FOIMH PO&T
UN-AMKICAN ACTIVITY IN (ALIFOfeNIA
1945
COMMUNIST FROHT OWAHIZATIOHS
OF M JOINT fA(I-flHDIN<i (OMMIIIEt TO THE 1948 DELIAS ailfOHHIA U«IStATUtE SACDAMENTO, 104!
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SENATOR }. HOWARD WlL 32d Senatorial District
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
Fourth Report of the
Senate Fact- Finding Committee
On Un-American Activities
1948
COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
SENATOR NELSON S. DIL WORTH SENATOR Louis G. SUTTON
SENATOR FRED H. KRAFT SENATOR CLYDE A. WATSON
SENATOR HUGH M. BURNS, Vice Chairman
SENATOR JACK B. TENNEY, Chairman
LINNIE TENNEY. Secretary MURRAY STRAVERS, Executive Secretary
R. E. COMBS, Chief Counsel
PUBLISHED BY THE SENATE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GOODWIN J. KNIGHT President of the Senate
SENATOR HAROLD J. POWERS JOSEPH A. BEEK
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Secretary of the Senate
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
SENATE CHAMBER, STATE CAPITOL
SACRAMENTO, March 25, 1948 Honorable Goodwin J. Knight
President of the Senate; and Gentlemen of the Senate
Senate Chamber, Sacramento, California
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE :
Pursuant to Senate Resolution No. 75, which appears at page 3532 of the Senate Journal for June 20, 1947, the Senate Fact-Finding Com- mittee on Un-American Activities was created and the following were appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules :
Senator Hugh M. Burns, Senator Nelson S. Dilworth, Senator Fred H. Kraft, Senator Louis G. Sutton, Senator Clyde A. Watson, Senator Jack B. Tenney.
The committee herewith submits a partial report of its investiga- tions and findings.
Respectfully submitted.
HUGH M. BURNS,
NELSON S. DILWORTH,
FRED H. KRAFT,
Louis G. SUTTON,
CLYDE A. WATSON,
JACK B. TENNEY, Chairman
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION 1
Senate Resolution No. 75 1
Organization of the Committee 3
Fairfax Investigation and Hearing 4
Oakland Hearings 7
Vern Smith 8
Los Angeles Hearings 13
Appreciation and Acknowledgment 14
Citizens' Advisory Committee 15
Is America Blind? 20
The Communist Party of the United States Is an Agent of Soviet
Russia 20
PART I
ANALYSIS OF COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS 23
Why Communists Need Front Organizations 24
Every Communist an Agent of the Kremlin 27
Marxian Double-Talk 27
Types of Communist-Influenced Organizations 28
Types of Communist Front Organizations 31
Organizations Classified by Proportion of Communist Influence 32
Communist Created and Controlled Organizations 34
Communist Created or Controlled Unions 36
Communist Infiltrated and Controlled Organizations 38
Communist Infiltrated and Dominated Organizations 39
Communist Infiltrated, but Neither Controlled Nor Dominated 41
Communist Infiltrated Solely for Purposes of Espionage 43
Miscellaneous Groups 44
Organizations Classified by Communist Purpose and Objective 44
The Six Basic Divisions of Communist Front Organizations 46
(1) The Indispensable Organizations for Revolution 46
I. Communist Basic Organizations 47
II. Communist Controlled Publications and Infor- mation Services 48
(2) Culture and Science 50
I. Arts and Culture 50
II. Sciences and Professions 52
III. Youth and Education 53
(3) Communist Fronts for Domestic Affairs 54
I. Defense, Honoring and Support of Known Com- munist Organizations 55
II. Legal Defense and Civil Rights 56
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued
ANALYSIS OF COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS— Continued
Page
"Thought Control" 58
III. Political and Legislative 61
(4) Communist Fronts for Foreign Policy 63
I. Fronts for Support and Praise of the Soviet
Union 65
II. Fronts for Support and Praise of Communist Dominated Nations and Communist Parties in
Other Lands 66
III. Fronts on War, Peace and Foreign Relations 66
(5) Fronts for Appeals to Basic Groups 67
I. Fronts In, and For, Organized Labor 69
II. Fronts for Charity, Relief and Unemployed 72
III. Fronts for Racial, Refugee and Alien Groups 73
IV. Fronts for Veterans and Military 75
V. Fronts for Farmers 76
VI. Fronts for Consumers 76
What Is a Stalinist? 78
The Stigma of Stalinism 80
The Four Types of Stalinists 81
(1) Communists 81
(2) Fellow-Travelers 81
(3) Opportunists 82
(4) Dupes : -.. 82
Interchangeability of Stalinist Types 83
The Telltale Marks of Stalinism 83
Stalinism Is a Disease 84
Basic Tests of a Communist-Stalinist Organization 84
(1) Sponsorship 84
(2) Organization 85
(3) Printing and Publicity 85
(4) Policies 86
(5) Tactics 86
(6) Attitude on Foreign Affairs 87
(7) Attitude on Domestic Affairs 87
(8) Attitude on National Security 88
(9) Attitude on Marxism-Leninism-Stalinism 89
PART II
COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS 91
Abolish Peonage Committee 93
Abraham Lincoln Brigade 93
Abraham Lincoln School 95
Actors' Laboratory Theater 95
Age of Treason 106
All- America Anti-Imperialist League 106
All-California Conference for Defense of Civil Rights and Aid
To Labor's Prisoners 107
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued
COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS— Continued
Page
All-Union Society for Cultural Relations With Foreigners
(VOKS) 107
American Civil Liberties Union 107
American Committee for a Free Indonesia 112
American Committee for a Korean People's Party 112
American Committee for Democracy and Intellectual
Freedom 112
American Committee for Indonesian Independence 113
American Committee for Protection of Foreign Born 113
American Committee for Russian Famine Relief 114
American Committee for Spanish Freedom 115
American Committee for Yugoslav Relief £ 131
American Committee to Aid Soviet Russia 141
American Committee to Save Refugees 141
American Communications Association — CIO 141
American Federated Russian Famine Relief Committee 141
American Friends of the Chinese People 142
American Friends of Czechoslovakia 145
American Friends of the Soviet Union 145
American Fund for Public Service 145
American Jewish CongresS 145
American League Against War and Fascism 149
American League for Peace and Democracy 149
American Peace Crusade 160
"Information for Peace Crusaders" 160
American Peace Mobilization 161
American People 's Fund 168
American Relief for Greek Democracy : 168
American Russian Institute 169
American Student Union 178
American Youth Congress 179
American Youth for Democracy 182
Anti-Imperialist League 188
Anti-Nazi News 188
Artef 188
Artists' Front to Win the War 188
Associated Film Audiences 193
Black and White 193
Book Union 194
California Labor School 194
Calif ornia Legislative Conference 195
Calif ornia Youth Legislature 195
Celebration of 15 Years Biro-Bidjan 196
Champion of Youth 196
China Conference Arrangements Committee 197
China Today 198
Citizens' Committee for Better Education 198
Citizens Committee to Free Earl Browder 200
Citizens Committee for the Motion Picture Strikers 201
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued
COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS— Continued
Page
Civil Rights Congress 201
Committee for a Democratic Eastern Policy 208
Committee for Defense of Ferdinand C. Smith 208
Committee for the First Amendment . 210
Committee to Aid Chinese Trade Unions 211
Committee to Defend America by Keeping Out of the War 211
Communist Dominated C. I. 0. Unions 212
Communist Party 212
Communist Party Book Stores in California 224
Communist Party Publications 224
Conference on Constitutional Liberties in America 226
Congress of American-Soviet Friendship 226
Congress of American Women 226
Daily Worker 232
Emergency Civil Liberties Conference 233
Emergency Committee on KFI 233
Emergency Conference to Halt the Blackout of Civil Liberties
in California 233
Exiled Writers Committee 234
Federation of Architects, Engineers, Chemists and Technicians _ 234
Film and Photo League *- 237
Film Audiences for Democracy 238
Films for Democracy 239
First State-wide Emergency Legislative Conference 239
Freedom From Fear Committee 239
Free Italy Society 241
Freiheit 242
Friends of Soviet Russia 242
Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade 244
Friends of the Soviet Union 244
Frontier Films 247
Garland Fund 247
Garrison Films Distributors, Inc 247
Golden Book of American Friendship With the Soviet Union 248
Harry Bridges Defense Committee 248
Hollywood Anti-Nazi League 249
Hollywood Democratic Committee 250
Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts,
Sciences and Professions (HICCASP) 252
Hollywood League Against Nazi-ism 255
Hollywood League for Democratic Action %55
Hollywood League of Women Shoppers 256
Hollywood Motion Picture Democratic Committee 256
Hollywood Quarterly 257
Hollywood Writers' Mobilization 258
ICOR 261
Independent Citizens' Committee of the Arts,
Sciences and Professions 262
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued
COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS— Continued
Page
Institute for Democratic Education, Inc 263
InternationalJuridical Association 265
International Labor Defense 265
International Workers Order 267
Jefferson School of Social Science 269
John Reed Clubs 270
Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee 270
Joint Committee National Negro Congress and
United Public Workers 271
Labor's Non-Partisan League 272
Lawyers Committee to Keep the United States Out of War 272
League Against Imperialism 273
League of American Writers - 273
League of American Writers' School in Hollywood 275
League of Women Shoppers 277
League of Workers Theatres 278
Los Angeles Emergency Committee to Aid the Strikers 279
Los Angeles Youth Committee Against Universal
Military Training 279
Marine Cooks and Stewards Association 281
Affidavit of William D. Handelsman 282
Affidavit of George W. Crosby 292
Communist Persecution 298
Affidavit of Alex Harris 300
Mobilization for Democracy 308
Motion Picture Artists' Committee 310
Musicians' Congress Committee 310
Affidavit of Rena M. Vale 314
National Committee to Win the Peace 318
National Council Against Conscription 319
National Council for the Protection of the Foreign Born 321
National Council for Protection of Foreign Born Workers 321
National Council of American-Soviet Friendship 321
National Emergency Conference for Democratic Rights 327
National Federation for Constitutional Liberties 327
National Institute of Arts and Letters 330
National Lawyers' Guild 331
National Negro Congress 332
National People's Committee Against Hearst 333
National Share-Croppers Fund 334
National Student League 337
National Youth Assembly Against Universal
Military Training ___ 338
. New Masses 340
News of the World 341
News Vendors Union, Local 75, C.I.O 340
Now 341
Pacific Weekly 341
Pax Productions : 341
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued
COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS— Continued
Page
People's Daily World 342
People's Educational Center 346
People's Peace 350
Progressive Citizens of America 353
Russian Reconstruction Farms, Inc 357
Russian War Relief, Inc 357
Schneiderman-Darcy Defense Committee 358
Screen Writers Guild 359
Second State-Wide Emergency Legislative Conference 374
Slavic Council of Los Angeles 374
Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee 375
Social Work Today 375
Society for Technical Aid to Soviet Russia 376
Spanish Refugee Appeal 376
State- Wide Legislative Conference 376
Statement Defending the Communist Party 377
Student Advocate 377
Student Review 377
Theatre Arts Committee 377
United Negro and Allied Veterans of America 378
United Public Workers of America, C.I.O 379
United Spanish Aid Committee 382
Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade 382
VOKS 383
Western Council for Progressive Labor in Agriculture 383
Winner 383
Worker's Alliance of America 383
Workers Ex-Service Men's League 384
Writers Congress at the University of California 389
Writers and Artists Committee for Medical Aid to Spain- Young Communist League 389
Young People 's Records
Young Progressive Citizen's Committee 393
viii
PARTIAL REPORT OF THE SENATE FACT-FINDING
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
IN CALIFORNIA
Introduction
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate
The Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities in California was created by Senate Resolution No. 75, adopted by the Senate June 20, 1947.
The resolution is as follows:
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 75
WHEREAS, These are yet times of public danger. Subversive persons and groups are endangering our domestic unity so as to leave us unpre- pared to resist attack from without or within. Under color of the protec- tion afforded by the Bill of Rights these persons and groups seek to destroy our freedom by force, violence, threats, undermining and sabo- tage, and to subject us to the domination of foreign powers and ideol- ogies; and
WHEREAS, There is danger that the ordeal through which the Country has suffered to keep the pursuit of its ideals free may be in vain ; and
WHEREAS, Persons and groups, motivated by hatred of American ideals, our republican form of government and democratic processes, some bound together by allegiance to foreign powers, are even now seek- ing to achieve by subversion what we have so valiantly fought to sustain from force ; and
WHEREAS, California, as one of the laboratories of this great Nation, may profitably study the problem within its boundaries, and enact perti- nent legislation therein, if facts are available therefor ; and
WHEREAS, State legislation to meet the problem and to assist law enforcement officers can best be based on a thorough and impartial investigation by a competent and active legislative committee; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That 1. The Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities is hereby created and authorized and directed to investigate, ascertain, study and analyze all facts directly or indirectly relating to the fore- going, to the activities of groups and organizations whose membership include persons who are members of organizations who have as their objectives, or part of their objectives, the overthrow of the government of the State of California or of the United States by force and violence or other unlawful means, all organizations known or suspected to be dominated or controlled by a foreign power which activities affect the conduct of this State in national defense, the functioning of any state agency, unemployment relief and other forms of public assistance, educa- tional institutions of this State supported in whole or in part by public
2— L-7088-D ( 1 )
2 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
funds, or any political program, or which may affect the conversion of the State from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy or affect the economic and social problems incidental thereto, including but not limited to the operation, effect, administration, enforcement and needed revision of any and all laws in any way bearing upon or relating to the subject of this resolution, and to report thereon to the Senate.
2. In addition to the foregoing, the Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities is authorized and directed to ascertain, study and analyze all facts relating to the activities of persons and groups known or suspected to be dominated or controlled by a foreign power, and who owe allegiance thereto because of religious, racial, political, ideological, philosophical, or other ties, including but not limited to the influence upon all such persons and groups of education, economic circum- stances, social positions, fraternal and casual associations, living stand- ards, race, religion, political, ancestry and the activities of paid provoca- tion and any other factors which may account for their conduct or con- dition their action, as well as the operation, effect, administration, enforce- ment and needed revision of any and all laws in any way bearing upon or relating to the subject of this resolution, and to report thereon to the Senate.
3. The committee shall consist of six Members of the Senate appointed by the Committee on Eules thereof. Vacancies occurring or existing in the membership of the committee shall be filled by the appoint- ing power.
