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U. S. SUPT. OF DOCUMENTS
INVESTIGATION OF UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
HEARINGS
BEFORE A
SPECIAL
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEVENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS
THIRD SESSION
ON
H. Res. 282
TO INVESTIGATE (1) THE EXTENT, CHARACTER, AND OBJECTS OF UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, (2) THE DIFFUSION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF SUBVERSIVE AND UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA THAT IS INSTI- GATED FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES OR OF A DOMESTIC ORIGIN AND ATTACKS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT AS GUARANTEED BY OUR CONSTITUTION, AND (3) ALL OTHER QUESTIONS IN RELATION THERETO THAT WOULD AID CON- GRESS IN ANY NECESSARY REMEDIAL LEGISLATION
VOLUME 2
SEPTEMBER 15, 16, AND 17. 1938 AT NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 28, 29, 30, OCTOBER 4, 5, AND 6, 1938 AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
OCTOBER 11, 12, AND 13, 1938 AT DETROIT, MICH.
OCTOBER 17, 18, 19. 20, 21, AND 22, 1938 AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
Printed for the use of the Special Committee on Un-American Activities
u- i'
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1938
INVESTIGATION OF UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
HEARINGS
EFQRE A
i .1 si BEFORE A
SPECIAL
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMEBICAN ACTIVITIES HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVES
SEVENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS
THIRD SESSION ON
H. Res. 282
TO INVESTIGATE (1) THE EXTENT, CHARACTER, AND OBJECTS OF UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, (2) THE DIFFUSION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF SUBVERSIVE AND UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA THAT IS INSTI- GATED FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES OR OF A DOMESTIC ORIGIN AND ATTACKS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT AS GUARANTEED BY OUR CONSTITUTION, AND (3) ALL OTHER QUESTIONS IN RELATION THERETO THAT WOULD AID CON- GRESS IN ANY NECESSARY REMEDIAL LEGISLATION
VOLUME 2
SEPTEMBER 15, 16, AND 17, 1938 AT NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 28, 29, 30, OCTOBER 4, 5, AND 6, 1938 AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
OCTOBER 1], 12, AND 13, 1938 AT DETROIT, MICH.
OCTOEER i?, 18,; J 9, 20, 2', VND 22, 1938 AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
- •^■*-- j ur~-
Printed for the usp of the Special Committee on Un- American Activities
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 94931 WASHINGTON : 1938
V 2.
cyv^S-
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, WASHINGTON, D. C.
MARTIN DIES, Texas, Chairman ARTHUR D TTEVLEY. Massaihusetts NOAH M. MASON, Illinois
JOHN J. DEMPSEY, New Mexico J. PARNELL THOMAS, New Jersey
JOE STARNES, Alabama HAROLD G. MOSIER, Ohio
Robert E. Steipling, Secretary
. c -, . ••• .
• • % ■ -
CONTENTS
Statements of — ■ Page
Edwin P. Banta 981, 1026
John Joseph Fitzpatrick 1017
Ralph De Sola .. 1021
John M. Sweeney 1026
John J. Murphy 1039
William Harmon 1 049
Charles Martin 1066
Edward Maguire 1068
Laurence Barron 1072
Michael Kelly 1076
Michael J. McCarthy 1078
Roy P. Monahan 1081
Victor F. Ridder 1097
John C. Metcalfe... 1107, 1203
Girolamo Valenti 1181
Arnold Gingrich 1221
Chester Howe 1239, 1301
John D. McGillis 1241
Emmett O. Collier 1250
Paul Padgett 1265
Sgt. Leo Maciosek, Detroit Police Department 1274, 1597
Sgt. Harry Mikuliak 1285, 1302, 1307, 1559
Mrs. Eloise Smith 1303
Gordon H. Smith 1307
W. C. Kulpea 1309
Jacob Spolansky 1310, 1470
William T. Gernaey 1319, 1444, 1537
Walter S. Reynolds 1327, 1461
Vinson L. Fitzgerald 1355
Steve Gadler 1360
Albert Kittock 1382, 1409
Rasmus Borgen 1401
Herman Husman 1410
Andrew G. Cooper 1414
Miss Violet Johnson 1417
Mrs. Charles Lundquist 1420
Tom Davis 1 464
Clyde Morrow 1487, 1649
Ralph Knox ' 1512
Mel vin Kells 1540
James Mitchell 1552
Theodore A. Handy _ __ 1598
John P. McGillis ~~~~ " 1 599
Fred D. Frahm 1605
John W. Koos 1632
Capt. Edwin H. Hughes, Flint, Mich., Police Department 1689
Herman Luhrs 1653, 1672
Lt. Harold Mulbar, Michigan State Police 1662, 1693, 1707
Edgar T. Adams 166g.
