do you honestly apprehend that if you answered that
(juestion truthfully while you were under oath you would be supply-
ing information which might be used against you in a criminal pro-
ceeding?
Mr. Lafferty. I do not have to answer
2148 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Akens. jNIr. Chairman, I now suggest the witness be ordered
and directed to answer that question.
Mr. "Willis. You are directed to answer the question. It is the
foundation of whether you are really invoking the privileges ac-
corded to you in the Constitution legally, lawfully, in good faith. It
is a proper question and I order you to answer it.
]SIr. Lafferty. Well, sir, I have been here since 9:30 without any
lunch, and I couldn't get a drink of water for several hours, and I
am under a certain nervous strain, so I am afraid I have to ask you to
repeat that question again.
Mr. Arens. Yes, sir.
Do you honestly apprehend, sir, if you answered whether or not you
are now a member of the Communist Party you would be suppljang
information which might be used against you in a criminal proceed-
ing?
Mr. Lafferty. My understanding of the laAv, sir, is that that is a
decision for me to make, and I have taken the privilege under the
first and fifth amendments as I have been advised bv counsel, and I do
so take that privilege under the first and fifth amendments.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, I suggest that the witness be ordered
and directed to answer the question.
The reason I asked the question was to test this witness' good faith
in invoking the fifth amendment.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
IMr. Lafferty. The fifth amendment does not allow any inference
to be drawn from it when properly used, and I stand on that.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, has the witness been ordered and di-
rected to answer the principal question, which is for the purpose of
testing his good faith in invoking the constitutional privilege?
Mr. "Willis. In order to make it plain, I now order you to answer
the question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Lafferty. Well, I respectfully decline to answei- on t lie grounds
of the first and fifth amendments as I previously stated. My coun-
sel informs me that I am within my rights.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that will con-
clude the staff interrogation of this witnevSS.
Mr. Willis. The witness is excused.
Mr. Arens. Saul Wachter, please come forward and remain stand-
ing while the chairman administers an oath to you.
Mr. Willis. Please raise vour riffht hand.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?
Mr. Wachter. I do.
TESTIMONY OF SAUL WACHTER, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
BERTRAM EDISES
Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself my name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Wachter. My name is Saul Watcher. I live at 1830 Derby
Street, Peikolov, Calif., and I am a factorv worker.
COMMUNIST PARTY — ISOKTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2149
Ml'. Akkns. Ami yoii arc a|)|)(Mriii<>- today in response to a subjxMia
wliii'li was served upon y<iu by this connnii tee ^
Mr. ^^^^('T^|•K1J. 'i'es.
.Mr. Akkns. You are represented by connsel ^
Mr. A\'ai n 1 i.K. I am rt'i)reseiite(l by counsel who does not s[)eak
I'oi' me and 1 would
Mr. Akkns. Counsel, wouKl you identify yourself?
Mr. A^^\(•IrrKl{. 1 would like to suii'^est that Mr. Arens I'eniove him-
self and mv counsel remoxc himsell" and T will answer the (juestions
of Ml. Willis directly.
Ml-. AuKXs. Counsel, will you identify yourself ?
]\lr. EmsEs. As soon as my client has answered.
Mr. Aiii:NS. Since counsel has refused to identify himself, we will
]>roceed with the witness.
A\'here were yon born '.
]\rr. Waciitki!. I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. Akens. How long' did you live in Brooklyn ?
y{\\ AVachtek. Until I was about 18.
Mr. Arexs. I low lono- have yon lived in these parts ?
]Mr. "Waciitek. About '1\ or 25 years.
Mr. Arexs. Did you travel to New^ York in December of \\)W.) I
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
]Mr. AVaciiter. What is the purpose of your question 'i
Mr. Arexs. To find out whether or not you traveled to New York in
December of 11)59.
]\rr. Waciiter. "What is the ]nii'pose of the cpiestion I
]Mr. Arex^s. To find out whether or not you were, or are <i'oino; to tell
this committee that you were, a delegate to the National Convention of
the Comnnmist Party held in New York in 1959.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
]Mi'. WACirrER. Why could you not have come out and directly asked
me that question instead of tryino- to sneak up on lue?
Mr. Arexs. Would you kindly tell us, then, openly, candidly, fully,
everythino- to your certain knowledge which transpired at the National
Convention of the Connnunist Party held in 1959?
]Mr. Waciitek. Mr. Arens, ]\Ir. Willis, I decline to answer on the
following grounds :
I formally protest this committee's attem])t to liold my son u]) for
public scoi-n, an 18-year-old boy, loved and respected by his family,
friends and comnumity, and I might add this continues to gi-(nv espe-
cially before his appearance before you. You should be ashamed of
yourselves to stoop to such vicious and low tactics.
Mr. Arens. Now, sir
]\rr. Wachter. I have not hnished answeiing youi- question.
Yesterday at one-fifteen my boy was standing outside talking to a
KPFA rei)orter and suddenly lie" was hit l)y the full force of a fire
hose. He acted as any red-blooded American Avould. lie attempted
to stand his ground.
He was choked, his aim was twisted, and he was (lung into jail
where he was booked. ])liotogiai)hed, and it took me 4 houi-s to find
him. T am very disturbed about this. T am his father.
You are trying to pillory my son. I stand here and I objcrt Jo ii.
1 want everybody in ilic counlry (o know il. Lt>| il be placed in i he
56597— 60— pt. 3 6
2150 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
record. Ivct this record sliow tluit tiiis dis^riicofiil incident of the
Icist '24- hours is the responsibility of how this ]Mr. "Wheeler and this
committee tried to stack this committee witli its card-carryni<^ con-
spiracy, to till this hearin<r, so that the American people cannot see
and hear what is goin.tr on for themselves.
I am very much sliaken up about this. These childi-en are tiyin<>-
to learn about a democracy.
Mr. Arexs. You are reading- from a prepared statement ?
Mr. Wachter. I am reading from the notes I wrote while listening
to you. Why not allov\- the children to come in and tell their stoiy ?
Why not allow that tape tlie KPFA made outside about the liose^
Why not put that into the record ?
^ii'. Willis. I am directing you to answer the question.
Afr. "WAfii'iT.R. I am i^ow finisliing my answer. I will conclude my
answer.
Mr. Areiss. We tried to get your son to tell his story.
Mr. Wachter. I further decline to answer the question on the fur-
th.er Constitution grounds that such a question invades my right of
privacy, my right to lup.e any opinions, political or otherwise, whether
I have them or not.
You don't have a right to in([uire, by the firet amendment. Con-
gress b.as no right to inquii'e into tliese matters. However, this is
not sufficient, I understand, legally, for tliis committee. Therefoi'e,
I have to invoke, as my son did, and I am proud of him, and I think
the rest of the country is, too— —
Mr. Arexs. Wiiat is his name ?
Mr. AVachter. I am answering your quesdon. I have to invoke,
in answer to your question, the fifth amendment, which, as you well
know, is designed to protect dissentei-s, people who have opinions
ditfei'ent from youi's. and on those grounds T stand.
I refuse to answer your (piestion on the grounds of the tirst and
fifth amendments, which casts no aspersions on me personally, as you
well know.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, this instant, a member of the Commu-
nist Party f
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
INIr. Wacmter. I am not going to answer any furtJier ([uestions
along this line. You are simj)lv wasting vour breath. Mv answer
will stand as T have stated to the previous questions from here on in.
Mi-. Arexs. I am inclined to agree witli you that Ave Avould l)e
wasting our l)i-eath on fui-ther interrogation of yourself.
Mr. Chairman, T respectfully suggest, that tliis will coiiclnde the
stafl' inten-ogat ion of tliis witness.
aTi-. AVachter. Thank you.
Mr. Arexs. The next witness will be Elmer E. Johns<^)n.
Please come forwai'd and remain standing while the chairman ad-
ministers an oath.
Mr. AA^iLLis. I might say that the factual part of this last witness'
answer as to what ))rompted the difficulty yesterday is refuted by
exactly three i-e]nitable ])e()ple under oath, the Chief of Police, the
Sheriff, and the very fine Inspector.
Proceed.
Mr. .\rexs. Mr. Elmer E. Johnson, please come forward.
COMMUXIST PAHTY- -XOHTIIHIIN' CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2151
Mr. Johnson. 1 wjis reloasiMl from testinionv. I \v:is (wciised yes-
terday.
Mr. Akexs. Mr. ,loliusoiu did ycMi testify yesterday? AVe liavo
three , Johnsons liei'e.
Mr. JoHxsox. I am Fdmei- K. -lohiisoii. 1 was the last one to
testily-.
ATr. Ain.Ns. I hei!. your pardon, sii'.
John Allen Johnson, please come forward and remain standin<>-
while the chairman administers an oath.
Mr. "WiiJ.is. Please raise your ri<^ht hanth
You do solenndy sweai' that the testimony which yon are ahont to
give will he the truth, the whole truth, and nothing hut the truth, so
help you God ?
Mr. Johnson. I do.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN ALLEN JOHNSON, ACCOMPANIED BY
COUNSEL, BERTRAM EDISES
Mr. xVrens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Johnson. I am John Allen Johnson. My address is 254 Irv-
ington Drive, Ukiah, California,
Mr. Ajiens. Your occupation ?
Mr. Johnson. I am a high school mathematics teacher.
]\fr. AnENS. You are appearing today in response to a subpena
which was served u{)on you by this committee •?
]Mr. Johnson. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. You are represented by counsel ?
Mr. Johnson. To the extent that I am permitted.
Mr. Arens. Counsel, v»'ill yo\i kindly identify yourself?
Mr. Edises. Bertram Edises, of Oakland, Calif.
Mr. Abens. Were you one time engaged as a carpenter, ^Ir. John-
son?
(The Avitness confered with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnson. What is the j^ertinency of that question ?
Mr. Arens. I intend to interrogate you with respect to a little dif-
ficulty I understand you were in as a person who was engaged as a
member of a carpenters local.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnson. What was the nat ure of the difHcidty, sir i
jNIr. Arens. You tell us. You were there. I wasn't.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnson. What has that got to do with the subject mattei- of
your inquiry (
Mr. Arens. I will display to you now, if you please, sir, or read
to you and then display to you, a thermofax reproduction of an article
appearing in the Comnuniist People's AVoi'ld of April 3, 11)5'2 :
Carpenters chief ousts member. M. A. Hntcheson. intei-national president of
the AFL Carpenters, has arbitrarily ruled that Allen .Johnson can no U)nger be
a member of East r>:iy Cari?enters T>o'iil .".(!.
Johnson was charfied l)y some l(»cal union officials with behm.fflDj? to "a sub-
versive organization". Hutcheson's letter, read at the local's membership meet-
ing of March 21, called for .Iohns(m to sign an affidavit swearing he had never
been a member of a "subversive" organization, but at the same time the letter
said that he (Hutcheson) "deemed" Johnson guilty.
2152 COMMUNIST PARTY — XORTHERX CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Some 300 members of the local heaid Ilutchesou's letter r(>ad by the secretary
and also heard a reply letter written by Johnson answering the charges.
In the course of the article it says that Johnson is going to take
legal steps to upset this decision, arbitrarily throwing him out or
disassociating him from the local, and he is going to cani})aign for the
United States Congress.
Xf)-\v, Mr. Jolmson, does tliat refresh your recnlloction, first of all,
Avith reference to the incident I was undertaking to elicit information
from you on ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Arexs. Is your recollection refreshed now?
Mr. Jonxsox. Mr. Chairman and Mr. Staff Director, to liiat ques-
tion and all questions along that particular line I decline to answer
on the following grounds :
Mr. Chairman, prior to the end of the noon recess yesterday, I had
decided to offer a certain degree of cooperation to this committee. I
felt obligated to do so because of the trust placed in me as a teacher.
I had also arrived at this position to prevent this committee from
distorting the facts of my life which have no meaning, apart from my
dedication to the American i(h\'ils of democracy, Innnan l)i-otherhood
and peace. I was prepared to answer any and all questions about
myself, ideas and affiliations, so long as I might be granted the right
to decline the role of Judas and not be forced to subject others to tlie
indignities and liarassments to which I have been subjected.
My decision to offer cooperation abruptly changed when I ap-
proached tlie chamber yesterday afternoon and Avitnessed the shock-
ing display of brutality against students whose only crime was a
desire to witness these hearings.
This committee bears full responsibility for yesterday's outrage.
It was the committee policy of packing the chamber which i)rovoked
the justifiabh^ iudignat ion of the students.
(Document marked "'John Alk^i Johnson Ex. Xo. 1" aiul retained
in committee files.)
Mr. Winnis. I doirt kuow^ how long this is, but I will order you to
come to the point.
Mr. Joiixsox. It w\]\ just take me one second.
Mr. Arexs. You are reading from a prepared statement?
Mr. Joiixsox. 1 am reading. I ])re])are(l it a little ahead of time.
I am a little nervous. I ;nn a teacher. I have the necessity of working
with children who do get e.xcited. If there is one thing that 1 know
about children
Mr. \\'inLTs. Answer the (juesl ion.
Mr. rloHXsox. I think this has a bearin<>-.
Mr. AA'iEi-is. I'his speech of yonrs is unim|)ressive. 1 am not con-
vinced that the position yon arc now taking is not what it would have
been yesterday, the day liefore and weeks ago. r>nl I order you to
answer the question.
Mr. doiixsON. Students do have one thing that they hold very
sacred, and that is a sense of fair play. You can treat students vei-y,
very sternly, very strictly, as long as you engage in fair play.
Afr. AA'iEF.is. l^roceed with youi- next qncstion. Mi". Arens. He has
had an opportunity to answer.
COMMUNIST PARTY XOHITIKHX (ALIIOHNIA DISTRICT 2153
Mr. Akexs. AViMv you ;U the time, Miircli '21. r.).'>2, wIumi you were
thrown out of the Krst Hsiy Carpenlers Local, were you then :i member
of the C'onnuunibt Party ^
(The wilnei^js conferred with his counseL)
Mr. Joirxsox. 1 continue to decline tr) answer that question and
continue my statement as follows:
As 1 approached the chamber yesterday, unifoiiuiMl eniph)yees of
thecitv wereiiuietlv i-oUiuirout the tire
Ml-. AitKXs. Mr. Chairman, I su<2:gest that the witness now he or-
dered and directed to answer the question.
Mr. AViLLis. You are ordered to answer the question. Your counsel
will surely advise you of the consequences of not complying with the
cjrder, Avhich simply means contem])t.
Mr. Sc'iiKKKK. Mv. CMuiirman, I have been watchino- (his counsel
;-.ll day and it is counsers fault. He has been puttino- words into the
witnesses" mouths who have testified before this connnittee, what they
should say and how they should bait this connnittee, instead of advis-
ino- them as to their constitutional rights. He is the one that should
be censured-
Mr. Kdises. Mr. Scherer, \ou made a charge against me. Will you
give me an opportunity to defend myself? If you will give counsel
the ()i)porl unity
Mr. AuExs. Counsel, you know you are presently in \iolation of the
lades. not alone of this committee but of the United States Congress.
Mr. EmsEs. — to function, as an ;itiorn.ey it would not be necessary
to gi'ap[)le with these problems.
^Ir. SciiEREU. You liave been doing it all day.
Mr. Edises. If you say that again, Mr. Scherer, I will insist upon
an opportmiiiy to answer you, and I have a number of things to say
to you .
Air. AVii.Lis. Proceed.
Mr. Arexs. ]Mr. "Witness, tell this connnittee, are you now a mem-
ber of the Conununist Party ?
(The witness conferred with his coimsel.)
^Tr. Joiixsox'. ]\Ir. Chairman. 1 refuse to answei' that (piestion,
and I continue with my following grounds.
I feel I would be remiss in mv duty
^fr. Wilms. Hew loiio- is (hat statement i
Mr. Joiixsox'. 1 1 is a page and a half
Mr. WiLETs. ^'ou told me a half page a while ago. We give you
peoj)le an inch and you want five yards.
Air. Jojixsdx. I didn't tell you how long it was.
Mr. "\\'iEEis. Vou will come to the point and answer the (luestion.
yiv. ,b)iixsox'. Accordingly, I must say that the
Mr. WiEEis. Pioceed witlr your next, question.
Mr. Akexs. Mr. AVitness, tell this committee if you have had occa-
sion to view riots which you have assessed against the Fascists.
■ (The witne.ss conferred wiih his counsel.)
Mr. doiixsox'. I am answering that question in my own way. I
will say tliat this committee has no right to pry into anyone's beliefs
or associations, that the Krst amendment <>-uarantees my right to think,
to express ideas and to join with others to promote the ideas and ideals
in which I believe.
2154 COMMUNIST PARTY- — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Moreover, the first amendment of the Constitution is meaningless,
if 1 or others are forced to dechii-e their ideas and affiliations to those
Avho would vilify, harass, and punish us witli loss of livelihood. There-
fore, 1 refuse to ansver that question because under the lirst amend-
ment this conxmittee has no right to inquire into my beliefs and
iissociations.
Further, in view of the fact that antidemocratic forces in our coun-
try have temporarily undermined our tirst aineuduient, 1 back tliLs
refusal by stating that this committee has no right to force me to be
a witness against myself.
Mr. Arens. Do these anti-democratic forces include the Commu-
nists '?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
]\Ir. Johnson. You have heard my answer,
Mr. Arexs. Do you invoke the fifth amendment in response to that
question, too?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnson. I adopt the grounds that I have just given.
Mr. Arens, Xow, sir. does this fail- i)lav ^^'hich vou have said you
want to inculcate in the children inclutle complete candor?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnson. Would you explain that question? What is the
pei'tinency of that (juestion (
Mr. Arens, Complete candor and honesty. Did you, when you got
your credentials to teach in this State, make a complete revelation
and a truthful revelation to the authorities respecting your member-
ship in the Communist Party ^
Mr. Johnson. I think you have my answer.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, 1 respectfully suggest the witness now
either answer that question yes, no, or take a position in which he
tells this conunittee and the world that to answer that question would
supj)ly information that could be used against liim in a criminal pro-
ceecling.
Mr. Willis. You are directed to answer the question.
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnson. There is no grounds to browbeat me, Mr, Staff Direc-
tor. I have already stated my position and I stand upon it.
Mr. Willis. Proceed.
Mr. Arens. Does this concept of fail- play with your students en-
compass a revelation to them and to their parents and to the j)eople
of this coimuunity respecting the instructions which you have been
giving in the past at the California Labor School, controlled by the
Conuuunist conspiracy ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnson. You have my answer. To all (juestions along this
same line my answer will be the same.
Ml'. Arens. Have you ever told the students, have you ever told the
faculty, the school ollicials, the students' parents, that you are now a
member of a conspiratorial force wluch destroys freedom within
academic institutions as this witness testified here under oath today
M'ho had served, who had lived under the (^onunnnist regime in
Hungary ?
(The witness conferred with his counsel.)
rO]MMT'NlST PARTY XORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 21o0
Mr. Johnson. I doiTt think I would (li<rnify this committor to
answer these questions, and what 1 woidd answer this committee is not
Avhat I would answer to my scliool l)oar(l.
^Ir. Akkn^. Do you anticipate al'ter you iiave been released tVom the
pains and penalties of perjury, released from your subpeua by this
connnittee, no longer subject to the pains and penalties of ])erjury if
you lie. to return to your institution aiul return to the ])arcnts and
return to these ])e<)ple, these students to whom you want to give fair
play, and say, "Of course 1 am not a Connnnnist, of course I have never
been a Comnuniist; of course T know nothing about that conspira-
torial organization, but 1 wasn't going to tell (hat witch-hunting,
Constitution- wi-eeking, labor-bailing Connnittee on Un-Amei'ican
Activities that T Avas or was not a Connnnnist" 'i
Mr. JoHXsox, I will adopt yonr Avoi-ds.
Mr. Arexs. INf]-. Chairman, I res])ectfully suga'est the Avitness now
be ordered and directed to answer that (juestion.
Mr. Joiixsox, I decline on all the grounds previously stated.
Mr. Arexs. Do you include in that those provisions of the fifth
amendment which give yon tlie privilege of invoking the fifth amend-
ment if you honestly a})prehend that the answer Avould su[)ply infor-
nnition which could be used against you in a criminal proceeding?
^fr. JoHxsox'. I am proud that we still have the opportunity and
the right to refuse to witness against ourselves.
Mr. Arexs. Are you a member of a conspiratorial organization
which has over the course of generations been dedicated to the destruc-
tioii of the Constitution of the United States 'i
(The witness conferred Avith his counsel.)
Mr. fFoiixsox'^. Xo matter hoAv many Avays you rephrase that ques-
tion, I luiA'e already given my answer.
Mr. Arex's. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Chairman, that Avill con-
clude the stall' interrogation of this Avitness.
]\Ir. JoHAXSEX'. I have no questions to ask, Mv. Chairman, bnt I liaA-e
one comment to make.
I sat througli these hearings for 8 days. I have obserA'ed or have
heard testimony about Avhat has transpired outside and inside tliis
room. 1 liaA'e been sickened Ix^yond expression b}^ the role which
young people and teenagers haAe played in some of these proceedings.
I am mindful of testimony that Avas given here yesterday in re-
sponse to my direct questions as to the loyalties and Avheiv those
loyalties are given on the i)art of any person avIio is a membei- of the
Comnumist Party.
I could not conceive of any loyal Amei-ican Avanting to do anything
other than disowning any association in such an organization. I have
only this connnent to make : That if there are some tragically mixed up
young people, I can understand in the light of some of thetestimony,
including that just giA'cn, why that is so.
^U\ Wnxis. The Avitness is excused.
Mr. Arexs. The next Avitness, if you please, Mr. Chaii-nnni, will be
Laurent Brown Frantz.
Please come forwai'd and I'emni!! standing wliile tlie chaii-man ad-
ministers an oath.
Mr. AViLLis. Do you solemnly SAvear, sir, that you Avill tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ^
Mr. Frax^tz. I do.
2156 COMMl'XTPT PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
I liope tlie committee will not ])e too alarinod at the size of those
l)ooks. I don't intend to read them from cover to cover.
Mv. Willis. Proceed, ^fr. Arons.