4. The committee is authorized io act during this session of the Legislature, including any recess, and after final adjournment until the final adjournment of the 1949 Regular Session, with authority to file its final report not later than the last legislative day of that session.
5. The committee and its members shall have and exercise all of the rights, duties and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by the provisions of the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly and the Standing Rules of the Senate as they are adopted and amended from time to time, which provisions are incorporated herein and made applicable to this committee and its members.
6. The committee has the following additional powers and duties :
(a) To select a chairman and a vice chairman from its membership, and to employ and fix the compensation of a secretary and such clerical, investigative, expert and technical assistants as it may deem necessary.
(b) To contract with such other agencies, public or private, as it deems necessary for the rendition and affording of such services, facilities, studies and reports to the committee as will best assist it to carry out the purposes for which it is created.
(c) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of county, city, city and county, and other local law enforcement agencies in investigat- ing any matter within the scope of this resolution and to direct the sheriff of any county to serve subpenas, orders and other process issued by the committee.
(d) To report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and to the people from time to time and at any time, not later than herein provided.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 3
(e) To do any and all other things necessary or convenient to enable it fully and adequately to exercise its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objects and purposes of this resolution.
(f ) To create subcommittees from its membership, assigning to the subcommittee any study, inquiry, investigation or hearing which the committee itself has authority to undertake or hold, and the subcom- mittee for the purpose of this assignment shall have and exercise all of the powers conferred upon the committee limited by the express terms of the resolution or resolutions of the latter defining the powers and duties of the subcommittee, which powers may be withdrawn or terminated at any time by the committee.
(g) To adopt and from time to time amend such rules governing its procedure (including the fixing of its own quorum and the number of votes necessary to take action on any matter) as may to it appear appropriate.
(h) To hold public hearings ^t any place in California at which hearings the people are to have an opportunity to present their views to the committee.
(i) To summon and subpena witnesses, require the production of papers, books, accounts, reports, documents, and records of every kind and description, to issue subpenas and to take all necessary means to compel the attendance of witnesses and procure testimony.
7. The committee, each of its members, and any representative of the committee thereunto authorized by the committee or by its chairman, is authorized and empowered to administer oaths.
8. Every department, commission, board, agency, officer and employee of the State Government, including the Legislative Counsel, the Attorney General and their subordinates, and of any political sub- division, county, city, or public district of or in this State shall furnish the committee and any subcommittee, upon request, any and all such assistance, and information, records and documents as the committee or subcommittee deems proper for the accomplishment of the purposes for which the committee is created.
9. The committee, or a subcommittee or the chairman when author- ized by a majority vote of the entire committee, may meet outside the State with similar committees of Congress or of the several states.
10. The sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) , or as much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby made available from the Contingent Fund of the Senate for the expenses of the committee and its members and for any charges, expenses or claims it may incur under this resolution, to be paid from said Contingent Fund, and disbursed, after certification by the chairman of the committee, upon warrants drawn by the State Controller upon the State Treasurer.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE
Pursuant to Senate Resolution No. 75, the Senate Committee on Rules appointed Senators Hugh M. Burns, of Fresno County ; Nelson S. Dilworth, of Riverside County; Senator Fred H. Kraft, of San Diego County ; Senator Louis G. Sutton, of Tehama, Glenn and Colusa Coun- ties ; Clyde A. Watson, of Orange County ; and Jack B. Tenney, of Los Angeles County.
4 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
At the committee's organizational meeting, Senator Jack B. Tenney was elected chairman. Senator Hugh M. Burns was elected vice chairman. Mrs. Linnie Tenney was elected secretary without compensation.
The committee has attempted to continue the work of similar com- mittees functioning by authority of the Legislature since 1941. The selection of Senator Jack B. Tenney, who has headed the previous com- mittees, as chairman, insured continuity of investigations in the field of subversive activity.
The committee has held public hearings in the City of Fairfax, the City of Oakland, and in the City of Los Angeles, in addition to several executive meetings.
FAIRFAX INVESTIGATION AND HEARING ;
The chairman of this committee received the following resolution from the City Council of the City of Fairfax in Marin County, California, on or about the tenth day of August, 1947 :
Resolved, that the City Council of the City of Fairfax, County of Marin, State of California, in its investigation on Communism and Un-American Activities, request help and assistance from the State of California, through the California State Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities, California State Legislature.
Pursuant to this resolution a subcommittee of the Senate Fact- Finding Committee on Un-American Activities headed by its vice chair- man, Senator Hugh M. Burns of Fresno, conducted a one day hearing in Fairfax on October 23, 1947. Witnesses who were subpenaed and testified include Ernest Besig, Elsa Gidlow, Leslie A. Grosbauer, Sidney Hall, John L. Rockwell, and Clarice Eleanor Stevens.
It appears from the record that Leslie Grosbauer was authorized and directed by the City Council of the City of Fairfax to make an investi- gation into alleged un-American activities in the city.
Mr. Grosbauer, a member of the City Council of the City of Fairfax, and formerly the mayor of the city, testified that he had met Elsa Gidlow in March of 1946 when she was prominent in the organization of a group which became known as the Fairfax Residents and Taxpayers Association. He stated that the association sponsored three candidates for election to the city council who were ultimately elected. John L. Rockwell, one of these candidates, became chairman of the council and appointed Elsa Gidlow to the City Planning Commission.
After Grosbauer had resigned as mayor, remaining a member of the city council, he was appointed by his successor, Mayor Charles F. Camp- bell, to make an investigation of Elsa Gidlow and Communist activities in the City of Fairfax.
Grosbauer introduced into the committee record a photostatic copy of the September, 1939 issue, volume 1, number 4, of the Communist publication, Black and White. The photostat revealed the following information: Editor: Wilbur Needham; Managing Editor: Edward Wall; Business Manager: Evans Stanwood; Associate Editors: Cedric Belfrage, Robert A. Brady, Haakon Chevalier, Philip Dunne, Elsie Gidlow, Helen Hosmer, Carey McWilliams, Dolph Winebrenner, Don- ald Ogden Stewart, Bill Rogers, Louie R. Huber, and Ella-Winter.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 5
Grosbauer also offered into evidence a photostatic copy of a letter- head of the communist Schneiderman-Darcy Defense Committee. Among other names included on this letterhead is the name ' ' Elsa Gidlow. ' ' Also accepted in evidence is a photostatic copy of a pamphlet entitled ' ' Cen- sored News— The News That the Press Won't Print." The pamphlet was issued by the Schneiderman-Darcy Defense Committee.
Grosbauer testified that a Captain Henry Hemingway, who had appeared frequently before the Fairfax City Council in tirades of abuse against Grosbauer, gave a party at his home attended by Councilman May Hax, Miss Elsa Gidlow, Ernest Besig of the American Civil Lib- erties Union, and Mrs. Isabel Quallo. He stated that the Marin newspaper stated that the ' * decorations for the occasion featured various shades of red."
The Fairfax hearing of the Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities was continuously interrupted by Morse Erskine, attorney for Elsa Gidlpw.
Mrs. Clarice Eleanor Stevens testified that she had several conversa- sations with Elsa Gidlow, and that the first conversation took place during the formation of the committee that organized the Fairfax Resi- dents and Taxpayers Association. Mrs. Stevens testified that she had discussed the procedure for the Fairfax Residents and Taxpayers Asso- ciation meetings with Elsa Gidlow and others and had suggested that such meetings be opened with a pledge of allegiance to the Flag, the playing of the national anthem, to be followed by " perhaps a short prayer." She testified that her suggestions were stormily objected to and that she was told that * ' that was carrying things just a little bit too far. ' '
Sydney Hall testified that his wife was Robin Hall, and identified a photograph of Mrs. Hall which appeared in the People's Daily World for September 19, 1947. He identified the name "R. A. Hall, organiza- tional secretary, Communist Party, Marin County, P. 0. Box 271, Sausa- lito, California, ' ' as that of his wife, Robin Hall. He admitted that both himself and his wife are members of the Communist Party. His wife had disappeared and he stated he did not know where she was ; that he had not seen her for about two weeks.
John L. Rockwell, an attorney, member of the city council and for- merly Mayor of the City of Fairfax, testified that the city had been divided into two camps during the past two years and the people had been engaging in a ' ' rather intense and protracted political fight. ' ' He stated that he had appointed Elsa Gidlow to the city planning commis- sion when he was chairman (or mayor) of the city council. He had met Miss Gidlow some time in October, 1945.
Rockwell admitted that he had been a member of the Communist American Student Union when attending the University of California. He admitted that he had known Hazel McKanney (now Mrs. Aubrey Grossman, wife of the educational director of the Communist Party in San Francisco) when attending the university. He denied having been arrested by the Berkeley police during a demonstration on the campus in March of 1935. He stated that he was reprimanded by the police for handing out handbills for a meeting, but that he was not arrested.
Rockwell admitted that he had subscribed to the Communist Party periodical, the People's Daily World.
6 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
John L. Rockwell testified before the Yorty Committee during its investigation of subversive activities in the State Relief Administration in March, 1940. At that time Rockwell was an employee of the State Relief Administration. He also was a member of the Communist initiated and controlled State, County, and Municipal Workers of America. He was an associate of Gene Chance and Communist Bronislaus Joseph Zukas, who was convicted and served a jail sentence for contempt of the Yorty Committee. He recalled that Communist John E. Jeffrey was the president of the State, County, and Municipal Workers of America when he (Rockwell) was in Visalia. He remembered that Communist Alexander Noral was state president of the Worker 's Alliance of America.
Rockwell admitted having been president of the Students Rights Association, an organization that protested the expulsion of Communist Celeste Strack from the University of California. (Western Worker, November 12, 1934.)
Elsa Gidlow testified that she had been a delegate to the Communist Western Writers Congress in San Francisco. She admitted having attended luncheons of the Communist Inter-Professional Association in 1937, and that she edited the Inter-Professional Association Bulletin. She attended meetings of the Communist John Reed Club in San Fran- cisco. She admitted that her name was listed as associate editor of the Communist publication, Black and White, but stated that she had never been active in that capacity.
Miss Gidlow testified that she was acquainted with Prof. Robert A. Brady and Prof. Haakon Chevalier. She did not remember having been affiliated with the Communist front, the Academic and Civil Rights Coun- cil of Northern California (said to be a Communist front by no less an authority than Ernest Besig of the American Civil Liberties Union), although she was shown a letterhead for October 29, 1940, on which her name was listed. She stated that she was unaware that her name had appeared in issues of the Communist publication, the People's Daily World. (March 30, 1940, October 29, 1940, and November 23, 1940.)
She admitted knowing Andree Rexroth and stated that she believed that the woman was a Communist. Miss Gidlow admitted having been a member of the Schneiderman-Darcy Defense Committee. She stated that Andree Rexroth had once asked her to join the Communist Party but that she had refused. She declared that she was ''definitely opposed to the Communist Party. ' '
The committee finds that the officials of the City of Fairfax had good reason to believe that the Communist Party was doing its level best to create a chaotic situation within that city. Councilman John L. Rock- weirs record indicates his sympathies for Communist organizations, indi- viduals and causes. He offered no clear cut statement concerning his own attitude toward Communists or the Communist Party.
The committee finds that Elsa Gidlow was affiliated in one capacity or another with the following Communist organizations : Western Writers Congress, Inter-Professional Association, John Reed Club, Black and White, and the Schneiderman-Darcy Defense Committee.
Some Communist front organizations cleverly conceal their character by the use of high sounding names, such as the Western Writers Congress or the American League for Peace and Democracy. One might excusably plead ignorance in joining such organizations. The members of this com-
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 7
mittee, however, believe that membership in such fronts as the Citizens Committee to Free Earl Browder, or the Schneiderman-Darcy Defense Committee is prima facie evidence of sympathy and supporting interest in the cause represented by such traitorous individuals as Browder, Schneiderman, and Darcy. No person in his good sense would knowingly rush to the defense of the enemies of his country. A person would have necessarily been a moron if he did not know that Schneiderman and Darcy were Communists. Certainly Elsa Gidlow knew that she was supporting and defending Communists when she became a member of the Schneider- man-Darcy Defense Committee. She does not contend that she is ignorant of the conspiratorial, criminal purpose of the Communist Party, and she wouldn 't be believed if she made such an assertion. When membership in a Communist front, such as the Schneiderman-Darcy Committee is estab- lished, and it is then shown that the individual in question is affiliated with other Communist fronts, individuals and causes, a pattern of Com- munist fellow-traveling immediately follows as a logical conclusion.
The committee, long ago, concluded that the Red Card of Communist membership proved nothing more than formal affiliation. The most important Communists are not issued incriminating documentary evi- dence. The real test, in the final anaylsis, is activity. When an individual is known to be associated with Communist organizations, individuals and causes over a period of years; denounces everything but Communism, condemns the United States while praising Soviet Russia together with the other activities advocated by the Communist Party, that individual is a Communist, whether he has a book signed by Joe Stalin or not.
The committee finds that the Communist Party is making appreci- able headway in its drive in Marin County. Advertisements carried in the County's papers signed by R. Hall (Robin Hall), the organizer of the Communist Party for that County, illustrates the usual Communist technique in its "vanguard role of the proletariat."
The committee observes that the Rockwell-Gidlow axis in the City of Fairfax is a familiar maneuver of Communist Party strategists. Don Healy, husband of Dorothy Healy, organizing secretary of the Com- munist Party of Los Angeles County and former Communist head of Labors Non-Partisan League, was successful in securing an appoint- ment to the Planning Commission of the City of Los Angeles.
The majority of the members of the City Council, City of Fairfax, Mayor Charles F. Campbell and Councilman Leslie A. Grosbauer, are to be congratulated on their vigilance in attacking the forces that are determined to destroy, not only Fairfax and California, but the United States of America as well.
OAKLAND HEARINGS
The committee met for a public hearing in the courthouse in Oak- land November 3 to 6, 1947. The committee was interested in probing the personnel and structure of the Alameda County Communist Party. It was interested in the functions of the former Communist front, the Fed- eration of Architects, Engineers, Chemist and Technicians, now the United Office and Professional Workers of America. Many witnesses were examined in reference to the Communist activities within the Marine Cooks and Stewards, C.I.O. Among those who were questioned at
8 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
the Oakland hearing- were Carol Barnes, "William Patrick Brandhove, Haakon Chevalier, Richard Gladstein, Arthur A. Griffey, David Hedley, Walter Hesse, Martin Kaplan, Ruth McGovney, Sidney Roger, Rose Segure, and Eugene Toopeekoff.
