Report on the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, a communist lobby

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REPORT ON

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE
TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

A Communist Lobby

DECEMBER 7. 1950

Prepared and released by the

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Committee on Un-American Activities, U. S. House of Representatives

Washington. D. C.

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Committee on Un-American Activities, United States House of

Representatives

eighty-first congress, second session

John S. Wood, Georgia, Chairman

Francis E. Walter, Pennsylvania
Burr P. Harrison, Virginia
John McSweeney, Ohio
Morgan M. Moulder, Missouri
*RicHARD M. Nixon, California
Francis Case, South Dakota
Harold H. Velde, Illinois
Bernard W. Kearney, New York

Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., Counsel

Louis J. Russell, Senior Investigator

John W. Carrington, Clerk of Committee

Benjamin Mandel, Director of Research

♦Honorable Richard M. Nixon resigned from tlae House of Representatives on November 30 and became
a member of the Senate on December 4, 1950.

II

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REPORT ON

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE

MUNDT BILL

A COMMUNIST LOBBY

The National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, since its
inception, has served as a registered lobbying organization which has
carried out the objectives of the Communist Party in its fight against
antisubversive legislation.

The Committee on Un-American Activities, on September 17, 1950,
issued a report on the National Lawyers Guild, exposmg that organi-
zation as a Communist front, and recommendmg that the Attorney
General of the United States place this organization on his list of
Communist fronts.

Durmg the progress of this mvestigation, it was brought to the
attention of the committee that there existed between this Communist-
front organization and the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt
Bill a close organizational and financial relationship

The National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill first came into
bemg in June of 1948, when Jerry J. O'Connell registered with tho
Clerk of the House of Representatives as a lobbyist for this organi-
zation. At that time O'Connell stated that he was on loan to the
newly formed National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill fi-om
the Progressive Party of the State of Washmgton, and that he was
to receive from the Progressive Party a salary of $125 per week.
Traveling expenses were to be borne by the National Committee to
Defeat the Mundt Bill.

This information is substantiated by the fact that the quarterly
reports of this new organization for the period of June 1, 1948, tlu-ough
December 31, 1949, filed with the Clerk of the House of Representa
tives, failed to disclose any expenditure by this organization to Jerry
J. O'Connell for salary. However, quarterly reports filed by this
organization for the first three quarters of 1950 revealed that Jerry J.
O'Connell was retamed by the National Committee to Defeat the
Mundt Bill at a salary of $100 per week.

The relationship referred to between the National Committee to
Defeat the Alundt Bill and the National La^^^^ers Guild reached an
adhesive state in July of 1950. At that time Jerry J. O'Connell was
summoned to Washington, D. C, by Robert J. Silberstein, executive
secretary of the National Lawyers Guild. Jerry O'Connell's trans-
portation from Seattle, Wash., to Washington, D. C, on or about
August 1, 1950, was paid by the National Lawyers Guild. This
information was obtained as a result of a subpena issued by the Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities and served on the Western L^nion
Telegraph Co. in Washington, D. C, ordering that company to pro-

2 THE NATIONAI. COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

duce copies of all telegrams ciiarged to the account of the National
Lawyers Guild in Washington, D. C, for the months of July, August,
and September, 1950. These telegrams were placed into the official
record of the Committee on Un-American Activities in an executive
hearing conducted on October 19, 1950. This hearing was held in
connection with the current investigation relating to the National
Committee to Defeat the Mundt BilL The telegrams are identified
in this testimony as Wheeler exhibits 1 through 38.

The information relating to Mr. O'Connell's transportation to Wash-
mgton, D. C, from Seattle, Wash., is established by the telegrams
■identified as Wheeler exhibits 9, 10, and 11, introduced into the
official committee record on October 19, 1950. Wheeler Exhibit 9
is a telegram dated July 18, 1950, addressed to Jerry J. O'Connell,
3216 Fourth Avenue, North, Great Falls, Mont., wherein the following
is stated:

..Greetings. Essential you take first plane or train here. •

SiLBERSTEIN.

Wheeler Exhibit 10 is a telegram dated July 26, 1950, to Jerry J.
O'Connell at 2415 Monte Vista Place, Seattle, Wash., which is
quoted as follows:

Sorry funds not available here. Proceed other plans. Best wishes.

SiLBERSTEIN.

Wlieeler Exhibit 11 is a telegram dated July 28, 1950, to Jerry J.
O'Connell, at 2415 Monte Vista Place, Seattle, Wash., which reads:

Means now available your travel. Telephone me collect today.

SiLBERSTEIN.

In addition to subpenaing copies of telegrams charged to the
National Lawyers Gudd for July, August, and September, 1950, the
Committee on Un-American Activities also subpenaed the long-
distance-telephone toll slips charged to the National Lawyers Guild
telephones for the same period. These toll slips were entered into
the official committee record as Owens exhibit A-1 thi-ough A-81 in
the executive session held on October 19, 1950.