TESTIMONY OF LATJEENT B. FRANTZ
]\rr. Arkxs. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and oc-
cupation.
Mr. Frantz. My name is Laurent B. Frantz, 936 Shevlin Drive, El
Cerrito, California. I am a leaal writer and researclier.
Mr. Chairman, I submitted to tlie committee under Kidc IX on yes-
terday a statement which 1 respectfully requested ])ermission to read
to the committee. It is a very long statement, but I have made it as
short as I can, sir.
Mr. Willis. I regret that it cannot be })ermitted. You may lile the
statement. It has been received. We must proceed.
Mr, Arens, Would you spell your last name, please ?
Mr. Frantz. F-r-a-n-t-z.
Mr. Arens. You are a])])earing in response to a sub])ena served upon
you by this committee i
Mv. Frantz. I will be hap])y to stipulate that my a]:)pearance is in-
voluntaiy and I can think of better ways of s])ending a springtime
Saturday ; yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. You are not represented by counsel ?
Mr. Frantz. That is true.
Mr. Arens. Do you know you have the ])rivilege under the rules of
this committee to be represented by counsel t
Mr. Frantz. I have read the rules of the connnittee. It is not my
intention to waive my right to counsel. My position is this, sir : While
technically a witness here, I am in substance a defendant, and I feel
that I should be })ei'mitted a counsel who can act in the way that has
been developed in the traditions of the American Bar when a client is
under accusation of any kind.
If I can be pei'uiitted a counsel in that sense, I have one ready who
M'ill a])pear for me. If the procedure is to be as I have seen it in the
])ast several days, T will not be represented by counsel.
Mr. Arens. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the
Connnunist Party?
Mr. Frantz. ]\Ir. Chaii'man, my answer to that would liavc been
simplified if you had permitted me to read this statement. I will state
my grounds of objecting to that as briefly as I can.
INIy ])rinci])al, my only ground, has to do Avith the structure and
function, the constitutional ])lan of the United States Government as
I understand it, sir. My understanding is that the founders, the
framers of the Constitution, felt that the powers of the institutions
they were ci'eating ought to be limited, that it was possible to do that
oidy through the countervailing ])ower of othei- institutions, and for
that purpose they created a system of checks and balances.
(At this point Mr. Willis left the hearing roonu)
Mr. Frantz. Tliey also created this Constitution under the theory
that all powers are derived fi'oiu the people: that the Govermnent was
not to be sovereign; that the people were to retain their sovereignty;
and that the people were not transferring to the delegated authority
all of the ]iowers which they ]H)ssessed. all of the governing powers.
COMMUNIST PARTY NORTPIERX CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2157
It Avtis mado clear by the first niiuMKlineiit tliat a part of the reserve
ofoverniiiir })owers of the people or I lie power (o carry on a free dis-
cussion on public ])olicv, on ])()litical theory and political i)r()<!:ranis
and policies of all kinds, which would not be interfered with in any
May by the delciiatetl auihority.
i think that, in ci-eatino- tlie system of checks and balances, it is part
of the theory that each element
^[r. Akkxs. Mr. Frantz, I re-let to interrupt you, but let me ask
you this: Do you honestly ai)prehen(l, sir, that to answer that (juestion,
it Avould ol)li<i-e you to ii'ive inToi'mation which might be used against
you in a criminal proceeding
Mr. Frantz. Mr. Chairman, 1 believe Mr. Arens has opened it u])
for me to explain my mulerstanding of the Hfth amendment.
Mr. Aiu:ns. Mr. Chairman, 1 recjuest that the witness be ordered and
directed to answer the question as to whether or not if he told us he
was a member of the Conununist Party, he would be supplying in-
formation which might be used against him in a criminal proceeding.
Mr. JoiiAXSF.x (presiding). The witness is so instructed and
ordered.
Mr. Fkaxjz. Does the Chair rule that 1 am not i)ermitted to state
my undei'standing of what the fifth amendment means?
.Mr. ,)onANsKx. The Chair so rules. The Chair directs and orders
you to answci- the question stated by counsel.
Mr. Frax-^tz. My answer, sir, is that the question stated by counsel
is an incorrect way to characterize the fifth amendment, that the
counsel is misleading the public and the audience about what the fifth
amendment means. I cannot accept his premise that the fifth amend-
ment has that significance.
3.1r. JoiiAxsKX. The Chair is not going to tolerate any argument
with counsel over the meaning of the Hfth amendment. The (|ues-
tion is whether the gentleman, the witness, apprehends that if he
answers the questions, he will thereby give information which could
be used against him in criminal proceedings, and is that the position
that he takes ^
I direct and oi'dei- the witness to answer.
Mr. Frax'tz. That is not my undei'standing of the fifth amend-
ment, sir. T am not malcitig that ]xai-ticular i-ei)rcsentation to the
committee.
Mr. ScHERKK. Mr. Chaiiman
Mr. Frantz. I am standing on the fifth amendment and I would
like to state what tlie fifth amcndnuMit means in my position, in my
o[)inion.
Mr. Johax'sex. The witness will sus[)end and the witness will an-
swer the question.
_Mr. Arexs. Xow, Mi-. Witness, we will just hesitate long enough to
give you a reasoiuible time to tell this connnittee, and we Avill not be
badgered any further, whether or not you honestly a])i)rehend that if
you told this committee whethei- or not you are a membei- of the
Conununist Party, you would be su])plying information which might
be used against you in a criminal jjroceeding.
Mr. Frantz. Mr. Chairman. I cannot answer the question in that
form. T am standing on the fifth amendment, but not Mr. Arens* fifth
amendment.
2158 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. .loHANSEN. The witness will suspend. The witness says he
stands on the fifth amendment. Counsel will ask the next question.
Mr. AuENs. I be<r youi- pardon, Mr. Chairman. I don't yet con-
strue his testimony to he that he will not answer on the basis of the
fifth amendment.
(At this point Mr. A\'illis entered the hearinir room.)
Afr. Akexs. To clarify the record, let me ask this (juestion : Are you
now, or have you ever been, a member of the Connnunist Party ?
Mr. Frantz. If the chairman had permitted me to read my state-
ment, all of this would be very nuich clearer. It is all set forth very
carefully in the statement which I have asked the committee to let
me read and which I have asked the conniiittee to incorporate into
the record if I was not called.
Since I was called, l)ut not permitted to read the statement, I still
ask that it be incorporated as
Mr. Arens. Will you answer the question as to whether or not you
are now, or ever have been, a member of th.e (^ommunist Party, sir ?
Mr. Fr.\ntz. No, sir; I will not answer that question for the reason
that it violates my rights under the first amendment, includin<r the ar-
irument Mhich you would not permit me to make, sir, and for all the
reasons in my statement, including the fact that to call persons before
this committee under such circumstances has the eti'ect of creating
a trial in which the accused is not permitted to
Mr. ScHERER. Mr. Chairman, the witness has had time to answer
the question. He has refused to answer the question. I move that he
be dismissed.
Mr. Fraxtz. These are legal objections to the ([uestion.
Mr. Arens. I would like to ask another question first.
Mr. Johansp:n. I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that the counsel proceed
with the next question.
Mr. Sciierer. I will withdraw my motion until after the next ques-
tion of Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arens. Mr. AVitness, were j^ou employed by the P'und for the
Republic to make an analysis and stud}' of the testimony of J. Edgar
Hoover before congressional connnittees?
Mr. Frantz. Yes, sir.
Mr, Arens. Did you make such a study?
Mr. Frantz. I did.
Mr. Arens. Did you receive lunds from the Fund for the Republic
for that purpose?
Mr. Frantz, Yes, sir.
Mr. Arens. When did you make that study?
Mr. Frantz. I don't precisely remembei'. It was several years ago.
Mr, Arens. Approximately?
Mr. Frantz. I guess it was about 1954, but I am not certain about
that.
Mr. Arens. Has the study been completed and tuiiied over to the
Fund for the Republic?
Mr. Frantz. It has ; yes, sir.
AFi". Arens. Have you been compensated foi- tliat study?
Mr. Fran'I'Z. "\'es. sir.
Mr. Arens. .Vre you })resently in tlic employ of the Fund for the
Rei)ublic?
Afi". Frantz. Xo. sir.
COMMUNIS r PAHTY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2159
Mr. AuKxy. AVas tlie study whicli you made for the Fund for the
Kepiihlic, in wliioli you submitted a report on J. Edpir Hoover and
liis testimony, the only service which you rendered to the Fund for
the Republic^
Mr. Fkaxtz. Yes, sir.
^[r. Akens. Over wliat period of time were you eng:a<red in tliis
work for the Fund for tlie I\ei)ublic?
Mr. Fkaxtz. Xot ]on<r; ■) or 4 weeks.
Mr. ScHERKR. St ranire how the Fund for the Kepnblic has picked up
such individuals as this to make these studies. Tliis man has been
identihed, has he not, as a member of tlie Connnnnist Party?
Let me ask yon: You are a member of the Communist Party right
now, aren't yon, and you were wlien you made this study?
Mr. Frantz. I believe that question has been asked and answered,
sir.
Mr. ScHERER. Xo, it hasn't been answered. You danced around the
fifth amendment and liave not invoked it. I have been listening care-
fully. You liave not answered the question, nor have you refused to
answer.
^fr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I personally do not know whether he has
or hasn't. I just don't know.
Mr. ScHERER. He lias not answered.
Mr. Arens. On whether or not he has invoked tlie fifth amendment,
I couldn't say honestly on this record.
Would you tell us whether or not you have invoked the fifth amend-
ment in response to the question of wliether or not you are a member
of the Communist Party ^
Mr. Fraxtz. Mr. (^hairman, I have invoked with respect to any
questions as to my political affiliations any and all legal rights 1 miglit
have to refuse to answer, including the entire Constitution insofar as
it is applicable, including certain of tlie Bill of Kights, including the
fifth amendment, including the reserve powers of the people
Mr. Arexs. That will include enough.
Mr. Fraxtz. Yes.
Mr. Arexs. Now. sir, have you likewise written for The Xation
magazine ?
^fr. Fraxtz. Yes, sir.
^^r. Arexs. Have you wiMtteu an article entitled "Hoes Silence
Mean Guilt?''
Mr. Fraxtz. Yes, sir.
Mr. Arexs. When you wrote that ai-ticle, were you then a member
of the Connnnnist T-*arty ^
Afr. FitAXTZ. My answer- with i-espect to all questions with regard
to political affiliations Avill be the same, and T think it has been
given, although it could have been given better if you would let me
read my pi'epared version.
Mr. Arexs. Have you written articles for The Xation magazine re-
specting the "Bankrupt Inquisition," namely, this Committe on Un-
American Activities?
Mr. Fraxtz. Yes, sii-: I would like to offer a reprint of it in evi-
dence, if I may, sir.
Mr. Arexs. And at the time you wrote that article, were vou then
a member of the Communist Partv ?
2160 COMMUNIST PARTY — XORTHERX CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Fi;a.\tz. Mr. ("liaiiiiiMi!. this is ;i waste of time. I made clear in
the articles which you read and placed in my dossier before I was
called tliat I would not answer (Jue^tions of this kind.
Mr. Arexs. Do you want to decline on the same <i;rouiids, to eco-
nomize on your time ?
Mr. Frantz. Yes, sir. I am tryino- to economize the committee's
time. I made the statement to the committee yesteixlay and I have,
1 thouaiit, made clear ah-eady that 1 would not answer questions of
that kind. This asking it again in a ditferent sense is certainly a waste
of time.
Mr. Akexs. Did yoti make it clear for the Fund for the Kei)ul)lic
when they engaged you to write that report for su!)niission to that tax-
exempt organization that you were a member of tlie Connnunist Party
at the time you were making this investigation of the great Director
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ?
Mr. SciiEitKR. li he had, there would have been something said
about that.
Mr. Arens. Did you make it clear when you wi'ote your articles at-
tacking the members of this committee that you were a member of the
Comnnniist Party ?
Mr. Frantz. The same answer.
Mr. Arexs. Have you wi-itten articles published in national maga-
zines attacking the secui'ity ])rovisions of our immigration laws, have
3-ou written articles such as "DepoHation Deliriums" i
Mr. Frantz. Yes, sir; I have, and I am very happy the connnittee is
kindly makino-
Mr. Arex's. Did you make it clear to the readers who would read
yotir articles that you were writing as a membei" of the Comnumist
Party, or did you just omit to tell them that ?
Mr. Frantz. ]\rr. Chairman, what it says in those articles is in print
and easily available. I am soiTy I don't have reprints about them all.
But the text of the ai'ticle is a much better source as to what I said or
didn't say tliaii any I'ccoilcciion I might have as to what I said when I
wrote it.
Mr. Arex's. Have you written articles for the Daily People's "World i
Mr. Frantz. I am going to refuse to answer that on the grounds
previously stated.
May I also submit this "Bankrupt Tn<iuisition" article for the rec-
ord, ]\Ir. Chaii-man ^ I would like to liave it mai'ked "Defendant's
Fxhibit No. 1,'' please, sir.
Mr. Arens. Were you libraiian at Drake Fniversity i
Mr. Fi{.\NTZ. Yes, sir.
Ml". Arex's. Did you make known to the authorities at Drake T'ni-
versity that you were a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Fraxtz. The (juestion assumes a fact not in evidence.
^\v. Arexs. "Were you a member of the ronnnunist Party at the
time you were librarian at Drake University ?
Mr. Frantz. The same answer, the same general line of objections.
Mr. Arexs. AVere you uiuler Conmiunist Party discipline wliileyou
were librarian at Di-ake T'nivei-sity with respect to your activities in
that library (
Mr. Frantz. I believe that is the same question, or at any rate within
the area to which I addressed my constitutional objections.
COMMUNIST PARTY NORTHKKN C'ALIFOHXIA DISTRICT 21()1
y\v. AiJKNs. I n'spi'ct I'lilly sup:avst. Mi-. ( "liMiriiiaii. l!i;il allJiouiili we
c'oiiKl _<:() ovtM- :i ai-(\ii iiuiiilxT of itciDS lu'ic ill ;i siiniisir vein, iis one
witness said, we have arrived at that point with this vritness wliere it
would be a waste of our breath.
I respectfully suji'ii'i'st this will, therefore, conchide the stall's iiiter-
roiiation of this witness.
Mr. AVii.i.is. The witness is excused.
Mr. Akkns. The lU'.xt witness, if you please, Mr. C'haii-nian, will be
Mr. Bertram Edises.
Please come forward and icmain standing" while the chairman
adnunistei-s an oath.
Mv. A\'inLis. l^lease raise vour ri<2:ht hand.
You do solemnly swear that the testnnony you are about to ffive
will be t\w tiuth. the whole truth, and notliinii' but the truth, so help
you (xod t
Mr. Edisks. 1 do.
TESTIMONY OF BERTRAM EDISES, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
NORMAN LEONARD
Mr. Arexs. Kindly idenify yourself by name, residence, and occu-
pation.
Mr. Edises. ]My name is, as you know, Bertram Edises. I live at
()80 Hilldale Avenue, Berkeley, California. My occupation is that of
an attorney-atdaw, and in that connection I think I would like to tell
the connnittee a little about the more specialized aspects of my finic-
ionino- as attorney-atdaw.
Mr. Akexs. We will pursue it further, if we are interested in it, in
our interrogation.
Yon are appearing today in response to a subpena which was served
njKHi you by this committee (
Mr. Edises. I am appearing in response to a subpena which was
served upon me by this committee, and I think
Mr. Willis. Next question.
y\v. Akex's. You are re]:)resented by counsel ?
Mr. Edises. I hadn't quite linished my answer.
Mr. Arex's. You have satisfied ns that you are appearing in response
to the subpena, so we will withdraw any other (juestion of that vein.
Mr. AVitness, are you represented by counsel i"
ATr. Edises. My very good friend, Norman I-(eonard, has consented
to appeal- with me because he is aware that it is highly improper for
a committee of this kind to, in elt'ect, attack an attorney who is trying
to render a professional service to his clients and any of us, under
those circumstances, are likely to become a little bit emotionally upset.
For this reason, although I am an attorney, 1 have in mind the old
adage that an attorney who acts as his own attorney has a fool for a
client and I don't want to be ])ut in that ])osition.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. (Counsel, will you kindly identify yourself on this
record ?
Mr. Leoxard. You address me as counsel, Mr. Arens, but the fact of
the mattei- is that the rides of this committee do not ])ermit me to
function ell'ectively as counsel. I will sim[)ly be here to advise Mr.
Edises. Your (jwn rules do not permit the attorney to function in the
2162 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
way that the Bar of America permits them to fimction and in the way
that they fimction before other committees of tlie C'ongress.
Mr. Arp:ns. Now, Mr. Edises, give us a word about your formal
education.
(The Avitness conferred with his counseL)
Mr. Edises. Well, I — You didn't ask me where I was born. Are
you interested^ I was born in Oakland, (Ailifornia. I have lived in
this state all my life. I can't i-cineinber all of the various schools that I
went to.
Mr. Akens. We are not interested in each specific school. I think
any reasonable interpretation of that question by a person of good
faith would be of the same significance.
Mr. Edises. Please, Mr. xVrens, don't talk to me about good faith.
Mr. Arens. We will test it right now. Are you now, or have you
ever been, a member of the Comnumist Party ?
Mr. Edises. This, of course, is your com])lete proof that you are
not performing in good faith, i intend to elaborate on thai question.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I request that the witness he ordered and
directed to answer that question.
Mr. Li:oNARD. Mr. Chairman
Mr. Arp:ns. Counsel, your sole and exclusi\ e right under the rules
of this committee and under the rules of the I"^nitecl States Congress is
solely to advise your client.
Mr. Leonard. I am a])pealing to the chairman of the committee to
ask the stall' director to permit my client to answer a question. I
think, as an attorney, I have that much right.
May I not appeal to the chairman of fh.e connnittee to ask the staff
director to permit my client to answer the question ^
Mr. Arens. Kindl}- answer the question: Are you now a member
of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Willis. May I say something (
Mr. PjDISEs. I am going to addi-ess myself to you. T am going to
address myself to you, Mr. Chairm;ui.
Mr. Willis. Wait a minute, ^'our counsel has asked me for a
lading.
Of course you are entitled to ask questions, but no one in this room
knows better than you that a simple question as to giving your back-
ground and legal education and so on does not require an extensive
dissertation or long discussion.
If you want to answer it prom])tly, corirteously, accurately, that is
all right, lint you will not be permitted, because you ha])})en to be
an attorney, to have greater latitude than anybody else.
There was a question or two before the last one, and we can return
to it to answei- it promi)tly. if you want to, and I will give you that
chance. You were questioned as to your educational background.
Mr. Edisks. 1 was in the process of answering it, I thought.
Mr. Willis. I suggest, Mr. Arens, that you ask him what colleges
he attended, when, and what degrees ho achieved, so that there is no
poijit in elaborat ion.
Mr. Edises. I will be glad to answer that, Mr. AVillis, aiul I must
say that although I certainly don't agiee with what I know ab(mt
your politics. I do commend your nianr.ci' of answering questions.
COMMITNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 21f)3
Vou do\\\ try lo brow l>e:U witnesses in ihc way Mr. Are'iis does, lie
(.loesn't ask questions. Tie makes stump speeches.
(A disturbauee in the hearino- room.)
Mr. AVu.iJs. A^'e ai'e not t>-oini>- to have any disturbancf^s. I am
iToin*: to issue the same ruli nil. One more ilisturbance and I will issue
a rulina- that the peopk^ keeping the peace keep an eye on tlu- leaders
of the disturbances.
I am not oi-(!ci-in^- it now, but one more disturbance or infraction
of the nde. and I will ask them, as 1 did yesterday, to escort them out.
Xot now, but with one more that will be the case.
Mr. KnisES. xVnswerino- your question with i-eijard to my formal
education. I am a graduate of the University of California at lierke-
le}'. I am also very i)rou(l lo be a graduate of the University of Cali-
fornia l^aw School, also at Berkeley.
Xow, if 1 may acklress myself to the othei- question that your belli-
gerent Mr. A reus
Ml". Arexs. Xow, listen, ('ounsel, you are not going to attack me
any further.
M]-. Edises. You have been attacking peo])le ;ill day, Mr. Arens.
Mr. Arexs. I have not.
]Mr. Edises. (^an't you take it? You can't take it: is that it?
Mr. "Willis. Is there an outstanding question ?
Mr. Arexs. The outstanding question is: Are you now. or have you
ever been, a member of the Communist Pai'ty ?
]\Ir. Edises. T submit — I am answering that in my ovrn vray and
nobody is going to put woi-ds in my mouth, and that goes for Mr.
Arens and foi- tlu* meni})e!-s of the conunittee. I will answer the ques-
tion, if you will allow me to do so.
Won't you please permit me to answer? .Vll right.
Xow, I know and you know that that question is not asked in good
faith, and 1 will tell you why, and this is part of my legal objection.
part of my legal objectioiL It wasn't very long ago that your com-
mittee came out with a publication, and I have it right here, called
"Communist Legal Subversion, The Role of the Communist Lawyer.''
On page o() of this publication there appears what purports to be
an ofKcial biogra})hy of someone by the name of Bertram Edises of
California. It goes into great detail. It purports to indicate that Mr.
Bertram Edises was identified as a member of the Commtmist Party,
et cetera, et cetera ; that he has served as a membeT- of the legal staff
of the Civil Rights Congress since its inception; that the (^ivil
Rights Congress retained Mr. Edises to r-epresent certain defendants
in both Federal and State courts; that the activities of Bertram Edises
on behalf of the Conununist Party Inive not been confiiied to the Civil
Rights Congress, and so on; a remarkably detailed ))uri)orted bio-
graphy.
It so happens tliat although I have been subj)enaed four times, this
is the first time that I have ever testified before this organizatioiL
before the Un-American Activities Committee: and therefore, I can
only conclude that you got this information which you published
at Government expense, and which you didn't set forth in any doubt-
ful form at all, it is all set forth as gospel truth, it is findings of fact,
and I can only conclude that you got the information from youi- so-
called reliable, unimpeachable sources that vou have been bragging
about.