The over-all purpose of the Oakland hearing was an inquiry into the interlocking directorate and personnel of a network of Communist front organizations functioning in the San Francisco Bay area. The committee found overwhelming evidence of strong Communist links between cer- tain people in the University of California, the California Labor School, the Marine Cooks and Stewards Association, the former Federation of Architects, Engineers, Chemists and Technicians, the Communist pub- lication, the People's Daily World, and the Communist Party generally.
The findings of the committee concerning individuals and organiza- tions in the Oakland inquiry are set forth under their respective head- ings in this report.
VERN SMITH
Vern Smith, a former member of the editorial staff of the Communist publication, the People's Daily World, was subpenaed to testify before the committee during its Oakland hearing. On November 5, 1947, Vern Smith appeared before the committee but refused to be sworn or to testify. The following is from the committee's transcript of testimony, Volume XXXIII, pages 294 to 302 :
Mr. Combs : Will Mr. Vern Smith come forward, please ?
(Mr. Smith came forward and stood in front of counsel and the committee.)
Mr. Smith: I wish to state that I support the principles of Communism and do not * * *
Chairman Tenney : Mr. Smith, will you be sworn ?
Mr. Smith: I wish to state that I support the principles of Communism and do not speak for it.
Chairman Tenney : The committee will stand in recess for about five minutes.
(Five minutes recess taken)
Chairman Tenney : All right. The committee will come to order. Is Mr. Smith here, Mr. Vern Smith ? The committee wishes to give him another opportunity to be sworn and to testify.
(Mr. Smith came forward.)
Chairman Tenney : Will you be sworn, Mr. Smith ?
Mr. Smith: I will object to this committee and will attempt to read this statement if you will be quiet and let me, instead of inter- rupting me as you did the last time.
Chairman Tenney: Mr. Combs, Mr. Smith has handed you a statement in which he makes a certain declaration — I think it's at the end of the statement; the last two lines. Yes, they read: "I therefore refuse to answer any questions by the Tenney Committee or to be sworn as a witness before it. ' '
I offer this as an exhibit, the next number in order.
(Received in evidence and marked Exhibit 17.)
Senator Dilworth: I wish the record to show that Mr. Smith is present and listening.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Chairman Tenney : You refuse to be sworn, Mr. Smith ?
Senator Dilworth: I think it's quite obvious that he refuses to be sworn.
Senator Sutton : I move Mr. Vern Smith be placed in contempt of this committee for refusal to be sworn, being under subpena.
Senator Dilworth : I second the motion.
Chairman Tenney : The motion is that Mr. Smith be held in con- tempt of the committee and cited therefor. It probably means we'll have to take the matter up with the entire committee before enter- ing citations.
Senator Sutton : Subcommittee ?
Chairman Tenney: All in favor signify by saying "Aye."
(Voting)
Chairman Tenney: Opposed?
Chairman Tenney: The motion is carried. Mr. Smith will be cited for contempt by the entire committee, a meeting of which I will call in the next week or two.
Mr. Combs : Mr. Chairman, I now wish to offer into the record the evidence that I had prepared to introduce through questioning Mr. Smith ; the information that we have concerning this prospective witness. It is as follows : The name of the witness is Vern — it was misspelled on the subpena. It was spelled ' * V-e-r-n-e. " Our record shows it should have been spelled ' ' V-e-r-n, ' ' and our records on him, which we would have endeavored to prove, had the witness con- sented to be sworn, showed in 1927, 1928, Mr. Smith covered the nation-wide coal strike for the Workers Press ; that in 1928 he was the editor of a publication called "Labor Unity," which was the organ for William Z. Foster, now chairman of the Communist Party of the United States; William Foster's organ, known as the "Trade Union Educational League/' which was located at 2 West 15th Street, New York City, and in the issue of that publication for September, 1928, Mr. Earl Browder was listed as Far Eastern Correspondent. In 1931 he covered the Pennsylvania-Ohio mine strike. According to the Daily Worker of New York for the — wait a minute — yes, the third day of November, 1931, page 6, a person named Vern Smith was a candidate on the Communist Party ticket for the Assembly from Manhattan County, New York. Our informa- tion doesn 't show whether that man, that person, is the Vern Smith who is here present today, but of course the name is exactly the same.
In 1932 he covered the Lawrence Textile strike. Through 1934, that is, from 1933 through 1934, and our records say probably 1935, he lived and worked in the Soviet Union and was a correspondent at Moscow for the Daily Worker of New York. In 1937 he resided in Mexico. On December 20th of that year, 1937, the Western Worker, which was the newspaper which preceded the People's Daily World; that is, in December, 1937, the Western Worker, which up to that time had carried on its masthead "Organ for the Com- munist Party," and in parenthesis "A section of the Communist International," went out of business, at least ostensibly, and the next issue was called the "Daily People's World," of course, which it still is called ; but the masthead of the Communist Party was dis- continued at that time, although Mr. Chairman — and this is a
10 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
parenthetical remark, but I think an important one, that in 1945 — I 'm quite sure it was — we had a hearing in San Francisco, at which time Mr. William Schneiderman was examined by me in connec- tion with this matter, and he was asked whether or not the Daily People 's World was the official organ of the Communist Party. His answer was that it was not. He was then asked if he ever heard of a publication called the Party Organizer and he said he was familiar with it and identified it as the official publication of the National Committee of the Communist Party of the United States. Then those issues were introduced as exhibits and it was stated from a source, of course, higher than Mr. Schneiderman, who was Chair- man of the Communist Party of California, that the People's Daily World was an official organ of the Communist Party. Now, the issue that I mentioned, that is, of the Western Worker — on Decem- ber 20, 1937, it was announced that Vern Smith was to be Labor Editor of the People's World. On May 22, 1938 Mr. Smith spoke at a forum in the Green Street Theater in San Francisco on Mexico, and the meeting was under the auspices of the League of American Writers. Now, the League of American Writers was, on the twentieth day of May, 1942, characterized by the United States Department of Justice as a Communist front organization, according to the Congressional Record of the United States. In order to explain it, the organizations listed were so designated as Communist fronts by the Attorney General of the United States, and a memorandum to that effect was given to the executive heads of the various depart- ments of the United States Government, and the League of Ameri- can Writers, which sponsored the address given by Mr. Smith, was included in that list.
Senator Dilworth : Could I see that, please ?
Mr. Combs: Yes, of course. (Handing document to Senator Dilworth.)
Mr. Combs: Now, on March 14, 1939 the People's World announced Mr. Smith had been indicted by the Grand Jury of Shasta County for violating anti-picketing ordinances in that county. The San Francisco Chronicle for September 27, 1939 announced his ejection from the 40th Annual Convention of the California State Federation of Labor in Oakland, after the privileges of the conven- tion had been denied to representatives of the Communist press.
On April 2, 1941, according to the San Francisco Examiner, Mr. Ben Gitlow, who was formerly a member of the National Com- mittee of the Communist Party of the United States, testified Mr. Smith was a high ranking American Communist. Mr. Smith, inciden- tally, was then living at 675 Linden Street, San Francisco, Califor- nia. Now, Mr. Chairman, we come to a tie-in between Mr. Smith and the San Francisco Workers School. I have here an official announce- ment of courses at the fall session of the San Francisco Workers School, 675 Minna Street, San Francisco, California. In the foreword this statement appears. This is on page five, and I 'm quoting : ' ' It is necessary to state that the Workers School is the only school in San Francisco which authoritatively bases its education on the theory of Marxism — Leninism, under the official guidance and leadership of the Communist Party of the United States and the Communist
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 11
International. " I also have an official announcement of the San Francisco Workers School for 1936. The one I just referred to was 1934. It was then located at 121 Haight Street, San Francisco, Cali- fornia, which was the address of the Communist Party of California.
Now, the People's World for May 22, 1942 states that Mr. Smith is the Temporary Trustee of the New Workers School, to be established in San Francisco.
On July 1, 1942 the People's World announced that Mr. Smith would teach during the winter semester at the Tom Mooney Labor School, the term being scheduled to commence on October 16th of that year, 1942.
Now, in 1943, on March 3d of that year, the People's World announced that Mr. Smith was to become its new foreign editor.
On March 15, 1943 the same publication, People's World, announced he was teaching history; the history of the American labor movement at the Tom Mooney Labor School for the spring term of 1943.
On August 7, 1943 the People's World announced that Mr. Smith would speak at Fugazi Hall, North Beach, San Francisco, under the auspices pf the North Beach Branch of the Communist Party of San Francisco.
On September 2, 1943 the same publication, the Daily People's World, announced that Mr. Smith was a sponsor of Oleta 0 'Connor Yates, Communist Party candidate for San Francisco Supervisor.
On April 7, 1945 the People's World announced Smith would discuss the United States of Soviet Russia at the San Francisco Labor School, San Francisco, and in July, 1945 the People's World announced he would teach a course entitled, and I 'm quoting, ' ' Our Allies — Britain, China and the Soviet Union in World Affairs," at the California Labor School in Oakland.
Chairman Tenney: Mr. Combs, I'd like to announce that the Communists are paying us a real compliment — they are picketing the courthouse here. We will recess for five minutes. (Five-minute recess.)
Mr. Combs : The next citation is from the San Francisco Chron- icle for August 3, 1945, where it was stated that Mr. Smith would analyze the news at the California Labor School in San Francisco. On March 27, 1946, the People's World stated that he was still foreign news editor for that publication.
On June 21, 1946, the People's World announced he would address a public forum in Alameda County June 23d under the auspices of the Communist Party, Alameda County.
Now, on August 28, 1946, the People's World announced Mr. Smith had been discharged from the staff of that newspaper because of his disagreement with its policies and on the next day, August 29, 1946, the People's World announced he had been expelled from the Communist Party because of his basic disagreement with party poli- cies and principles, and his participation in factional and slanderous attacks against the party leadership. He was then replaced, according to the People's World, by a man named George Lohr, as foreign news editor. The committee has been informed that Mr. Smith having been expelled — was expelled from the Communist Party because of the
12 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
fact that his own individual attitude was more revolutionary than that of the orthodox party to which he had been affiliated, and for that reason he was expelled, and that he thereafter formed an organi- zation in San Francisco known as the Committee for Correspondence. And the members of that committee comprised individuals who had been expelled from the Communist Party.
Chairman Tenney : I think we should note at that point, Mr. Combs, that the committee is also aware of the report that the expul- sion of Mr. Smith is more or less of a phony move on the part of the Communist Party for rather sinister purposes. Just what the reason is we 're not quite sure, but we have a lot of information.
Mr. Combs : We are also informed that the orthodox Communist Party planted a so-called informant or stool-pigeon, in Mr. Smith's committee and that Mr. Smith discovered who that individual was and a great deal of internal strife ensued. We have the name of the individual who was planted in that organization. We also find that Mr. Sam Darcy, who along about 1934 was extremely active in San Francisco, with Mr. Schneiderman, as a party official, and who is also an expelled Communist. His real name is Dardek. Our informa- tion is that Mr. Smith and Mr. Sam Darcy have been in correspond- ence quite recently. Now, I believe that 's all I care, Mr. Chairman, to put into the record at this particular time concerning the witness, or prospective witness, Mr. Vern Smith, who is, I might add, living in San Francisco on Chestnut Street. I might also add that we endeavored to serve Mr. Smith with a subpena a year ago when we had our meeting in Oakland, and we were unable to locate him, so that 's just all I have in connection with Mr. Smith.
Chairman Tenney : The chair will tentatively set November 10th at 10 o 'clock in the morning at the State Building in Los Angeles for a meeting of the entire committee. I make the announcement tenta- tively because all of the members of the committee must be present.
At the committee's executive meeting in Los Angeles on November 10, 1947, the following resolution was introduced by Senator Sutton :
WHEREAS, The Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities was by Senate Resolution No. 75 of the 1947 Regular Session of the Legislature of California created and authorized and directed to investigate, ascertain, study and analyze all facts directly or indirectly relating to activities of groups and organizations whose members include persons who are members of organizations which have as their objectives, or part of their objectives, the overthrow of the governments of the State of California or of the United States by force and violence or other unlawful means, all organizations known or suspected to be dominated or controlled by a foreign power which activities affect the conduct of this State in national defense, the functioning of any state agency, or the conversion of the State from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy, or affect the economic and social problems incidental thereto, including but not limited to the operation, effect, administration, enforcement and needed revision of any and all laws in any way bearing upon or relating to the subject of the resolution creating this committee, and to report thereon to the Senate ; and
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 13
WHEREAS, It appears to this committee that Vern Smith is a former news editor of the People's World and formerly a member of the Com- munist Party and was discharged from his position with the People's World and was expelled from membership in the Communist Party for reasons which this committee believes were for purposes of subter- fuge ; and
WHEREAS, It appears that Vern Smith formed an organization, known as the Committee of Correspondence, which organization holds meetings and engages in activities which this committee believes are for purposes of propaganda ; and
WHEREAS, This committee caused a subpena to be issued to Vern Smith, directing him to appear at Room 8 in the Alameda County Court- house, Oakland, California, at the hour of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the fifth day of November, 1947, as a witness ; and
WHEREAS, The said subpena was duly served upon Vern Smith in San Francisco County, by Thomas Fitzpatrick, Jr., on the thirty-first day of October, 1947 ; and
WHEREAS, Vern Smith appeared before the committee at the time and place specified in the subpena but wilfully refused to be sworn after being directed so to do by the chairman of the committee, or to answer any question ; and
WHEREAS, It further appears that such questions are material and proper to the investigation now being conducted by this committee ; and
WHEREAS, It appears that the refusal of Vern Smith to be sworn is wilful and contemptuous, and without lawful or any other excuse what- soever ; now, therefore, be it
Resolved ~by the Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities, That the attorney for the committee, R. E. Combs, is hereby instructed to report the facts of Mr. Smith 's wilful refusal to be sworn before this committee to the District Attorney of Alameda County, and to take such other steps in relation thereto, including the formal signing of any complaint which may be necessary, in order to prosecute Vern Smith to the full extent permitted by law for his failure to obey the lawful orders of this committee and in particular for his apparent violation of Section 9412 of the Government Code of the State of California.
Senator Sutton moved the adoption of the foregoing resolution and his motion was seconded by Senator Burns. All of the members of the committee were present and the resolution was adopted unanimously.
The district attorney's office in Oakland is presently preparing a complaint in compliance with the foregoing resolution.