Immediately upon his arrival in Washmgton, D. C, Jerry J.
O'Connell established offices m the name of the National Committee
to Defeat the Mundt Bill at 902 Twentieth Street NW. It is ex-
tremely significant that this is the official address of the Washington
office of the National Lawyers Guild. The entire facilities of this
office were made available to Jerry J. O'Connell as chairman of the
National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill. O'Connell immedi-
ately began the unrestricted use of the National Lawyers Guild's
telegram charge account with Western LTnion, as well as their telephone
account. This is substantiated by the fact that the telegrams
subpenaed by the Committee on Un-American Activities disclosed
that, although charged to the National Lawyers Guild, more than
98 percent of them were signed by Jerry J. O'Connell as chau-man,
National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, 902 Twentieth Street
NW., Washington, D. C. The telegrams charged to the account of
the National Lawyers Guild by Jerry O'Connell, on behalf of the
National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, exceeded $1,000.

Telegraphic charges during the month of September incurred by
the National Connnittee to Defeat the Mundt Bill and charged to the

THE NATIONAL, COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL 3

National Lawyers Guild, totaled $89G.51. As of the date of this
report, $446.51 remains unpaid.

The long-distance-telephone toll slips subpenaed by the Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities revealed that since O'Connell's
arrival in Washington the telephone charges placed by the NCDMB
and billed to the National Lawyers Guild totaled $349.34.

It shoidd be noted that the quarterly financial statement filed with
the Clerk of the House of Representatives for the third period of 1950,
which covers the months of July, August, and September, discloses
that the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill reimbursed the
National Law3^ers Guild in the amount of $251.88 for telegraph and
telephone charges. Since the total amount of the above bills is not
noted in the afore-mentioned financial statement, and the investigation
of the Committee on Un-American Activities revealed that the tele-
graph and telephone charges incurred during this period exceeded
$1,300, it is assumed that more than $1,000 in telegraph and telephone
charges has been or will be absorbed by the National Lawyers Guild.

The National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, durmg the
course of its campaigns, has engaged in an active working relationship
ywith the Com^munist Party. Furthermore, the program of the Na-
/ tional' Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, just as in the case of its
^ recent benefactor, the National Lawyers Guild, directly parallels the
program of the Communist Party against any legislation which might
tend to curb the mfluence of communism in America. These rela-
tionships are clear upon the exammation of an official document of
the Communist Party of the United States, which was made available
to the Committee on Un-American Activities as a result of a subpena
served on Matthew Cvetic, former undercover agent of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, and was entered mto the official record at
an executive hearing held on October 13, 1950, as Cvetic Exhibit No.
96.^ This document was originally obtained, along with many other
documents, by vhtue of a search and seizure warrant issued in Pitts-
burgh, Pa. These documents were taken from the headquarters of
the Communist Part}^ in Pittsburgh, Pa., located on the fourth floor
of the Bakewell Building. This office serves as headquarters for the
Communist Party of Western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley, and
is headed by the well-laiown Communist organizer, Steve Nelson.

The official Communist Party designation of this document is
"Discussion Outline for the Fight .4gainst the Mundt-Nixon Bill,"
issued by the National Educational Department, Communist Party.
The document itself is not dated, but within the text of the document
there is a reference to an editorial which appeared in the Daily Worker
on Alarch 7, 1950. It is apparent therefore that this document was
compiled by the Communist Party subsequent to tliis date. The
document instructs Communist organizers and club leaders how to
propagandize most effectively against the Mundt-Nixon bill. In con-
nection with these instructions. Communist Party leaders are directed
to contact the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill as a
source for material and assistance. Specifically, they are directed
to contact the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill "for
material for mass distribution, speakers, etc." The National Com-
mittee to Defeat the Mundt Bill is listed, in company with the Daily

1 Cvetic Exhibit No. 90 is Drinted in its entirety in an official committee publication entitled "Exposfi of
the Communist Party of AVestern Pennsylvania— Part 3."

4 THE NATIONAX, COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

Worker and the Public Affairs Committee of the Communist Party,
as a source of material and assistance in their campaign against
ant-Communist legislation.

Jerrj^ O'Connell, in performing his duties as a registered lobbyist
of the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, solicited the
help of the Communist Party. This is substantiated by the fact that
on September 13, 1950, Jerry O'Connell sent to Henry Winston, 35
East Twelfth Street, New York City, a telegram from which the
following is quoted:

Also urgently request you wire and secure every possible message from your
organization to President Truman to veto this bill after full 10 days' study,' and
to Senators and Congressmen to sustain veto.

Henry Winston is a member of the National Committee of the
Communist Party, and is its organizational secretary. He was
recently convicted, in company with 10 other national leaders of the
Communist Party in New York City, for conspiracy to advocate the
overtlu-ow of the United States Government by force and violence.
The address to which the telegram was sent, 35 East Twelfth Street,
New York City, is the official address of the national headquarters,
Communist Party, USA.

Matthew Cvetic, former under-cover operative for 9 years for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, testified in executive session on
September 28 and October 21, 1950,^ regarding the documents which
were seized from, the Communist Party headquarters in Pittsburgh.
Mr. Cvetic's testimony was based on knowledge gained as a result of
a 7-year membership in the Communist Party. During this time he
occupied responsible positions within the Communist Party of the
United States on a local and national level.