2164 COIVIMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Aken-s. You skipped soniethino- when you were reading the re-
port, Mr. Edises.
Mr. Edises. You know tlie facts, Mr. Arens? Then, Mr. Arens,
wliy do you ask me that (question when you ah'eady claim to knosv the
information i Why do you do it ( You can ha\e only one purpose, and
that is to try to embarrass me, to humiliate me, to pillorize me, to
pillory me, and that is tlie whole function of your organization, Mr.
Arens.
That is all you do. You m^ throuirh the motions, you come into a
big courtroom, you liaYe an American flag behind you.
Mr. Arexs. ^fr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that this witness
now be ordered and directed to answer the outstanding principal
question.
^ye haye been baited by expei-fs.
Mr. Edises. You are just a kangaroo court : that is all.
Mr. Willis. You are ordered and directed to answer the question
and come to the point.
Mr. Edises. I decline to answer that question on the grounds that
it is unmistakablY clear, unmistakablY clear — ^Ir. Scherer, will voii
please pay attention ?
Mr. SciiEREK. ]\lr. (^hairman, T move the witness be escorted from
the courtroom. He is utterly in contempt of this committee.
Mr. Edises. I insist on being permitted to answer your questions.
Mr. Leonard. Mr. Chairman, is uiy client excused as a witness?
Mr. Willis. Wait.
Mr. Leonard. Is my client excused?
Mr. Willis. No. Wait a minute.
I would like, as chairman of this committee, to ask my colleague to
defei- his motion just for two minutes, to giv(^ tliis gentleman an op-
])ortunity to answer the question.
If not, unless you come to tlie point and answer the question, the
motion is pro)-)er. I will have to carry it out. Won't j'ou please
state the constitut ional irrounds ?
Mr. Edises. Mr. Willis, I got a little bit excited there. 1 am sorry.
Mr. Scherer. This is only a show.
Mr. Edises. Mr. Scherer, if you are going to abuse me, I will just
get u]) and leave. If you will treat me and other Avitnesses with
courtesy, I will give you courteous answers, but if you browbeat me,
I won't.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I request now that the witness be ordered
and directed to answer the outstandiug i'»rinci])al question, namely:
Are you now a member of the Communist Party (
Mr. Edises. I am not going to ansAver that question and I want to
tell yon why. Am T mistaken, Mr. Arens, in my assumption that
you had the honor of having something to do with the drafting of
the so-called Communist Control Act of ID^i^
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chaii-man, I respectfully suggest that the witness
again be ordered and directed to answer the question.
Mr. SniERF.R. Just a minute. ^Iv. Chairman, I move that tlie wit-
ness be dismissed, be ejected from the room for complete and utter
contempt of a committee of the Congi-ess. As 1 said before. I am
ashauKul that he is a member of the bar.
Mr. Wir.Lis. You still have a half-minute left. I said two, so you
have a half-minute to answer it on constitutional grounds.
COMMUNIST PARTY — XORTITERX CATTFOHXIA DISTRICT 2]i)~)
jSIr. EmsES. All lia'lit. Tlu' (luestion, as to uuMnl)ershi[) in the Coni-
iimnist I'aity, is:i(|iu'sti()n- lot iiic put it this way
Mr. AA'iLLis. ^'ou said you would not answer it.
Mr. Knisr.s. I am statinir uiy liTounds. I am trying- to state my
iii-ouuds. One oround is that it is a question that it is impossilile,
really, to answei- with any decree of accuracy. And the reason. Mi'.
Chairman, Mr. Willis, is'that in the Communist Control Act of 1!).M
there is a deliuition of Conununist. Mi-. Willis, will you please listen?
Mr. SciiERER. 1 renew my mot ion.
Mr. AVii.Lis. 1 so order. Will you escort the gentleman out ?
Mr. Leoxaui). Do 1 understand that he is now excused from his
subpena ? I think we are entitled to that.
Is he excused from his subpena, Mr. Chairman ? May I iiuiuire on
the record i
Mr. Wir.T.is. Yes: he is excused.
Mr. Ahexs. Mr. Chairman, may we have about a 2- or 3-minute
recess, please, sir?
JSIr. Willis. We will take an informal recess of a very few minutes,
not over 5.
(A short recess was taken at which time the followinii' members of
the subcommittee were present : Representatives Willis, Johansen, and
Scherer.)
(At the expiration of the recess the following members of the sub-
committee were ])resent : Rei)resentati\es Willis, Johansen, and
Scherer. )
Mr. Willis. The committee will please come to order.
Proceed. ^h\ Arens.
jMr. Arexs. Mr. Chairman, that would conclude the presentat ion of
witnesses whom we desired to call in this series of sessions of these
hearino'sin San Francisco.
Tliere are a number of exhibits which have been shuffled around
here, some of which we have not actually received into the I'ecord.
They should be incorporated. There is some material that Mr.
Prussion has not been able, because of time, to cover, and some exhibits
which he has which we want to have identified.
I, therefore, Mr. Chairman, respectfully suo-o-ost that this record
be ordered to be kept open so that it can be c()in])leted after we have
I'eturned to Washina'ton in order that the exhibits and the material of
^Ir. Prussion can bo ap])ro]~)riatoly identified tnid incorporated into
the recoi'd.
Mr. Willis. That course will l)e followed.
The rei)orter will, of course, include that in his notes, that the
record is to remain open for that time.
Xow, ladies and lientlemen, in concluding- these heariiiiis hei'e in
San Francisco, I should like to make a very few observations.
At the outset of these hearings I emphasized that we were seekinix
here factual material which would assist the Committee on Un-Amer-
ican Activities in the discliar<>-e of its lefrislative duties.
These le<2:islative duties are not limited to the mere passa^'e of laws
or their amendment. T'hey involve, first of all, an accumulation of
factual matei'ial on whicli leo-jslation in tlie field of internal security
can be based.
May I say we have heard mudi about this committee not lia\in<j.- a
leofislative purpose. Tf you v>ill just analyze the laws that have l)een
56397—60 — pt. .3 7
2166 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
eiKicted as a result of our liearinas, you realize how unfounded that
is. The Smith Act, the Internal Security Act, the Foreijiii Ag:ents
Reg-istratiou Act, and many other acts, includiua- the Communist
Control Act of 1054, to n;ime three offhand, with my colleajiue from
Ohio uamino- another one, and many other laws which have been
sponsored by, inspired by, and passed by, the Conirress as a result
of the accumulation of factual information gathered at public hear-
inffs and its consideration in "Wasliins'ton in the legislative field, and
adopted invai'iably by the Conofress of the United States.
We have had nnich discussion here that we cannot jiossibly engajje in,
nor can we exchanije verbal blows with witnesses who want to argue
and debate and delay. This is not a pleasant task, T assure you, for
us members of the committee: but Avhen we talk about the job of the
committee to assemble facts leading to legislation regarding the
intei-nal security of the United States, what do we mean?
Tjet us be reasonable about the situation. Just last week we Members
of Congress were re{[uired to vote on a bill involving some $40 billion
for national defense and security. "We have to turn around and tax
the peo})]e to raise that money.
Imagine ])assing a bill every year for between $40 bilbon and $45
l)illion, even du:-ing peacetime, up to close to $00 billion a year.
Do you know what a billion dollars is? Can you conceive of the
enormity of it? You have some students hei'e who are good mathe-
maticians — and I am speaking off the cuff, T had no idea of what I
Avas going to say until I started — but in terms of billions, since the
time of the birth of our Lord, the clock hasn't ticked nnich more than
one billion minutes. And that is the amount of money we are appro-
priating every year, $40 billion for national defense and security.
National defense and security against Avhoni? Is it Enghnid? Is
it France? Is it Japan? Is it Germany? Is it Italy? Is it
Europe?
We all know that defense and security means defense and security
against the Soviet Union, (^ertaiidy it would be folly to want to
defend ourselves against the (^ommunists abroad and not have a com-
mittee of Congress to maintain a continuing study of the operations
and machinations and techniques of sucli Communists as there might
be, or might continue to sprout out. in oni- own country.
You have heard during the hearings here talk about this committee
being unusual in its method of operation. There is not a committee
of the Congress in the other 1') on (he House side and as many on the
Senate side, which opei-ate any differently.
This is not a court proceeding. No committee of the Congress,
and I doubt that any committee in your State legislature or elsewhere
when they are conducting hearings leading to legislation, iu-etend that
everyone who take.s the stand iu\s a right to stop tho proceedings and
make speeches and cross-examine.
About contempt and so on, we are not in the business of citing
people for contempt. That is an incident. In the fii-st place, the
record is submitted to the Department of Justice, and if there is con-
tempt that is up to the courts. That is an incident to our jurisdiction,
as any othf^r congressional connnittee has the same prerogative and the
same obligation to try to maintain order and dio-nity.
COMMUNIST PARTY XOHTHKRN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 21 07
Well, what, tlieii, has been accomplished by the hearhij2:s which we
have been coiiductiiio: over the course of the last few days liere in 8au
Fi-ancisco!?
in the first place, we have seen confirmed here patterns of Com-
munist activity wliich we are witnessing elsewhere in the Xation.
These patterns include penetration of non-Communist entities by
trained conspirators who masquerade behind a deceitful facade of
respectability.
Also, we have observed here the technique of obscuring technical
membershii) in the Communist Party by oflicial resignation from that
entity, Vvliile maintaining actual status within the operation. This
situation poses difTicult and involved legal problems which are cur-
rently under discussion by the members of our committee.
Another pattern concerning which I should like to comment is
the campaign of foreign Connnunisi propaganda being sent into this
country and disseminated across the land. We have witnessed similar
situations at other ports of entrv^ in the United States.
I presided ovei- a hearing some time ago in the port of INew Or-
leans, and there you have tons and quantities of material, propaganda
material, entering our country unlabeled as required by law. It has
nothing to do with prohibiting material from entering the country.
No Member of Congress that I know of would vote for such a
law. But we are entitled to have propaganda material properly so
labeled. If you buy a can of food under tlie Federal law, you must,
on that labef, state what is in the can, or any other item that you see
on a shelf. It is the same thing in that regard. And poison, for in-
stance. Yet this material is en.tering in total violation of that law.
That is an element we must consider, or at least submit it to the mem-
bership in Congress to see whether they want to continue that law
being violated or whether they want to amend it.
"We are going to have some recommendations to make, and it will be
uj) to your Congressmen, the Congressmen throughout the United
States, to express themselves as to whether they want some improve-
ments.
Certainly Ave should believe in majority rule; for instance, in con-
nection with propaganda, the gentleman who testified here, who
traveled to China, is one of the most suave individuals I know. I
know he is smart. But what do v(m think he is doing i' PTe
is engaging in propaganda, propaganda from the point of view, or
slanted from the point of view, of the Communists.
In the course of the hearings which we have been conducting,
much of the information which we have obtained has been by in-
direction, although we have, I believe, obtained substantial informa-
tion from the direct testimony of those witnesses who have come forth
and candidly, pati'iotically testified fully and freely.
It may surprise you that much of the testimony given hei-e nega-
tively, by invocation of the constitutional amendments which they
are entitled protection under, is valuable to us in more ways than
one, by keeping abreast of the techniques here. So even an indirection
or a negative reply to ])i'()j)er e\"aluation of our security poslui'e has
some value to us.
There is a collateral result of hearings of this character, in that
they ccmstitute a constant reminder to the American people that the
threat of communism is real. Connnunism involves a philosophy and
2168 COMMUNIST PARTY — ^NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
an i(le()lo<iv — but it is more than a ])hilosop]iy and an ideolo*};}-. It
is a (lynamic system whicli is in opei'ation now to destroy freedom and
suj)i)lant it with tyranny.
We shall take back to Washington the transcript of these hearin<^s,
which Avill be studied carefully by the statf and by the members of
the committee in the furtheranceof our duty.
Before concludini>-, T want to thauk everyone in this area who
conti'ibuted to the heai'in«rs. That includes the mayor and the others
who have made this hearinu" room available. It includes the dedicated
members of the police force, the sherill's department, and so on. They,
too, had a verj^ unpleasant task to perform.
They are not really euitaiied in law enforcement. Their priiuary
obligation is to maintain the ])eace. It was a delicate situation, verv
sensitive and electrified moments we went throuirh.
1 tried to preside with fairness. I do not ever expect people to
ajjree with my p]iil()so})hy. They may care to disairrce. But I don't
o-et excited l)ecause people have difl'erent ideas than I have. I feel a
sense of obligation to be fair to all. For instance. I happen to be a
lawyer, as I mentioned before, and the hist witne.ss was a member of
mv i)rofessi()n. But whv should I deny — and I nnist deny in the in-
terest of exj)edition durino- our work — peo})le who want to argue and
make speeches, why should I deny that right aud insist on the rules
with respect to civilians, and give a lawyer a greater opjjortunity ?
It just cannot be done. You have to balance your ideas and youi-
actions.
It has been a [)leas\ne being here, some moments anyway, and I do
want to express my aj)preciati<)n to all who contributed to the
hearings.
Mr. Johansen?
Mr. JoiiAXSEX. Ml. Chairman, I Avant veiy briefly, first of all, to
l)ay tribute to the distinguished chairman of this subcommittee for
the firumess and the courage in seeing this very difHcult task through.
desj)i(e evident determined etl'orts and intentions that the job would
not be completed.
I express again, of course, my ap[)reciati()n to the mayor and all of
the ofhcials who have made it possible to complete this job.
Yesterday 1 did express the hope that there might be. with some
ot" the young college students here, at least, who feel that they are
enamored of this ideology and this movement, a glinnnering and
awakening awai'eness.
As 1 said yesterday, they are toying with treason and disloyalty.
T hope they \y\]\ recognize that there are at least tAvo sides to the
thing about which I feared in some instances they have been led to be-
lieve there is only one side.
In that connection, if they have interest in the work of this com-
mittee, in the previous hearings and reports of the connnittee, and its
legislative activities, they can secure material by dii-ecting an inquiry
or a re(|iiest to the slafl' diiiM'ior of" th(> House Connnittee^ on T^n -Amer-
ican Activities.
I just sum this all up wiili one or two sentences. "\\'e lia\(> heard
the Constitution invoked a great many times and in a great many
ways the last thi'ee days. The Constitution in its Preamble piovides
that one of its functions and the functions of the Federal Govern-
COMjMI^XIST party — XOKTIlF.riX CALIFOKXIA DISTRICT 21()1)
iiUMil is lo prox ulr for ilic connnon dcftMisi'. That is I he hiisiiicss
iliai \\i> lia\r Ixhmi aboul and thai is llie business that tlic ( "oniiToss
has manchiti'd that wo shoiihl be, and should continue to be, al)out.
Olio linal word : Some archious. dillit-uh, and unpleasant things liave
occurred here in those pasi few (hiys. They do not aher my impres-
sion of the very line citizens and tlie \-oi-y line connnunily and tlio
very line leadersliip in San Francisco.
Mr. ^^'Il.I,Is. Mr. Scherer ^
Mr. SciiEREK. Mr. Chairman, at tlie outset, let me state catejiori-
callv that the shameful riotino- here in San Francisco was not a
si)ontaiioous outburst of student indioMiatiou against the TTouse Com-
mittee on Fn-Americau Acti\ities, as many people would like for us
to belie\e. ^Ve will be able to understand and better evaluate the
demonstrations that took place here in San Francisco if we look
back a few years.
A})[)roximately three years ago the Communist apparatus decided
that, if its operations in the United States were to be less hampered
and more successful, it had to get rid of the Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities, discredit the great Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and generally weaken the P'Bl's intluence and powers.
Two and a half years ago, on September 20, 1057, to be exact, the
Emergency Ci\il Liberties Connnittee at Carnegie Hall in New York
City assumed this obligation. Obviously such a campaign, conducted
in the name of the Conununist Party would be unsuccessful. Since
iliat meeting in Carnegie Hall, the Emergency Civil Liberties Com-
mittee has dedicated itself to three objectives :
L To abolish the House Committee on Un-American Activities
and In-ing to an end congressional investigations into subversive
activities.
2. To discredit J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
3. To bring about the repeal of the Smith Act, the Internal Secu-
rity Act, and the Communist Control Act of 1954.
Now, the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee has a high-sound-
ing name. Unfortunately the great majorit}' of Americans and
some Members of Congress are not aware of the natui-e of this organ-
ization. So that we may better evaluate and undei-stand what it
says and does, let me tell you about the Emergency Civil Liberties
Committee.
lioth tlie Senate Internal Security Subcommittee and the House
Committee on Un-American .Vcti\ities, as well as J. Edgar Hoover in
his book, '•]\Iastei'S of Deceit," lia\e found this outfit to be Commu-
nist-controlled and Communist-dominated. Its present chairman,
Harvey O'Connor, is an identihed Connnunist, presently under indict-
ment for contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions con-
cerning his Communist activities.
One of the moving forces of the committee is Frank A^'ilkinson,
also an identified Communist, who has been convicted and sentenced
;ind whose case is now on ap])eal foi- contemi)t in refusing to answer
questions about his connections with the Communist conspiratorial
apparatus. AVilkinson has a long record of service to the Communist
cause and is the coordinator of tlie efi'ort to bring about the abolition
of the House Committee on L^n-American ActiA-ities. Frank Wilkin-
son has been here at City Hall participating in these demonstrations.
21 70 coivrMuisrisT party — northern California district
The majority of the ineinlxn-s of tlie national council of this ()r<ran-
ization have lonor records of service to Communist and Communist-
front causes. These records are set forth in detail in the House
(^ommittee on Un-American Activities report (Mititled "Operation
Abolition.-'
Xow lot's take a look at what the Emer^jency Civil Lil>erties Com-
mittee, with the help of others, has done in these two and a half years
which finallv resulted in this "ufflv American" insurrection in San
Francisco.
At first the Emeroency Civil Liberties Committee sent its paid
hirelings, Clark Foreman and the notorious Frank Wilkinson, into
the cities Avhere the connnittee lield its liearinofs. Clark Foreman, in
particular, met in advance of the liearino-s with identified Communists
aaIio had been subpenaed to testif\^ before the committee. Witnesses
were instructed how to avoid answerinof questions of the committee
l)y makinir lonff. Connnunist propa^randa speeches. They were told
how to bait, vilif}-. and harass members and counsel of the Connnittee
on Un-American Activities.
Subsequently, the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee grew
bolder in its attempt to disrupt the hearings of the Committee on
l^n-Aniorican Activities. E(Tj(^ sent its people into the (-ities where
heai'ings were to be held a week or more in advance of the hearings.
They drafted petitions against the committee in which the work and
objectives of the committee were com]>letely misrepresented. Signa-
tures to these petitions were obtained from well-meaning and some
not so well-meaning citizens of the commmiity. ECLC saAV that ad-
vertisements bitterly attacking the committee were placed in local
newspapers. Of course, these "disciples of discord" did not disclose
to the peoi)le of the community the fact that the Emergency Civil
Liberties Committee Avas a (^ommunist-dominated and controlled
organization.
Later, other additional techniques Avere adopted. Afeetings and
rallies Avere set up in advance of and during the committee's appear-
ance. Leftwing and pro-Communist speakers were imported to ad-
dress the rallies. Soon it Avas found that rallies did not reach enough
people, so they began to use the radio for their pro]iaganda attack
against the investigation of subversive activities.
In December of last year the Committee on Un-American ActiA^ties
Avent into Puerto Rico for hearings to shoAv that San Juan Avas a
nerA'ecenter for a ncAv $100 million prop!ig;ind;i assault upon the Carib-
bean, Central and South America for the purpose of creating hatred
and ill-will toAvard the Tmited States. The testimony shoAved Iioav
the Foi-eign Agents IJegistration Act Avas being flagrantly \'iolated
and Avhy loopholes in that act must be ])lugo;e(l by the Congress.
We all know that oA'er 05 percent of the l*uerto Kicans are loyal
and fine American citizens, but the Congress is also Avell aware of the
fact that there is a small gi-ouji of radical, unstable, and fanatical na-
tionalists in the Puerto TJican community. Evei' since Puerto Kicans
from this gi-oup shot the guards at Plair TTouse during the Truman
administration aiul INfembers of the Mouse from the gallery, these
revolutionaries have l)een comi)aratively quiet. T^ately. however, there
has been a cleA'er. subtle infiltration of their ranks by Communist
agents for the purpose of stirring nj) agitation and hativd against
the United States.
COMMUNIST PARTY NOUTllEKN CALllUUNL/V DISTRICT 2171
III spite ol" the emolioiml iiisrt ability and ri'volutionary tendencies
ol' this seirnuMit of I'nerto Kicans, the Enierizency Civil Lil)erlies Ooni-
niittee sent its executive ilirecloi- all the way from New V(nk (o Sau
Juan m advance of our iieaiinas. He was on tlie radio vi.'ifvinii' the
connnittee before its appearance, lie w:i,s ineetina" with subpenaetl
('(unnnuiists and their left wi no- lawyers and oilier groups in the city.
He was busy [)reparini>- antl issuing inllamniatory press releases
against the connnittee.
As a result, last December m San Juan, we had a preview of what
liappened here in San Francisco. In San fJuan pickets surrounded
the Federal Iniilding. I'hey jeered at the conmiittee and spat u[)()n
our automobiles as we entered the I".S. Courthouse. The continual
chanting and shouting outside the Courthouse in an attempt to disrupt
the hearings was a new techni(]ue which was used even more exten-
sively here in San Francisco.
In Puerto Kico members of the committee and its stall required
police protection. None of the leftwing crowd, who regularly- cry
crocodile tears over alleged de])rivati()n of tlie civil rights of Com-
numists called befoi'e congressional investigating committees, said
one w^ord about Members of Congress being deprived of their right
to move freely about and conduct hearings provided by law without
physicrd interference from those who differ with the objectives and
duties of the Connnittee on I Ti-American Activities.
It is ironical that we heard no cries from these left wingers about
Members of the Congress being deprived of their civil liberties, their
freedom of speech, their freedom to move about as they please, and
their freedom of association.
The Emergency Civil Liberties Committee was well pleased with
what liappened in San Juan.