LOS ANGELES HEARINGS
The committee opened public hearings in the Assembly Chambers, State Building, in Los Angeles, on Monday, February 16, 1948. The pur- pose of this hearing was similar to that of the Oakland hearing. The evi- dence adduced supported the findings of the Oakland hearings and revealed the interlocking directorate and control of man}'- Communist front organizations in Los Angeles County. Those who were subpenaed and testified at the Los Angeles hearings were : Aileen LaBelle, Dr. Helen Hall Moreland, Louis Schwartz, William Axelrod, Virginia Gardner, Frank Spector, Ben Richman, H. L. Mitchell, Henry Hasiwar, Katharine
14 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
McTernan, Roman Bohnen, Rose Hobart, Louis Spector, Ira Gershwin, J. Edward Bromberg, Will Lee, Mrs. Frederic March, and Erick Lionel Pridinoff. United States District Court Judge Leon R. Yankwich was not subpenaed to appear before the committee but appeared voluntarily February 19, 1948.
APPRECIATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The committee wishes to express its deep gratitude to the many indi- viduals and organizations who have assisted the committee with its extremely difficult task. It would be impossible to list the names of all these individuals and organizations in this report, but the committee extends its thanks and acknowledgment to each of them.
The city and county officials of Fairfax, Marin County; Oakland, Alameda County ; and Los Angeles were courteous and cooperative. The California highway authorities and members were helpful on all occa- sions. Great assistance was given the committee and its attaches by the sheriff's staff and the city police department in San Francisco. The sher- iff's office in Los Angeles assisted cheerfully and efficiently in serving subpenas. The Los Angeles Police Department was especially cooperative and the courtesy and gentlemanly efficiency of the officers who were assigned to the committee's Los Angeles public hearing reflected credit and honor on the city 's chief and on the entire department.
The committee is deeply indebted to its staff. To those anonymous, who for obvious reasons, must yet remain unnamed, the committee extends its thanks for efforts expended and assignments accomplished.
The committee commends the work of its counsel, R. E. Combs of Visalia, and wishes to publicly express its appreciation for his patriotic services.
Murray Stravers, executive secretary to the committee, has been tireless in his devotion to the committee 's work and has rendered invalu- able service.
The committee is deeply appreciative of the work of Mrs. Linnie Tenney, who has served as committee secretary without compensation. For the many long hours spent in transcribing the stenographic notes of this report, the committee extends its gratitude. To Mrs. Gertrude Goodman, who has efficiently brought the committee's files up to date, thus bringing order out of chaos, goes honorable mention and the com- mittee 's thanks.
The participation of the many patriotic, fraternal, civic and service organizations represented in the Citizen's Advisory Committee, men- tioned elsewhere in this report, indicates the splendid cooperation and assistance tendered this committee by such groups.
The newspapers of California, as in the past, have been cooperative, fair and accurate in reporting the committee's activities. The exception (including, of course, the Communist press), has been the Sacramento Union. The Sacramento Union has been actually inaccurate, antagonistic, and unfair.
Again, the Hearst papers — the San Francisco and Los Angeles Examiners, San Francisco Call-Bulletin, Los Angeles Herald-Express and the Oakland Post-Enquirer — the Los Angeles Times, the Oakland Tribune, the McClatchy papers, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, and the
UN-AMEEICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 15
Modesto Bee, and the Hollywood Citizen News, have been in the forefront of newspapers representing the finest in patriotism and understanding of America 's greatest menace. This same statement can be made for the over- whelming majority of California 's rural newspapers.
To this group of outstanding California journals must be added the Criterion, a patriotic, hard-hitting American-Negro newspaper in Los Angeles. Its clean-cut Americanism, clear-thinking analysis of American problems, and its understanding of the methods of the subver- sive elements that would destroy the United States, is refreshing and encouraging. Arnold Scott, Jeanne Severins, and Essex G. Jenkins have made a real contribution to fine journalism and real Americanism in giving Los Angeles the Criterion.
CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE
In its executive meeting of November 10, 1947, in Los Angeles, the committee unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Senators Watson and Kraft. The resolution is as follows :
Resolved that the Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-Ameri- can Activities in California select from patriotic and fraternal organ- izations which have heretofore shown an interest in combatting un-American activities in California and the United States, an advis- ory committee, to meet, consult and advise with this committee. Pursuant to the foregoing resolution an advisory group was created and met with this committee in the auditorium of the State Building in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 15, 1948, at 1.30 p.m. The committee had approved the following as members of the Citizens' Advisory Com- mittee :
James T. Allen, representing Round Table International, David L. Anderson, representing Catholic War Veterans of the United States,
Mrs. W. B. Arndt, representing the Ebell Club of Los Angeles, Marion Ashton, representing the American Legion Auxiliary, Bernard K. Bakewell, representing the Trowel Club, Philip Bancroft, Jr., representing Associated Farmers, "William Bernfeld, representing Southern California Retail Drug- gists' Assn. Ltd.,
John L. Bland, representing Improved Order of Red Men, A. M. Blumberg, representing Jewish War Veterans of U. S., Mrs. Delor Bombardier, representing Catholic Daughters of America,
Allan J. Bradshaw, representing Anchor Club, Roy M. Brewer, representing International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, A. F. of L.,
L. E. Brown, representing Round Table International, Karl C. Brueck, representing Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ella Bryan, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Mrs. Charles D. Burt, representing the Ebell Club of Los Angeles, J. P. Butler, representing California Farm Bureau Federation, James T. Byrne, representing Anchor Club,
Dr. Reynaldo Carreon, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
16 UN- AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Dr. Vincent P. Carroll, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Jose Carvajol, representing Catholic War Veterans of the United States,
Vernon C. Cash, representing Knights of Pythias, Borden Chase, representing Motion Picture Alliance for the Preser- vation of American Ideals,
Ralph Clare, representing International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees,
Mrs. Betty Cleary, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Dr. Julius Cohen, representing Jewish War Veterans of U. S. Hon. David Coleman, representing B 'Nai B 'Rith, Mrs. Frank Collins, representing Catholic Daughters of America, Mrs. Bessie Cooper, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Dr. Joseph 0. Costello, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Genevieve Cramer, representing Catholic War Veterans of the United States,
Loren Critser, representing Lions International, Diana Curtis, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Dr. Edward W. Davidson, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Ralph E. Davis, representing California Association of Private Investigators, Inc.,
Willard B. Davis, representing Round Table, International, Howard H. Desky, representing B 'Nai B'Rith, Mrs. Ann H. Dippel, representing Native Daughters of Golden West, Captain Lester J. Divine, representing Round Table International, Mrs. Jean Edelstein, representing Jewish War Veterans of U. S., A. E. Eickholt, representing American Legion, Major E. E. Eiler, representing AMVETS, Jesse Elliot, representing Improved Order of Red Men, Mrs. Eva 0. Enger, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Dr. J. Gordon Epperson, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Edward A. Erickson, representing California State Association of Life Underwriters, Inc.,
Mary Files, representing American Legion Auxiliary, G. W. Fisher, representing American Legion, James A. Fleming, representing Veterans of Foreign Wars, S. Parker Frisselle, representing California State Chamber of Com- merce,
James J. Gambs, representing American Legion, Hon. Chester F. Gannon, representing American Legion, Dr. Don C. Garn, representing California Osteopathic Association, Walter Gaspar, representing American Legion, Dr. H. M. Ginsburg, representing B'Nai B'Rith, Dr. Charles H. Glass, representing Round Table International, John A. Graham, representing Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mark Green, representing Los Angeles Acacia Club, Miss Geraldine B. Hadsell, representing the E~bell Club of Los Angeles,
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 17
Arthur B. Hammer, representing Jewish War Veterans of the United States,
Lou Hammer, representing Jewish War Veterans of the United States,
Harvey Harris, representing Educational Committee on Amer- icanism,
Esther Hendrickson, representing Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Bernard G. Hiss, representing Native Sons of the Golden West, John M. Hoffman, representing Lions International, C. C. Holloway, representing Round Table International, Marguerite Horn, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Paul Huff, representing Associated Farmers,
Dr. Herk L. Hutchins representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Dr. Leta B. Jackson, representing California Osteopathic Associa- tion,
Ed James, representing Educational Committee on Americanism, Bernice Johndrew, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Ernest Johnson, representing Knights of Pythias, Ruth Johnson, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Dr. James M. Keating, representing Round Table International, Miss Emma Kircher, representing Catholic Daughters of America, Bert Kirkpatrick, representing Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots, Mary Kister, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Mrs. Dana Kleinke, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Harper Knowles, representing American Legion, Dr. John C. Knowlton, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Jane Krause, representing American Legion Auxiliary, James V. Lawry, representing California State Association of Life Underwriters, Inc.,
Dr. John R. Lechner, representing Americanism Educational League,
Rena Leigh, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Ernest J. Loebbecke, representing Kiivanis International, William Luton, representing Associated Farmers, William P. Mahedy, representing Catholic War Veterans of the United States,
Mrs. Tim Malony, representing Catholic Daughters of America, Jean Mathias, representing Jewish War Veterans of the United States,
Dave May, representing American Legion, Mrs. Lou Meier, representing Catholic Daughters of America, Herman Mellman, representing AMVETS, E. A. Merritt, representing California Farm Bureau Federation, Eldred L. Meyer, representing Native Sons of the Golden West, Lome D. Middough, representing Educational Committee on Amer- icanism,
Homer B. Miller, representing Round Table International, Jess H. Miller, representing Native Sons of the Golden West, Charles E. Millikan, representing Kiwanis International,
3— L-7088-D
18 UN- AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Dr. Joseph L. Molle, representing California Chiropractic Associa- tion,
Mae Monteleone, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Frankie Moore, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Dr. Thomas L. Morgan, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Marie Murphy, representing American Legion Auxiliary, W. K. Murphy, representing California State Association of Life Underwriters, Inc.,
Virginia McClelland, representing American Legion Auxiliary, John J. McDonald, representing Lions International, Fred McGrew, representing American Legion, A. Harold Noon, representing Catholic War Veterans of the United States,
Phil Ohanneson, representing Rotary International, Mrs. J. Henry Orme, representing the Ebell Club of Los Angeles, Barbour Klawans Parker, representing Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars,
William H. Parker, representing Anchor Club, Judge C. E. Pecht, representing American Legion, Miss Genevieve Penna, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Dr. Willard W. Percy, representing California Chiropractic Asso- ciation,
James H. Phillips, representing Kiwanis International, George G. Pollock, representing California State Chamber of Com- merce,
Waldo F. Postel, representing Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots, Dr. Edward C. Poulsen, representing California Chiropractic Asso- ciation,
L. D. Pratt, representing California Manufacturers Association, Jules 0. Pritchard, representing Knights of Pythias, Mrs. Lucile Quiel, representing American Legion Auxiliary, John T. Regan, representing Native Sons of the Golden West, Neil W. Reid, representing Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mrs. Katherine Rosek, representing American Legion Auxiliary, C. L. Roy Rudine, representing Lions International, H. Gatch Runyan, representing Round Table International, Dr. Harry R. Salisbury, representing California Osteopathic Asso- ciation,
Ruth Sails, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Frederick A. Schnell, representing California State Association of Life Underwriters, Inc.,
Allison E. Schofield, representing AMVETS, Frank Dee Scriven, representing AMVETS,
Edward A. Seeley, representing Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Dr. Earl Shackelford, representing California Osteopathic Associa- tion,
Barney Shain, representing Jewish War Veterans of United States, Samuel Shannon, representing Associated Farmers, Frank M. Shay, representing California State Chamber of Com- merce,
Max Singer, representing Veterans of Foreign Wars,
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 19
Mrs. Esther Skoglund, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Prentice G. Smith, representing AMVETS, Earl Smittcamp, representing Associated Farmers, Col. Henry Sommer, representing Jewish War Veterans of United States,
Grant F. Soper, representing Anchor Club,
Miss Grace S. Stoermer, representing Native Daughters of Golden West,
Jean Strobel, representing Associated Farmers, A. J. Sturtevant, representing California Farm Bureau Federation. Genevieve Sutherland, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Frank Thornton, representing Catholic War Veterans of United States,
Merle Toby, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Ford M. Tussing, representing California Manufacturers Associa- tion,
Edward R. Valentine, representing California State Chamber of Commerce,
Mrs. Zella Venable, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Joseph A. Vurgason, representing California Newspaper Publishers Association,
Carl Wallace, representing Educational Committee on Americanism, Leon Warmke, representing American Legion, John S. Watson, representing California State Chamber of Com- merce,
Keegan Watson, representing Associated Farmers, Marguerita Westmoreland, representing American Legion Auxil- iary,
Charles H. Widdows, representing Round Table International, Martel Wilson, representing California State Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. T. E. Wilson, representing American Legion Auxiliary, Max Wolman, representing Jewish War Veterans, George Ziegler, representing Educational Committee on Amer- icanism.
Of the foregoing a majority of the Southern California members were present. After preliminary introductions and a statement of purpose by the chairman, the advisory committee met and organized. Dr. John Lechner was made temporary chairman, and other temporary officers were elected.
The committee plans to hold a meeting in San Francisco for the members of the advisory committee who reside in the northern part of the State, immediately upon adjournment of the Legislature. It is felt that the advice of this broad representative group will prove of great assistance to the Senate committee.
The foregoing list of members of the advisory committee is just a start. The members of the Senate committee are hopeful that every interested organization will be represented on the advisory committee before the end of the year. All interested groups are invited to participate and the list here presented was only limited because of the shortness of time between the decision of the committee and its first joint meeting in Los Angeles.
20 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
It is intended to divide the committee into northern and southern groups so that no individual member will be put to expense in attending meetings.
IS AMERICA BLIND?
The committee submits an editorial from the Banning Live Wire, published at 78 South San Gorgonio in the City of Banning. The editorial is entitled "Is America Blind?," and reads as follows:
It is an ironical fact that American Communists and fellow travelers always scream to high heaven about their constitutional rights when called to the witness stand. They fervidly embrace the protections which the communist ideology, by its very essence, is determined to destroy.
They have, of course, a perfect right to do this — the Constitu- tion was drawn to defend the liberties of people of all political faiths, all races, and all creeds. But there is a grim humor in seeing it used as a defense by men and women who would destroy it.
From the point of view of the individual, there is little difference between a communist, a nazi, a fascist, or a falangist government. Every kind of totalitarian state is built on the same set of principles. Every one of them says, in effect, that the state is supreme and that the individual is nothing. There can be no such thing as personal liberty — the right to do, think and speak what one pleases. They are concerned with men and women only in the mass — as millions of slaves who may be used ruthlessly to advance the purpose of the state.