Mr. Cvetic testified that the District Committee of the Communist
Party of Western Pennsylvania established a "branch or unit of the
National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill." This branch or unit
occupied no office of its own, but worked out of the offices of the Com-
munist Party of Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. Mr. Cvetic
further testified that petitions and pamphlets published by the
National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill were made available
in Pittsburgh for distribution by Communist Party headquarters.
He personally participated in the distribution of petitions and pam-
phlets published by the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt
Bill at the instruction of Communist Party functionaries in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Cvetic pointed out that the Communist Party would never
Solicit material for distribution from the National Committee to Defeat
the Mundt Bill unless the objectives of that organization and the
Communist Party were identical on a given issue. Mr. Cvetic also
testified that the officials of the Communist Party in western Pennsyl-
vania referred to the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill
as "one of our organizations."

Mr. Cvetic revealed that the strategy and planning of the fight
against the Mundt-Nixon bill in Pittsburgh was headed by the district
organizer of the Communist Party. These plans were carried out by
the Commimist Party district committee through the various trade-
unions, front organizations, Progressive Party, and other organiza-
tions which had been created or captured by the Communist Party in

■ Mr. Cvetic's entire testimony of these dates is reprinted in a committee publication entitled "Expos6
of the Communist Party of Western Pennsylvania — Part 3."

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL 5

western Pennsylvania. In line with this phase of Mr. Cvetic's testi-
mony, it is significant to note that Jerry J. O'Connell, as chairman of
the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, on August 27, 1950,
wired .Alexander Wright (an identified Communist) at 120 Ninth
Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., as follows:^

McCarran Bill, including Mundt-Ferguson measure, hits Senate floor Tuesday.
House takes up Mundt-Nixon-Wood bill also Tuesday. Please get every possible
organizational and individual wire and phone call to your Senators and Congress-
men Monday and Tuesday to vote against these bills and any substitute. Do
your very utmost.

Jerry J. O'Connell,
Chairman, National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill.

Also on September 17, 1950, Jerry J. O'Connell, as chairman of the
National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, wired Alexander
Wright, at 120 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., as follows:*

Senate has shocked nation with passage of both McCarran and Kilgore bills
decreeing thought control and concentration camps for America. This consti-
tutes most revolting, vicious, and destructive onslaught ever made on democracy.

Small opposition pinpoints tremendous task to guarantee Truman veto, and
sustain it. Both Houses vote on conference reports including these Mund-
strosities late Friday afternoon. Make sure your Senators and Congressmen get
every phone call and wire possible before then. Most important concentrate
on veto campaign to Truman, right now, to stop blitz. This campaign must
exceed anything ever done before, must go beyond usual wires, letters, post cards.
Must include rallies, conferences, petition drives, freedom parades, picketing of
major Party and candidates campaign headquarters, representative delegations
to Washington where feasible, street meetings, every means possible to arouse
American People to danger which is now real not imaginary. Contact every
union, community organization, racial leaders and groups, educators, professional
people, governmental officers, legislators, candidates, prominent citizens, insist-
ing fight for veto and its sustention by Congress must be Number One order of
business, and where possible only business, to get every possible demand on
Truman for veto. The chips are down. We must win.

Jerry J. O'Connell,
Chairman, National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill.

At the time the aforementioned telegi*ams were sent, Alexander
Wright was an official of the Progressive Party, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Matthew Cvetic, in his testimony before the Committee on Un-
American Activities in March of 1950, identified Alexander Wright
as an active member of the Communist Party in Pittsburgh. Cvetic
also testified as follows :

Alexander Wright was assigned by the Communist Party to direct the work
of the Progressive Party in western Pennsylvania.

The telegrams sent to Alexander Wright in Pittsburgh, Pa., are
indicative of the pattern which Mr. O'Connell followed in his campaign
as chairman of the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill.
Similar telegrams were sen^ to Henrj^ Winston, Ben Gold, John Abt,
Harry Bridges, and others identified as members of the Communist
Party before the Committee on Un-American Activities. Mr.
O'Connell also recruited the assistance of the Progressive Party and its
officials all over the United States. In addition, he solicited the assist-
ance of organizations which have been officially cited as Communist
by the Attorney General of the United States and by this committee.
The committee is in possession of a large volume of telegrams and
telephone-toll slips which are too voluminous to print at this time.

'This telegram is represented by Wheeler Exhibit 17 in an executive session of the Committee on Un-
American Activities conducted on October 19. 1950.
^ Represented by Wheeler Exhibit 38, executive session of Committee, October 19, 1950.

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

The committee desires ta point out at this time that, in addition to
secm'ing the aid of Commmiists and Communist-front organizations,
the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill attempted to secure
the assistance of many organizations and individuals whose reputations
are above reproach.

This lobbying technique, as demonstrated by Mr. O'Connell, is
identical to the technique used by the Communist Party in campaigns
of their own. In an attempt to attach respect and prominence to their
campaign, they solicit endorsements and aid from prominent and
well-meaning individuals and organizations.