Frank Zeider 1 573.
Paul V. Gadola ~~~~ 1674
Chas. H. Pratt WWW 1680
P. F. McAuslan , 1682
John M. Barringer 1682, 1694
in
]V CONTENTS
Statements of — Continued.
Donald W. Gardner 1695
Harold Moyer 1700
Rex Watson 1705
Report from Detroit Police Department 1582, 1608
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Witness
Arnold Gingrich
Exhibit:
No. 1 1224
No. 2 1226
No. 3 1229
No. 4.. 1232
No. 5 1233
INVESTIGATION OF UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1938
House of Representatives, Subcommittee of the Special Committee
to Investigate Un-American Activities, United States Courthouse, 2 Foley Square, New York, N. Y.
The subcommittee met at 10: 30 a. m., Hon. Joe Starnes (chairman) presiding.
Mr. Starnes. The committee will now come to order. This is a meeting of the subcommittee authorized by the resolution of Congress to investigate some un-American and subversive activities.
At this time we will call to the stand Mr. Edwin P. Banta.
I want to say, for the benefit of the witnesses who will submit testimony here, that we are interested only in adducing facts with reference to un-American and subversive activities. We are not interested in personalities nor in religious or racial questions, nor are we interested in the political fortunes of any individual or any political party, but are purely and simply a fact-finding committee, and we want the testimony confined along those lines.
V\Te care nothing about the individual opinions of any particular witnesses; we merely want facts and we want facts wherever possible to be buttressed by documentary proof.
You will be given every protection of the committee. You are summoned here by the Federal Government, and you are assured you will be given every protection by this committee, insofar as your persons and your positions are concerned. And should any incident arise which is of a threatening nature to you personally, any witness before this committee, or with reference to his position, we ask that that be made known to this committee immediately.
Now, Mr. Banta, you will hold up your right hand and be sworn.
TESTIMONY OF EDWIN P. BANTA, MANHATTAN
(The witness was duly sworn by Mr. Starnes.) Mr. Starnes (continuing). Give us your name and address. Mr. Banta. Edwin P. Banta, 215 East Seventeenth Street, Man- hattan.
Mr. Starnes. Mr. Banta, where were you born? Mr. Banta. At Newark, N. J. Mr. Starnes. "When? Mr. Banta. June 24, 1872.
981
g§2 UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES
Mr. Starnes. How long have your forebears lived in this country ?
Mr. Banta. Since February 12, 1659.
Mr. Starnes. What is your profession or vocation ?
Mr. Banta. I am now identified as librarian with the Federal Writers' W. P. A. Project No. 1, New York City.
Mr. Starnes. What was your business, or profession, prior to that time ? Give us something of your background.
Mr. Banta. I had some years of newspaper experience. Beginning with 1913, I was for 12 years with the New York World ; following that, in the latter part of 1925. with the New York American, and from 1930 to 1932, on the New York Times.
I began on the New York World as a reporter, but was finally trans- ferred to the business department, where I was placed in charge of travel advertising. Following that, I had 5 years' real estate experi- ence in New Jersey, where I operated my own office, and for the past 4 years and 7 or 8 months, I have been on W. P. A. formerly the C. W. A.
Mr. Starnes Are you a member of any particular society, groups, or unions?
Mr. Banta. I am a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Holland Society of New York, the Workers Alliance, formerly _the City Project Council, and of the Communist Party.
Mr. Starnes. When did you become identified with the C. W. A., or the so-called Federal Writers' Project?
Mr. Banta. Oh, I began with the reporters' unit of the C. W. A. January 23, 1934, stationed at the Welfare Council, 122 East Twenty- second Street, and later on transferred to the Federal Writers when it was organized in October 1935.
Mr. Starnes. You were with that organization, then, the Federal Writers, from its inception?
Mr. Banta. From its inception ; yes.
Mr. Starnes. The charge has been made that there are subversive and un-American influences at work in or controlling certain activities of the Federal Writers' Project. What, if anything, do you know about those charges, or about the facts — I will put it that way ; what do you know about the facts?