Two months later, in February of tliis year, the Connnittee on Fn-
American Activities was liolding hearings in "Washington. Dur-
ing these hearings it was shown l.ow the disturbances and riots that
took place at the Seventh Vrorld \ outh P^stival in Vienna last year
resulted largelv from the fact that the heads of manv of the delegations
to that festival were not youths but hard-core 40- to (iO-year-old
members of the Communist apparatus.
For the Washington hearings the Emergency Civil Liberties Com-
mittee developed still anothei- technique. Supposedly spontaneon.sly,
there sprang up an organization called Youth Against the House Ln-
American Activities (^ommittee to protest our hearings on the Vienna
Youth Festival. AA'e were charged with investigating youth and inter-
fering with the free exj)ression of yotiili, when all we were trying to
show was that some of the delegations had no hve expression because
of their being Communist-dominated and coiitrolled by agents of the
Kremlin. Some of the leftwing jjress cried crocodile tears for the
young people who descended on Washington. This youth organiza-
tion against the C(jnnnittee on rn-Ainerican Activities was repi-e-
sented in the hearing room in Washington by some 200 young-
people who were supposedly representative of American youth gen-
erally. T wish you could have seen the disre))utable ari'ay of char-
acters who wei-e supposed to be a cross section of American youth.
Before the heai'ings ended, it was shown conclusively that these
young people i)rotesting these healings were brought toWashington
2172 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
on buses from New York City by the Emergency Civil Liberties Com-
mittee. They were, shepherded there from New York by the same
notorious Clark Foreman who did the dirty work in San Juan.
Dorothy Marshall, who is anything but youthful, went all the way
from Los Angeles to Xew York to assist Foreman in bringing this
group to Washington.
Tt was also shown, before the hearings ended, that the headquartei"S
of this organization called Youth Against the House Un-American
Activities Committee was the same ollice as the Emergency Civil
Liberties Committee; that its press releases attacking the Committee
on T f^n-American Activities were issued from the office of the Emer-
gency Ci\jl Liberties Committee. There is no doubt in my mind that
they were written by Clark Foreman. It was shown that before this
group made its expedition to "Wasliington, it met in New York and
was addressed and harangued by Clark Foreman, Dorothy ]Marshall,
and a number of hard-core Coinmunist fmictionaries, none of whom
can be classified as youthful.
The February hearings in Washington were a disgraceful, de-
ceitful exploitation of youth by the Communist apparatus in an at-
tempt to further discredit and destroy the Connnittee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities and to furnish grist for the Soviet propaganda ma-
chine throughout the world.
As I have said, tiie violence here in San P'^rancisco was the next
step in the Connnunist assauU against the connnittee. It was clearly
planned at the highest Communist levels. The demonstrations, the
rioting, and the resulting photogra})hs are wanted for use throughout
tlie world by the Kremlin's propagandists in a deceitful attempt to
show that the young people in America are opposed to their Gov-
ernment when it \vas moving against Connnunist activities in the
United States.
Harry Bridges, the notorious head of the Longshorcnien"s Union,
was also outside the hearing room inciting the mob to move in. It
was Harry Bridges who just last year testified before our committee.
He had just completed a trip around the world during which he
consuhod with all top (^omnuuiist labor leadei'S in the transportation
lield. The hearings clearly established that the purpose of his trij)
was to bring about an agreement with these (^onnnunists in the trans-
portation field to act in concert in tying uj) shipping tlu'ongliout the
world when tlie word was given. It was Ilai'ry Bridn'cs who called
("hiang Kai-shek a "bum" and testified that he wouhl rel'use to send
war nuiterials to Chiang Kai-shek even though the President of the
United States felt that shii>ment of such material was necessary for
the safety and secui'ity of this country.
In the mol) here in San Fi'ancisco were li\e oi' six other well-known,
identified Conmiunists. Among them was Archie Brown, avIio started
the demonstrations in the hearing room the day before. Archie
Bi'own, in his own words, is a "top-ranking (^ommunist" and has
been "for 20 years.'' In truth, he is the second-top Connnunist in
California — second only to Mickey Lima. Also there were Douglas
Wachtei' and Kalj)!! Izard. I am going to tell you about these two
in a few minutes.
Aniouij; the riotei's wcic nicnibcrs of !laii'\ Bi'idm's' Longshore-
men s Union. In the forcl'ionl were a huge segment of the "beatnik''
crowd, or course, a consithM abli^ nnnibcr of students IVoni universi-
co:\r:\rrxisT party- -xonTiiKnx' rAT.iF(M]xiA district 2173
ties in the l'>;iy aiva wcro Ihmv. Afostly tlioy were llic victims of tliis
despicaltlo piopnjjiiiuln i)lnl. Cliicdy I hey Imd coiuc hero only to
pii'kiM and protest. ur<:ed on by the letnvina', [)ro-(\)nnuuiiist, and
(\)nniuniisi teachers in the I-iay area who hate the Connnittee on
Uii-Aniericau Acti\ities with an \in1)elieval)le \enoni. IFowever,
these brave teacliers stayed in the cloisters of (lie classroom wliile
tlie students, whose minds had been |)ois()ned with hati'ed and ill-will
aa'ainst the conimittee, became in\()l\ed in this well-conceived and
well-oraanized demonstrat ion.
Before the Con)nntiei' on Fn-American Activities arrived in San
Francisco. ineetin<2's had been held to arranii'e for picket i]i<i" and
demonstrations. Meetings \\ere called dnriii^' the hearinii'S to ur<>;e
attendance and further demonsti-ations a^'ainst the committee.
Here is a typical excei-pt from the Daily Falifoi-nian, the student
pnl)lication of the T"ni\ersily of California :
The Student Committee for Civil TJberties plans to picket
the heai'ino's today. It has issued a call for students to
attend the rally and hearina'S and su^-^-ests that people
"lauirh out loud" in the hearino-s when thinirs ffet ridiculous.
Hides foi- students who want to attend the hearino-s will
leave at 8:1.") to !(• a.m. this mornino- from Stiles Hall.
Amono- the Communist aoeiits who were the principal au'itators,
and in some cases actual participants in these demon.strations were:
Archie Brown, Ralph Izard, Frank Wilkinson, Harry Brido;es, Merle
Brodsky. Douglas Wachter", and Vei'non Bown. It is interestino; to
note that the hierarchy of the Connnunist Party — Archie Brov.n,
Balph Izard, Frank Wilkinson, Harry liridaes, and Merle ]3rod-
sky — was careful to avoid actual violation of the law. They left
that u)) to the underlinirs in ])arty raidvS.
I would like to point out that Vernon Boavu, among those ar-
rested, is the same Vernon Bown who was in 1954 among the no-
torious Louisville Seven — charged at th.at time with sedition, destruc-
tion of ])ro))erty. conspiring to destroy pi'operty to acliieve a political
end, and contempt of court.
I say for some of the stiulents in\()lved, that they may not have
fully realized that theii- protests had been organized and directed by
a liandful of expertly trained Connnunist agents — jiersons who have
attended training schools for tlie sj)ecitic ])uri)Ose of learning how to
create insurrection, how to incite a riot, how to organize peaceful
and nou]:)eaceful ])i'()test, and how to lead and direct sincere inno-
cents to the service of Communist aims.
Some de\elopments, as a i-esult of the i-iots. are shocking. I men-
tion a few of these only to ])oint out the underlying Communist
tactic and plan Avhich, when the time comes, could well be used for a
major scale i-iot. insurrection, or o])en i-evolution against duly
constit uted authority.
First of all, an important fact which is beginning to plague this
Nation more and more is what is known as the upcoming ''second
generation'' Commmiists. The committee has faced these young
Conununists sons and daughters of Connnunist pai'ents on an ever-
increasing basis in the past few years. They are school, college, and
post-college age young people who have been born into the closed
cell of the Connnunist Partv. Duriuir their school vears, thev are
2174 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
trained by their parents to follow and promote communism in every
way possible.
During these San Francisco hearings, one such "second generation'"
Communist Avas Douglas Wachter — the son of Saul Wachter, an
identified (^ommunist agent. Douglas Wachter attended Berkeley
High School in Berkeley, Calif., and two years ago, his senior year,
was elected as president of the Junior Statesmen Club, an influential
]K)litical group on the cam]:)us. He then went on to the I^niversity
of California where he has been extremely active in campus political
activity, the Congress of Racial Ecjuality (COKE), and boasts that
he led the student contingent in the recent protests against the execu-
tion of Caryl Chessman.
Douglas Wachter attended the I7th National Convention of the
Communist Party last December as a delegate from the northern
sector of the California Communist Party.
"What did the Comnnniist Party accomplish as a result of the San
Francisco riots? Their major aim of stopping the hearings failed,
but the second aim of creating an issue which the Comnnniist press
can use and twist for propaganda ])urposes throug]u)ut the world
against the United States was inflniiely successful. For years to
come, the Communists will be constantly referring to the so-called
"Black Friday in San Francisco, when the red-baiting, witch-hunting.
Fascist, racist, T'n -American Committee had to call in 'goon squads'
whicli used police brutality of the Avorst sort against a spontaneous
student protest."
Since the early days, one of the Communists' chief aims has been
to destroy the confidence of the people in their law-enforcement agen-
cies. Charges of police brutal it v have ])een revived and used over and
L.I *.
over again.
Some of the (^oimnunist apologists say the police used undue force
in San Francisco. The Communist publications go so far as to charge
the police with causing the riot. T hesitate to re])eat some of the
scurrilous and absolutely untrue charges of brutality being made
against the police.
The truth is, that the police and the sheriff leaned over backward
using almost e\ei'y known device short of force to break u]") the demon-
strations and flagrant violations of a half-dozen laws before they were
com])elled to meet violence with fire hoses and forcible eviction from
the City Plall. It was not until the mob attempted to break into the
already overcrowded hearing i-oom, had knocked down a police officer
and had taken away his mace and started pounding him with it, that
the police moved m. Eight policemen and foui- rioters were has])ital-
ized. Of course, we hear little sympathy for these police officers.
We see no ]^hotograi)hs of the attack on the police. We see only
])ictui-es of rioters being dragc'ed by police fi'om the City Hall because
they had engaged in mob violence and refused to leave the building
on directions of the police so that law and order might prevail.
Of course, the riot and the |)hotos of the police dragging rioters
who refused to leave the building are grist for the Counnunist propa-
ganda machine throughout the world.
This is what some call police brutality or use of excessiA'e force.
Themembei-s of the Coiumittee on T^n-American Activities state that
Chief of l\)lice of San Francisco, the Sheriff of San Francisco County
COMMUNIST PAKTY — NORTHERN CALIFORISIA DISTRICT 217.J
aiul their men ucled in acionlance willi (lie highest and finest traditions
of hiw-enforcement otlicials. 'rhisCongressshouhl romniond tliem and
express onr regrets and sympathy lor those ollicers and tlieir I'amilies
who were injured in the proper performance of their dnty.
I appreciate, Mr. Chairman, your giving me tliis opportunity to
make these observations. I know it took a long time, but I felt that
the record should ilisclose what I have said.
Mr. AViLLis. Thank you very much.
Mr. SciiEREK. 1 also ask leave to revise and extend additional re-
marks before the record of these hearings is printed.
Mr. WiLiJs. A^'ithout objection (he recpiesl of llie gentleman from
Ohio is granted.
The hearings are now concluded.
("Whereupon, at 5:58 p.m., Saturday, May 14, 1960, the subcom-
mitte adjourned, to reconvene at the call of the Chair.)
(Additional remarks by Congressman Scherer follow:)
Mr. Scherer. Since returning from San Francisco I have received
from a number of ministers who were present at the liearings a copy
of a voluntary joint statement issued by the following: Dr. G. Archer
Weniger, of Oakland; Key. Don Watson, of Oakland; Dr. II. Austin,
of San Francisco; Rev. Eobert F. Hakes, of Alameda; Dean William
G. Bellshaw, of the San Francisco Baptist Seminary; Dr. H. O. Van
Gilder, of the Western Baptist Bible College; Dr. Arno Weniger, of
San Francisco:
Here follows their own eyewitness account of what transpired in-
side the hearing room. Of course, the rioting outside the hearing-
room was, to say the least, far more serious.
More than a dozen ministers were in attendance at the con-
gressional hearings of tlie House Un-American Activities
Committee in San Francisco on May 12 and 13 in the Super-
visors Chambers in the City Hall. What we witnessed was
utterly fantastic. The sh.ameful demonstration against law
and ordei- and against this duly constituted connnitte« of the
Congress deiie.s description. We sat in the rear of the room
on a raised platfonn whei-e we could easily observe the pro-
ceedings, I'ight in the midst of the student demonstrators.
We studied the crowd carefully for houi-s and could easily
discern which were the masterminds of the mob riots. It is
our certain conviction that this indefensible demonstration
against law and oi-der was conceived. i)lanned, and directed
by a few hard-core Conununist agitators who were cari*jdng
out their textbook ordei-s on insurrection with classic success.
I^eaders of the mob included faculty members and well-
known leftist lawyers for the fifth-amendment Communists.
We were sitting where we were able to observe the giving
of instructions by the riot leaders who had gained access to the
room. The Daily Californian, which was disti-ibuted widely
at the scene, gave explicit instructions on the front page of
the Thursday issue on exactly how to harass the committee.
They were told to laugh out loud at every incident that ap-
2176 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
peared to be ainusini>- in order to make tlie Congressmen look
ridiculous. These well-disciplined mobsters laughed on the
dotted line and obeyed their masters to the last jeer. We
watched a national connnitteeman for the part}' line up a
dozen Connnunists near tlie railing and throw every sneer,
invective, abusive language, vile profanity, and fiendish
charge at the Congressmen tliey could conceive. For nearly
15 minutes at one point, this lawless crowd of students from
the univei'sity, togetlier with party cadres, had the chambers
almost in their control. The students, comprising the rear
third of the audience stood up on tlieir seats and yelled,
jeered, hissed, and scoU'ed at the Congressmen. It was al-
most complete ])reakdow]i of law and order. "We witnessed
more violations of the law in 1.') minutes than we have seen
in 15 years. The only criticisms we have of the police au-
thorities were of allowing this clement to make sucli a mock-
ery out of law and order, without jailing every one of the
leaders.
The height of their devilish hypocrisy was reached when
they had the consunnnate nerve to profane the national an-
them by singing it at the peak of their demonsti'ation, and
giving expression to their treasonable tlelight by singing
'"Mine Eyes Have Seen the (ilory of the Coming of the
Lord." The depth of their deceit was reached when this mob
element })ut their hand over their heart aiul pledged allegi-
ance to the flag. We shall never forget the hisses and boos
that greeted Mr, Arens when he first mentioned the name of
God in comiection witli one who broke from the party.
We are at a loss to understand how clergymen, such as
Bishop .lames IMke, could give any aid and comfort to this
lawless kintl of activity by statements deriding the commit-
tee, and by allowing his assistant i)astor to address one of
their despicable rallies.
We came away from tliis hcai-ing absolutely convinced of
the overwhelming necessity of continuing the House Commit-
tee on Un-American Activities. No free agent could view the
hearings without being imi)ressed with the fairness, justice,
and dedication to a thaidcless, but i)ositively necessary task.
Cliairman Edwin Willis was unusually tem[)erate and pa-
tient. We have nothing but unbounded admiration for
Ixichard Arens, committee counsel, whose skill and under-
standing of this })erilous conspiracy was a blessing to be-
hold. We a[)ologi/e to these devoted })ublic servants from
Congress for the devilish and deceitful conduct of an in-
finitesimally small hiii alaiiningly arrogant segment of this
area, who are willing to be tools of the Connnunist conspiracy
which would make a shambles out of the liberty which marks
this m'eat Nation as the land of the free and the home of the
brave.
THE XOIITHEUX ( AIJIORMA DIS I RI( T OF THE
COMMIMST rAKTY
Structure — Objectives — lieadership
(Part 3)
FRIDAY, JUNE 10. 1960
TjxiTKi) States House of Representatives,
SuBCOM^riTTEE OF THE
Committee ox Un^- Americax Activities,
Washington^ D.C.
executive SESSIOX" ^
The subconiinittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met,
pursuant to call, at 10 a.m., in room 226, Old House Office Buildino-,
Hon. Edwin E. Willis (chairman of the subcommhtee) presidinir.
Subcommittee members present : Edwin E. Willis, of Louisiana, and
Auo-ust E. Johansen, of Michigan.
Start' members present: Richard Arens, start' director; Francis J.
McXamara and Fulton Lewis III, research analysts.
^Ir. Wiixis. The subcommittee will ])lease come to order.
It will not ]>e necessary to again swear the witness, because we are
today completing the record which we began and were unaljle to con-
clude because of lack of time duriiii!: our recent hearings in San
Francisco, ^lay 12-14.
Mr. Prussion, we are pleased to welcome you here in Washington to
complete your testimony.
Proceed, if you please, Mr. Arens.
TESTIMONY OF KARL PRUSSION— Resumed
Af]-. Ahexs. Ml-. Pi'ussioii, during your previous testimony in San
Francisco you spoke of the prerequisites of revolution. What ai-e
these prerequisites from the Communist viewpoint?
Mr. l*Russiox. Hie C^ommunist Party is a party of Leninism and
all party members are disciples of Lenin. Leninism is a program
which directs Communist Party members in attaining the prerecjuisites
of the revolution and, when these prerequisites are accomplished, llie
overall strategy of overthrowing the Government by force and vio-
lence and setting up a dictatorshi]) of the Communist Party will be
carried out.
'^ Released hy the committee and ordered to he printed.
2177
2178 COMMUNTST PARTY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
The prerequisites, briefly, are as follows :
Fii-st, a strong enough Communist Paiiy — which the Communist
calls the vanguard of the working class — strong enough to lead an
insuiTCction and actions to overilirow our Govei-nment by force and
violence.
This does not mean sti"ength in numbers in tlie Communist Party
but it means a dedicated core able to lead, as pre\-iously described.
The second prerequisite of the ro\-o]ution is that there must l)e
disunity of the govermnental body of our Nation, that there be dis-
sension within the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of our
Government on vital issues of the day.
llie third prerequisite for the revolution is an economic situation
whereby the Communists, through their leadership in social, eco-
nomic and political organizations, can successfully carry out the
revolution.
This economic situation does not necessarily n^.ean a depression. It
could be an inflationary spiral, whereby economic chaos could ma-
terialize.
The fourth prerequisite of a revolution, and this is closely related
to the third prerequisite, is a trade union movement that the Com-
munist Party can successftdly actuate into a political strike.
A j)olitical strike is different from an economic and social strike,
such as wages, working conditions, et cetera, in that it is a strike
against law, against legislation oi- some other political issue.
Such a strike, for example, was recently threatened b}- Walter
l\euther Avhen he stated, in eil'ect, that if the Taft-Hartley Act was
invoked in the steel strike, he would call a slowdown strike within the
(TO. This wotild have beeri a political strike.
Harry Bridges has many times staled that he will call a j)olitical
strike of his long-shoremen if there is a war in which he and his union
are not in accord.
A more recent example, not in the T'nited States, but in riapan,
of a political strike was the recent strike called by the leftwing trade
imion movement against Eiseniiower's visit and against the treaty that
we are now concluding with Japan.
Mr. Arens. In general, Mr. Prussion, how would you say the United
States Commimist Party stands today in relation to this objective it
has of establishing its prerequisites for revolution ?
First of all, there is the questioji of the strength of the Commmiist
Party ?
Mr. Prussion. I think the Communist Party today is sufficiently
capable of carrying out an insuiTection if the other prerequisites are at-
tained. The figure of ap[)roximately 10,000 hard-core members of the
Communist Party, of course, is not at all accurate because at least an
equal number. I estimate through my experience, have dr()pj)ed out oF
the (\)inmunist Party for the sole purpose of hiding their identity so
that they can cany out their rexolutionary work more eil'ect i\ely in
economic, political, and social organizations.
Mr. Arens. When you say you believe the United States Communist
Party is strong enough to lead an insurrection, you do not mean, tlo
you, that the party itself will take over this Government by force and
violence?
Mr. Prission. No, of course tiot. I mean that the Connnujiist
Pai'ty is able al tlie })resent time with the prerequisites, assuming they
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2179
were attained at the present time, to snccessfully lead snch an insnr-
rection throutjli their inllucnce politically, economically, and socially
tliroug-hout the United States.
Mr. Arens. In other words, it wouhl be a situation something like
the riots that took place in San Francisco a few weeks a<jo, where
there will be handt'nl of Communists who stinmlate and incite large
groups of non-Connnunists to take certain actions wliich help the
onnnunist Party ? Is that the idea ?
Mr. Puussiox. That is a very mild example of the degree- with which
the Communists can operate under what tliey call a more favorable
revolut ionaiy situation.
At a 1958 Xational Executive Committee meeting of the Connnunist
Party, in the report of James S. Allen, it was clearly stated that the
situation and conditions in the T"'^nited States at the present time are
more satisfactory toward ihe j)]aniiing of the Connnunist j)rogram
of the dictatorship of the i)roletariat than they vrere in the Soviet
Union when the Bolshevik Party seized power in October 1917.
1 quote from James S. Allen's report on basic program for the
Initiating Committee on Program to the Xational Executive Commit-
tee of the Communist Party, May 9, 1958 :
Yot. in seeking to chart our road to socialism, we are in a much liotter jjosition
than the Marxists in the period before the Great Russian Revolutiou, wliich pio-
neered the road, or than we were before World War II, before a number of coun-
tries took that road.
( Document marked "Prussion lOxhihit No. 1,'' see A])]), p. ^^kS;").)
It is important to note that all of the activities of the Communist
Party, whether they be within political organizations, church organi-
zations, school organizations, all organizations — political, economic,
or social— all of their work is revolutionary work in their view, whereas
on the surface it woidd appear to be peaceful work within our Consti-
tution and within our Bill of Rights.
AVe always have to bear in mind that the Communist Party is a party
of Lenin, and Lenin clearly stated that the parliament can never be
an arena of struggle for tlie improving of the conditions of the citi-
zenry, that the parliament is only to be used ultimately for the estab-
lishment of a dictatorship and for the destruction of the parliament
itself.