A Comparison of the Propaganda Techniques of the National
Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill and the Communist
Party

Through official publications, the National Committee to Defeat
the Mundt Bill has expressed its position with regard to creating a
lobby against the passage of anti-Communist legislation. The high
lights of these pronouncements are compared in the ensuing pages
with the discussion outline to defeat the Mundt bill issued by the
National Education Department of the Communist Party .^

Communist Party

1. A Gestapo police state bill to out-
law the Communist Party and destroy
all progressive labor unions and peoples'
organizations.

2. Bill to outlaw the Peace Move-
ment— Wall Street imperialism wants
the Mundt Bill to stop the growing peace
movement which has been spurred for-
ward by the announcement to produce
the H-Bomb and is finding strong ex-
pression in demand for negotiations with
the Soviet Union and for the ending of
the cold war.

3. The Mundt Bill is the attempt of
reaction to crush the movement of the
Negro people for civil rights. To defeat
the Mundt Bill, it is essential to take up
another national issue of civil rights —
the fight of the Negro people for civil
liberties. The fight against the Mundt
Bill is intimately tied in with the fight
for an FEPC now. They are in reality
two sides of the same fight against the
repression of the people and for the
maintenance and extension of civil
rights. The FEPC issue is being sabo-
taged by the same forces that are push-
ing through the Mundt Bill. The fight
for FEPC must be renewed. Now is the
time for pressing for the widest mobili-
zation around the issue for FEPC
NOW— NO MUNDT BILL.

National Committee to Defeat
Mundt Bill

1. Would put into effect in the
United States the infamous Nazi de-
crees invoked by Hitler when he seized
power in Germany in 1933, thus placing
the American people under the yoke of
"legal" fascism.

2. Would suppress efforts of all or-
ganizations, sucii as the Quakers, to
work for peace and spare the world the
horrors of an A-Bomb and H-Bomb war.

3. Would label as "subversive" per-
sons and groups active for FEPC and
against anti-Semitism, Jim Crow, lynch-
ing, and forms of discrimination against
national groups and minority groups.

'This document has been printed in its entirety under date ofiOctober 13, 1950, and is identified as
"Matthew Cvetic Exhibit No. 96" in Expos6 of the Commiinist Party of Western Pennsylvania— Part 3.

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

Communist Party

4. Effort must be made to link this
bill with the fight for peace. That is
central. The Mundt Bill is aimed to
silence the peace forces. This must be
explained clearly to the people. Re-
action wants war. The bill would
bring war nearer. It should also be
linked with relief, rent control, wage
increases, etc. In each organization it
should be shown how the Mundt Bill
would stifle the fight for the needs and
demands of these organizations.

5. The Mundt Bill is also the answer
of reaction to the miners' victory and to
the growing strike movement which is
taking place despite and often against
the policies and wishes of the labor
bureaucrats.

6. Bill not aimed at Communists
alone, but at all labor and progressive
organizations, particularly militant
unions.

7. Curb labor's growing struggles

8. Attempted blitz to destrov the
Bill of Rights. If the Mundt Bill be-
comes law, the Bill of Rights will be
dead and buried.

National Committee to Defeat
Mundt Bill

4. Would jail members of groupscam-
paigning for continued rent control,
lower rents, and against segregation by
declaring such groups are subversive
"fronts," thus giving landlords a free
hand.

5. Would smash labor unions fighting
for higher wages and improved working
conditions by means of an appointed,
three-man Subversive Activities Con-
trol Board with unlimited power under
the Act.

6. Would impose severe fines and jail
sentences up to life upon leaders of
unions, fraternal groups, religious insti-
tutions and peace societies for refusal
to label themselves falsely as subversive
organizations.

7. Would compel unions to surrender
their membership lists which, published
in antilabor newspapers, would make
possible huge blacklists and mass firings.

8. Would outlaw the First Amend-
ment.

FINANCIAL BACKGROUND

The National Committee to Defeat the Mundt BUI has filed
seven quarterly financial statements with the Clerk of the House of
Representatives, in compliance with the provisions of the Federal
Regulations of the Lobbymg Act. The first statement was filed on
July 9, 1948, and the last statement was filed on October 9, 1950.

In reviewing the afore-mentioned financial statements, it was dis-
closed that $15,847.26 was received in contributions by that organiza-
tion during the period from July 9, 1948, through October 9, 1950.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Regulations of the Lobbying
Act, organizations are required to list the source of contributions of
$500 or more. The National Committee to Defeat the Alundt Bill,
in its quarterly reports, listed the following contributors:

New York Committee for Democratic Rights

23 West 26th Street

New York City _ $1, 200. 00

The New York Committee for Democratic Rights is also known as
the Provisional Committee for Democratic Rights and the Committee
for Democratic Rights. This organization is affiliated with the
Civil Rights Congress, which was cited as subversive by Attorney
General Tom Clark and the Committee on Un-American Activities,

75515—50^

8 THE NATIONATj COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

A leaflet of the Committee for Democratic Rights, entitled "A
Call to An Action Conference for Freedom," which was held on May
8, 1948, in New York City, carried a partial list of sponsors. By
checking the hst, which included 61 individuals, against the files of
the Committee on Un-American Activities, it was determined that 14
of the listed individuals were at that time members of the Com-
munist Party. Of that group, also, 32 had been affiliated with from
1 to 10 Communist-front organizations; 13 had been affiliated with
from 1 to 20 such organizations; and 8 showed affiliation with more
than 20 such organizations. Twenty-four of the sponsors have
defended Communists and/or the Communist Party.