Mr. Banta. Well, shortly after becoming identified with the Federal Writers' organization, in October 1935, 1 found that there were groups in the City Project Council who seemed to be members of the Com- munist Party, from their activities; so that later on, in 1936, I was finally requested to attend what was announced to me as a lecture, by one Ralph De Sola, also a member of the Federal Writers; I was asked to attend this meeting at the Irving Plaza.
Mi-. Starnes. Where is that located?
Mr. Banta. Fourteenth Street and Irving Place — Fifteenth Street and Irving Place; I beg your pardon.
At this meeting, I was surprised to find that fully 40 percent of the people I was associated with in the Federal Writers was at that meet- ing, and I also realized, from the fact that the Communist flag was on tho stard, that I was at a Communist meeting.
Mr. Starnes. Was this an open meeting of the party ?
Mr. Banta. It was open only to those guests that each person in- vited there. They were vouched for by the person that invited them.
UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES 983
There are no such tilings as open meetings of the Communist Party. It was a closed meeting.
Mr. Thomas. At that time, was De Sola a Communist?
Mr. Banta. I beg pardon?
Mr. Thomas. At that time, was De Sola a Communist?
Mr. Banta. He was.
Mr. Starnes. Did you join the Communist Party on that occasion?
Mr. Banta. I did.
Mr. Starnes. Or what occurred?
Mr. Banta. I was handed a card. Each person in the room that was not a member of the party was asked to put their hand up, and to each of them was handed an application. You filled out the ap- plication, and if there was anybody there to identify you, they signed your card as vouchers for your right to become a member. I signed such a card, which Ralph De Sola also signed, and one other mem- ber whose name I do not now recall, but which is on the original application.
On m}- way out, I was handed a membership book identifying me with branch No. 1, section 24, which meeting place was at or on East Nineteenth Street, between First Avenue and Avenue A.
Mr. Starnes. Now you became a member then; did you pay dues in the Communist Party?
Mr. Banta. Immediately at that time I paid 50 cents — 50 cents for admission and 50 cents dues.
Mr. Starnes. And how long did you remain a dues-paying member ?
Mr. Banta. Till the 1st of September 1938.
Mr. Starnes. Is this the book [exhibiting] ? I hand you this book, 1938 membership book, No. 25105. I ask you to look at that and identify that book, if you can [handing to witness] ?
Mr. Banta. This is my membership book, showing that I was a member of district 2, section 24, unit 36-S— 36-S identifying the members of the Federal Writers.
Mr. Starnes. That is 36-S, instead of "365"?
Mr. Banta. Yes — "36-S," identifying the unit, the Federal Writers' Unit.
Mr. Starnes. Now, referring to this book, does that show the dues have been paid?
Mr. Banta. Oh, yes; pardon me.
Mr. Starnes. I want you to set that out.
Mr. Banta. The membership dues are graduated according to the income. My income brought me within the 50 cents a month dues, and my International Solidarity fee was 50 cents. This is paid every fourth month. This money is sent to Eussia, for the purpose of use in propaganda in other countries, or wherever the money may be needed.
Mr. Starnes. What is that ? That is the International Solidarity fee?
Mr. Banta. That is the International Solidarity fee.
Mr. Thomas. Let me ask right there: How do you know, Mr. Banta, that money is sent to Russia?
Mr. Banta. It so states in this dues book here, somewheres or other, that this money is collected for international activities.
984 UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES
Mr. Thomas. But do you absolutely know that the money has been sent and is being sent to Russia ?
Mr. Banta. I never saw any money sent, no; I only know that the statement is that this fee is collected for the purpose of Inter- national Solidarity, the meaning of which is that the money is sent to Russia who, in 'turn, distributes this money in the countries where money is needed for propaganda purposes. And somewheres in this book it so states.
And the dues are graduated according to one's income, up to a monthly fee of $13 a month, or an income of $390 to $400 a month. The person paying $13 a month dues would also pay $13 every fourth month International Solidarity fee.
Mr. Starnes. In other words, there is a monthly dues that goes for the purposes of the party?
Mr. Banta. Yes; regularly.
Mr. Starnes. For the support of the party here in this country?
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Starnes. Then every 4 months there is an International Solidarity fee that is for the Communist Party International? Is that correct ?
Mr. Banta. Yes; for international dues.
Mr. Starnes. We will introduce that book in evidence as Exhibit No. 1.