In this Country, the totalitarian forces are small in number. But they are extremely well organized, and they are adept at decep- tion and deceit. They are skilled at waving the Flag, and at demand- ing in the name of Democracy measures which would destroy Democracy. They are solidly behind every project which would weaken free enterprise, which would increase industrial strife, and which would pit class against class. The boring from within tech- nique has been detailed and perfected by the advocates of the super- state from Marx on down. It is an essential prelude to revolution and internal chaos which permits a "strong man" to sieze power.
A nation can save itself from ultimate dictatorship in only one way — by aggressively fighting every movement which would in any way circumscribe economic and social freedom. There can be no such thing as a limited freedom. We will have all or none. The forces of totalitarianism count heavily upon American blindness and tolerance as an aid to their work. The American people must prove them mistaken.
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES IS AN AGENT OF SOVIET RUSSIA
^ The committee unanimously finds that the Communist Party of the United States is the agent of the Soviet Government and its totalitarian dictator, Josef Stalin. The committee finds that the Communist Party is, in no sense, a domestic political party.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 21
The committee finds that, since its inception in September 1919 to the present day, the communist movement in the United States is —
(1) An organization operating under centralized discipline subordinated to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the single and ruling party of that country ;
(2) A section of a World Communist Party, controlled by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ;
(3) An organization whose basic aim, whether open or con- cealed, is the abolition of our present economic system and Republi- can form of government and the establishment of a Soviet dictator- ship in its place ;
(4) An organization resorting to deception, evasion, illegal methods, violence, and civil war ; methods implicit in its revolution- ary purpose ; and
(5) An organization whose members owe their first allegiance to Soviet Russia, and who will, if directed by the dictatorship in Moscow, utilize every method of espionage, sabotage, and treachery against the United States and its institutions.
The major part of this report deals with organizations found to be under the control of the Communist Party. In view of the above finding of the Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities in California, the significance of these groups as agents of the Soviet Union become extremely important.
Parti ANALYSIS OF COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS
The committee has determined that the most important continuing functions of the Community Party in a nation not yet dominated by a Red Fascist dictatorship, are to defend the Communist holy land, Soviet Russia, and to prepare the way for the time when the Communist leaders shall decide that circumstances justify an open bid for power through violent revolution and establishment of a "dictatorship of the pro- letariat".
In contrast to the blindness and apathy of citizens who are opposed to Communism, the R-ed Fascists do not delude themselves that their two basic functions can be carried on effectively by making speeches and passing resolutions.
Communists work day and night at the practical job of infiltrating existing organizations, so that they may be in a position to manipulate it to their purpose. They are busy creating new organizations for their purpose when none exist.
Behind a propaganda barrage of progress, reform and liberal slogans, the Communists steadily pursue a formal, dogmatic, organized program of infiltration into, and creation of, mass organizations, because they are studious, fanatical and single-minded in their service to Soviet foreign policy and the preparation for revolution in the country where they live.
The committee has carried on a continuous program of investigation, research and public exposure of Communism and of the methods that Communists inevitably must pursue to work toward their self -declared objectives.
In its public reports, issued in 1943, 1945 and 1947, the committee has sought to present to the people of California a clear, unbiased state- ment of the purposes and objectives, the tactics and methods of world Communism, of Communist organizations in the United States; and particularly, of Communist organizations in California.
Since 1941 the committee has procured and made available to the people of California a huge mass of factual material, taken from official Communist documents, publications, textbooks, communications and confidential party instructions and decisions.
In addition, the accumulated testimony of witnesses now consists of 10,000 pages of sworn testimony, contained in 41 transcript volumes and augmented by an unusually voluminous number of exhibits.
Sworn testimony of known Communist functionaries has been com- bined with authorized Communist texts into a record that reveals, beyond question or dispute, the theories, purposes, objectives, techniques and methods of Communism.
From this mass of testimony and documentation, the committee has selected the most indispensable material for inclusion within the limited space afforded in three biennial reports. Because of the current nature of the organizations and issues that have been under investigation, it hith- erto has not been possible to present a specific, complete explanation and
(23)
24 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
compilation on the subject of the front organization as a major weapon in the arsenal of Communist plotting and intrigue.
The committee is of the opinion, therefore, that one of the most important services it can render the Members of the Legislature and the people of California at this time is to present a definitive explanation of the Communist front organization ; an analysis which will provide, within one concise and factual compilation, the material that public officials, police agencies, journalists and leaders of all organized segments of the community must have readily available to them in authoritative form if they are to carry out their obligations to their organizations, their State and their Nation in meeting the problems raised by the Red Fascist con- spiracy within the United States.
For the documented, detailed reports, the Members of the Legislature and the citizens of California are referred to the committee 's 1943, 1945, and 1947 reports.
WHY COMMUNISTS NEED FRONT ORGANIZATIONS
Communists become Communists to do something, not merely to join and meet together. Regardless of how critical the citizen of any country may be of policies, conditions and leadership within that country, he thinks a long time before he faces the naked fact of revolution through violence. Communists know this ; and consequently, while the hard core of veteran revolutionaries who run Communist Parties are working toward the twin goals of serving the foreign policy of Soviet Russia and preparing for revolutionary seizure of power in their own country, they seek to carry out these twin programs through subterfuge and trickery. They have become adept in playing on the individual 's ambitions and the complaints of organized groups.
Modern industrial civilization has complicated living to the point where few individuals are effective by themselves. The modern world provides modes of political, cultural, economic, and similar expression, by group action. Frequently, individual competition is supplanted or supplemented by group competition. This grouping of people for joint action is more or less effective, more or less democratic, and more or less constructive, according to the character, integrity and ability of those who achieve positions of leadership through the inevitable processes of promotion, appointment, selection and election in organized groups.
The Communist Party scientifically charts this organization into groups in modern civilization and it plans and works to capture control of key positions when possible. When this method fails the Communists work to nullify and make impotent the leadership of groups it cannot infiltrate or control, through ' ' rank-and-file " disruption and confusion.
Communist confusion is an organized and planned confusion and its ultimate goal is to develop the ability to create the maximum of confusion at the time when Communist strategy decrees an open bid for power through revolutionary violence.
In the scientific blueprint for revolution that is laid down in official Communist textbooks and taught in the Communist schools, interminable analysis and study is given to the technique of manipulating organized groups toward the eventual belief that they cannot solve their particular problems or achieve their particular objectives within the framework and
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 25
limitations of a capitalist economy and a parliamentary government. The final goal of Communist infiltration into organized groups is to dominate the sentiment of such groups — running the gamut from ignorant apathy to active acceptance — for the purpose of permitting the hardened core of revolutionaries to seize power at the proper time.
For this purpose in the long range Communist plan, an apathetic, inert organization, incapable of united and decisive action in a crisis, is just as valuable as an organization that is enthusiastically working to serve the Communist program. Either attitude serves the purposes of the Red Fascist conspiracy.
However, pending the long-range program of eventual world-wide 1 ' dictatorship of the proletariat ' ' Communist strategists study and work to put into effect temporary, immediate popular, localized and special purpose-policies and projects.
The creation and conduct of such policies and projects make up what has come to be known as the ' ' Communist party line. ' '
The ' l party line ' ' consists of the immediate policies of the moment, which frequently are contradictory. Sometimes it will center on popular issues. Again, it will center on generally unpopular issues. But, invari- ably, it follows a pattern that consistently involves the members of labor, liberal, minority and cultural groups. The over-all purpose is to establish the " vanguard" position of Communism and to pose as the only true friend of the ' ' struggling masses. ' '
Even when Communists, in pursuing the devious twists and turns of the " party line," are disrupting and confusing formal, considered policies of labor, liberal and minority organizations, they consistently direct smear campaigns at the responsible leaders of the organizations in question.
Front organizations are indispensable to such a program. The inde- fatigable plotting and scheming of the leaders of world Communism has developed the theory and technique of the front organization to the high- est level of systematic efficiency in the world 's history.
Communist theory and technique is based on a huge mass of ana- lytical, historical and theoretical teachings, accumulated since Commu- nism was launched in 1848 with Karl Marx's "Communist Manifesto," a hundred years ago.
Much of it is openly and plainly presented to Communists as a study of strategy and tactics to achieve a successful revolution and com- plete seizure of power under a 1 1 dictatorship of the proletariat. ' ' How- ever, a great mass of it is thinly disguised as history. This later element is particularly valuable to the teaching of Marxist revolutionary doc- trine, where Communists are obliged to conduct their proselyting and organizing surreptitiously.
The average American can secure a very good basic concept of the special purpose and approach of this huge mass of revolutionary Marxian literature by a comparison with popular American sports.
Football, baseball, golf and other sports are described in detail and from every viewpoint in a mass of technical literature.
Communist handbooks, that may be bought openly in Communist bookstores throughout America, reveal a pattern of psychological, organ- izational and propaganda technique that directly parallels the systems and stratagems of the popular sports.
26 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
There the analogy ends !
In sports, the object is to win, and the system and stratagems are devised for the purpose of winning. Sportsmen always play to win, but test of sportsmanship is the will to win only within the rules, to win fairly.
To Communists, the object also is to win and the prize is the Com- munist dictatorship of the world. But the literature of Communist tactics and strategies proclaims openly and brazenly, and with never a variation, that fraud, deceit, dishonesty and trickery are the indispensable ingredi- ents of a successful revolutionary movement.
The inability of the average American, trained in the ideals of fair play and good sportsmanship, to understand this basic tenet of Commu- nist strategy and tactics in day-to-day relations is one of the major rea- sons why Communists are consistently successful in either capturing or disrupting organized groups whenever it serves the purpose of the ' ' party line."
The most pronounced difference between ordinary American mem- bers of an organization and the Communist Trojan Horse clique within an organization, is in their attitude toward parliamentary procedure and tactics.
Parliamentary procedure, based on Robert's Rules of Order and other authorities, and on constitutional provisions and rules, is the method through which group actions are accomplished in an orderly way. Without some system such as the formal process of parliamentary procedure, an assemblage of any group quickly degenerates into an unruly mob.
Since the control and manipulation of organized groups is vitally necessary to Red Fascist strategy and tactics, every Communist must study and master parliamentary procedure to the limit of his individual ability and natural talent.
In contrast, the average non-Communist member of an organization is familiar with only the most rudimentary phases of parliamentary pro- cedure. They are not obligated by any secret, conspiratorial authority outside the organization to which they belong, to study parliamentary procedure and strategy. Further, the subject, while vitally important to the conduct of organized group activities, is too infrequently taught for information and guidance to be easily available to leaders of organizations who want to learn more about the conduct and control of meetings.
Because of this disparity between the Communist professional par- liamentarians and the anti-Communist amateurs, time after time the Communists put over their programs within organized groups against the openly expressed desire of the majority. Failing this, they usually are able to block and defeat the desires of the majority group.
Second to the Communist study and mastery of parliamentary tricks, is the Red Fascist science of confusion and misrepresentation in debate. Communists are not committed to any moral or ethical code and they have no respect for the basic principles, purposes and goals of any organi- zation they seek to infiltrate and control.
Consequently, while a non-Communist member or group in an organization is thinking and talking in terms of the ethical, political and aspirational ideals of the organization, the Communists are free to engage in any misrepresentation, confusion, personal abuse or emotional appeal that will advance their purpose of the moment.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 27
The most familiar and monotonously repeated device of Communists in debate is the use of the " unity" theme as a basis for twisting and manipulating organized groups to serve the purposes of the ' ' party line. ' '
The device is used by Communists with consistent success to protect Communist leaders and key policies from attack and repudiation. Unin- formed members of groups, who abhor controversy and internal dissen- sion, have voted against their own best interests repeatedly under the lure of the Communist siren-song of * ' unity. ' '
Unity is necessary within any organization, but no group or groups ever can have unity with Communism or Communist factions except at the price of unvarying subservience or agreement with the Communist "party line" of the moment. The sooner this basic truth is learned by the leadership and the members of all organized groups in America, and particularly in California, the sooner will it be possible to prevent and defeat the Red Fascist plotting to trick and confuse organized segments of the community to follow appealing slogans and wild promises to eventual destruction.
EVERY COMMUNIST AN AGENT OF THE KREMLIN
The committee has found in its investigations and has stated in pre- vious reports, that every Communist Party in every country is rigidly committed by publicly proclaimed Communist doctrine to serve the purposes of Soviet foreign policy and to work steadily and systematically for the eventual violent revolutionary overthrow of the governments of all nations, and to replace them with the ' t dictatorship of the proletariat. ' '
The committee has found and has documented its findings, and it reiterates, that it is indispensable to Communist Parties in every country to create front organizations, and to infiltrate, dominate or disrupt all existing organized groups, in order to carry Communist theory into the practical sphere of workaday relations.
Finally, the committee has found that a definitive analysis of the purpose, structure, types and uses of front organizations is needed at this time for the information of the Members of the Legislature and the people of California, and it presents herewith such an analysis together with a compilation of important front organizations now subject to Communist domination or infiltration.
MARXIAN DOUBLE-TALK
A major feature of the committee's work in the past has been the study and the presentation of the Marxian theories and techniques that constitute Red Fascism in action. In this carefully documented presenta- tion, the committee has made a special point to quote liberally in its 1943, 1945 and 1947 reports from the actual testimony of known Communists and from official Communist textbooks and publications.
In its presentation of the analysis of Red Fascist objectives and technique, the committee has used the terminology and phraseology of Marxism to a great extent ; and in its devotion to absolute accuracy and documentation, the committee has presented large sections of Marxist testimony and writing ; and has placed this material before the Members of the Legislature and the people of California so that they may draw their own conclusions.
28 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
However, the committee and its individual members, many legislators and public officials and leaders of responsible California organizations, receive repeated requests and suggestions that the committee make avail- able to the people of California a report on Communistic activity, espe- cially in the field of front organizations, that will be phrased in the language of the man in the street and which will translate the Marxian terms and phrases into plain English in a simplified presentation.
The committee is cognizant of the general demand for such an author- itative and simplified interpretation of the Marxist program for world revolution as it is carried on behind the tricky slogans and propaganda of California Communists and their fellow-travelers in mass organizations and in day-to-day public affairs.
The committee has given considerable time, study and research in an effort to secure an authoritative and accurate interpretation of the methods, classifications, techniques and outlets for Communist front organization manipulation. It is hoped that this interpretation will assist in translating Marxist double-talk into plain English. The committee believes that this presentation will provide a research and information facility that will be welcomed by the Members of the Legislature and the responsible leaders of California.