Mrs. Luke I. Wilson

8080 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Maryland $500.00

According to the files of the Committee on Un-American Activities,
Mrs. Luke I. Wilson was listed as a member of the Executive Board
of the Washington Committee of the Southern Conference for Human
Welfare in June 1947. The Southern Conference for Human Welfare
was cited by the Committee on Un-American Activities on March 29,
1940, as a Communist front which received money from the Robert
Marshall Foundation, one of the principal som'ces of funds by which
many Communist fronts operate.

United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America

10, II East 51st Street

New York City $500. 00

The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America
was cited as having an "entrenched" Communist leadership in reports
of the Special Committee on Un-American Activities dated January 1,
1940, and March 29, 1944.

From the time of the formation of the UE in 1936 until 1949, the
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America was
affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations. On Novem-
ber 2, 1949, the national convention of the CIO expelled the UE on
the ground that the union had —

fallen into the control of a group devoted primarily to the principles of the Com-
munist Party.

The CIO resolution expeUing the UE also stated that —

We can no longer tolerate within the family of CIO the Communist Party
masquerading as a labor union.

Since then, the UE has operated as an independent union.
New York Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill
II West 42nd Street

New York City $900. 00

The New York Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill is headed by
Isadore Blumberg who, on June 7, 1949, as executive secretary of the
New York Tenant Council, signed a statement in behalf of the
indicted 12 Communist leaders. On October 14, 1949, 1 1 of the leaders
of the Communist Party, USA, were convicted on charges of conspuing
to teach and advocate the violent overthrow of the United States
Government. Isadore Blumberg was a sponsor, according to the

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL 9

program, of a dinner held by the American Russian Institute in New
York City on October 29, 1944. The American Russian Institute
was cited as "subversive" and "Communist" by Attorney General
Tom Clark in letters to the Loyalty Review Board released on April 25,
1949.

According to the records cf the committee, Isadore Blumberg of the
Tenants Council was a member of the Continuations Committee of the
Civil Rights Congress. In June 1949, Isadore Blumberg was a sponsor
of the conference held by the Civil Rights Congress of New York.
The Civil Rights Congress has been cited by the Committee on
Un-American Activities as —

an organization formed in April 1946 as a merger of two Communist-front organi-
zations— the International Labor Defense and the National Federation for Con-
stitutional Liberties — as dedicated not to the broader issues of civil liberties but
specifically to the defense of individual Communists and the Communist Party.

Attorney General Tom Clark also cited the Civil Rights Congress as
"subversive" and "Communist" on December 4, 1947, and on Sep-
tember 21, 1948.

In reviewing the quarterly reports filed with the House of Repre-
sentatives by the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, it
is noted that the following individuals and organizations received
money for services rendered the National Committee to Defeat the
Mundt BHl:

Elizabeth Sasuly $359.89 (salary and expenses)

On July 12, 1949, Mrs. Elizabeth Sasuly^ appeared as a witness
before the Committee on Un-American Activities in connection with
the committee's investigation of communism in the District of
Columbia. She at that time was asked: "Are you now, or have you
ever been a member of the Communist Party?" She refused to
answer the question on grounds of self-incrimination.

Thomas G. Buchanan, Jr. (salary, publicity, and travel) $1,180.50

Thomas G. Buchanan, Jr., is legislative director of the Civil Rights
Congress, Washington, D. C, and appeared voluntarily as a witness
representing the Civil Rights Congress durmg United States Senate
hearings on the Subversive Activities Control Act, 1949. These
hearings were held by a subcommittee of the Committee on the
Judiciary, United States Senate, on May 18, 1949. During the mitial
exammation of Mr. Buchanan by the subcommittee counsel, he was
asked: "Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Com-
munist Party?" Mr. Buchanan refused to answer the question and
was thereupon dismissed from the witness stand.

The committee in many instances has had witnesses who, when
questioned regarding association with Communists, have denied that
Party. However, the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill
could offer no such excuse in the case of Thomas G. Buchanan, Jr.
Mr. Buchanan, in May of 1948, was discharged from the Washington
Evening Star, Washington, D. C, for being a member of the Com-
munist Party. The Worker, Southern edition, of June 27, 1948,
carried an article written by Mr. Buchanan entitled "Stand Up and

« Testimony of Elizabeth Sasuly, July 12, 1949, is printed in Hearings Regarding Communism in the
District of Columbia — Part 1, pp. 743-758.

10 THE NATIONAL. COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

Be Counted Out," wherein he admits Communist Party mem-
bership.