This is elementary to every Communist and it is the purpose, there-
fore, of all their actions within our democratic process, to accelerate
the day when the prerequisites of the revolution can be met, parliament
destroyed and the dictatorship established.
Mr. xVrens. Could you give us some examples, Mr. Prussion, of
the kind of so-called |)eaceful activity which the Communists engage
in which, in their view, are actually ])rvjmoting the 'prerequisites for
the day when outright violence can be used ?
Mr. Prussion. The Conmmnist Party, ever since its inception in
the United States, has made the Negro people a target of Communist
Party propaganda in an effort to "lead" the Negro people in their
struirgle to better tlieir conditions, but the (Communist Party is not
interested in bettering the conditions of the Negro people as such.
Communists are only interested to the degree that they can organize
the Negro pe(>])]e into a part of the insurrectionary movement at some
future date for tlie ovei'throw of 1 he (loveriimoit hv foii'e and violence.
2180 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
They are exploiting the Xeoro })eoi)le rather than helping them.
This is one example.
Mr. Arexs. This -svould lit in, then, Avith the second prerequisite for
revolution, too — that is, that of creating disunity and dissension in the
Nation, not only within the Government but among the people as a
whole ?
Mr. Prussiox. Yes. The Communist Party has used every
strategem that the}' know to attempt to win over the Xegro people to
the Conmiunist cause of revolution.
At first they had a program of self-determination of the Negroes
in the Black Belt, which meant that where the Negro people consti-
tuted a majority in the South, they should rebel and secede from the
Nation and set up their own government.
This ])r()gram of the Connnunist Party amongst the Negro people
failed miserably because tlie Negro people did not want to secede from
our Government but wanted to be part of it.
The Communist Party very recently changed its ])roclaimed policy
to one of total integration and full equality for the Negro people, and
since this change of policy the Connnunists hope to achie\e greater
success in their Avork in winning over segments of the Negro popula-
tion to the "'class struggle." This is not, of course, to say that integra-
tion as such is Connnunist or that all who advocate integration are
Communists.
The Communists' purpose, of coui-se, in working amongst the Negro
people is to provoke race hatred, violence, to raise what they call the
class conscious level of the Negro people, to instill class hatred, to get
members into the Connnunist Party and to ultimately utilize this whole
section of the American workina- class in their final goal of destroving
our Government by force and violence and establishing a dictatorship
of the proletariat.
]Mr. Arkxs. Could you give us one or two more examples. ^Ir.
Prussion, of areas or issues in which the Comnnmists are operating
today in a so-called peaceful manner but with the objective of promot-
ing the <'onditions that are prerequisites for revolution ^.
Mr. Prussiox. Yes. 1 would like to cite an example of Com-
munist infiltration in the Mountain A^iew, Los Altos-Palo Alto ai-ea.
There is an organization there known as the Council for Civic
lenity, Los Altos-]\rountain A^icw 1)i'anch. This organization ob-
viously is a good American organization which is symbolic of the
cracker barrel and town hall meeting methods of doing things. It is
:in oi'ganization that Americans can be proud of. It believes that all
mankind should have equality, regardless of their race, color, or creed.
However, in 11)51 (lie Con.nnunist Pai-ty, Los Altos-Mountain View
cell, received directives from the section committee to infiltrate this
organization. The infiltration took place. Approximately nine mem-
bers of the Communist l^irty joined the o7-ganization. And it Avas
the ])urpose of the Connnunists witliiii tliat organization to do their
revolutionary work therein.
As a result, the organization was used to carry out activities that
the Communist Party has seen fit at difl'erent periods during the exist-
ence of this organization.
To show you the degree of ])enetration in this organization: At a
cell meeting held at the home of Michael Shapovalov in Menlo Park, it
COMMUXIST PARTY — NOKTHKHN CALllUi;.\ lA JJI.STKICT 2181
was decided that I, Karl Prussion, become nu)ie active in the Council
for Civic Unity.
Doris DaAvson, a member of tiie cell, stated that she would contact
Peter Szego, who is a professor at the University of Santa Clara and
at that time was secretary of the Mountain View-Los Altos branch of
the Council for Civic Unity, and she Avould instruct him to sti^p down
from his position as secretary, since he was too busy in orgaiiizing the
Los Altos-Mountain View California Democratic Club, in my favor.
Approximatel}' three or four days after this agreement was reached
in the Communist l*arty cell, I^eter Szego came to my home and handed
over to me the indexed membership list of the Mountain View-Los
Altos Council for Civic Unity, which I have here today.
Of course, this membership list has always been available to the
(^onnnunist Party since it had infilti'ated the organization so thor-
oughly. As a result, most of these members who are not Connnunists
have Jbecome inadvertent victims of Communist propaganda through
the mails and through personal contact. IMany of these members
Jiave been used by the Connnunists for such purposes as signing peace
pledges, getting subscriptions to the official organ of the Communist
Party, inviting these people to other meetings that were initially
started by the Communist Party, et cetera.
This is one example of how the Connnunist Party uses deceit in order
to work in the revolutionary Avay amongst innocent people who have
good motivations.
]Mr. Arexs. "Would you identify for us, Mr. Prussion, those persons
known to you to be Communist Party members who infiltrated the
club ?
Mr. Pkussiox. The Communist Party members who infiltrated this
organization are: Mr. and Mrs. Ed Becks, Mr. and Mrs. Walter
ITarju, Elizabeth Xicholas, Mary Wilson, Mary Field, Peter Szego,
and of course I was in there, too.
I want to emphasize that there are many members of the Council
for Civic Unity wdio hold positions of high esteem in the community,
such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, et cetera. And I, by no means,
infer that these people are either fellow travelers or sympathetic to the
cause of communism. I simply say that they are targets of Commu-
nist Party propaganda and activity.
Mr. Arexs. As a meml^er of this group yourself, did you see any
evidence of where the Communist infiltraters in it had influenced other
members ?
Mr. Prussiox'. Well, most all the other members are influenced by
tlie effect of the activity of the Communist Party because the program
of this club, unfortunately, has yielded to Commmiist Party activity
A\hich the Communists use for their revolutionary work.
Mr. Arex'S. Could you give us some specific examples?
Mr. Prussiox". Yes. The Communist Party through the Council
for Civic LTnity has been able to stinudate people in the area to support
such activities as getting housing for Negro peo]:)le in what is cus-
tomarily considered a white community. In doing this, the Com-
munist Party tries to gain leadership and tries to instill a "class
hatred" and a "class consciousness" in people involved in tliese activ-
ities, and they also try, of course, to recruit members into the Com-
munist Party as a result of these activities. T don't want my statc-
.".(■..-,07 -CO pt ?, R
2182 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
ments here to be misconstrued. I am not saying that the community
integration of Negro people is Communist, but that the Communists
use this as a means of trying to gain prestige and to infihrate.
Mr. Arens. Woidd you care to give more details on the second
of the prerequisites for revolution that you mentioned ? That was the
one on national disunity and dissension, or do you feel you have cov-
ered that ?
Mr. Prussion. As an example of how the Communist Party uses
our democratic privileges in their effort to hasten the day when the
prerequisites of the revolution are met, and then ultimately destroy
these democratic privileges that give them the right to act at the
present time :
The Supreme Court of the United States has always been a target
of the Communist Party through petitions, telegrams, letters, mass
meetings, delegations, et cetera, in order to attempt to influence deci-
sions from the Supreme Court, as they pertain to various anti-Com-
munist Party legislation, to influence the court decisions favorable to
the Commmiist Party and make it easier for them to operate.
Mr. Arens. Would the recent U-2 incident be the type of thing the
Communists would try to exploit to create dissension and dismiity?
Mr. Prussion. Wliy, certainly. The Communist Party of the
United States at the present time is justifying the breaking up of the
Smnmit Conference by Khrushchev, using the U-2 incident as a pre-
tense. This is the line of the Communist Party following the line of
the Communist International or the Communist Party of the Soviet
Union through Khrushchev.
Another example of promoting national disunity was that during
the period of the Korean War, the Communist Party of the United
States set up hundreds of so-called "peace"' organizations. These
peace organizations were set up through instructions from Moscow
through the World Peace Congress that was set up by the Kremlin.
The purpose of the peace clubs was principally to put the Soviet
Union forth to the American public as the country that is desirous
for peace, whereas the United btates was portrayed as a comitry bent
on aggression or war.
During the time that peace clubs were active they circulated the
so-called Stockholm Peace Petition and were instnicted to get millions
of signatures in the United States. The purpose, of course, was to
cause complacency and indifference, to split the iVmerican public
insofar as national defense is concerned and two or tlu^ee months after
this petition was started. North Korea, using gims and tanks and
military equipment made in the Soviet Union, attacked and invaded
South Korea.
This is an example of the creation of disunity and thei*eby disarming
America in preparation for the Soviet attack on South Korea.
Mr. Arens. Did these same peace clubs, after the war in Korea
started, try to break up the generally united purpose of the American
people to fight that war to a successful conclusion?
Mr. Prussion. The peace clubs, and when I say peace clubs, I have
in mind the peace club that I was operating in, the Palo Alto Peace
Club, playing upon the emotions of tha American people and the
Christian desire for peace that America does have, tried to help the
North Korean ofFensive by demoi'alizing the public generallv and our
coMivrcmiST party — noutiieun California district 2183
troops at the front, callinc: it a needless war, callin«^ for our boys to
come home, and ap})ealinij: principally to mothers, and this certainly
was historically a veiy effective method used by these peace clubs in
helpinof the Soviet forces win a partial victory in Korea.
It is interestinf^ to note that when the South Korean forces and the
United Nations forces were almost driven out of Korea, that the cry
for peace was minimized, whereas when MacArthur succeeded in driv-
inc: the North Korean forces to the Yalu River the peace clubs called
for peace at the 38th parallel,
Mr, Arexs. Could you give us a few examples of the manner in
which Communists tiy to promote the economic conditions that would
serve as a prerequisite to revolution ?
Mr. Prussiox. Well, the Communist Party tries, within the trade
union movement, to arouse class hatred and raise what it calls the
"class conscious" level of the workers. Communists attempt to use
the leiiitimate trade miion movement and legitimate social advances
for the purpose of causing more and more inflation. The party at-
tempts to stimulate excessive wage demands and excessive Government
spending for social benefits with the idea of hastening the collapse of
om: economic system, which is one of the prerequisites of the revolu-
tion.
Mr. Arens, Did Communist leaders actually discuss and give di-
rectives on this point in the course of your own experience in the
Communist Party?
Mr, Prttssiox, Yes. The literature and books that the Communist
must read, such as "State and Revolution" ; books on the trade miion
movement; principally the works and classics of Lenin, " 'Left-Wing"
Communism — An Infantile Disorder," "Strategy and Tactics," et
cetera. All of these books and lectures and discussion groups and edu-
cationals within the cells, discuss the hastening of the collapse of our
economic stiiicture through the class struggle principle generated by
the Communist Part}' through the trade union movement.
Mr. Arexs, That leads us to the fourth point you mentioned, the
fourth prerequisite for revolution, tliat is, the creation of a trade
union movement that is of such a nature that the Communist Party
can activate it into political strikes, rather than strikes concerning
economic and labor issues.
Would you care to say anything about the Commmiist Party's esti-
mate of the situation in this countiy today on this point?
Mr. Prussiox. The Communist Party feels that the trade union
movement contains within it elements which may be exploited so far
as this prerequisite of the revolution is concerned.
Mr, Arexs. Inasmuch as some 11 unions — and important unions —
were thrown out of the CIO in 1950 for being under Communist
control, how can the Communists feel this way?
Mr, Prussion. The Communist Party is not too concerned about
who the leadership of the trade union movement is at the present time,
as long as it believes the trade union movement is being built and
directed in the spirit of class struggle, class war generally ; in which
the class-conscious level of the working people is raised. The Com-
munists feel that they will be al)le to exploit this class hatred for the
purpose of overthrowing our Government by force and violence. Of
course this does not mean that the trade union movement is Com-
mmiist inspired.
2184 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
I would like to relate an incident which I will always remember.
Back in 1938, durino; a period in which the Connnunist Party in
Detroit was extremely influential in the leadership of the development
and direction of the CIO industrial labor movement, the Communist
Party members throughout tlie Detroit area were discouraged by the
fact that Walter Reuther, who at that time was coming forward as
the leader of the United Auto Workers Union, CIO, that Walter
Reuther was not giving jobs to Communists within the union and
that it was more difficult to control Walter Reuther than in the past.
A meeting was called of Connnunist Party cells throughout the
plants on the west side of the city of Detroit, where Walter Reuther
was entrenched. The meeting was attended by such people as Jack
Stachel, Earl Browder, William Weinstone, Nat Ganley, and one
Bill Gebert. Bill Gebert represented the Communist International
in the city of Detroit during the period that the CIO was formed
and he directed the whole organizational strategy of sit-down strikes
and activities of the Communists in the unions generally. Even the
top party leaders obeyed Gebert.
Mr. Arens. "VMiat was the purpose of the meeting ?
Mr. Prussion. The meeting was to discuss whether or not to come
out openly within the CIO to attempt to dispose of Walter Reuther
and for the Communist Party to try to seize complete control of the
ITnited Automobile Workei-s Union at that time.
After considerable discussion by many of the national leaders of
the Communist Party at this meeting. Bill Gebert stated as follows :
That we Communists are a party of Leninism, a party of strategy
and tactics, and it is the policy of the Communist Party to build a
trade union movement, based on Ijeninism, based on class struggle,
based on class hatred, a union in which the class-conscious level of
the auto workers would be raised, based on the need for recruiting
members into the Communist Party and, as long as Walter Reuther or
any other leader would build and continue to build a union in which
we could take advantage of this spirit, the Connnunist Party cer-
tainly would not enter into a struggle within the union for the titular
control of the miion.
The Communists recognize that the great majority of union leadere
and rank-and-file members are loyal and anti-Communist, so they are
now concentrating their eiforts at the grassroot level within the shops
and locals, ti-ying to exert prCvSsures on the leaders in the mterest of
policies and programs which the Communist Party favors. Of course,
they do not reveal that they are Connnunists or that tlie pi-ogi-ams
which they advocate are wliat the Connnunist Party wants. They are
confident that they are making gi'eat headway in this tactic. They
are using an "anti-monopoly'' and "anti-big-business" line which goes
OA^er well with some militant unionists.
JNIr. AiiENS. In other words, is it the spirit of the trade unionists
generally, rather than their actual control by party members, that
the Communists hope to use for their ends? That is, if they are gen-
erally emotionall}^ antagonistic to big business as such, the party con-
siders that they are then ripe for Connnunist influence ?
Mr. Prussion". That is correct.
Mr. Arens. By Communists; to do things that will serve the Com-
munist cause even though their leaders may be actually anti-
Communist ?
CO]MjVITJNIST party NORTH KKX CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2185
jNIr. Pkussiox. That is absolutely coiTocf. 'I'he Commnnist Party
would certaiuly like to have leailei-sliip within the trade union move-
ment l)ut they are working- hard now, as previously stated, down at
the grassroots within the trade union movemiMit through which the}'
try to exert pressures upon the leadership of the trade union move-
ment, tryiuir to get, for example, legislation passed in the interest of
the program of the Conuuunisi l*arly,
Mr. Akexs. Earlier in your testimony, Mr. Prussion, you spoke of
(\)inunniist infiltration in political fields. Could you give us some
examples of this^
]Mr. Prfssiox. ]\Iy following testimony as regards Communist
Party infiltration in political fields is in no way a reflection on either
of our two great political parties, the Kepublican Party or the Demo-
cratic Paity. However, 1 would like our two political parties to be-
come acquainted with facts that are alarming concerning attempted
C^onnnunist Party infiltration and the major successes that it has had
in its political work.
Back just ])rior to the defeat in 1952 of Vincent Hallinan, who was
ruiniing for President on the Independent Progressive Party ticket —
and at that time the Independent Progressive Party was the political
arm of the Connnunist Party, totally and completely controlled by
the Connnmiist l^arty — the Connnunist Party at that time changed its
})olicy, torpedoed the Independent Progressive Party and let it shift
for itself until it disintegrated, and began a full scale effort of infiltra-
tion of the Democratic Party.
I want to point out that at the time this was done the Communist
Party was seriously considering infiltrating the Ilepublican Party,
since they felt that the Republican Party was at that time the party
of peace, and the Democratic Party was the party of war. Put Com-
numist leadership decided, in xiew of the fact that the mainstream
of the labor movement still flowed toward the Democratic Party, that
it would be coiTect to try to attempt to infiltrate the Democratic
Party.
For example, the Coimnunist Party so thoroughly infiltrated the
South Palo Alto Democratic Club that it was able to exert considei--
able influence on the club's policies.
JSIr. xVeexs. When was this club formed ?
Mr. Prussiox'. It was formed back in 1956.
Mr. Arexs. Did tlie Communists move into this club back in 195(5,
and actually have a hand in the formation of the club ?
Mr. Prussion. That is right. Shall I name the Communists who
are members of this club ?
Mr. Arex^s. If you know positively from your own experience with-
in the Communist Party that they are member's of the party and if
you haven't named them previously.
Mr. Prussiox'. I have named some of them previously, but not as
associated with this particular grouj:).
Mr. Arens. Then you may go ahead and name each one who is
known to you as a party mem])er and a member of this club.
JNIr. Prussion. The following are members of the Connnunist Party
in this club: Sara Alchermes, Mary Field, Leonard Grumet, Walter
Harju, Allan Isaksen, Edward Ross, Belle Ross. I might add that
Isaksen's wife, Eleanor, and Harju's wife, "Wilma, have also joined
2180 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
this club. However, I have never seen them at Communist Party cell
meetings and do not know that they are actually party members.
Mr. 2\jtENS. Is Belle Koss the wife of Ed lloss i
Mr. Prussion. Yes. Jack Stallings, Ann Stallings, his wife; El-
liott Wilson, Mary Wilson, and Emei*son Street.
Now, about Emerson kStreet, I would like to say that he was a
member of the Coimnunist Party for a considerable length of time and
was dropped out of the Communist Party. However, he is regarded
very highly in the party circles and his name very often comes up at
cell meetings as a good, active, worldng Communist within the ranks
of the California Democratic clubs.
Mr. Arens. Do you know of any examples of Conmiunist infiltra-
tion in the Republican Party I
Mr. Prussion. I know of no such examples other than myself.
At a section meeting of the Conmiunist Party held during the time the
infiltration was started into the Democratic Party, I was instructed
to register as a llcpublican because of the position that I held in
the community and it is very possible that a few others of whom I
have no knowledge may have been instructed to do the same.
Mr. Arens. Specifically, what do you mean, your position in the
community ? In what way were you different from the other mem-
bers of the Communist cells to which you belonged ?
Mr. Prussion. Well, I had been a contractor in the area, building
tracts of homes, and I was considered a segment of that part of the
community that would most likely be in the Republican Party. And
you have to remember, too, at this time, this decision was made at the
time when they were seriously considering whether to go all out into
the Republican Party.
Mr. Arexs. W^hat did you do in the Republican Party to further
Communist aims ?
j\Ir. Prussion. Nothing. The party gave me no directives. I just
registered Republican, never joined a Republican club.
Mr. Arens. Could you give us an example of the ends achieved by
the Communists through this type of infiltration ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes, I can give you an example. This infiltration
of this club, California Democratic Club of South Palo Alto, was
not unique and peculiar to South Palo Alto. I*erhaps I should ex-
plain here that a movement began to set up local ''Democratic Coun-
cils," as tliey are called, all o\ er the State, in 1953, I believe, for the
purpose of activating the Democratic Party. The Conmnniist Party
has not only had its members join establislied Denuicratic Party clubs
but has also moved into these couiu'ils and, through them, is setting
up additional local clubs. Annually, ilelegates from some of the
Democratic clubs and other official party bodies which have affiliated
lluMuselves with the California Democratic Council meet in a state-
wide California Democratic Council convention. The council con-
\cntion ser\es as the Connnunist's statewide political transmission belt
insofar as they have l)een able to capture or dominate these councils
and also the selection of the clubs' delegates to the convention. Hence
it was that on February i-2, lo, and 14, 19G0, when the California
Democratic clubs sent delegates to the annual convention of the Cali-
fornia Democratic Council in Fiesno, some of the resolutions that
were passed were indeed a great victory for, and stimulant to tlie
Conununist conspiracy and its general strategy and tactics of prepar-
ing the Nation through parliamentary methods for the forthcoming
seizure of power by the Conununist Party.
COMMUNIST PARTY NOKTUKKN CALIFOKNIA DISTRICT 21^7
Mr. Ain:xs. ^Vhat were the resolutions ^
]\Ir. PuirssiON. One of the resolutions passed demanded that the
Unitod States disarm, even if ne^rotiations to achieve world disarma-
ment failed, and even if the Soviet Union does not disarm.
Mr. Arexs. "Was that the only one?
ATr. Piussiox. Xo, there are many more.
Inchide llvd China in ne^-otiations to hall nuclear tests.
Mr. AiiENS. AMiat is the Communist purpose in that resolution?
Mr. Prussion. It is the avowed puq)ose of the Connnunist Party to
gradually and ultimatidy get the recognition of Communist China,
and by including them in halting nuclear tests, this is a step in that
direction. The recognition of Ited China would indeed be a catas-
trophe for the free world because Red China is morally wron<^ and
something that is morally wrong can never be politically, economically
right.
Red China in its drive for power has killed hundreds of thousands
of Christians. They are an atheistic regime and recognition of Red
China would help perpetuate the tyraimical govermiient that they have
and would raise them in the esteem of the rest of Asia to the extent
where they could, with little effort, take all of Asia into their orbit.
jNIr. Arexs. Were any other resolutions adopted which coincided
with Commmiist Party demands ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes. Abolish the House Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities. One of the first and most important activities of the
Communist Party to make it easier for them to do their revolutionary
work is to abolish the Committee on Un-American Activities. Cer-
tainly the abolition of the committee would be a staggering blow to
the freedom-losing people of the world, because this would certainly
facilitate to no end the activities of the Connnunist Party.