(The book above referred to was marked "Exhibit Banta NY No. 1" and filed with the committee, being the 1938 membership book No. 25105 issued in the name of Edwin P. Banta.)
Mr. Thomas. I would like to ask one question in regard to that International Solidarity fee: Mr. Banta, was it discussed at any meet- ing you attended that some of this money that was collected for purposes of solidarity went to Spain and to China? Do you recall it being discussed at any meeting?
Mr. Banta. No. They never designated here where this money went beyond the fact it went to Russia as an International Solidarity fee, and they in turn over there placed it where they wanted to — where they thought it was necessary.
Mr. Starnes. You attended meetings of the party regularly after you became a dues-paying member?
Mr. Banta. I did ; yes.
Mr. Starnes. You were active in the activities of your particular section or unit, or whatever you call it?
Mr. Banta. The only activity I had in the party was to attend meetings and to secure advertising which appears on the back of Red Pen, which was the local shop paper. I did not care to assume any of the other duties which the Communist Party asked of their members, considering them subversive, and so forth.
Mr. Starnes. What were some of the other duties they asked you to perform?
Mr. Banta. Well, they wanted you to join picket lines and all kinds of things outside of the Federal Writers', and to stimulate an interest in the party, and to bring in members, and so forth, which in only one case did I ever bring a member into the party in my 2y2 years' membership.
UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES 985
Mr. Staenes. At these various meetings which }Tou attended of the Communist Party, did any of the speakers or leaders of your section, or group, or party, discuss the question of raising funds for the support of Loyalist Spain, or the Chinese cause, or for the promo- tion of recruiting for Loyalist Spain?
Mr. Banta. Yes; that was one of the discussions there. Members were supposed to take out little cans marked for Spain or China relief, and go on the street and collect funds and turn these cans hark in again at the next meeting, or as soon as possible. They maintain a large number of cans in the Communist Party for that express purpose, marked "Spain" and "For Relief of Spain," and "China," and so forth.
Mr. Starnes. What, if anything, was said with reference to re- cruiting activities of the party for Loyalist Spain?
Mr. Banta. Recruiting activities have been carried on almost con- tinually : but, specifically, I have in mind an order that came about a year and a half ago, in which all members were instructed to go out and recruit young men. The women particularly were requested to patronize restaurants and dance halls and places where young men congregated. They were not to endeavor to enlist members of the Communist Party, or Young Communist League, but they were to be sure to find out that the person that they discussed going to Spain with was an anti-Fascist. It was their belief that by sending them over that way, they would return to this country Communists, and this last drive for 2,000 members was said to be for the purpose of relieving the men who had been trained on the other side, and to bring them back here with their training, and so forth, in antici- pation of the building of a "red" army.
Mr. Starnes. Where?
Mr. Banta. In America.
Mr. Starnes. At the meeting of the party that you attended at the Irving Plaza, which, you have already described, I believe you stated you were surprised to see at least 40 percent
Mr. Banta. About 40 percent of the people on the job were present.
Mr. Starnes. About 40 percent were present?
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Starnes. Can you name some of those people?
Mr. Banta. Well, I could only do so by referring to the book that has been signed there by them. I can say that Dave Reef
Mr. Thomas. Let me ask right there: You mean 40 percent of the project?
Mr. Banta. Of that particular project, the writers' project.
Mr. Thomas. Forty percent of the writers' project were present at this Communist meeting?
Mr. Banta. Yes; both men and women; that is, the writers and clerical workers, many of whose names I did not know at that time, but I knew their faces.
Mr. Starnes. When you spoke of the fact that their names were in the book, is it this book that their names are in, or is it some other book that has been brought to the committee [indicating book] ?
Mr. Banta. Well, many of their names are in the People's Front, and many more of them are in the membership book of the Workers
9g5 UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES
Alliance, for which I was dues collector for somewhat over 2 years.
Mr. Starnes. The charge has been made that the Workers Alliance is a communistic organization, or controlled by the Communist Party : What, if anything, do you know with reference to the facts concerning this charge?
Mr. Banta. Well, all of the heads of the Workers Alliance of New York, located at 781 Broadway, New York, with the exception of the local president, one Willis Morgan, are members of the Communist Party.
Mr. Starnes. Are you a member of the Workers Alliance?
Mr. Banta. I am. I should say that I was up to September 1, but tendered my resignation as a member of the Workers Alliance, due to the fact that it is communistic-controlled.