George B. Murphy, Jr. (per diem and expenses) $77.62

The files of the Committee on Un-American Activities reveal that
George B. Murphy, Jr., is affiliated with six or more organizations
which have been declared Communist and subversive by the Attorney
General of the United States and the Committee on Un-American
Activities. His affiliation with these organizations is as follows :

George B. Murphy, Jr., was executive secretary of the Citizens Committee to
Free Earl Browder, Washington, D. C. He was an endorser of the Emergency
Peace Mobilization, and a vice chairman of the American Committee for the
Protection of Foreign Born. He has served as a vice president of the International
Workers Order, and as a speaker for the Scottsboro Defense Committee. In
July of 1950 he was the signer of a statement issued by the Council on African
Affairs opposing the United States policy in Korea.

Superior Print Shop $951.96 (printing)

This printing establishment is owned by Tilla Minowitz, 3416 Tenth
Place SE., Washmgton, D. C, and is located at 607 Massachusetts
Avenue NW., Washington, D. C. Mrs. Minowitz was subpenaed by
the Committee on Un-American Activities during the course of this
investigation of communism in the District of Columbia. She ap-
peared as a witness before the committee on July 6, 1949, at which
time she refused to answer all questions regarding her membership in
the Communist Party. She also refused to answer questions regard-
ing contributions made by her to the Communist Party .^

The National Lawyers Guild. $430.00 (analysis of bill and 5,000

copies of such analysis)

This organization was the subject of a report by the Committee on
Un-American Activities dated September 17, 1950, wherem the Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities cited this organization as being the
"legal bulwark of the Communist Party." ^

OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE

MUNDT BILL

Chairman

Jerry J. O'Connell

Treasurer

Bruce Waybur

Executive Treasurer

Edith Pratt

Registered Lobbyists

Jerry J. O'Connell
John B. Stone

' The entire testimony of Tilla Minowitz appears on pp. 725-734 of the committee publication, Com-
munism in the District of Columbia— Part I.
" Made H. Kept. No. 3123, September 21, 1950.

THE NATIONAl, COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

11

OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE

MUNDT BILL— Continued

District Offices and Representatives

Chicago :

Ruth Belmont

Chicago Committee to Defeat the

Mundt Bill
179 West Washington Street
Miami Beach, Fla. :
Helen Lee Barclay
Freedom House Committee to Defeat

the Mundt Bill
1611 Michigan Avenue
New York, N. Y.:
Isadore Blumberg
New York Committee to Defeat the

Mundt Bill
Room 822, 11 West Forty-second

Street
San Francisco, Calif.:
Elmer P. Delaney
San Francisco Committee to Oppose

the Mundt-Ferguson Bill
Grant Building
Market Street at Seventh
Santa Cruz, Calif.:

Edward M. Vierra, chairman

Santa Cruz Citizens Committee to

Defeat the Mundt Bill
123 Stanford Avenue

Sponsors of National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill

Wilmington, Del.:

Leon V. Anderson, secretary

Delaware Committee to Defeat the
Mimdt bill

826 Poplar Street
Philadelphia, Pa.:

Adele Margolis

Philadelphia Committee to Defeat

the Mundt Bill

Room 800 Professional Building

1831 Chestnut Street
Trenton, N. J.:

Rev. Harry R. Pine

New Jersey Citizens Committee
Against the Mundt Bill

1237 Greenwood Avenue
Denver, Colo.:

Helen L. Gordon

Colorado Committee to Defeat the
Mundt Bill

4320 East Twelfth Avenue

Rabbi Michael Alper, New York, N. Y.
Hon. Thurman Arnold, Washington,

D. C.
Stringfellow Barr, New York, N. Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore O. Behre, New

Orleans, La.
Angela Bambace, Baltimore, Md.
Elmer Benson, Appleton, Minn.
Hon. John T. Bernard, Chicago, 111.
Edwin Bjorkman, Asheville, N. C.
Algernon D. Black, New York, N. Y.
Scott Buchanan, Richmond, Mass.
Dr. Robert K. Burns, Baltimore, Md.
LaVonne Busch, Reno, Nev.
Angus Cameron, Boston, Mass.
Prof. A. J. Carlson, Chicago, 111.
Prof. Zechariah Chafee, Cambridge,

Mass.
Rabbi J. X. Cohen, New York, N. Y.
Hon. Benjamin J. Davis, New York,

N. Y.
Earl B. Dickerson, Chicago, 111.
James Durkin, New York, N. Y.
Clifford J. Durr, Washington, D. C.
Prof. Thomas I. Emerson, New Haven,

Conn.
Prof. Henrv Pratt Fairchild, New

York, N. Y.
Edward E. Fisher, Washington, D. C.
Abram Flaxer, New York, N. Y.
Clark Foreman. New York, N. Y.

Rev. Stephen H. Fritchman, Los An-
geles, Calif.

Jerry Gilliam, Norfolk, Va.

J. W. Gitt, York, Pa.

Percy Greene, Jackson, Miss.

Prof. Fowler Harper, New Haven,
Conn.

Donald Henderson, Philadelphia, Pa.

Charles Houston, Washington, D. C.

Rev. Kenneth DeP. Hughes, Cam-
bridge, Mass.

James Imbrie, Lawrenceville, N. J.

Hon. Leo Isacson, New York, N. Y.

Francis Fisher Kane, Philadelphia, Pa.

Robert W. Kenny, Los Angeles, Calif.

Paul J. Kern, New York, N. Y.