TYPES OF COMMUNIST-INFLUENCED ORGANIZATIONS
No organized group can exist in America today without the Com- munist Party having some attitude and policy toward it. Communist Policy may run the gamut from seeking absolute control to malevolent destruction.
Through various periods of the shifting ' ' party line, ' ' the Commu- nist Party may assume utterly contradictory attitudes toward an organi- zation. In every instance, however, the attitude will be what Red Fascist strategists in a particular country assume to be the best tactic of the moment to further the foreign policy of Soviet Russia, or to advance the over-all aim of eventual violent revolution in their own land.
The Communist Party position in and toward a particular organiza- tion is determined by a number of factors. Consequently there are readily identifiable types of Communist-influenced organizations that can be catalogued.
The Marxist strategists and tacticians are well aware of the fact that they are forced to work through front organizations to carry out their twin program of treachery and conspiracy for two basic reasons :
(1) Communists know that an openly Communist political party or organization that frankly puts forward the fundamental Communist program inevitably is a complete failure in the political and propaganda fields ;
(2) For tactical reasons in its conspiratorial operations, the Communists never have more than ten percent of any Communist Party above-ground during the period of building toward the eventual goal of revolution.
Since the Communist Parties are pledged to protect Soviet Russia and advance the proletarian revolution everywhere else in the world, Marxist theorists long since clearly and openly have accepted the need for duplicity, treachery and trickery to accomplish their purposes.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 29
The phrase, "front organization," while it has taken on a tone of opprobium through public exposure of Communist front activities, never was invented by anyone as a smear phrase, but actually was borrowed from Communist terminology.
A front organization, therefore, is an organization that provides an apparently non-Communist facade, behind which Communists and fellow- travelers in control of the organization can carry out strategical and tactical moves in behalf of the current "party line".
Marxist recognition of the need to operate behind false fronts has been expounded and clarified in a complicated theory, known as the "vanguard role" of the Communist Party. Under this theory Marxists justify to themselves their established practice of infiltrating existing organizations when it serves their purpose and of creating organizations when none exists to fill a special strategical or tactical need.
This absolute necessity for advancing a program that is supposed to solve all the material problems of mankind behind a mask of treachery and duplicity is one of the great contradictions of Communism, which itself proclaims is the only system that can save mankind from the ills and problems of contradictions which Marxists assert are found in capi- talist economy and in parliamentary government.
Once the American people learn to understand this dilemma of Communism, they will have the key to the analysis and evaluation of Communist programs and policies ; and with it, the ability to meet Com- munist disruption and defeat it.
The committee has pointed out that the Marxist program has been fully outlined and documented in the published reports by this com- mittee for 1943, 1945 and 1947 ; and also by other authoritative govern- mental agencies and legislative committees.
The committee points out specifically that the basic theory of the "vanguard role" of the Communist Party has been admitted and explained under oath by William Z. Foster, present national chairman of the Communist Party of the United States, and by Earl Browder, former general secretary of the Communist Party of the United States, before Congressional investigating bodies; and by William Schneider- man, present secretary and administrative head of the Communist Party of California, and other Communist functionaries, before this committee.
The Marxist principle of creating front organizations and of infiltrat- ing mass organizations has been exposed and documented beyond any possible refutation. It has been proved to be the chief business of the Com- munist Party in the United States, and the basic framework upon which has been erected the entire Communist structure of sabotage, sedition, espionage and treachery against the American people and their govern- ment.
The gist of this theory of the "vanguard role" of the Communist Party in creating and manipulating front organizations, is summed up specifically by the present titular head of world Communism, Joseph Stalin, in the official Communist-published text of a brutally frank blue- print for revolution, "Foundations of Leninism."
Discussing the tactical theory that all Communists must study and rehearse interminably, Joseph Stalin says :
30 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
' ' Tactical leadership is a part of strategic leadership, subordin- ated to the problems of, and the demands upon, the latter. The task of tactical leadership is to handle all the forms of struggle and of organization of the proletariat and assure their correct utilization ' in order to achieve the maximum results obtainable with the relative strength of the forces available, the maximum necessary in prepar- ing strategic success.
« * * * ^e correct utilization of the forms of struggle and of organization * * * means fulfilling several necessary conditions of which the following may be considered the principal ones :
"First: to bring to the forefront those forms of struggle and of organization which are best suited to the conditions prevailing during the ebb or flow of the movement, and, therefore, calculated to facilitate and assure the shifting of the masses to revolutionary positions, the shifting of millions to the revolutionary front and their assignment to various posts at the revolutionary front.
"The point here is not that the vanguard shall realize the impos- sibility of preserving the old order of things and the inevitability of its collapse but that the vast masses shall understand this inevit- ability and display their readiness to support the vanguard.
"But the masses can understand this only through their own experiences. The task is to enable the vast masses to understand * * * the inevitability of the overthrow of the old regime, to bring into being such methods of struggle and forms of organization as will make it easier for the masses to learn from their own experience the correctness of the revolutionary slogans."
To emphasize his point that the Communist Party must never by unwise strategy and tactics be reduced 4 ' from the position of leader of the proletariat, to that of a band of inane, uprooted conspirators, ' ' Joseph Stalin quotes V. I. Lenin to this effect :
' ' With the vanguard alone, victory is impossible. To throw the vanguard alone into the decisive conflict * * as long as the broad masses have not yet taken up a position either of direct support of the vanguard or at least of benevolent neutrality toward it and of absolute incapability of supporting the enemy — would not merely be folly but an actual crime. And in order that actually the whole class, that actually the broad masses of toilers and those oppressed by capitalism may come to such a position, propaganda and agita- tion alone are not sufficient. For this, the masses must have their own political experience. Such is the fundamental law for all great revolutions * * *"
This citation from Lenin by Stalin is quoted from the Marxist leader's famous treatise, "Left Communism," in which Lenin criticized severely those leftwing agitators who, to use a familiar American phrase, are like ' ' generals who get too far out in front of their army. ' '
Lenin and Stalin, in their writings on revolutionary theory, keep repeating over and over the solemn warning that the Communists, in their "vanguard role" never must be so far in front of the masses and their organizations that the Communist can be isolated.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 31
Stalin's second point in what he describes as "the correct utiliza- tion of the forms of struggle and organization," follows his quotation from Lenin, and points out that it is necessary in ' ' correct tactics ' ' :
«* * * ^0 locate at any given moment that single link in the chain of events, which, if siezed upon will enable us to control the whole chain and prepare the ground for the achievement of success. "The point here is to single out from tasks confronting the Party, precisely the one that must be handled next, which, if done, will assure the successful fulfillment of the remaining tasks. ' '
It follows from this plain statement by Stalin, who quotes Lenin to hammer his points home, that Communists everywhere are under solemn instructions as a matter of basic policy, to nurture carefully their so-called "vanguard role" and to proceed with the creation and infil- tration of organizations to serve as fronts for their program. He warns that the party must never relinquish its "vanguard role." It must not enter "alone into the decisive conflict as long as the broad masses have not yet taken up a position either of direct support * * or of at
least benevolent neutrality toward it * * * "
It is for this reason that the front organizations created or infil- trated by the U. S. Communist Party in the past decade are easily recognized for what they are, once the "vanguard role" of the Com- munist manipulators is understood.
TYPES OF COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS
Every organized group in America can be classified with reference to Communism from two basic viewpoints :
(1) According to the proportion of Communist influence within ; or
(2) According to the purposes or objectives for which they were organized or infiltrated by Communists.
It is vitally important to all Americans that they learn to recognize the character of organizations with which they must deal, or to which they belong, with reference to Communism.
This is important, particularly in the case of administrative and executive officers, members of executive boards and staff members, upon whom falls the responsibility of relations between their organization and other organized groups.
Members of organizations, especially in mass organizations, such as trade unions, political parties, and groups dealing with civic, racial, religious and similar relations, must ever be on the alert against Com- munist sabotage of their particular purposes and objectives.
Officers and members of organizations constantly are faced with proposals that the group to which they belong affiliate with some move- ment or cause ; that they endorse or support such movement or cause ; that they join with other groups in supporting and endorsing causes and programs.
Determination of the proportion of Communist influence that may exist in any organization is not as involved or mysterious as many citi- zens have been led to believe. Communists follow a pattern of joining and supporting similar causes and organizations. So do confirmed fellow- travelers.
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Many of these organizations will be publicly proclaimed to be in the interest of some worthy program. The organization 's self -prof essed goals may be high-sounding and humanitarian, but invariably it will be dis- covered that in any Communist front organization a heavy majority of the officers, the sponsors and the members of the committees will be found to have a record of affiliation with scores of other front organ- izations. Invariably it will be discovered that the particular organiza- tion in question, and all other organizations with which the leadership has affiliation, never criticize Communism or Russia and consistently follow and support pro-Russian and pro-Communist programs and policies.
ORGANIZATIONS CLASSIFIED BY PROPORTION OF COMMUNIST INFLUENCE
All organized groups in America may be classified with respect to the proportion of Communist influence in six broad categories. These are :
(1) Communist created and controlled;
(2) Communist infiltrated and controlled ;
(3) Communist dominated, whether created or infiltrated;
(4) Communist infiltrated, but neither controlled nor dominiated. In such organizations Communists operate to disrupt, confuse, delay and nullify the natural functions of the organization, which frequently may be in conflict with Communist programs ;
(5 ) Completely anti-Communist and Communist infiltrated only for purposes of espionage ;
(6) Miscellaneous. All other organizations, most of which Com- munists are unable to infiltrate or have no tactical reasons for infiltrating.
Organizations can be identified as to their status and classified in proportion to degree of Communist infiltration most easily 011 the basis of the organization's responses to key political, economic and ethical issues of the day.
One of the most basic tests is the officially recorded attitude of the organization on such basic official Communist Party line issues as Soviet foreign policy in contrast to the interests of the United States.
The most conspicuous historical instance since the foundation of the U. S. Communist Party in 1919 has been the famous "pretzel twists" of the party line in connection with Fascism under Mussolini in Italy and Nazism under Adolph Hitler in Germany.
In response to the rise of world Fascism and Nazism, American Communist policy went through five contradictory changes of policy. These were :
(1) From 1928 to 1935, world Communism engaged in conspira- torial activity to overthrow every government to prevent what Marxists described as "capitalist encirclement" of the Soviet fatherland; and this Communist activity, combined with the peculiar foreign policy tactics of the Russians, played directly into the hands of Mussolini and Hitler, contributing to their rise to power ;
(2) From 1935 to 1939, world Communism adopted the so-called "Popular Front" policy, proclaimed by Georgi Dimitrov at the Seventh World Congress of the Comintern in Moscow in 1935, and Communists sought in every nation to create coalitions against Fascism and Nazism,
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 33
using front organizations, such as the Anti-Nazi League in America, for this purpose. Concurrent with anti-Nazi activity, however, the Com- munists maintained their position that all war is imperialistic ;
(3) From August, 1939, when Russia amazed the world by signing the famous Hitler-Stalin pact, until June 22, 1941, world Communism collaborated openly with world Fascism. Poland was divided by military force. In the United States, the Communists created scores of fronts to proclaim "The Yanks Are Not Coming," and to denounce the pre- paredness program and aid to the Allies program advocated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Roosevelt program was denounced as "imperialist war-monger ing. ' ' The Communist fronts that characterized this period were the American Peace Mobilization, the American Student Union, and the American League for Peace and Democracy.
(4) From June 22, 1941, when Hitler's armies invaded Russia, until the end of the war, the American Communists, who promptly made a complete reversal from denouncing "Roosevelt's imperialist war" to demanding "unity in the people's war," pretended to abandon the Marxist program of world revolution and advocated unity and coopera- tion of all nations for the defeat of Hitler. Behind the mask of patriotism and humanitarianism, the Communists infiltrated into every organized segment of American life, and finally, Earl Browder, acting on orders from the Kremlin, openly advocated collaboration with capitalism. The name of the Communist Party was deceptively changed to the Com- munist Political Association, and Stalin announced that the Comintern had been disolved. This was done solely to procure aid from the capitalist countries for the homeland of Red Fascist revolution, Soviet Russia.
(5) When Fascism and Nazism went down to military defeat under the crushing blows of the United Nations, world Communism launched a two-pronged program for the resumption of world revolution and the "dictatorship of the proletariat." Brazen aggression and territorial expansion by Soviet Russia followed. In June, 1945, the American Communist Party followed world Communism in a complete "sharp turn" just as this committee had predicted in its 1945 Report, issued April 16, 1945. Browder was deposed, the Communist Political Associa- tion was junked in favor of the restoration of the Communist Party of the United States, and the revived Communist Party returned to the "class-war," denunciation of "imperialist war," defense of Russian aggression and expansion, plotting and conspiracy for revolutionary overthrow of the United States government.
There are two basic truths that send Communists, their fellow- travelers and apologists into frenzies of denunciation and character- assassination against anyone who raises these truths in public discussion. One is the unmistakable open record of the American Communists in following the "pretzel twists" of the party line, and the other is the irrefutable evidence that they are agents of a foreign power, com- mitted to treachery and sabotage of the United States whenever its policies come in conflict with those of Soviet Russia and world Com- munism.
These two tests — consistent following of the twists and turns of the party line, and treacherous subservience to the interests of Soviet foreign policy — can be used by all Americans to determine from the record the character of any organization.
4— L-7088-D
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COMMUNIST CREATED AND CONTROLLED ORGANIZATIONS
Numerically, one of the largest classifications is that of organiza- tions created by the Communist Party and completely controlled by the Communists. This is true because the Communist Party spawns front groups and liquidates them in a regular pattern to serve temporary strategic and tactical purposes of immediate value to the party.
In this category will be found the scores of ''defense committees" created to raise funds for Communists, fellow-travelers and Marxist- apologists who become involved in arrests, prosecutions and investiga- tions. Another important type of ' ' defense committee " is a large group formed to raise funds for legal defense and aid to Communist members of unions, minority groups and teachers, political figures and others who may be arrested, attacked, expelled or otherwise involved in contro- versies.
Frequently, the persons for whom the "defense committees" are working may not be Communists or have any connection with Commu- nism. But invariably the person involved will present an opportunity for the Communists and their fellow-travelers to appear in the spotlight as friends of the oppressed and abused.
Investigation of scores of these front committees has revealed that behind the mask of humanitarianisrn and a fight for human and civil rights, is hidden one of the fundamental reasons for the creation of such front groups. That reason is to raise money for the Communist Party.