Mr. Starves. I hand you now "Membership book. Greater New York Workers Alliance, No. 38079," and ask you to examine that book [handing to witness] ?
Mr. Banta. Yes; this is my membership book in the Workers Alliance.
Mr. Starnes. Can you identify that book?
Mr. Banta. I do.
Mr. Starnes. What is it?
Mr. Banta. It is the membership dues book for 1938 in the Workers Alliance.
Mr. Thomas. It is your membership dues book ?
Mr. Banta. I beg pardon?
Mr. Thomas. I say, it is your membership dues book ?
Mr. Banta. It is my membership book, with my dues paid up to August 31, and containing a contribution of $2 to a fund to maintain a lobby at Washington.
Mr. Starnes. What kind of lobby?
Mr. Banta. To fight for the things that the Workers Alliance wished to accomplish.
Mr. Starnes. What were those?
Mr. Banta. Well, to obtain working conditions which they thought ought to exist; to keep the number of working hours down to the minimum and the maximum of pay for the number of hours worked.
Mr. Starnes. For whom ?
Mr. Banta. For the members of the Workers Alliance who were on W. P. A.
Mr. Starnes. You stated a moment ago that you were dues' collec- tor for the Workers Alliance?
Mr. Banta. I was.
Mr. Starnes. Your membership book is offered in evidence as ex- hibit No. 2, to your testimony, and I will ask the stenographer to identify it.
(The book above referred to was marked "Exhibit Banta NY No. 2'r and filed with the committee, being membership book, in the Greater New York Workers Alliance, No. 38079, in the name of Edwin P. Banta.)
Mr. Banta. I would like at this point to include my preceding- membership book, which showed the time of my transfer from the City Project Council, which was recently taken over by the Workers Alliance, as book No. 87386.
UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES 987
Mr. Starnes. You can introduce that as exhibit No. 3. That was the membership book you had as a member of the City Project Coun- cil, prior to becoming a member of the Greater New York Workers' Alliance?
Mr. Banta. Yes. It shows the book issued at the time the Work- ers' Alliance took over the City Project Council.
(The book last introduced in evidence was marked "Exhibit Banta NY No. 3", and filed with the committee, being membership book, in the City Project Council, No. 87386, in the name of Edwin Banta.)
Mr. Starnes. I hand you another book which carries a number of names for local 17, Writers' Project — a collection book [handing to witness].
Mr. Banta. A dues-collection book.
Mr. Starnes. I will ask you to look at that book and see if you can identify it.
Mr. Banta. Yes. This is the book I used in collecting dues, until relieved of that job something over a year ago.
Mr. Starnes. Who kept that book?
Mr. Banta. I did.
Mr. Starnes. Who made those entries ?
Mr. Banta. I did.
Mr. Starnes. Are those names the names by which those parties are known on the Writers' Project?
Mr. Banta. They are.
Mr. Starnes. And are the amounts shown to be collected there the amounts collected by you?
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Starnes. And those entries you can certify as being correct ?
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Starxes. We introduce that dues-collection book of the Work- ers' Alliance as exhibit No. 4 to your testimony.
(The book above referred to was marked "Exhibit Banta NY No. 4," and filed with the committee, being a dues-collection book of the Workers' Alliance.)
Mr. Thomas. In regard to that little book, the dues book [exhibit No. 2] , on that page there are three different stamps.
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Thomas. Will you read just what it says on each one of those stamps?
Mr. Banta. The one is the "Fourth annual convention assessment of the Workers' Alliance of America." That is one.
Mr. Thomas. And the amount of that stamp is how much?
Mr. Banta. Beg pardon?
Mr. Thomas. I say, the amount of the stamp is how much?
Mr. Banta. Twenty cents.
Mr. Thomas. And that fourth annual convention was held where?
Mr. Banta. It is to be held this month. It has not been held yet.
Mr. Thomas. I see; it has not been held yet?
Mr. Banta. No.
Mr. Thomas. And the other two stamps?
Mr. Banta. One is dated "May, 1938. I contribute $2 to fight pay cuts."
9§§ UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES
Mr. Thomas. That is the stamp you referred to before in your testimony ?
Mr. Banta. Yes; that is the one which I say was to maintain a lobby.
Mr. Thomas. To maintain a lobby?
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Thomas. And it is maintained to fight pay cuts?
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Thomas. Of course that is just a little bit different from what you said before.