Prof. Curtis MacDougall, Evanston, 111.

James McLeish, Newark, N. J.

Rev. Jack McMichael, New York, N. Y.

Dr. Alexander Meikeljohn, Berkeley,
Calif.

Samuel D. Menin, Denver, Colo.

Arthur Miller, Brooklvn, N. Y.

Hon. Fred G. Moritt, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Prof. Stuart Mudd, Philadelphia, Pa.

Hon. Stanley Novak, Detroit, Mich.

Grant Oakes, Chicago, 111.

Oliver T. Palmer, Washington, D. C.

Father Clarence Parker, Chicago, 111.

Max Perlow, New York, N. Y.

Morris Pizer. New York, N. Y.

12 THE NATIONA'L COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

Sponsoks of National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill — Continued

Abraham Pomerantz, New York, N. Y. Dr. Joseph W. Straley, Chapel Hill,
Judge Joseph H. Rainev, Philadelphia, N. C.

Pa. - Dr. Alva W. Taylor, Nashville, Tenn.

Prof. William G. Rice, Madison, Wis. Dr. O. B. Taylor, Knoxville, Tenn.

0. John Ro2;ge, New York, N. Y. Mary Church Terrell, Washington,
Paul Ross, New York, N. Y. D. C.

Prof. Frederick Schuman, Williams- I^ouis Untermeyer, Brooklyn, N. Y.

town, Mass. Mark Van Doren, New York, N. Y.

Prof. Karl Shapiro, Baltimore, Md. Dr. Harry F. Ward, Palisade, N. J.

Prof . Harlow Shapley, Cambridge, Mass. Marv Van Kleeck, Woodstock, N. Y.

1. F. Stone, Washington, D. C.

In order to fully understand the objectives of the National Com-
mittee to Defeat the Mundt Bill, it is important to examine the back-
ground of the officers who were most active in this organization.

Jerry J. O'Connell, chairman of the National Committee to Defeat
the Mundt Bill, was loaned by the Progressive Party of the State of
Washington to become chairman of the committee in 1948.

O'Connell was born at Butte, Mont., on June 14, 1909. He was
graduated from Carroll College, Helena, Mont., in 1931, and subse-
quently attended Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. When
21 years of age, he was elected to the Montana State House of Repre-
sentatives, where he served from 1931 to 1934. He was elected to
the Seventy-fifth Congress of the United States, representing the
First District of the State of Montana.

The files of the Committee on Un-American Activities reflect that
Jerry O'Connell was a speaker at a function of the American Friends
of the Chinese People, and later attended the banquet held by that
organization. This organization was cited by the committee on
March 29, 1944, as a Communist-front organization. O'Connell par-
ticipated in functions of the American League for Peace and Democ-
racy and extended greetings to the American Committee for Peace
and Democracy, held in Washington, D. C, January 6-8, 1939. He
was a member of the national committee of the American League for
Peace and Democracy in 1939. This organization has also been cited
as a Communist-front organization by the Committee on Un-American
Activities and by former Attorney General Tom Clark. Mr. O'Con-
nell was listed as a sponsor of the American Relief Ship for Spain in
1938. This organization was one of several Communist Party-front
enterprises which raised funds for Commimist Spain. It was cited
by the Committee on Un-American. Activities in 1944.

Jerry O'Connell was a speaker at the Freedom Crusade Congress
of the Civil Rights Congress in 1949. This organization was cited by
the Committee on Un-American Activities in 1947 as —

dedicated not to the broader issue of civil liberties, but specifically to the defense
of individual Communists in the Communist Party.

Former Attorney General Tom Clark cited the Civil Rights Congress
as "subversive" and classified it as "Communist" in letters furnished
the Loyalty Review Board on December 4, 1947, and September 21,
1948.

Under the auspices of the Committee for a Democratic Far Eastern
Policy, Jerry O'Connell sent greetings to pro-Communist Mme.
Sun-Yat-sen, according to the Far East Spotlight (publication of this

THE JSTATIONAX, COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL 13

organization), November 1948, page 14. This organization was cited
as Communist by Attorney General Tom Clark on April 27, 1949.

The official Call to a Conference on Constitutional Liberties in
America, June 7, 1940, listed O'Connell as a sponsor of the conference.
The Committee on Un-American Activities listed this conference as —

an important part of the solar system of the Communist Party front organi-
zation, which founded the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties in
1940.

The June 23, 1947, issue of the Daily Worker, official newspaper of
the Communist Party, discloses that Jerry J. O'Connell signed a
letter of praise to that paper. O'Connell was speaker at a function
of the Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in January 1938.
This organization has been cited as a Communist front by this
committee.

Jerry O'Connell was also listed by the Daily Worker, May 3, 1938,
page 3, as a speaker at a function of the International Labor Defense.
The International Labor Defense was cited as the "legal defense arm
of the Communist Party of the United States" by the House Com-
mittee on Un-American Activities on January 3, 1939; January 3,
1940;. June 25, 1942; and March 29, 1944. On September 24, 1942,
former Attorney General Francis Biddle cited the organization as
"the legal arm of the Communist Party." Subject organization was
also cited by former Attorney General Clark as "subversive and
Communist" on June 1 and September 21, 1948.