The Conmimiist Party, just prior to the recent hearing in San Fran-
cisco, used es'ery conceiA'able parliamentary method to stop the com-
mittee hearing, such as petitions, telegrams, meetings, picketing, et
cetera.
This failed to stop the committee from appearing in San Francisco
so the Communist Party, bent on its destruction, resorted to force and
violence to attain that end. Based on my experience in the Com-
munist Party I would say that this demonstration has all the eannarks
of a (\)mmunist Party operation.
This is an example of Leninism in action, Lenin states, and I
might say that this is the heart of the Communist movement in the
Linited States, and throughout the w^orld :
No parliament can in any circumstances be for Commnnists an arena of struggle
for reforms. The only question can be that of utilizing bourgeoisie state insti-
tutions for their destruction * * *. A Communist must be prepared to make
every sacrifice anrl if necessary, even resort to all sorts of schemes and strate-
gems. employ illegitimate methods, conceal the truth in order to get into social,
political and economic organizations, stay there and conduct the revolutionary
work within. (Vol. XXV p. 149, vol. XXVII p. 142, Colleated Works.)
Another resolution : Oppose all legislation which would inhibit the
powers of the United States Supreme Court. The Communists are
very anxious not to have any legislation which would inhibit the
powers of the Supreme Court because, unfortunately, the Supreme
Court in recent years has made decisions, usually by a 5^ vote, that
reversed many lower court rulings and facilitated the activities and
perpetuation of the Conmiunist Party. For this reason the Commu-
2188 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
nists don't want the lower courts to have the final say on these ques-
tions and this is what would happen if Congress were to take from the
Supreme Court some of the powers it now lias.
Mr. Arens. Are there any further resohitions you would like to
mention ?
Mr. Prussion. Request the President to review the ^Morton Sobell
conviction "to secure uKimate justice (vindication)/' This is an
alarmina' resolution to he ])assed by the (California Democratic clubs,
because Morton Sobell has been tried and convicted of work of espion-
age in the interest of the Soviet Union.
Another resolution was to outlaw secret congressional committee
hearings.
Mr. Arens. How would this serve the Communist Party?
Mr. Prussion. This would definitely serve the Communist Party be-
cause it would make top secret defense testimony public. Ancl the
Communist Party and therefore the Soviet Union could have all of
our military information with no effort on their part whatsoever.
Mr. Arens. Were any other resolutions passed which would be help-
ful to the Communists ?
Mr. Prussion. Abolish all "dis-loyalty"' oaths — State and Federal.
Mr. Arens. Inasmuch as it is generally recognized that the Com-
munists won't hesitate to perjure themselves, why are the Communists
so fearful of these oaths and why do they want them eliminated?
Mr. Prussion. Even though the Communists would perjure them-
selves in taking a loyalty oath in order to get a job as a teacher or to
work in a defense plant and so forth, they are fearful of a loyalty oath
because if exposed, if their perjury is exposed, of course they face
])rosecution. jail sentences, and fines and they would like to eliminate
that possil)ility. Therefore, the loyalty oaths are a must, both State
and Federal, so that in the event the Comnnniists are apprehended in
disloyal acts, they can be prosecuted. Without such laws there can
be no prosecution.
Repeal of the Landrum-Griflln labor reform bill of 1051).
Mr. Arens. Why do the Communists desire this ?
Mr. Prx ssioN. The Communist Party has always been o]>posed to the
Landrum-Grifiin law because they feel that any goAernmental regu-
lation within the labor movement, anything that resembles control
in the labor movement, would certainly impair their efforts to utilize
tlie labor movement in their strugale to overthrow our Government by
force and violence.
Another resolution which, on the surface, does not appear to be very
important but it is extremely important, and tliat is re])eal the Rela-
tives' lves])onsibility Law. This resolut ion is very \-ital to the ( 'onnnu-
nist Pai'ty because if this resolution repealing that law were to pass,
it would strike a blow at the stability of the American family.
Mr. Arens. Why?
Mr. Prussion. Let me ex])lain what this resolution would do: For
example, a son living with a widowed mother, if this law is repealed,
could refuse to supj^ort his motliei' and force lier to go on the welfare
rolls for her subsistence. This, of course, strikes at the very root of
Connnunist ultimate accomplishment, that of destroying the family,
destroying the spirit and close l)oiid within the i"amily--the basis of
the American Christian and Judaic way of life.
COjVUVIUNIST party — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2189
Establish local police review boards to hear complaints against po-
lice methods.
Mr. Akens. Why are the Coniniunists promoting this tyj)e of legis-
lation?
Mr. Prussiox. The Connnunist Tarty is trying to promote this
type of legislation because it would give them a method through which
tliey could arouse public indignation against police department actions
against the Connnunist Tarty, such as we have recently witnessed in
the city of San Francisco at the hearings by the Connnittee on Un-
American Activities.
Another resolution is increase economic aid to underdeveloped na-
tions and reduce military assistance abroad.
Mr. Akexs. Why do the Communists take this position ?
Mr. Trussiox. It is not wrong, of course, for the United States
to help underdeveloped nations that are not within the Comnnmist
orbit, but to reduce military assistance to our allies in our fight
against Soviet aggression would be certainly assisting the Soviet
Union and the Connnunist Tarty of the United States in their drive
to ultimately conquer the world.
]Mr. Arexs. If the Communist aim is to weaken other nations for
Soviet conquest, why do they recommend increased foreign aid to
these nations, that is, economic aid ?
Mr. Trussiox. The economic aid that the Communists are princi-
pally interested in is economic aid to those countries which princi-
pally fall within the Soviet orbit or to those countries which they feel
will shortly fall within the Soviet orbit.
Mr. Arexs. Do not the Communists believe that this aid will help
strengthen these nations against Soviet take-over ?
Mr. Trussiox. I do not believe that they feel it would deter future
Communist conquest. On the contrary, the Commmiists, the Soviet
U'nion, believe that any development in these countries would greatly
facilitates the economic recovery of such a country when the Soviet
Union would take over power in these countries. Moreover, all
Communists are for excessive U.S. spending abroad for two reasons :
(1) It would hasten the weakening of our economic structure
through increased indebtedness, and (2) they can hope to influence
the spending of our dollars in many foreign countries for their own
advantage.
Mr. .Vrexs. Are tliere more resolutions or is that the last one?
Mr. Trussiox. Another resolution is: Remold the United Nations
into a world organization that can enact and interpret and enforce
world law upon individuals and governments alike.
Tills, of course, is the yearning of all Communist hearts of the Com-
munist International, because it would be their purpose to control
such a world government and the indications are at the present time,
if such a world government were set up, it Avould be one that would
be influenced to a major degree by the Soviet Union, and in this man-
ner not only would the individuality of the American and the rights
of the State and our whole Government be submissive to world court
and world government decisions, but it would also hasten the seizure
of power not only in the United States but everywhere in the world,
because this is a strongly centralized form of government that can
be controlled from the top veiy expeditiously, veiy readily.
2190 COMMUNIST PARTY — ^NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Strip the Postmaster General of powers to halt the use of U.S. mails
by the purveyors of pornographic materials.
This, of course, the Conununists would like, because they feel that
b}' stoppino- poruograpliic lihns sent through the mail the Post Oilice
Department coukl also stop the conspiracy propaganda that is sent
through the mail by the Communist Party and the Communist Inter-
national.
These are all of the lesolutions.
(Document marked "Prussion Exhibit No. 2" and retained in
committee files.)
Mr. PiiussiON. I might jiist make one comment on these resolutions.
One could understand where the California Democratic Council could
by chance be in favor of two, three, or four of the resolutions that the
Communists are sponsoring, but the fact that the California Demo-
cratic Council goes all out on all of the resolutions that the Conunu-
nists are in favor of would cast serious doubt on who controls the
California Democratic Council. I indicated that through delegations
sucli as were sent from the South Palo Alto Club, which had 14
members of the Communist Party in it, that tlie Comnumist l^aity is
a dynamic and influenchig force in the California Democratic Councih
Mr. Akens. On the basis of your contacts with them, would you
say that these resolutions express the feelings and beliefs of the
majority of the people who make up the grassroots of the Democratic
Party of California?
Mr. Peussion. I would have no way of knowing. I just can say I
believe that this certainly is not the expression and the opinion and
feelings of the ])eople wlio are Democrats, members and nonmenibers
of the Democratic Party, the people who vote Democratic and so forth.
I think this is the expression of the (^ommunist Party as expresstnl
tlirough the California Democratic Council in wliich they obviously
have a great deal of influence, but it should not be interpreted as a
program that tJie typical American Domocrat sponsors. This is not
a reflection on the Democratic Party at all. It is a reflection of the
attempted influence of the Commmiist Party within the California
Democratic Council which, of course, is not the Democratic Part}'. I
am sure many patriotic California Democrats are sick at heart over
tliis dominance of many clubs, through the Council, by agent>s of the
Kremlin.
Mr. Arens. Are you familiar with the People's World?
Mr. Prussion, Yes.
Mr. Arens. This newspaper is generally recognized by people in-
formed about communism as a Communist Party newspaper, the
official voice of the Communist Party on the West Coast.
People who publish and edit that paper, however, have always de-
nied that this is so. Do you have any information to give us on this
point?
Mr. Prusston. It is true that the Communist Party consistently,
and also the Daily People's World consistently, denies that it is the
official organ of the Communist Party on the West Coast. But I have
with me here documentary evidence, a party document concerning a
press conference of the Communist Party held on October 27 and 28,
1956, in wliich the historic background of Peoi)le's World was taken
up, and the way the Communist Party affects the paper.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2191
As you read the entire account there can be no question in any-
lx>dy's mind, or there should not be any more, that the People's World
is the official oriran of the Communist Party of California, both
Northei-n and Southei-n Districts, and is totally controlled financially
and editorially by the (^onununist Party.
For example, when the situation for the Daily People's World be-
came acute financially back in June 1951, the Commmiist Party deter-
mined to maintain the Daily Peo!)le"s World mider anv circum-
stances — and T am quotinii- this party document: "l)ecause (1) The
paper remained as the sole c-onsistent medimn for public expression
of our views. (2) The paper represented a princi])al toehold on a
legal status. (3) Abandonment of this position, under enemy attack,
would have grave consequences on morale of party and movement.
(4) The paper aii'orded a channel for exercising leadership when
other 'normal' channels were disrupted or clogged because of the
system of leadership esta.blished in party."
Mr. jVmkns. Could you clarify that last point you just read in which
the paper was described as a channel of leadership, ^^'^lat did the
Communists mean by that?
Mr. Pnussiox. The paper att'orded an excellent channel for exercis-
ing leadership tecause the party at that time was working under-
ground. Many party people resigned to hide their identity and
carry on the revolutionary work, and the paper was the real medium
througli which leadership of the Communist Party could be main-
tamed and continued under these adverse conditions for the Commu-
nist Party.
Mr. Arexs. By leadership, do you mean the conveying of instruc-
tions and so forth ?
Mr. Prussion. I mean that the paper served as a means of inform-
ing membei-s, wherever they might be, as to what the party policy was
during that particular period on different issues that the Communist
Party was confronting.
Mr. Arens. That is, whether or not these members were formally in
the part}^ and attending part}'^ meetings?
Mr. Prussiox. Yes.
Mr. Arens. ]May we have that document, JNIr. Prussion, for our
files and as an exhibit in this hearing?
Mr. Prussion. Yes, certainly you may have it.
(Document marked "Prussion Exhibit Xo. o,*" see App. p, 2401.)
Ml'. .Vrexs. What was the Communist Party \dewpoint of Premier
Khrushchev's visit to the I 'nited States ?
Mr. Prussiox. The Connnunist Party, all members of the Commu-
nist Party, liad been cai-rying on a long campaign of coexistence and
a long campaign to get Khrushchev to ^•isit the United States.
Xow, in line with the Leninist theory of the Communist Party of
accelerating the day when the prerequisites to revolution have oeen
met, Khrushchev's \'isit here played a gi-eat role toward that achieve-
ment.
All Communists knew that he came here for the four following
reasons :
One. to stimulate and to actiAate the Communist Party, not only in
the United States but Communist Parties throughout the world, be-
cause just by his visit here he had raised the prestige of the Commu-
nist International everyw-here, and he had given the Communist Party
2192 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
of the United States more enthusiasm and nioie zeal for tlieir future
activities. He succeeded in this very AvelL
The second reason for his coming here was to discourage the re-
sistance of freedom loving people throughout tlie Soviet orbit and
throughout the world because, certainly, cooperation betAveen Khru-
shcliev and the United States Avould dampen the spirits of the people
who had been fighting communism behind the Iron Curtain. The
Communist Party succeeded in this to a great extent.
The third reason why Khrushchev came here, and this is probably
one of the most important reasons, was to, if possible, split up XATO.
By coming here he aroused suspicion in the other members of NATO
as to the relationship between the Ignited States and the Soviet
Union — and splitting up NATO would be a great accomplishment for
the Comnnniist International in its drive to attain one of the major
prerequisites of world revolution.
He was fairly successful in this. This was evidenced by the fact
that President Eisenhower had to quickly go to France and England
and consult with Macmillan and deGaulle in order to give them re-
assurance and imderstanding, to prevent any question on their part as
to the intentions of the United States.
I might comment at this time that the reason why the Summit Con-
ference did not continue, the reason why Khrushchev torpedoed the
Summit Conference was not the U-2 incident, but the fact that he did
not succeed in splitting NATO. Had he so succeeded, he would have
proceeded with the Smiimit Conference and he would have come out
on top of the conference. He is presently once again beginning a
campaign of trying to split NATO.
The fourth reason for his coming to the United States is also in
line with the worldwide prerequisites for a revolution, because, if
Khrushchev could establish strong economic relationship, trade, with
the United States he would accelerate the collapse of the economic
structure of the Western European countries, because they certainly
could not compete in trade with the products put out by a countr}''
such as the Soviet Union wliich produces under a system of dictator-
ship, where the respect for the individual is completely ignored.
Any agreement with the Soviet ITnion economlcnlly would, to a
large degree, injure the economics of the Western countries.
It is also kno\Mi historically that any agreement that we make with
the Soviet Union is not worth the paper it is written on and if — let
us assume the Ignited States hns built up a strong economic and trade
relationship with the Soviet T'nion — and at a time when the United
States has more or less become dependent upon its trade with the
Soviet Union the Soviet Union could, without any notice, pull the rug
from under us, break otf trade relationship with us, and put the
United States in a precarious economic situation.
Mr. Arens. Give us an example or two of how effective Communists
are in achieving their objectives in organizations they infiltrate.
Mr. Pra\ssi()x. To give you n small example, but yet an important
example of how ell'ective Communists are in infiltration: When I first
became active in the Communist Party again, approximately in 1948,
without any solicitation whatsoever I began to receive literature from
dozens of Communist-front organizations and Communist-infiltrated
organizations, so it is evident that it was possible for Conununist
Party members in these organizations to put me on their mailing list.
COAUIUMST I'AKTY KOliiliKKN CALIFOUMA DISTRICT 2193
However, as of Aiionst 12, 1959, avIioii I broke wilh llic Communist
Party and so jinblii'ly stated, :dl mail, with no exception, fi'om all
orii'anizations in till rated l)y Communists and Conununist-lront oi'ii'ani-
zations stopped, which showed me — and should show to America^ —
that they had inlluence enough within these organizations to pull my
name from the mailing list of all of these organizations.
This is an important example of the inlluence of the Communist
Party although it mav seem minor, it does show the effectiveness of
Connnunists everywhere. This sudden stoppage of literature even
had somewhat of an international aspect because I had been i-eceiving
the publications of the World Health Organization, which, of course,
stopped Avith the rest of the })ublications that I had been receiving.
]\lr. Aiu:xs. On the basis of your experience, can you give us an ex-
ample or tAvo of the tactics the Communists are now using to influence
and convert st udents to their cause ?
jNIr. Prussiox. Yes. Students, of course, are a major concern of
the Communist Part}^, and they make a special effort to recruit students
into the consjMracy.
One example of this is a situation up at Stanford University where
there is an organization called Political Forum. This organization is
a good, bona fide organization, I don't believe it has any Communist
control. They invite speakers of all description, from the extreme
right to the extreme left. Just recently they had Archie Brown speak
there, from the Communist Party. At one time they invited Albert
Mickey Lima, the district organizer of the Communist Party.
The way the Communists operate, they will send three or four
Communists to such a meeting and these Communist Party members
will take note of those students wdio ask questions of such a nature
that the Communists feel that that particular student would be a
good prospect for recruitment into the Communist Party. They be-
friend such a student and will invite such a student down to a social
study group in one of the homes of the Communists,
A Communist who is very active in this sort of work is Elliott
Wilson. Another man is Leonard Grumet. Most of the meetings
in that area Avere held in the home of Leonard Grumet. Similiar
meetings of students whom the Communists felt could be Aveaned aiul
indoctrinated with communism Avere held at the home of Plolland
Roberts in Palo Alto.
Mr. Arexs. This is an aspect of Communist activity AAdiich I am
sure never occurs to these people Avho think they are being demo-
cratic and broadminded Avhen they invite people, even Communists
and felloAv travelers, to address such groups. They are not aAvare that
the Communists' scheme is to take advantage of eA^ery possible opening
given them.
You also mentioned Parent-Teacher Associations. Could you tell us
something about Communist actiAdty in regard to these groups and
the purjwseof it?
Mr. Prussiox. Well, the Parent-Teacher Associations — I do not
have too much information on it, because the Communist Party has its
oAvn parent-teacher association cell of which I was never a member.
But 1 do recall that Doris DaAvson — Avho I don't belieA'e Avas a member
of the Parent-Teacher Association though slie had associat ion with the
parent-teacher association cell — she came to a cell meeting and re-
2194 COIVIMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
ported that the resolution that the Communist Party was anxious to
have the Parent-Teacher Association pass at its national convention
would pass — and that resolution was the one to stop nuclear testing.
So the Communists, of course, are active in the PTA, as evidenced
by my testimony, the purpose being to try to pass resolutions at
PTA meetings which are in the interest of the Communist conspiracy.
But I also here want to point out that the PT2V is obviously some-
times inadvertently a victim of their deceit. Also, in working in
the PTA they have the usual line of picking out certain members of
the PTA who they feel might be susceptible to the line of the Com-
munist Party, recruiting them into the Communist Party and also
activating people into other Communist mass organizations. This
line is generally the same throughout all of the activities of the Com-
munist Party in all civic, political, and religious organizations.
Mr. Arexs. This, I believe, is a major concentration of the Com-
munist Party today and has been for the last few years, isn't that
true — that they are to infiltrate and penetrate our grassroots, com-
munity-level organizations ?
Mr. Prussiox. Yes. This is in line with the Communist Party
program of infiltration and carrying on the revolutionary work with-
in tliese organizations. And the revolutionary work consists princi-
paUy of carrying out the Communist Party line as it pertains to cei'tain
situations that are taking place locally, nationall}', and internation-
ally.
It was Lenin who said, and this is a hard and fast rule with all
Conununists, that there is no revolutionary theory without revolu-
tionary practice. This is the basis upon which Conununists work
in mass organizations and this constitutes the revolutionary practice,
to attain the final goal of overthrowing the Government by force
and violence as per Lenin's revolutionary theory.
Mr. Arens. On the basis of your many ^-ears of experience in the
Communist Party, both as a real member and as an undercover
operative for the FBI, would 3'ou say, if an international situation of
a critical nature developed and the Soviet Union ordered the Com-
munists in this country to engage in sabotage, insurrection, and so
forth, (hey would obey the order?
Mr. Prussion. This is a must with a member of the Communist
Party, in line with the teachings of Lenin. It is the duty of the
Communist Party of the LTnited States to come to the assistance of
the Soviet Union whenever and wherever tlie Soviet Conununist Party
might need such assistance. It is also the duty of the Soviet Union to
help the Communist Party Avithin the United States in every way
possible when tlie Communist Party of the United States needs such
assistance.
Mr. Arens. Are all Communists instructed along these lines?
Mr. Prussion. The Conununist Party member who has been a
member of the Communist Party for a reasonable length of time, I
would say, for approximately a year and a half to two years, is fully
aware of this Leninist inner obedience that is peculiar to all Com-
munists. I would like to quote from Lenin here:
The victory of socialism is possible first in a few or oven in one single capital-
ist country taken separately. The victorious proletariat of that country having
expropriated the capitalist and organized its own production would rise against
the rest of the capitalist world, attract to itself the oppressed classes of other
COMMITNISI' PAUrV— NOKTHKKN CALliOli.NIA DISTRICT 2195
countries, raise revolts amouK them against the capitalists and in the event of
necessity come out even with armed force a.t:ainst the exploltinfj classes and
their states. (P. 150, Lenin and Ziuoviev, Against the Stream.)
The entire program of the Communist Party is geared to the inter-
ests of tlic Soviet Union and it is historically a fact that the Com-
munist Party of the Ignited States has turned somersaults as requested
by the Soviet Union on all issues that the Soviet Union felt were
paramount in tlie interest of the Soviet Union.
Tlie Soviet Union is the symbol of the strength and the might of
the Conununist parties of all countries in the world, including, of
coui*se, the United States.
Mr, Arens. The Soviet Union says today that it wants peace and
tlie Communist Party of the United States says the same thing. Do
they really want peace?
Mr. Prussiox. The Soviet Union is carrying out a campaign of
fraudulent peace and the same campaign, of course, is being carried
out by the Communist Party of the United States.
The only peace that the Communist Party and the Conmiunist In-
ternational want is the "peace'* that can come only through Commu-
nist triumph all over the world, and any period in which the Com-
munist parties are carrying out a "peaceful" program is only a period
in which there is a respite in the wars that the Communist Interna-
tional is continuing and expects to culminate in the Soviet domination
of the world.
Here I would like to quote Lenin again, and this quote from Lenin
is very elementary :
We are living not only in a state but in a system of states and the existence
of the Soviet Union side by side with the United States for a long time is un-
thinkable. One or the other must triumph in the end and before that end
comes a series of frightful clashes between the Soviet Union and the United
States is inevitable. (Vol. XVI, p. 102, Collected Works.)