Mr. Banta. Yes. Now the third stamp in here says "Check up, Workers Alliance, July 1, 1938." Every member with his dues paid up to within 60 days was allowed to have this stamp placed in his book, but each member's book was checked at that time to see just where they stood.
Mr. Starnes. Getting back to the charge that there are Com- munists in charge of the Workers Alliance and in key positions on the Writers' Project, I will ask you if you can and will identify, for the committee and the record, the names of persons working on the Writers' Project who are members of the Workers Alliance and who are members of the Communist Party?
Mr. Banta. The first name is Abramowitz. He is a member of both the Workers Alliance and of the Communist Party. The Com- munist Party Federal Writers' Unit 36-S has been broken up within the past 2 months, and the membership scattered around in smaller units throughout the city.
Mr. Starnes. What for?
Mr. Banta. They claimed it had gotten too big and unwieldly on the job, as a result of which, in the Red Pen, they were taking those who were not members of the party and calling them Trotskyites. The result of it was there was a great deal of dissension on the job, so much so that finally they broke up 36-S and scattered the mem- bers throughout smaller units in the city, where they felt the work would be more compact.
Mr. Starnes. Proceed.
Mr. Banta. In place of that unit they organized the coordinating committee of six persons of the Communist Party, which were to take care of Communist activities on the job.
Mr. Starnes. Do you know who those six people are?
Mr. Banta. I do not ; no.
Mr. Starnes. You do not know- Mr. Banta. No.
Mr. Starnes. Proceed.
Mr. Banta. The next name who is a member of the Workers Al- liance and the Communist Party is my own. The next name is Bailey. She had the name of Becky Bailey.
Mr. Starnes. Who is she?
Mr. Banta. She was on the Federal Writers' job. Do you want to go into detail?
Mr. Starnes. Just some of the outstanding activities.
Mr. Banta. This woman at the present time has been assigned to a very important position in the Communist Party, at the head of a movement in a Southern State. Now, do you wish to enter that in the record?
UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES 989
Mr. Starnes. Surely. What connection, if any, does that have with the Federal Writers' Project?
Mr. Banta. She was transferred from the Federal Writers' to the central committee of the Communist Party, to head up, under an- other nanus another movement in a Southern State for the purpose of communistic activities.
Mr. Starnes. Do you know the name of the other movement?
Mr. Banta. Yes; I do.
Mr. Starnes. What is the name of it ?
Mr. Banta. The International Labor Defense.
Mr. Starnes. And to what State was she assigned?
Mr. Banta. Florida.
Mr. Starnes. For what particular purpose, if you know?
Air. Banta. For the purpose of propagating the Communist Party — building up the Communist Party — taking hold of all questions that the International Labor Defense might be able to take up in furthering the interest of communism.
Mr. Starnes. But you do not state, of course, that was done by the Federal Writers' Project; that was done by the Communist Party?
Mr. Banta. She was on the Federal Writers' Project.
Air. Starnes. Proceed.
Mr. Banta. The next person is one Beanne, who is a colored fellow and a member of the Communist Party. He was at one time a member of the Workers Alliance, but is not now. I believe he is now a member of the Supervisors' Council; he was retained on the job by the supervisors.
Mr. Thomas. In other words, then, he is a supervisor on the Federal Writers' Project ?
Mr. Banta. He is.
Mr. Starnes. Xow, what is the Supervisors' Council on the project?
Mr. Banta. The Supervisors' Council was one resulting from the desire of those who had gotten into a position of authority to en- trench themselves in a firmer position, and it is alleged that they did so upon the advice of Aubrey Williams, so that they might direct the workers on the work at New York.
Mr. Starnes. Go ahead.
Mr. Banta. The next person is a very famous person, Mr. Boden- heim, a poet, who is a member — Max Bodenheim.
Mr. Starnes. Max Bodenheim?
Mr. Banta. Max is his name in the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party.
Mr. Thomas. What does he do on the writers' project?
Mr. Banta. Well, during the 3 years he has been there he has been writing poetry; but, up to the present time, he has not suc- ceeded in having anything published, and that is a very sore spot in the side of Mr. Bodenheim.
Mr. Starnes. All right; proceed.
Air. Banta. The next person is a Mr. Canny. Mr. Canny is a senior newspaper man and is a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party.
Mr. Starnes. As you go along, I wish you would also state, when you call the names of these parties and identify them as members of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party — you have already stated they were members of the Avriters' project — and I wish you
990 UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES
would identify them with any official or supervisory capacity on the Federal Writers' project, as well as telling their communistic activities.