Jerry O'Connell was listed as a national sponsor of the Medical
Bureau and North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy
on its letterhead dated July 6, 1938. This organization was cited as
a Communist front by the Committee on Un-American Activities on
March 29, 1944.

A membership list of the National Lawyers Guild dated 1939 listed
Jerry J. O'Connell, of Butte, Mont., as a member. This organiza-
tion was cited as a Communist front by the Committee on Un-
American Activities in 1944. On September 19, 1950, this com-
mittee issued a report outlining in detail the organization's activities
and its adherence to the Commuriist Party line.

New Masses, which has been cited as the "nationally circulated
weekly journal of the Communist Party" by this committee, and as
a "Communist periodical" by former Attorney General Francis
Biddle, carried articles by Jerry O'Connell in its issues of November
1937 and February 1938.

Committee records further reflect that Jerry J. O'Connell spoke at a
function of the North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy,
at which Earl Browder also spoke. Mr. O'Connell also spoke at a
function of the Yorkville division, North American Committee to
Aid Spanish Democracy, in 1937. The issue of New Masses of
July 20, 1937, reported that Jerry J. O'Connell was one of the speakers
at the first anniversary of the Anti-Fascist Struggle in Spain, held
under the auspices of the North American Committee to Aid Spanish
Democracy at Madison Square Garden on July 19, 1937. This
organization has been cited as Communist by the Committee on
Un-American Activities in reports dated January 3, 1940, and March
29, 1944, and by former Attorney General Tom Clark on April 27,
1949.

14 THE NATIONAl, COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE MUNDT BILL

Jerry O'Connell is listed as an instructor at the Seattle Labor
School, fall term, 1947. This school was cited as an "adjunct of. the
Communist Party," by former Attorney General Tom Clark on
December 4, 1947. The Daily Worker of June 6, 1949, reported
that Jerry O'Connell was one of those who signed a statement in
behalf of the 11 Communist leaders during their recent trial in New
York.

According to Spotlight on the Far East, April 1948, page 6, Bruce
Waybur, secretary-treasurer of the National Committee to Defeat
the Mundt Bill, was a member of a delegation to the State Depart-
ment sponsored by the National Conference on American Policy in
China and the Far East. The National Conference on American
Policy in China and the Far East was cited as a Communist organ-
ization by former Attorney General Tom Clark in his letter to the
Loyalty Review Board released to the press July 25, 1949.

Bruce Waybur was listed as a member of the Washington Book Shop
on the membership list subpenaed by the Committee on Un-American
Activities in 1941. The Washington Book Shop Association w^as cited
as subversive and Communist by Attorney General Tom Clark in lists
which he prepared for the use of the Loyalty Review Board released
to the press July 25, 1949. This group was also cited as a Communist
front by the Special Committee on Un-American Activities in its
report dated March 29, 1944.

Waybur was a member of a delegation of the Civil Rights Congress,
as shown in the March 19, 1948, issue of the Communist Daily Worker.
The Congressional Committee on Un-American Activities, in its
Report No. 1115, September 2, 1947, cited the Civil Rights Congress
as — ■

dedicated not to the broader issues of civil liberties, but specifically to the defense
of individual Communists and the Communist Party * * * controlled by
individuals who are either members of the Communist Party or openly loyal to it.

Attorney General Tom Clark cited the Civil Rights Congress as
"subversive" and classified it as "Communist" in letters furnished the
Loyalty Review Board and released to the press July 25, 1949.

The Daily Worker of April 1, 1948, reported that Bruce Waybur of
the United Electrical Workers was a member of a delegation of the
American Jewish Labor Council, which organization was cited by the
Attorney General in lists furnished the Loyalty Review Board.

Bruce Waybur was registered as a lobbyist for the United Electrical,
Radio and Machme Workers of America, CIO, in 1948. The United
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America was first cited by
the Special Committee on Un-American Activities in its Report No.
1476, dated January 3, 1940 (p. 13), which states that "the evidence
before the Committee indicates, however, that the leadership of some
10 or 12 constituent unions of the CIO, out of a total of some 48
unions, is more than tinged with communism. The evidence shows
that some of their leaders are either card-holdmg members of the
Communist Party or subservient followers of that 'party's line.' "
The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America was
recently expelled from the CIO for followmg the Communist Party
line.

the national, committee to defeat the mundt bill 15

Conclusion

The Committee on Un-American Activities is unanimous in its
belief that the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill was
organized not as a legitimate lobbying enterprise, but rather as a
propaganda adjunct of the Communist Party. The work of this
organization, in many instances, was performed by the Communist
Party, and it was at all times wholly supported by the Communist
Party.

The Committee on Un-American Activities is well aware of the fact
that there has been opposition to antisubversive legislation in legiti-
mate quarters which in no way were connected with the Communist
Party. The committee at this time is takmg no issue with such
legitimate opposition. It is solely concerned in this report with
advismg the American public that mdividuals who knowmgly and
actively support such a propaganda outlet as the National Committee
to Defeat the Mundt Bill are actually aiding and abetting the Com-
munist program in the United States.

o

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