1 have already cpioted Dimitri Manuilsky on coexistence.
See pp. 2052, 2053.
The Communist Party, of course, today and at all times insists that
it is the political party of the United States, that it is the party of
Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, George Washing-ton, but the
attempt on the part of the Communist Party to validate its existence
is only an expediency for Communists to carry on their revolutionary
work within the United States.
Mr. Arexs. What arrangement is the Communist Party using to-
day for the holding of meetings ? We know that a dozen or so years
ago, before the top leaders of the party were indicted under the
Smith Act, you could walk down the street in a major city of this
country and you would see a building which had a sign out in front,
such and such Communist Party Club. All tliese were broken up
and the party went underground and adopted other methods of con-
cealment in 1948 or so. Could you tell us just what the party was
doing when you left it?
Mr. Prussiox. The Communist Party had very secretive meetings,
meetings were never held at the same place, meetings were always held
in different homes, different locations.
I recall several instances where Comnuniist Party meetings were
held in parks, one such meeting was held in Flood Park, in Menlo
2190 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Park, Calif. Another such meeting was held in Rinconada Park in
Palo Alto.
Mr. Arexs. About how many people were in attendance at these
meetings ?
Mr, Prussiox. Ten or 12 in each of these two instances.
Mr. Arexs. Were they held during the day or the night?
Mr. Prfsstox. One of these meetings was held during the day, the
other meeting that I referred to was held in the evening.
Mr. Arexs. Did these people give the appearance of simply being
picnickers or some such thing as that ?
Mr. Prtssiox. That is correct, sitting around a table and talking,
away from any people who might be in the area. The subject of meet-
ings is a very important one because public buildings are very, very
often used by the Communist Party and by Communist-front organi-
zations. For example, one of the most used public buildings for meet-
ings of the Connnunist Party and meetings of front organizations
that were initiated by the Communist Party, was the City Hall in
Sunnyvale, Calif. The meetings were held in the banquet room of
the City Hall and were usually the type that could I'aise money for the
various ]')urposes that the Communist Party was conducting a cam-
paign on.
For example, in that particular hall I recall three outright meet-
ings of the Communist Party.
Mr. Arexs. Were they held in the name of the Connnunist Party?
Mr. Prussiox. These were held not publicly in the name of the
Communist Party but were Communist Party meetings. Two such
meetings were to discuss, principally to discuss the circulation of the
People's World, how to raise money for the Peo]ile*s World. Another
such meeting was held during the strike at the Westinghouse Electric
Corp. plant. The Communist Party members were called together
to see what they could do to help win that particular sirike. The
leader of that strike was a member of the (^onnnunist Party, one
Joe Houseman. He attended this meeting that I am talking about.
Othei' meetings called at this particular place involved all l>arty
members aiid also other people who were invited to these meetings
though they Avere not open to the general ])ublic. When Holland
Roberts, for example, retiu-ned from one of his numerous trips to the
Soviet Union such a meeting was held so that he could lecture to the
Communist Party members and very close adherents of the Commu-
nist Party on the "glorious situation in the Soviet Union."
Mr. Arexs. What device did the party use for obtaining this public
facility for meetings of a party cell or group ?
Afr. Prtsstox. TTsually these meetings wore held by having individ-
uals rent the banquet room at Sunnyvale, I think it was for $;>. It
would be such a person as Elizabeth Nicholas, Avho was the section
organizer of the (^ommunist Party. In one instance it was Don Clark.
T (lotrt recall the others who may have reiiled (hat particidar location.
But it is excellent for (\)nuuunist Party purposes, because it is in the
basement of the City Hall, has one entrance and is locked off from
anybody who might intrude. Many dignitaries of the Communist
]*arty had s])oken at many meetings in tlie Sunnyvale City Hall, such
as (Jeoi-ge ^lorris, Holland Roberts, Herbei't Aptheker, and of course
section organizers such as Elizabeth Nicholas spoke there, Joe House-
man spoke there, he was business agent of the United Electrical
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2197
AVorkers Union in (he area. Banquets weit' lidd thei'e (o riiisc money
for Sidney Eogei"s, a radio connnentator who expounded the cause ol"
the C\)nununist I'arty at all times.
The siii'nilicant thinjx is (hat it is not, only the City JIall in Sunnv-
yalo that was used for such meetin<>;s, but siniihir meetin<^s arc held in
public l)uildin_<j:s in Palo Alto, for example, the Conununity Center, the
Souih Palo Alto Lihi-ary has been used. Kycn a rooui in (he Ci\ic
Auditorium in San ,Iose has been used.
I "want to ])oint out that some of these meetings are called in the
name of a front organization such as the Palo Alto Peace Club, but the
actual meeting itself was started and directed by the Communist Party
cell in this organization.
The schools are not arailable to Communist Party meetings or or-
ganizations that haA^e been declared subversiye. But the Communists
laugh about this because they don't haye to go to tlie public schools
when they haye access to other public buildings.
As a matter of fact, the Conmuinists haye a sense of humor and eyen
their sense of humor has a class angle. When they refer to the Sunny-
vale banquet room in the City Hall of Sunnyyale, they call it Smolny
Institute Xo. 1 and they call the community building in Palo Alto
Smolny Institute No. 2. Smolny Institute was the Moscow head-
quarters of the Bolsheyik Party during, prior to, and after the Russian
I'evolution and I think to this day is being used as an educational
center for the Communist International.
Mr. Arexs. Mr. Prussion, it is my understanding that under Cali-
fornia law anyone filing candidacy for election to public office must
sign a statement to the elTect that he is not a member of any subyersiye
oi-ganization. Do you know of any persons known to you as Connnu-
nist Party members wdio haye filed and signed this oath ?
Mr. Prussiox. Yes ; I do Iviiow such peoi)le.
The people I had in mind who ran for public office are Isobel
Cerney, who ran for Congress on the Independent Progressive Party
ticket
Mr. Arexs. When did she run for Congress, what year ?
Mr. Prussiox. I think it was 1054, although I am not sure that
was the year. I am pretty sure.
Mr. Arexs. Has she run since that time ?
Mr. Prussiox. No. I think the law was in efl'ect in 1948. The
other candidate is Holland Poberts, who ran for superintendent of
schools and received pretty close to a half million yotes in California.
Holland Roberts, an intellectual, is a foremost Communist lecturer and
instructor on leninism, prerequisites to the revolution, et cetera.
Mr. Arexs. What year was that (
Mr. Prussiox. This was in 1058. The other candidate is Al Isak-
sen, Avho ran for the assembly in the 28tli District and came pretty
close to winning the election. These are three people who in filing
to run for office took the oath and perjured themselves when they did.
this.
Another case is that of Michael Shapovalov, who had a book^ pub-
lislied and it is being used in the public schools of San Mateo County
at the present time. 1 don't know whetlier he liad to take a loyalty
^ Investifiration by the committpp reveals thnt book is entitled Soviet T:nio>i imblisbed
by the Fideler Publishing Co., Grand Kapids, Mk-li., 1958.
56597— <30^pt. 3 9
2198 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
oath when his book was contracted for by the Board of Education
but if he did take such an oath he, too, perjured himself because he
is a member of the Connnunist Party.
Air. Akexs. His book is being used as a toxtl)Ook in jiublic schools?
Mr. Prussion. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Have you read this book ?
Mr. Prussion. No, I have not read this book.
Mr. Arexs. Have you heard the book discussed in Communist
Party circles ?
Mr. Prussion. Only to the degree that it was anotlier bit of humor
witliin the Communist Party circles that Shapovalov, who was a very
close friend of Lenin, has published a book and this book is being
used in the public school system in California.
Mr. Arens. Do the Communists get a great kick out of this?
Mr. Prussion. They get a big bang out of this, yes.
Mr. Arens. Is it conceivable to you that a Communist, one of many
years' standing, would write a book with the hope that it would be
used as a textbook in the schools, and that he would not work the
Communist Party line or certain Communist Party doctrines into its
text?
Mr. Prussion. I have not read the book but I think somewhere
along the line he tried to inject some materialistic thought other than
that characteristic of the American heritage and ideals.
Mr. Arens. "Wliat is the subject of this textbook ?
Mr. Prussion. I think, although I am not sure, it is a civics book.
I think we should find out more about the book but regardless, even
if the book does not have anything in it, our Government should
not help support an avowed Connnunist of the type j\Ir. Shapovalov is
when they can get good American citizens who can write better or
ecjually as well on the same subject.
Mr. Arens. Will you tell us, Mr. Prussion, whether or not, along
with their infiltration of parent-teacher associations, political groups,
civic organizations and so forth, the Communist Party is also carrying
out infihration of religious organizations?
Mr. Prussion. The Communist Party, although its function is in
political, economic, and civic organizations, realizes that the church
and that religion, allect the thinking of every American citizen in
every field of life, so the Communist Party has always engaged in a
campaign of influencing and infiltrating church groups, and in that
way they can liave better results in working with American citizens in
various organizations.
I would like to cite an example of that, a veiy impoi-tant and
serious one.
The Palo Alto Peace Club, which was foi-nied in l!)4l) and was part
of the AVorld Peace Congress set up by Joseph Stalin, was declared
subversive by the Attorney General's office.
Mr. Arens. That is the U.S. Attorney General ?
Mr. Prussion. Yes. When tlie organization was declared subver-
sive, the Communist Party in the area had a hurried meeting in which
they decided to drop the membership aspect of that organization and
to continue an executive board whicli consisted of all (Communist Party
members, so that it could call meetings whenever a situation so re-
quired and so that its jiublication, Fla.shUghf^ would be continued.
Flashlight is being continued to this day.
COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2199
Mr. ^\rens. Was the purpose of discontinuing formal membership
a security measured
Mr. 1'kussii»n. Yes, because this was during the Smith Act prosecu-
tions and the Connnunist Party was fearful of prosecution of those
people who were members of the Palo Alto Peace Club. The Palo
Alto Peace Club, out of a total membership of 64 in my last count,
about 40 or 45 were members of the Communist Party and all other
members were members of diil'erent front organizations or people
who "vvere very close to tlie Communist Party.
At a meeting held in the home of Valeda Bryant on Middlefield Road
in Palo Alio, the Communist Party decided tliat in view of the fact
that the Quakers, the Friends Service Committee, had proven to be
an excellent held for infiltration b}' a few party members, they decided
to carry on the Connnunist Party line ''peace"" work — ])eace in
quotes — through the Quaker organization.
At a meeting called by the Connnittce to End Nuclear Testing of the
American Friends Service Committee (Quakers), of a delegated bod}'
of approximately 40 attending, 15 by count were members of the
Comnnmist Party.
jNIr. Arens. Approximately when did this meeting take place?
]Mr. Prussion". The meeting took place some time in July, I believe,
1957.
The Communist Party members at this meeting w-ere the most
articulate and volunteered and accepted appointments for the spade
work necessary for a program of activity resulting in an encampment
Monday through Saturday in Livermore, Calif., daily picketing of the
AEC Radiation Laboratory at Livermore, a walk for peace in Liver-
more from their camping grounds to the AEC laboratories, and a
motorcade to Livermore and house-to-house visiting of people in
Livermore, and a final meeting at Foresters Hall in Livermore.
JVIr. Arens. From the Conmiunist viewpoint, would the United
States' halting of nuclear weapons tests and the abolition of the uses
of nuclear weapons promote war or peace ?
Mr. Prussion. You have to remember that the Communist Lenin-
ists' theory is that war is perpetual, continuous, it is universal, and it is
not limited to missiles and atomic bombs and so forth, that it involves
evQvy facet of human life, and this is what they commonly call the class
struggle that goes on at all times, which will culminate, they believe,
in a revolution in the United States.
The Commimist drive for the abolishing of atomic weapons was
started at a time when the Soviet Union did not have atomic bombs and
the United States did. And it would have been to their advantage
at that time to abolish atomic bombs.
Mr. Arens. They are continuing that drive today. Why?
Mr. Prussion. Because the Communist International is so thor-
oughly imbued and resolved with the possibilities of overthrowing
the various governments all over the world through insurrection and
force and violence that they feel that there is no iieed for the use of
atomic bombs.
As a matter of fact, I feel that the atomic bomb situation, the hydro-
gen bomb situation, has balanced itself off between the free world
and the world behind the Iron Curtain and it is no longer a world
factor in what the Communists call future struggles between the
United States and the Soviet Union.
2200 COMMUNIST PARTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
This is one of the reasons why Khrushchev talks about burying us
and one of the reasons why Khrushchev is so confident that we will
see a Soviet form of government in the not too far distant future in
the United States.
i\lr. Akexs. In other words, from the Communist viewpoint, if they
succeed in this campaign of eliminating all atomic weapons, supposing
it were actually to agree to it — for tlie Soviet Union it would merely
be giving up a weapon which it feels it won't need to accomplish its
ultimate aim, but the United States, on the other hand, would be giving
up a weapon which at some time might be vital to its own defense
Mr. Prussiox. That is essentially correct.
Mr. Arexs. x\gainst Soviet Union aggression ?
Mr. Prussiox. That is essentially correct. Of course the question
of the atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb, although it is very serious
!Uid very critical, I believe is not the major problem that is confront-
ing the United States and other free countries. The ])roblem is one of
subversive activities within these countries through which Khrushchev
expects to win the rest of the world. Cuba is an excellent example of
the almost perfect manner in which the Leninist line was carried out to
the point where Cuba today, after its successful uprising led by the
Communist Party, is now preparing for the outright establishment of
the dictatorship of the proletariat, which, according to Lenin, will
follow colonial u]:>rising whether in Cuba or any other country. Cuba
today, I believe, will become the pivot point for the activities of the
(\)nnnunist conspiracy in the Western Hemisj^here.
^Iv. Arex^s, When you were in the Communist Party, did the cell to
whicli you belonged receive any instruction concerning the Cuban
situation and Castro's armed rebellion against the Batista regime^
Mr. Prussion. Yes. There were very many discussions and educa-
t ioual programs surrounding the Cuban situation, and the Communist
Party members at all times accepted (\istro as a con^.rade and stories
were circulated, and probably true stories, that Castro's brother had
gone to the Lenin School in Moscow and that Castro himself was
slated to go to the Lenin School, but he turned the otl'er down because
lie was so busy cariying out his revolutionaiy work in Cuba.
This Avas a type of conversation that was prevalent in the cells where
I at tended meetings during that period.
There was no question in my mind at all, there should not be in any
Amei-ican citizen's mind any more, as to where Castro stands.
In Leninism, Lenin calls for, just as Kiirushchev did when he spoke
before the Security Council of the United Nations here in the United
States, the revolt of the oppressed people in the colonial countries. In
levolts of such types as described by Lenin, the Connnunist Party
takes a leading part in these revolts and, if and when these revolts
are successful, in which the colonies drive out their oppressors, so-
called, the Communist Part}' is sulliciently entrenchetl and has enougli
sui)port to transform, at some future date, this colonial ni)rising into
an ui)rising for the establishment of the Soviet form of government.
This is why. of course, the Communists are active in this field, in
Africa, South America and in Asia. The Comnnniist Party always
has in mind the ultimate establishment of a Communist dictator-
ship, even tliough they participate in these colonial uprisings which
sometimes, and almost at all times, get the support of democratic and
['wv nal ions all o\'er the world.
COMMUNIST PARTY XOHTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2201
All". Akkns. .Mr. Prussioii, you wri'i' discussing- Coiiumiiiisl iiili](r;i-
(ioii of religious organizations when we got oft' on the suhjcci of atomic
testing.
Mr. Pkussiox. Yes.
Mr, Akexs. Did you lune anything further you wanted to say on tin-
incident YOU were discussing at that time ?
Afr. PiussioN. I would just like to say that llie Connnunist Parly,
of course, instigated, planned, and directed all of these acliYities which
on the surface would appear to be directed by the Quaker oiganiza-
tion. This is typical of the deceitful manner in which ("onnuunists
intilti'ate and direct o])erafions of a churcli organization.
For example, 1 have here with me a note from one of the ( "om-
nnniist Partv members concerning this meetino-.
Mr. Akens. What does the note say 'i
Mr. Pkt'ssiox. It says :
Sorry that you have to look up phone numbers. The people you phone should
be receiviu.i; fact sheet late this week which will give them detailed iufurnmtion
on Livermore activities and motorcade. Your call is to alert them to the activily
that is going on, inform them that it looks like it will be a rousing success, and
invite and urge them to participate. If you want more information call Roy
Kepler at \Vhitehaven S-158r> (home) and DA 4— t.'^l'l (store). Please return
list of names in enclosed envelope to Mrs. Jean Miller, 3145 David, Palo Alto.
This referred to a list of names given to me by Mary Wilson wlio
was a member of the Communist Party.
(Document marked "Prussion E.xhibit No, 4,"' and retained in
conmiittee tiles.)
Mr. Arexs. Was the man you were to call, who is mentioned in that
note, a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Prussiox. Xo, Roy Kepler is not a member of the Communist
Party to my knowledge, but he was chairman of this meeting which
15 Communist Party members attended, and Mr. Kepler owns a book-
store in which, for example, Frank Wilkinson held a meeting against
the Committee on Un-American Activities prior to the committee's
arrival. And Roy Kepler's bookstore, of course, is a gathering point,
meeting point for Communists and left-wing people. I, in no way,
mean to infer that Roy Kepler is a member of the Communist Party.
He certainly has been cooperating with them, inadvertently or ad-
vertently, I don't know. He is an active Quaker.
Mr, Arexs. Were the people you were to call about this meeting
Communists or was it a broader list ?
Air. Prussiox. Most of the ])eo]ile to be called were non-Co]nmu-
nists. _ For example, members of the Unitarian Church, the member-
ship list of the Unitarian Church obtained by a Communist within the
Unitarian Church was used. The people who had signed.
Mr. Arkxs. Do you know the person who ol)tained tliis list?
Mr. Pklssiox. Yes. Valeda Pryant, in whose home many Com-
munist Party meetings had been held.
Mr. Arexs. Was this meeting, these demonstrations and so forth, a
rousing success, as you were told to tell peo])le it would be ?
Mr. Prusssiox. It did turn out to be a successful meeting.
Another means of names obtained for calling up and sending
literature to for these demonsti-ations Avere obtained from the list of
people who signed the Stockholm Peace Petition which had been
circulated a year or so prior.
2202 COMMUNIST PARTY — ^NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Arexs. The Communist Party kept names on a list such as
that and made future use of them ?
Mr. Puussiox. That is correct. As a matter of fact the millions of
signatures that %Yere obtained became the propertj^ of the Communist
Party. The local Communist Party where these petitions were circu-
lated used those names, copied tliem off before the petition was sent
away to a post office box to which the petitions were mailed.
Mr. Aren's. On the basis of your experience in the Communist
movement over a considerable period of years in this country, what
would you say are the major weaknesses of the American public in
regard to the operations of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Prussion. I think the Communist Party, especially through
their peace campaign and their campaigns of peaceful coexistence,
have had a major success in creating a public apatliy and indifference
to the menace of the Communist conspiracy. This apathy should
be changed to an acute awareness by our citizenry of this danger and
this awareness should express itself in such a manner that there will
be proper legislation passed that would facilitate the containment and
the ultimate destruction of this conspiracy. Appeasement of the
Soviet Union on their "peaceful coexistence offensive" today can only
mean the complete capitulation of the American way of life to
Leninist materialism and dictatorship tomorrow.
Mr. Arens. What are some of the legislative measures that you be-
lieve are necessary?
Mr. Prussion. First, I think that it is vitally important that we
have legislation that will make it possible for cooperation between our
executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government in the fi^ht
against subversion. Valuable material gathered by the executive
branch of government is not available to the Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities, for example. This information would assist the com-
mittee in securing evidence and also in writing effective legislation to
counter the Communists' offensive.
Two, I believe in the continuation and the strengthening of the
enforcement of the Walter-McCarran Immigration Act so that such
agents as Bill Gebert and othei'S cannot have access to our comitry for
the spreading of their subversive Soviet propaganda and agitation.
Three, we should have passport legislation to make it impossible for
active Communists such as Holland Roberts, Harvey Eichards, and
others to be able to travel freely behind the Iron Curtain and back to
the United States and in this manner serve the Soviet cause.
Four, I believe the Smith Act should be strengthened and written
in such a manner that the Supreme Court could not come up with
adverse decisions as they pertain to the Smith Act.
Five, I think the loyalty oath shoidd be strengthened so that the
wording "a member of an organization which advocates the over-
throw of the Government by force and violence" should be changed to
"Communist Party."
In the State of California I think the Dilworth Act should be en-
forced and strengthened and the machinery should be set up in this
State so that credentials can be revoked of any State employee who
refuses to cooperate.
Mr. Arens. Do jou think that such legislative recommendations as
you have just made will be sufficient to close the gap in our defenses?
COMMUNIST PAKTY — NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 2203
Mr. Prussion. No, I don't believe thai it is sufficient. I believe that
public apnthy and indiirci-omv can be cliauirod so that tlie public be-
comes enlio-htenod (hrouirli a broad and intensive educational pro«^ram
on the subject, and I also believe that it is the job of free Americans
and free enterprise everywhere to organize in an orderly democratic
fashion in the light against coinmnnism Avherever it appears in any
form.
Mr. Aeens. You testified in San Francisco that party members gen-
erally could learn the identity only of persons in the same cell they
were in, but that section meetings were held at which you met members
from other cells.
How often were these section meetings held, as a rule ?
Mr. Pkussion. About every 6 months.
Mr. Akexs. Roughly, how many people attended? Would there
be a delegate from every cell, or what ?
Mr. Piussiox. There would be one delegate for eveiy 20 members.
Mr. Akexs. For every 20 members
Mr. Prussiox. In the cell; 20 meml:>ers or under, in other words.
Mr, Arexs. The cells today, then, some of them, are as large as 20
members ?
Mr. Prussiox. Today they are.
Mr. Arex^s. Or even larger ?
Mr. Prussiox. Yes. Through these section committee meetings I
have gotten to know ]Morris Graliam, Albert Bob Lindsay, Mrs. Albert
Rob Lindsay, Francis Fink, Dave A^olberg, Mrs. Dave Volberg, and Joe
Irving as Communist Party members.