Mr. Banta. Yes. The next one is a Mr. Davidson, male, senior newspaper man, a member of the Workers Alliance and the Com- munist Party.
The next one is Demianoff. Mr. Demianoff is a member of the Supervisors' Council, and a member of the Communist Party.
The next one is a Miss Dickson, a newspaper writer, either junior or senior ; I am not sure which ; and a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party.
The next one is Oscar Fuss, who* is now vice president of the Workers Alliance. He was formerly employed on the Federal Writers' Project as a newspaperman, and is a member of the Com- munist Party. I sat in the Federal Writers' Unit meeting with him.
Mr. Starnes. Now, each of these names that you are calling and that you allege to be members of the Communist Party — have you sat in Communist meetings with them, Mr. Banta?
Mr. Banta. I have.
Mr. Starnes. And you are basing your statements, then, on actual knowledge?
Mr. Banta. On actual knowledge.
Mr. Starnes. From actually personally meeting them and sitting in meetings with them?
Mr. Banta. Yes.
Mr. Starnes. In calling any names, I do not want any names called with whom you have not sat in meetings.
Mr. Banta. I am confining myself to that.
Mr. Starnes. Proceed.
Mr. Banta. The next is a man by the name of Gitterman, who was a senior newspaper writer employed on the Federal Writers' Project, a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party. He is now over in the Loyalist army — with the Loyalist army in Spain.
The next is a Mr. Gittens, a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party.
The next is a Mr. J. A. Greulich, a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party, and the only man that signed that book v ho raised the question of what use might some day be made of that book.
Mr. Starnes. Greulich was the only one who did?
Mr. Banta. Yes ; Greulich was the only one.
Mr. Thomas. You mean the book which you are going to bring in later on?
Mr. Starnes. The book you referred to as The People's Front?
Mr. Banta. The People's Front.
Mr. Starnes. Which was presented to you by the Communist Party?
Mr. Banta. Which was presented to me by the Communist Party.
Mr. Starnes. Or members of the Communist Party on the Federal Writers' Project 36-S?
Mr. Banta. Yes. Mr. Greulich, while engaged in duties as senior newspaperman under the Federal Writers' project, was assigned, so he told me, to a job by the central committee of the Communist Party
UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES 99 1
to create dissension and otherwise disorganize the utilities organiza- tions of Long Island — the utilities corporations of Long Island.
Now, a person not employed there, you do not want?
Mr. Starnes. What is that?
Mr. Banta. I say, a person not on the job now, do you want also?
Mr. Starnes. Oh, yes; I want anybody connected with the project, or who at that time was connected with the project.
Mr. Banta. The next person is a man by the name of Grosmayer, who resigned from the job to conduct his own business. He was a member of the Workers Alliance and of the Communist Party.
The next one is a Mr. Go wen. Mr. Gowen is an ex-newspaperman from Memphis, Tenn. Mr. Gowen was a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party.
The next is a colored woman, Sadie Hall, who is now identified with the research group on the arts projects. Miss Hall is a mem- ber of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party. It is my belief, from statements that she had made to me, that Miss Hall joined the Communist Party as a job protection.
The next is Louella Henkel, a member of the Supervisors' Council, which, by the way, has been taken over by the C. I. O. under pro- fessional workers.
Mr. Starnes. Who is this Louella Henkel; what is her former connection ?
Mr. Banta. Louella Henkel was formerly secretary to Heywood Broun, president of the Newspaper Guild.
Mr. Thomas. Right along that same line, was she secretary to Heywood Broun right up to the time that she got her job on the Writers' Project?
Mr. Banta. That I do not know. I only know she came to the job in its early organization, possibly in the latter part of October, or November, of 1935, when she became secretary under Oric John, who was at that time director of the Federal Writers' project in the city of New York.
Mr. Thomas. Do you happen to know whether she was actually unemployed when she applied for a job on the writers' project?
Mr. Banta. I do not know that.
Mr. Thomas. How long was she secretary to Heywood Broun?
Mr. Banta. That I do not know.
Mr. Starxes. Go ahead.
Mr. Banta. The next member is a Miss Kates, a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party.
The next is a Mr. Kerstein. Mr. Kerstein was active as representa- tive at the convention of the Workers Alliance in 1937, and grievance chairman for the Workers Alliance on the Federal Writers' project. He was a member of the Communist Party.