It is the considered opinion of all responsible investigators that not more than 50 percent, and frequently much less, of all funds raised by these front groups ever goes to the cause for which the group publicly is working.
In some cases funds raised for a so-called worthy cause are diverted to the Communist Party by direct theft and dishonest bookkeeping trans- actions. In other cases money is diverted by payment of large sums to Communist agents, lawyers, publicists and workers within the particular group, who turn over substantial amounts of their wages and fees to the party.
Typical examples of the Communist created and controlled front organizations of this type are: Abolish Peonage Committee, Citizens Committee to Free Earl Browder, Schappes Defense Committee, Schnei- derman Defense Committee, Schneiderman-Darcy Defense Committee, Citizens Committee for Harry Bridges, Bridges Defense Committee, Bridges Victory Committee, Committee to Defend Angelo Herndon, Com- mittee for Civil Rights for Communists, Communist Japanese Committee, Galena Defense Committee, Gerson Supporters, Joint Anti-Fascist Refu- gee Committee, Joint Committee for Trade Union Rights, Joint Com- mittee of Trade Unions in Social Work, King, Conner and Ramsey Defense Committee, Marian Anderson Citizens Committee, Mooiiey Defense Committee, Mooney-Billings Mass Meeting Sponsors, Murray Defense Committee, National Free Browder Congress, National Hunger March to Washington, Non-Partisan Labor Defense, Non-Partisan Com- mittee for Reelection of Congressman Vito Marcantonio, Open Letter Protesting Ban on Communists in American Civil Liberties Union, Peti- tion to Grant Pardons to McNamara and Smith, Public Use of Arts Com- mittee, Reichstag Fire Trial Anniversary Committee, Scottsboro Defense
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 35
Committee, Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee, Statement by American Progressives on the Moscow Trials, Testimonial Dinner for Ferdinand C. Smith, Washington C. I. 0. Committee to Reinstate Helen Miller, and in the recent exposure and indictments of national Communist figures, the same pattern has been followed with Defense Committees for Hans Eisler, Gerhardt Eisler, Eugene Dennis, Carlo Marzani, John Williamson, Claudia Jones and others ; and the Committee for the First Amendment, Committee of One Thousand and Freedom From Fear Committee, which have been created to raise funds for the defense of the nineteen unfriendly witnesses before the Congressional Committee on Un-American Activi- ties ' investigation of Communist activity in Hollywood, 10 of whom were indicted for contempt of Congress.
Another important type of Communist created and controlled organ- ization is the broadly-based, formal organization, created to serve a key function of international Red Fascism, and almost invariably linked to an international organization sponsored by the Comintern.
Such organizations are not as rapidly created or as summarily liqui- dated as the front defense committees. They are more stable and complex in their structure, and they constitute the source of the central core of Communists and fellow-travelers who join in the creation of the tempo- rary front committees.
While they also engage in fund-raising for the benefit of the Com- munist program, they are permitted to keep more of the money raised through dues and assessments to maintain permanent offices and staffs.
Typical of the permanent, completely Communist created and con- trolled organizations are such examples as the following, some of which no longer are in existence, and others of which are temporarily in a quiescent state: Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Academic and Civil Rights Committee, American Artists Congress, American League for Peace and Democracy, American Council on Soviet Relations, American Friends of the Chinese People, American Friends of the Mexican People, American Friends of the Soviet Union, American Friends of the Spanish People, American League Against War and Fascism, American Slav Congress, American Writers Congress, American Youth for Democracy, Congress of American Women, Congress of American-Soviet Friendship, Council for Pan- American Democracy, International Juridical Association, International Workers Order, International Labor Defense, Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, Simon Lubin Society, John Reed Clubs, League of Women Shoppers, National Negro Congress, Civil Rights Congress and Trade Union Unity League.
Included also in the completely Communist created and controlled organizations are the publications and organizations that publish Com- munist newspapers, magazines, propaganda and books.
These organizations and those committees created for honoring or promoting publications are among the most important institutions in the Red Fascist network. None but tested Communist and fellow-travelers are permitted to participate in the management and direction of such enterprises.
Among Communist organizations in this group the most notable are : Daily Worker, People's Daily World, Political Affairs, New Masses,
36 UN- AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Mainstream, International Publishers, New Century Publishers, In Fact, Soviet Russia Today, Jewish Life, Morning Freiheit Association, and others included in the body of this report.
COMMUNIST CREATED OR CONTROLLED UNIONS
Another important group of Communist created and controlled organizations are certain trade unions, political groups, committees and citizens' committees for purported worthy purposes.
In spite of the Communist claim that the Communists are the true leaders of trade unionism, it is an historical fact that the Communists have met the same fate in the labor movement as that achieved in the political arena. No openly sponsored Communist union in the United States ever has been a success.
The majority of Communist created and controlled trade-unions in existence in the United States today are the so-called "paper unions" which parallel the craft union structure of the A. F. of L.
The American history of Communism in trade-unions can be summed up briefly in four broad, basic stages :
.(1) When the Communist Party was organized formally in 1919, it denounced the A.F. of L. as "reactionary" and proclaimed that U. S. Communists would lead the way to "revolutionary industrial unionism. " The Trade Union Unity League was launched and attempted to create blatantly Communist-sponsored and controlled trade unions;
(2) After a long record of failure, the Communist Party abandoned the Trade Union Unity League and returned to the pre-Communist Party program of the radical organizations. Every attempt was made to infil- trate and dominate the A.F. of L., then the only major national trade union organization. Meanwhile the party planned and worked to prepare the way for "revolutionary industrial trade unionism". Their efforts were rewarded by the creation of the Committee for Industrial Organi- zation within the A.F. of L. ;
(3) John L. Lewis ultimately led the Committee for Industrial Organization out of the A.F. of L. to form the dual national labor organi- zation that has become the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Most of the Communists in labor rushed into the C.I.O., leaving behind in the A.F. of L. only those who were solidly entrenched in strong craft unions. Meanwhile John L. Lewis pondered over the hunter and the dog. The Communists now face an attack from within the C.I.O., identical with the anti-Communist stand that traditionally has been pursued by the majority of the leadership within the A.F. of L.
C.I.O. unionism always has been centered in the large unions in mass production fields — steel, auto, rubber, clothing, shipping, ware- housing, oil and electrical manufacture — supplemented by a few strong but numerically small unions in newspapers, textiles, mining, agricultural and food processing, and in shoe, fur, leather and furniture production.
Many sections of these latter unions in the C.I.O., as well as a num- ber of A.F. of L. unions, are what is known as "paper organizations." There may be many local unions in such organizations, each numerically small, but enabled to exercise important voting influence in central bodies by taking advantage of a traditional policy of trade-unions, fraternal groups and similar associations that gives special consideration to numeri- cally small unions, lodges or chapters.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 37
Under the system for determining the number of delegates to which each local, chapter or lodge is entitled, many central organizations make special concessions to small groups. A widely used formula is to allow 2 delegates for the first 50 members or less ; an additional delegate for the next 50 members or less ; a fourth delegate for the next 150 members or less ; and a fifth delegate for the next 250 members or less ; with addi- tional delegates thereafter for every 500 members or majority fraction thereof.
However, contrary to the organization of fraternal, veteran and similar bodies, in which individual lodges, chapters and posts are created and chartered solely by the one governing national organization, the two major labor organizations, A.F. of L. and C.I.O., are voluntary associa- tions of many separate international unions. Hence, the delegates to central bodies, state bodies, conferences and assemblies of an official character, are delegates from subunits of an international organization ; i.e., one of a number of organizations that go to make up the national union organization.
Under this system, Communists in control of an international union can create many small local unions, "paper organizations"; each less than 125 members, each with three delegates to a city central labor body ; and, according to the formula for delegate representation cited above, three of these Communist-controlled "paper unions" of 125 members, each with three votes, can cancel out the nine delegates that would be allowed to a large anti-Communist local union of 2,500 members.
One of the surest tests of the Communist domination and control of a labor union or civic group is the existence of many ' ' paper local unions ' ' or chapters, adding up to a large bloc of votes in city, county and state central bodies, and whose delegates consistently vote as a unit in support of Communist programs or act to delay, disrupt or confuse the attempt of the large majority of bona fide unions or chapters to carry out the basic policies of the central organization of a particular city, county or state.
Three other basic tests also can be used to determine the Communist character of a labor or civic organization, in addition to the "paper unions ' ' or chapters that vote the Communist Party line in a bloc. These questions should be asked :
(1) Does the union and its delegates consistently introduce and support resolutions, communications and motions to place the trade- union central body of a community or an industry on record in support of issues and organizations foreign to the functions and purposes of a labor union, especially when the foreign policy of Soviet Russia is involved ?
(2) Does the union and its delegates consistently introduce and support resolutions, communications and motions for so-called "rank- and-file" protests and condemnation of traditional basic policies of the national organization ?
(3) Does the union, its officers and delegates independently collabo- rate with and accept affiliation and formal positions as sponsors, officers, speakers and participants in a large number of Communist front organi- zations, causes and committees ?
38 UN- AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Typical of the completely Communist created and controlled organi- zations in the trade-union, political association and civic committee field are :
Trade Unions : Trade Union Unity League, Food, Tobacco and Agri- cultural Workers (formerly United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing and Allied Workers of America), United Studio Technicians Guild of North America, United Office and Professional Workers — C.I.O., United Public Workers — C.I.O., some locals and units of the United Auto Workers — C.I.O., and United Steel Workers— C.I. 0., United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America — C.I.O., and United Farm Equipment and Machine Workers — C.I.O.
Political Associations: National Citizens Political Action Committee, Progressive Citizens of America (successor to National Citizens Political Action Committee and Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions), Hollywood Democratic Committee, Motion Picture Democratic Committee, California Legislative Conference, Pro- gressive A.F. of L. of Los Angeles, and others.
Civic Associations : League of American Writers, American Writers Congress, Allied Voters Against Coudert, American Council on Soviet Relations, American Committee for Friendship with the Soviet Union, National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, Southern Conference for Human Welfare, American-Russian Institute, Morning Freiheit Associations, International Workers Order, American Youth for Demo- cracy, and many others.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATED AND CONTROLLED ORGANIZATIONS
Second in importance, but not as conspicuous numerically as the completely Communist created and controlled organizations, are those that are Communist infiltrated and controlled.
Such groups naturally are more valuable to the purposes of the Red Fascist conspirators than those openly sponsored by the Communist Party. Invariably they are organizations that were started for a legitimate purpose, and in virtually every instance for a liberal, progressive and constructive activity to solve some problem or need of a large mass of people.
Trade-unions naturally fall into this grouping, since the Communists long ago discovered that they had little success in their own Red trade- unions. In America they resort to infiltrating into existing non-Com- munist trade-unions in order to spread Marxist poison and establish their " vanguard role".
Organizations sponsored by racial, religious, cultural and other minority groups are a prime target for Communist infiltration. Due to the comparitive amateurishness of most honest participants in such organiza- tions, the trained, disciplined Communist, with access to information, pressure, guidance and publicit}^ from the entire Red Fascist network, frequently is able to maneuver into key positions and thus control an organization for the bidding of Red Fascist top strategists.
Another type of organization in this category is the unending proces- sion of citizens' committees for many purported worthy purposes, such as transit reform, housing progress, taxes, zoning, welfare, neighborhood improvement, and the many legitimate protest movements against some community or civic situation that irks a large number of people. Invari-
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 39
ably, Communists will seek to infiltrate and dominate such groups if Red Fascist strategists see any opportunity for promoting their basic pro- grams through such groups or of winning adherents to Marxism as * * the one best way to solve all problems. ' '
A similar basic target for Communist infiltration and control is the subdivision of political organizations. Communists follow a scientific pattern in attempting to infiltrate and control Assembly districts, con- gressional districts, and councilmanic district clubs and organizations, and thus plant Communists and fellow-travelers in county and state com- mittees of political organizations.
Another target for Red Fascist infiltration is any organization created for the purpose of doing anything associated with foreign policy.
Red Fascist strategy also calls for similar tactics against any organi- zation dealing with consumer, price, farmer, veteran and youth problems.
Typical examples of organizations not created by Communists, but in which Communists have infiltrated and secured control are certain local unions of A. F. of L., C. I. 0., Machinists, Railroad Brotherhood and independent unions. Such local unions invariably follow the pattern of Communist created and controlled organizations cited above. The Young Democrats, and certain Democratic county committees are further examples.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATED AND DOMINATED ORGANIZATIONS
The third major section of Communist influenced organizations (and one of the most important from a strategic and tactical standpoint) is the group that has been either created or infiltrated by Communists, and, while not completely controlled, is dominated by the Communist "caucus."
Organizations in all the types described in the two classifications above will be found in this group. Almost invariably, however, they will be found to be organizations with large memberships, most of which are not Communists. In such organizations the Communists must depend upon political cunning, misrepresentation and confusion to maintain their effectiveness.
In this grouping will be found many trade unions, political organi- zations, civic, racial, religious, minority and welfare associations and organizations formed to accomplish some worthy purpose or to solve a particular problem or problems of a particular group of citizens.
Such organizations will have formal structures, parliamentary pro- cedures, and frequently will be broken into units, with delegates to central bodies; which makes them easy targets for the specialized Communist technique of infiltration, and manipulation of the disorganized and sin- cere majority membership.
The committee wishes to emphasize that this large group of organi- zations in fields of humanitarian and welfare endeavor are not in them- selves necessarily Communist, nor is it a prime indication of Communistic activity that a group be engaged in reform, in improvement or ameliora- tion of some condition or abuse. The fact is that Red Fascists bitterly oppose and attack the idea of reform and reformers because the basic tenet of Communism is that no reform is useful that does not go the com- plete "whole hog" toward a proletarian dictatorship in a Soviet state.
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The reason that trade-unions, racial and religious organizations and reform and improvement movements consistently are infiltrated and dis- rupted by Communist agitators and conspirators is that the Communists work relentlessly to either control or make impotent such mass organiza- tions ; to either bend them to the Communist Party line and the twin program of serving the interests of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia and of preparing the way for violent revolution at home, or to destroy them.
The committee fervently hopes that the factual presentation of the motives, techniques and objectives of the Communist Party will awaken leaders of trade-unions, racial, religious and minority groups and their members; and all citizens who join in organizations and causes for improvement and betterment of civic conditions, to the basic truth that the Communist Party and its program of treachery and disruption is the greatest threat to their organizations and the purposes for which they organized.