]Mr. Arexs. Could you tell us something of the role of these people
in the party? What type activity or cell they were members of.
Mr. Prussiox'. These people who were members of other cells were
usually the cell organizers. They are usually delegates to the section
committee, and all of these people at section meetings — there were
usually about 30 present — were articulate, strong leaders within the
Communist Party apparatus.
Mr. Arexs. Were you able to determine what type work they did
in their own cell or what type cell they were in, or were you limited
in your knowledge to the mere fact that they represented other cells
in these section gatherings?
Mr. Prussiox. I determined the concentration cell work of some
of these members, like Dave Volberg, who headed the cell at the
Ford Motor Co. in ]Milpitas. I also learned that Albert Bob Lindsay
was active in the cell of the Lithogi'aphers Union.
Mr. Arexs. In what city ?
Mr. Prussiox. San Jose.
And that Joe Irving was active in the Carpenters Union.
Mr. Arexs. In what area, or city or town, was that ?
Mr. Prussiox. The San Jose area.
Mr. Arexs. Had you ever met any of these people in places other
than at these section meetings?
Mr. Prussiox". At party functions tliat were not closed party func-
tions. In other words, people on the fringe, people who were fellow
travelers would attend such affairs, principally to raise money. All
of these peojile would be present at such functions.
2204 COMMUNIST PARTY — ^NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT
Mr. Akkxs. Mr. Pnission, do you believe that the Communist
l^urly should l)e outlawed?
Mr. Pkussiox. I am deliuitely of such a belief because the Com-
numist Party is uot a ])()liti('al party. It is a conspiracy which owes
its allegiance iivst to tlu* Soviet Union and is dedicatee! to the over-
throw of our Govenunent by force and violence and the establish-
ment of a dictatorship. I know that during the period of the Smith
Act ])i-()secutions, when the party wavS suddenly driven underground,
that the Communist Party Avas at its lowast ebb and organizationally
and ])roductively was in a A'ery poor, sad condition. I feel that out-
lawing the Communist Party would greatly deter, or possibly even
destroy, the Communist Party in its drive to sovietize America.
jNIr.*^ Arexs. I gather you*^ feel that the Communist Party has
regained a lot of ground since that period?
Mr. Prfssiox. Yes.
Mr. Arens. Since the early 1950's, when it was in such a Ioav state,
what do you believe have been the major reasons for this?
Mr. Prussiox. The major reasons have been some of the decisions
of the Supreme Court as they pertain to certain individuals who
came under the Smith Act and the Internal Security Act, and I also
strongly feel that the visit and reception given Klirushchev in the
United States Avas a tremendous factor in stimulating and causing the
breakthrough period of the Communist Party that Ave are experienc-
ino* today.
Mr. Arens. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that Avill conclude
the staff interrogation of this Avitness.
Mr. "WiLiJS. I Avant to thank you, Mr. Prussion, for coming to
Washington to appear before the committee again.
I know that the information you have given us today Avill be
extremely A-aluable, not only to its members in carrying out their legis-
lative. functions, but also to the American })cople in helping shake
them out of the apathy you haA'e referred to and in Avarning them about
some of the tactics the Communists are noAv using in this country in
their efforts to destroy the freedom and the Government of the Ameri-
can people.
(Pi-esent : RepresentatiA'es Willis and Johansen.)
(W]iereu[)on, at 12 :30 p.m., Friday, June 10, 1060, the hearing
adjoui'ued.)
INDEX
l.M)IVIl)UALS
Patro
Adler. Gertrude 2048. 2124. 212.",
Allen. James S 192."), 217!)
Audersen, George K 11IC>4.
19S4. 2004, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2055, 2059, 20G2, 2068, 2071, 2096, 2126.
2128.
Aptheker, Herbert 2041, 219<;
Austin. II 2175
Alchermes, Sara 2048, 2124, 2125, 2185
Bailey (Dr.) 2038
Batista (Fulgeucio) 1982, 2200
Becks. lul 2048, 2lsl
Becks. Gelsomiue (Mrs. Ed Becks) 2048,2181
Bellshaw, William 2175
r.emlich, Albert M 2024.2116,2142,2147
Bergman, Leibel 1923, 1924, 2001, 2004-2011 (testimony)
Blodgett, Charles (David) 2136,2137,2139
Bown, Vernon 1923,
1924. 2000. 2001, 2002, 2009, 2012-2017 (testimony), 2069, 2070.
2173.
Bradley, Steve. (See Brodsky, Merle.)
Bridges, Harry (Reuton) 2074,2092,2172,2173,2178
Brodsky, Merle (also known as Steve Bradley) 1924.
1928, 19&3, 1984-1995 (testimony), 2050, 2001, 2173
Brooke, Tyler (also known as Taylor Brooke) 207(>-2079 (testimony)
Browder, Earl 1976, 1981, 20.38, 2184
Brown. Archie 1924.
1928. 1951. 1964. 1965. 1971, 2023. 2fMn, 2062. 2086. 20!:)1. 2096-2O98
(testimony), 2137, 2172, 2173, 2193.
Br mm, George IIK!*;
Bryant. Valeda 2199, 2201
Cahill, Thomas 1929. 2088-2091 (testimony)
Carberry. Matthew C 1929, 2090, 2101-2106 (testimony)
Castro (Fidel) 19S(>, 22(iO
Cerney (Edwin H.) 204s
Cerney, Isobel (Mrs. Edwin H. Cerney) 2048.2197
Chessman. Caryl 2174
Chiang Kai-shek 2172
Clark, Donald H 1924, 2054, 2057-2059 (testimony), 2190
dinger, Moiselle J 1988
Coakley, J. Frank 21.39.2140
Dawson, Doris 1922. 2043.
2048, 2054, 2061, 2124, 2125, 2144, 2145-2146 (testimony), 2181.
2193.
(le Gaulle (Charles) 2192
Deirup, Ann 1924,2027-2030 (testimony)
Dumerai (Father) 203.S
Edises. Bertram 2027, 2065, 2075, 2092, 2111, 2148, 2151-2165 ( testimony)
Einstein, Albert 2100
Ei.senhower (Dwight D. ) 2178,2192
Ellis, Rayme_ 2109-2111 (testimony)
ii INDEX
Page
EnRels (Filedrich) 1960
Erb, Tillman H 1024, 2092-2006 (testimony)
Field, Mary 204S. 2050. 2124, 2125, 2181, 2185
Figueiredoi Joseph 1924, 2017-2023 (testimony)
Fink, Francis 2203
Fisher, Betsy 2044. 2046
Fishman, Irving 1927, 1934-1951 (testimony)
Folkoff, Lsaac 2048, 2125
Foreman. Clark 2170, 2172
Foster, William Z 1976
Frantz, Laurent Brown 2155, 2156-2160 (testimony)
Clanley, Nat 2087, 2184
Gebert, Bronislaw Konstantine (also known as Boleslaw K. Gebert and
William K. Gebert) 2038, 2184, 2202
Grabor, Thomas 2107-2100 (testimony)
Graham, Morris 1924, 1928, 2054, 2059-2061 (testimony), 2203
Grumet, Leonard 2185, 2193
Hakes. Robert F 2175
Hall. Gus 1922, 1953, 1962-1964, 1970, 197L 1983
Hallett (Winslow) 2141
Halliuan, Vincent 2012, 2048, 2118. 2185
Halpern, Betty (Mrs. RaA-mond Halpern ; nee Weinstein) 1924. 2116-
2118 (testimony)
Hamlin. Lloyd 2130
Harju, Walter 2043, 2048, 2181, 2185
Harjii, Wilma (Mrs. Walter Harju) 2181, 2185
Harris, Noel 1924, 2024-2027 (testimony)
Hartle, Barbara 1922. 1923, 105r>-1964 (testimony). 1065-1')66 (testi-
mony), 1969-1983 (testimony), 1985, 2002, 2003-2004 (testimony),
2037.
Hessler, Gertrude 2035
Hoover, J. Edgar 1949,2158,2159,2169
Houseman. Joe 2043, 2196
Howard, Norman 2057, 2001. 2139
Hutcheson, M. A 2151. 2152
Irving, Joe 2203
Isaksen. Allan 2049. 2050, 2051, 2185, 2196
Isaksen, Eleanor (Mrs. Allan Isaksen) 2185
Izard. Ralph 1024, 1928, 2092, 2126, 2128-2138 (tos)imony). 2172, 2173
Johnsen, Ralph Kenneth 1925, 2142-2144 (testimony)
Johnson (Arnold) 2141
Johnson, Elmer E 2079-2081 (testimony), 21,50. 2151
Johnson, John Allen 1925, 2151-2155 (testimony)
Kepler. Roy 2201
Khrushchev. Nikita (S.) 1053,1960.
1002, 1063, 1971, 2033, 2041, 2052, 2086, 2181, 2191, 2192, 2200, 2204
Kimple. WMlliam (Ward) 2127
King, Estelle (Mrs. William King) 2043, 2048
Kim:, William 1923, 2043, 2047, 2048
Knowland, (WMlliam F.) 2049
Laffertv. Travis 1924, 2126,2146,2147-2148 (testimony)
I^nin (V. I.) 1925, 1!)60. 1972.
2035, 2052, 2085, 2125, 2177, 2179, 2183, 2187, 2194, 2195, 2198. 2200
Leonard, James 2104
Leonard, Norman 2161
Letts (F. Dickinson) 2070
Lewis, Joseph F 2061,2120,2145
Lima, Albert Mickey 2172,2103
Lindsay, Albert Bob 2050, 2203
Lindsav, Mrs. Albert Bob 2203
Longman (Dr.) 2038
Louie, Stephen K 1927,1934-1051 (testimony)
Ludwig. Martin 2062-2065 (testimony)
Lumer, Hvman 1954, 2036
MacArthur (Douglas) 2183
INDEX iii
Page
Macmillan (Harold) ^11>^
Masuire, Michaol J 1929,12001-2002 (testimouy)
Maudol. William 2005-20G8 (testimony)
Manuilsky. Dimitri Z 2052,2195
Marcus. Martiu Irving 1924,1995-1998 (testimony)
Marshall, Diirothy (N.) ^1^-
Marx, Karl I960, 1972, 2052
McCarthy (Joseph li.) 20GG, 20U(
McTernan, Francis (J.) 2079,2099
ISIeiiny, George 2001
Miller, Jean 2201
Morris, Clarence 1929, 2105, 2190
Mosk ( Stanley ) 2114, 2139
Negro, John Andrew 1924,2071-2074 (testimony)
Newman, Edward 2074,2070
Nicholas, Elizabeth M 1924, 204S-2()5(),
2054, 2055-2057 ( testimony ), 2125, 2181, 2196
O'Connor, Harvey 2169
Ortelle, John 1964
Perrv. Pettis 1955
Philbrick, Herbert (A.) 2020,2021
Pike, James 2176
Prussion, Karl 1921, 1922, 1924-1927, 2031-2055
(testimony), 2057, 2059, 2060, 2080 (testimony), 2083-2088 (testi-
mony), 2123, 2124-2125 (testimony), 2126, 2146 (testimony), 2165,
2177-2204 (testimony)
Ransome, Lillian 1924, 2118-2120 (testimony)
Eayburn, Sam 2106
Keich, William 1921,2126,2139-2141 (testimony)
Reuther, Walter 2178, 2184
Richards, Harvey 2048, 2202
Roberts, Holland 2048, 2193, 2196, 2197, 2202
Rogers, Sidney 2197
Roosevelt (James) 2072, 2113-2115
Rosen, Lottie Laub 1924,2111-2115 (testimony)
Ross, Belle (Mrs. Edward Ross) 2048,2185,2186
Ross, Edward 1921, 1922,
2048, 2049, 2051, 2054, 2055, 2120-2126 (testimony), 2185, 2186
Schneider, Ed 2048
Shapovalov, Esther (Mrs. Michael Shapovalov) 2048,2124
Shapovalov, Michael 1927, 2048, 2124, 2180, 2197, 2198
Sobell, Morton 2188
Stachel, Jacob (Jack) 2038,2184
Stalin, Josef 2053, 2141, 2198
Stalliugs, Ann (Mrs. Jack Stallings) 2186
Stallings, Jack 2186
Stevenson (Adlai E.) 2051
Stewart, Charles A 1995
Street, Emerson 2186
Sweet, Sally Attarian 1924, 1928, 2074-2075 (testimony), 2092
Szego, Peter 2049, 2051, 2181
Thomas 2105
Trotsky (Leon) 2141
Truman (Harry S.) 2095
Van Gilder, II. O 2175
Venger, Ruben 1924, 2126-2128 (testimony)
Volberg, Dave 2203
Volberg, Mrs. Dave 2203
Wachter, Douglas 1924,1966-1969 (testimony),
207.5, 2172-2174
Wachter, Saul 1924, 1928, 2075, 214,8-21.50
(testimony), 2174
Waterman, A 1955
Watson, Don 2175
Weinstone, William 2038, 2184
Weintraub, Jack 1924,2068-2071 (testimony)
Weniger, Arno 2175
iv INDEX
Page
Weuiger, G. Archer 2175
Wheeler, Juauita 1928
Wheeler, William A 1952-1955 (testimony),
2000-2002 (testimony)
White, Alvin 204S
White, Myra 2048
Wilkinson, Frank 1928, 2073, 2091, 2092, 2137, 21(i9, 2170, 2173, 2201
WiLsoii, Elliott 1923. 2043. 2047-2051, 218G. 2193
Wilson, Mary (Mrs. Elliott Wil.son) 2043. 2047. 204S. 2125. 2181, 21S(j, 2201
Wong, Harlin 1927, 1934-1951 (testimony)
Yates. Oleta (O'Connor) 2050
Zeitz. Louis 1925, 2099-2101 (testimony)
Zinoviev (Grigori) 2195
Orga.nizatioxs
American Civil Liberties Union
Northern California 2025, 2116, 2142, 2147
American Federation of Labor 2000, 2001
Central Labor Council, Spokane, Washington 1979
American Peace Mobilization 1970
Auto Workers, United CIO. (See Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural
Implement AVorkers of America, CIO.)
Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America,
CIO 2184
Briggs & Co 2038
CORE. (See Congress of Racial Equality. )
California Democratic Council 2050, 2186, 2190
Convention, Fresno, 1956 2050, 2051
Convention. Fresno. February 12, 13, and 14, 1960 2186
Sth Congi-essional District 1922, 2139, 2140
California Labor School 2069, 2154
Campbell School (Santa Clara County, California) 1924
Carpenters and Joiners of America, United Brotherhood of, AFL 2151, 2203
Local 36 (East Bay area, Calif.) 2151, 2153
Chrvsler Corp. :
DeSoto Plant (Detroit, Michigan) 2036,2038
Plymouth Plant (Detroit, Michigan) 2038
Citizens Committee To Preserve American Freedoms (CCPAF) 1928, 2092
City Hall, San Francisco 2089,2090,2174,2175
City Hull, Siinnyvale, Calif 1926, 2196,2197
Civic Auditoriimi (San Jose, Calif.) 2197
Civic Center (San Francisco) 2104
Civil Rights Congress 2163
Committee to Elect Archie Brown to the Board of Supervisors 2137
Communist International. (See International, III.)
Communist Party, Poland — Trade Union Commission 2038, 2041
Communist I'arty, Soviet Union — Central Committee 1943
Communist I'arty. USA 2041, 2042, 2087
National Structure:
Industrial Commission 2087
National Committee 1955, 1971,
2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2040, 20(i3, 2070. 2087
Executive Coininittee 2179
17th National Convention. December 10-13, 1959. New York Citv_ 1922.
1924. 1952-1955, 1962, 1968, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2022, 2084, 2136,
2149, 2174.
Districts :
District 7 (Michigan) :
District Committee 2032
District Training School, Farmingtoii. Mich 2035, 203(>
Industrial Commission 2032
District 12 (Northwest District-Washington State) 1956
District Committee 1 95(5
District Board 195«t
INDEX V
Coiiinuiiiisi Tarly. ISA ('ciit iiiucd
I>istrif(s — Coutinufd Papc
Xorthem Califoruiu District 1921.
1924, 19r.2, 1955, 19G8, 2000, 2008, 2022, 20-10
Dlslrict Comniittop 1924
District Political Committee 2049
East Ray rejiion 1991, 1998
Alameda County 1990
County Committee 2030
I'olitical Committee 1921
Kxecutive Committee 2001
Humboldt County 2020
San Francisco :
American Federation of Labor Section 2000,
2001, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2070
Section Committee 2001
County Committee 1924, 2000
Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo Section 2040
Santa Clara County :
Cell within Food Machinery and Chemical Corp 2044
Cell within (ieneral Electric Co 2044
Cell within I'ermanente Cement Co 2044
Cell within San Jose Steel 2044
Cell within Westinghouse Electric Corp 2044
Industrial (or Trade Uni(m) Commission 2032,2044
I.o« Altos-Mountain View cell 2043,
2040-2048, 2054, 2146, 2180
Milpitas— Cell within Ford Motor Co 2203
Palo Alto Cluli 2040. 2048, 2053, 2054. 2124, 2140
San Jose — Cell within the Carpenters and Joiners of
America, United Brotherhood of, AFL 2203
San Jose — Cell within the Lithographers of America
Amalgamated 2203
Santa Monica 1989
Sonoma County 2127
County Committee 1998
Valley Section 2119
Northwest District. ( See District 12. )
Southern California District 2040
States :
Arizona 2061
California 2003,2191
Central Committee 2056
Executive Committee 1998
Massachusetts :
Bristol County 2018
Michigan :
Detroit 2080, 2184
Cell within Ford Motor Co 2032
West Side Sectitm 2032
Flint 2035
Ohio 1964
Community Center (Palo Alto, Calif.) 1926,2197
Congress of Indu.strial Organizations 2038,2184
Congress of Kacial E(piality (CORE), University of California branch 2174
Council for Civic Unity 2044,2145,2146
Los Altos-Mountain View Branch 2180,2181
Democratic Party. California 1921, 1980, 2049, 2050, 2125, 2185, 2186, 2190
Los Altos-Mountain View Democratic Club 212.5, 2181
South P.-ilo Alto Democratic Club 1926,2040,2125,2185,2186,2190
Stanford Democratic Club 2049,2125
DeSoto. ( Sec Chrysler Corp., DeSoto. )
Drake University 2160
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, United 2043, 2196, 2197
Emergency Civil Liberties Committee (ECLC) 1928,2092,2169-2172
vi INDEX
Page
Fideler Publishing Co. (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 2197
Food Machinery and Chemical Corp 2044
Ford Motor Company 20.32, 2203
Friends Service Committee. (See Religious Society of Friends, American
Friends Service Committee.)
Fimd for the Republic 2158-2160
General Eh^ctric Co 2043, 2044
General Motors Corp.
General Motors Truck and Coach Division (Detroit, Mich.) 2038
Independent Progressive Party (California), (t^ee Progressive Party,
California.)
International. Ill 2041, 2053
International Union of Students 1948
Jenks-Muir Sprin? Plant (Detroit. Mich.) 2038
KCBS (Radio Station, San Francii=co) 2104
KPIX (Television Station, San Francisco) 1929
KRON (Televison Station. San Francisco) 1929
Lenin School of Political Warfare (Moscow) 2052,2200
Lithographers Union of America, Amalgamated 2203
Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union. International 2172
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 2054,
2146
North China News Agency 1936
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 2192
Packard Motor Car Co 2038,2087
Palo Alto Peace Club 1922, 2058, 20,54, 2145, 2146, 2182, 2197-2199
Executive Board 2054
Pennsylvania Unemployed League 2141
People's Educational Center 2117
Permanente Cement Co 2044
Presna Latina 1936
Progressive Party (California) (Independent Progressive Party) 1921,
2044, 2046, 2048, 2049, 2185, 2197
Religious Society of Friends :
American Friends Service Committee 2199
Committee To End Nuclear Testing 2199
Republican Party 1980, 2185, 2186
San Francisco Police Department 2088
San Jose Steel 2044
South Palo Alto Library 2197
Stanford University 1925, 2043, 2047, 2099, 2193
Political Forum 1926, 2193
Stockholm Peace Petition. (Sec World Peace Appeal.)
Telepress News Agency 2135
Tompkins School (Oakland, California) 2142
Trotskyite Workers Party. ( See Workers Party of the U.S. )
Unitarian Church 2201
United Nations 2189
Security Council 2052
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Government of — Embassy, Mexico — 1939
United States Government :
Atomic Energy Commis.sion. Radiation Laboratory, Livermore, Calif. 2199
Justice Department — Federal Bureau of Investigation 21(>9
Post Office Department 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939
Treasury Department:
Custom.s, Bureau of 1934,1935,1937,1938,1940
San Francisco Control Unit 1934
University of California 1924, 1966, 2030, 2105, 2173, 2174
Student Committee for Civil Liberties 2173
University of Santa Clara 2181
Washington Video Productions, Inc 1929
Wayne University 2035, 2037
Westinghouse Electric Corp 2043,2044,2196
Willowbrook Cooperative Nursery School 2109
INDEX vii
Page
Workers' Party of the Uuitod States 2141
World Federation of Deniocratic Youth 1948
World Peace Appeal (also known as Stockholm Peace Appeal or Peti-
tion) 1900, 2053, 2182, 2201
World Peace Con.izress 2053,2182,2198
World Youth Festival, Seventh, July 26-Aug. 4, 1959, Vienna 2171
Youth Against the House Un-American Activities Committee 2171,2172
Publications
China Pictorial 1930
China Reconstructs 1942
Chinese Literature 193G
Daily I'aliforniau (University of California publication) li!67, 2173, 217.'')
Evergreen 1943
Flashlight, The 1922,2054,2198
Korea 1936
Korea Today 1936
Masters of Deceit (book) 1949,2109
Nation, The 2159
People's China 1936
People's Daily 1943
People's World (Formerly Daily People's World) 2054,
2135, 2160, 2190, 2191, 2196
Soviet Far East and Central Asia (book) 2006
Soviet Union (book) 1927,2197
Worker, The 1973
Tank (magazine) 2135
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