The next is Eugene Konecky. He was a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party. Mr. Konecky is alleged to be the husband of a Miss Valda, also employed on the Federal Writers' Project, which is in violation of the Federal work-relief program.
Mr. Thomas. Mr. Banta, I do not quite understand your testimony there. Do you mind repeating that, so I can get it ?
Mr. Banta. I called attention to Eugene Konecky, a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party, and a Miss Valda,
gg2 UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES
who was alleged to be his wife. They lived together as man and wife somewhere downtown.
Air. Thomas. And they are both on the project?
Air. Banta. They are both on the project; yes.
The next one is Tommy Mann, who was a member of the Workers Alliance and the Communist Party, and who is now with the Loyalist army in Spain, where he has been for nearly 2 years.
The next is one Irving Nicholson. Mr. Nicholson is employed as a senior newspaperman and has been for about 2 years. In March 1938 he informed me that the central committee of the Communist Party had selected him to go to Jersey City, where he was to bring on a state of revolution by creating Communist activities, and bring- ing about strikes, and things which led to the affair which has been published by the papers, regarding Hudson County, N. J.
Air. Thomas. Was that the affair at which two Members of Con- gress were scheduled to speak?
Air. Banta. Yes; the affair at which two Members of Congress were scheduled to speak; that is it.
Air. Thomas. And that Norman Thomas was interested in, which was referred to in the papers?
Air. Banta. Yes. The arrangement for those speakers and all that work was all part of the work Nicholson was assigned to do by the central committee of the Communist Party.
Air. Starnes. I cannot see that has any relevancy, unless at the same time he was on the writers' project. Was he receiving pay on the writers' project at that time?
Mr. Banta. He was.
Mr. Starnes. He was receiving pay on the writers' project at that time \
Air. Banta. Yes. When this thing happened, when he advised me he was assigned to this job in Jersey, it had been my privilege to work with and work for John H. Gavin, who was former city editor of the old New York World, and who has known me for 25 years. I felt it a duty to notify Air. Gavin of what to expect. At first off, he was somewhat inclined to doubt that they coulcl accomplish what they set out to do; but within a few weeks' time I received a tele- gram from Air. Gavin requesting that I communicate with him immediately.
Air. Thomas. Do you want to give Mr. Gavin's occupation now?
Mr. Banta. Yes. Mr. Gavin at the present time is surrogate of Hudson County. I went to see Mr. Gavin, and. I explained to him exactly what they proposed to do, and he asked me if he sent a detective over to me from Jersey, whether I would identify this man Nicholson, so that they might pick him up over there and cover his activities, which I did, and which is covered in one of a number of letters I received from Mr. Gavin, thanking me for my information and courtesy to his representative. _ Mr. Thomas. I gather from your statements, Mr. Banta, you be- lieve that much of the disorder which took place over in Hudson County, N. J., is directly the result of the activities on the part of the Communists here in New York, and some of them were even employed on the Federal Writers' project here in New York. Is that correct?
UN-AMERICAN 1'IN >PAGANDA ACTIVITIES 993
Mr. Banta. They were. And, incidentally, while Mr. Nicholson was working on this Jersey City job, lie would report to the project at 9 o'clock in the morning and sign the pay roll as "9 o'clock in and 4 o'clock out," and in the space for "activity," would write "field," which indicated the man was an outside man, or legman.
Mr. Thomas. In other words, he was carrying on communistic ac- tivities in New Jersey on Federal time?
Mr. Banta. That is :t : while receiving a salary as a Federal writer, he was working in Xew Jersey, organizing the Communist Party, and organizing the disturbance which occurred there.
Mr. Starxes. You do not mean to make the statement he was doing that at the time he was supposed to be working on the project ?
Mr. Banta. Yes; I do. Not only that, but that can be verified by the detective who covered him.
Mr. Starxes. How can that be done when he is supposed to be on the job? Do not they keep any time sheet, or records?
Mr. Banta. No. He is supposed to be a legman — a man who was sent out for outside purposes.
Mr. Thomas. He is a field man ?
Mr. Banta. He is a field man. And to overcome the necessity of reporting in more than once a day, you signed in at 9 o'clock, or 10 o'clock, or whatever the time may be, and then signed out at the same time, indicating you were a worker in the field. That meant you were exempt from reporting for 24 hours.
Mr. Starxes. You mean they would go in there in the morning and sign in, and sign out at the same time?
Mr. Banta. That