The committee has reported in the past, and it reiterates again with the greatest possible emphasis, that the one sound and American way to defeat the Communist disruption of worthy organizations and programs is for the sincere leaders and members to participate fully in the conduct of their organizations ; to study and practice the techniques of constitu- tional government and democratic procedure.
The record of success of aggressively patriotic leaders in political organizations, in trade-unions, in racial, religious and other minority groups, in consistently exposing and defeating Red Fascist traitors within their midst, whenever they have organized, cooperated and worked full time at the job of preserving their own organization and its devotion to American ideals, is the most convincing proof that it can be done.
Failure to guard the precious jewels of liberty, freedom and justice by real, day-to-day participation in the affairs of a nation or an organiza- tion, invariably will result in a surrender by default to the fanatical agents of Red Fascism.
Beyond any laws or any activity of police agencies against criminals and traitors, the safest assurance of the continued liberty and integrity of a nation or an institution, rests on the loyalty, devotion and courage of those who enjoy its benefits and privileges.
The immediate result of failure in loyalty, devotion and courage invariably will be the corruption by Red Fascists of the purpose and principles for which people have come together. When this happens to an organization it brings impotence and destruction. When it happens to a nation it brings confiscation, the concentration camp and the police state.
The committee finds that one of the most important battle grounds in the present world struggle between the ideologies of freedom and of totali- tarianism, is the mass organizations; and the committee calls on all citizens of California to alert themselves to the danger of Communist infiltration and domination of their organizations and institutions.
Among typical mass organizations that are victims of Communist domination, the following are representative and significant. The com- mittee calls attention to the fact that many sincere, non-Communist indi- viduals are victimized by the Red Fascists who have gained positions of domination in such organizations : Certain international unions, councils and locals of the C. I. 0. unions ; San Francisco and Los Angeles C. I. 0,
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 41
industrial union councils, certain councils and local unions of the A. F. of L. unions ; certain councils and locals of the independent unions ; the American Labor Party, the Progressive Citizens of America, the Inde- pendent Progressive Party, and the Institute of Pacific Relations.
COMMUNIST INFILTRATED, BUT NEITHER CONTROLLED NOR DOMINATED
Numerically one of the largest groups of Communist-influenced organizations, and next to the completely Communist controlled or domi- nated from a strategical and tactical Marxist approach, is the large number of organizations that are infiltrated by Communists, but neither controlled nor dominated.
Based on cold-blooded strategy and tactics for revolution as laid down by Lenin and Stalin, all Communists are ordered to disrupt and make impotent any organized group that they neither can control or dominate.
This fundamental tenet of Marxist activity is explained clearly in the citations from Lenin and Stalin at the opening of this section of the committee 's report.
It follows naturally, that no trade union, political organization, racial, religious or minority group organization; no organization deal- ing with foreign policy, business and economic affairs, or the problems of workers, unemployed, veterans, consumers, taxpayers, public employees, farmers, investors, and educators ; or groups concerned with charity, welfare, the aged, handicapped and youth, or any group con- cerned with health, safety, delinquency, housing, transportation and similar problems, can be immune from Communist infiltration, no matter how anti-Communist the organization may be.
It is a plain fact, familiar to the committee in repeated hearings and investigations, that Communists frequently infiltrate and operate within organizations that flatly ban Communists from membership. Communist agents openly pursue Communist policies and tactics, and when exposed, move on to other assignments, to be replaced by new Communist agents.
The committee fully is aware of the Communist participation in such organizations as anti-Communist A. F. of L. and C.I.O. unions, and in such indisputably patriotic organizations as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, and in the Democratic and Republican Parties.
It is a matter of record that such Communist agents have been exposed and expelled from such organizations. Their Red Fascist activi- ties invariably follow a consistent pattern.
In mass organizations that Communists cannot control or dominate, the strategy of the Communist agent is to disrupt, confuse, divide and nullify.
In these organizations, Communists frequently make a pretense in bidding for control or domination. Actually, however, recognizing the tactical facts for what they are in any mass organization that basicalty is anti-Communist, the sole purpose of the Communists in such groups is to make them ineffective and impotent in relation to the Communist Party line issues of the moment,
42 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
All Communists are indoctrinated with the tactical theory laid down in the sacred text of Stalin's blueprint for revolution, "Problems of Leninism," that the "party never must relinquish its vanguard role, but at the same time it must not commit the crime of entering alone into the decisive conflict as long as the broad masses have not yet taken up a position either of direct support * * * or of at least benevolent neutrality toward it * * *. "
It is a matter of record that the Communists will go to any length and suffer any indignity in order to render a mass organization impo- tent to act against the Communist program, if they are unable to control or dominate the organization.
The importance of this stategy to the Communist Party is empha- sized by Lenin in the plainest words possible in "Leftwing Communism, an Infantile Disorder." Lenin says:
"It is necessary to * * * agree to any and every sacrifice, and even — if need be to resort to all sorts of devices, maneuvers and illegal methods, to evasion and subterfuge, in order to penetrate into the trade-unions, to remain in them, and to carry on Communist work in them at all costs. ' '
In spite of the fact that the Communists will pretend to support any shade of political, economic and ethical thinking whenever it serves their purpose of penetration and infiltration, actually, to the Com- munists, there is only the Communist and the anti-Communist.
To a Communist, every person and group falls into one of two classifications: Either a follower and completely complacent tool to be used, or else an enemy to be destroyed or immobilized. To a Com- munist, every person and group is judged according to their possible value, either to serve the foreign policy of Soviet Russia or to prepare the way for the eventual violent revolution at home. If the Communist cannot win a person or organization over to the party line, his alterna- tive tactic is to destroy or immobilize.
It is important to Communist strategy that Communist agents pre- vent an impression of unified opposition to Communist Party line activi- ties. Every effort is made to have a dissident element present in such organizations as the A. F. of L., C.I.O., American Legion and the major political parties and civic groups to provide a publicity springboard for so-called "rank and file" protests when such organizations attack Communism or criticize a "party line" policy.
Communists always must be concerned with keeping up the morale and enthusiasm of their dupes. Members of mass groups, who mis- guidedly follow Communist-controlled programs and policies need, and receive, back-slapping encouragement. A rebellious and noisy minority in a large anti- Communist mass organization, therefore, is an indis- pensable factor in Communist activity.
Among organizations that fall into the classification of Communist infiltrated, but neither controlled nor dominated, and in which the Com- munists operate principally to disrupt, confuse, nullify, and delay, may be listed virtually every mass labor, veteran, civic and reform organ- ization in California.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 43
Typical, however, of organizations faced with consistent Communist disruption and confusion are most A. F. of L., C.I.O. and other trade unions, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, American Veterans Committee (the Cali- fornia section of American Veterans Committee falls into the Com- munist-dominated class, and is a vociferous dissident minority in national AVC affairs), the Democratic and Republican parties, National Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Colored People, bar associations, medical associations, etc.
The committee has emphasized in previous reports, and it again calls to the attention of all patriotic citizens that membership in civic organizations, trade unions, political, veteran and fraternal organiza- tions carries with it responsibilities as wrell as privileges.
The committee urges members of all organized groups to be watchful constantly against Communist infiltration with its program of duplicity, treachery and disruption. History has proved repeatedly that no nation, institution or organization can collaborate with Communism without courting destruction.
COMMUNISTS INFILTRATED SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF ESPIONAGE
A special classification of Communist infiltrated organizations is those groups that are so patently and consistently anti-Communist that open Communist activity would be recognized promptly and effectively dealt with.
In this group are service clubs, fraternal and patriotic organizations, most posts and chapters of veteran organizations, many trade unions, business associations, police and public agencies, military units, religious organizations and sections of political parties and civic organizatons.
The Marxist plotters do not overlook the strategical importance of information about the plans and programs of such openly anti- Communist organizations.
Typical of the Communist strategy in this field is the infiltration into the strongly ant i- Communist trade unions. In such organizations the underground element of the Communist Party works whenever and wherever possible gathering information about anti-Communist pro- grams and policies.
This field of Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist strategy and tactics is based on treachery and espionage, yet the Kremlin always find tools to do its bidding.
Since this is a secretive and conspiratorial phase of Communist infiltration, it is not subject to the customary checks and tests that apply to other Communist work in organized groups.
Need for such investigation in this field arises when Communist activity, propaganda and tactical operations indicate that the Commu- nist too frequently appears in advance possession of information about the plans and policies of responsible organizations.
Virtually every organized group in America is subject to this type of Communist infiltration. In the light of present world relations, and the experiences of Canada and other nations with Communist spy rings and espionage operations, government, business, labor, and civic institu- tions must be particularly alert.
44 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
MISCELLANEOUS GROUPS
There are many institutions and organizations which, for tactical or strategic reasons, appear to be permanently, or for long periods, immune from Communist infiltration.
The committee warns that no group can feel secure from Communist infiltration and disruption.
The committee is familiar with the complacency and apathy toward the problem of Communist conspiratorial plotting in America. This smug attitude may be summed up as follows :
"We have no Communists in our organization. We are not worried about Communistic attacks. We cannot understand why everybody gets so excited about Communism. All we have to do is proceed with our own affairs and let others tend to theirs. ' '
This is the identical attitude assumed by leaders of many organiza- tions in Germany while Hitler was rising to power, and it was the atti- tude of complacent leaders in the countries now behind the ' ' Iron Cur- tain, ' ' while the Communists and the traitors plotted to seize power.
The committee warns the Members of the Senate and the leaders of all institutions and organizations that the menace of Red Fascist con- spiracy is a real, solemn and dangerous one. Leaders of organizations fortunate enough to be free from immediate Communist confusion and disruption should take an interest in the problems of the many institu- tions and organizations that do suffer from Communist attacks. They should keep informed of the facts of Communist activity and they should, in time of freedom from Communist infiltration and disruption, prepare their own organizations to meet such problems in the future.
The committee has pointed out frequently in the past, and it again reiterates, that Communist policy is ruthless and that no organization is immune. Since the objective of Communism in America is to serve the twin program fostering the interests of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia and preparing for violent revolutionary overthrow of the Ameri- can government, no individual, institution or organization can afford the luxury of complacency, apathy and unconcern toward the problem of Communism in America today.
ORGANIZATIONS CLASSIFIED BY COMMUNIST PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE
In addition to the classification of organizations and institutions in accordance with the proportion of Communist Party influence that may affect them, most organizations subject to Communist influence may be classified in accordance with the purpose and objective of world Com- munism.
Any such classification will embrace the four first classifications in the immediately preceding section of this report: (1) Communist created and controlled ; (2) Communist infiltrated and controlled ; (3) Commu- nist infiltrated or created, and dominated ; and (4) Communist infiltrated and influenced for purposes of disruption, confusion, delay and nullifi- cation.
The other two classifications of organizations infiltrated for espion- age purposes and those not of immediate interest to Communist conspir- ators, obviously have no value to the Communist Party 4n advancing its
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 45
purpose toward its final objective of a world dictatorship of the prole- tariat.
The committee has pointed out in previous sections of this report that it is vital to the preservation of the United States and its institutions that every citizen learn to distinguish the proportion of Communist influ- ence in a given organization in order to meet problems that may arise as a result of Red Fascist activity within the organization.
We are all aware that modern life creates conflicts between groups. Many are healthy and proper. Others are based on prejudice and intoler- ance, and provide material for manipulators to spread disunity and to practice their unholy doctrine of hate and conflict. Wisdom and temper- ance in interorganizational affairs are equally as important as alertness and f orthrightness in meeting subversive disruption head on.
The committee has stated previously and the committee again reiter- ates, that the most completely vicious, unholy doctrine of hate, discord and strife in world history is the psuedoscientific theory of Marx as prac- ticed by world Stalinites in their conception of the class-struggle.
Communism plays upon all conflicts, disagreements and group ten- sions to divert organized groups from the sane solution of specific prob- lems. The intensification of group hatreds is the Communists ' solution to all problems. The destruction of all classes, said Marx, is the only road to the ' ' classless society. ' '
It follows, therefore, that conflict and disagreement is lush soil for Red Fascist revolutionary manipulation. Where there is no conflict the Communist must create conflict.
It is important that every citizen understand how the Communists play upon discords and conflicts for the purpose of manipulating and bending organized groups toward the Eed Fascist twin program of serv- ing the interests of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia and of preparing the way for violent revolution at home.
Only on the basis of thoughtful judgment and analysis through factual determination of the proportion of Communist influence in a par- ticular organization, together with a thorough understanding of why the infiltration and corruption of such an organization is important in the strategic pattern of revolutionary Communist plotting, will responsible citizens be able to adopt correct decisions in interorganizational relations.
The committee is well aware of the fact that this places upon all citizens a burden of effort and the expenditure of time and money. How- ever, the benefits of the American system carry with them responsibilities of loyalty and devotion. Every American is under sacred obligation to act for the protection and preservation of the institutions and ideals that have protected his liberties and freedom throughout our nation's exist- ence.
Californians cannot, and will not, fail in this period of crisis. They will meet the problem of Communism intelligently and bring to its solu- tion the same pioneer spirit of determination, vigor and cooperation that marked the creation of this great State as a shining star in the Star Spangled Banner.
The committee calls attention to the fact that California is in a key position in national defense ; in economic and agricultural contributions to national defense; in aviation, motion picture, radio, shipping and
46 UN-AMEEICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
transportation ; and that it has become a crucial State in major political decisions affecting the welfare of the Nation and the future of the world.
The unprecedented growth in California's population has created conditions and groupings that provide lush material upon which Com- munist disruption can feed.
California's great past, and imposing future, presents a challenge to both the Communists and the Americans, marking the division of world-thinking between the two ideologies of totalitarianism and of freedom.
The final record of how that challenge will be met, will be deter- mined by the energy, devotion, courage and morality of the advocates of these two utterly contradictory philosophies.
The committee has determined from past investigations that too many Americans are completely ignorant of the purposes and objectives of world Communism ; and therefore, are ill-equipped to cope with prob- lems raised by Red Fascist activity in interorganizational relations. The committee believes, therefore, that it is of supreme importance that the citizens of California have readily available a simple, understandable source of information on the purposes and objectives of world Commu- nist revolutionary conspiracy, so that they will understand how the strat- egy and tactics of Red Fascist plotting are directed and applied.
THE SIX BASIC DIVISIONS OF COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS
All Communist front organizations can be classified conveniently and logically under six basic headings.
The six basic classifications of Communist front organizations are :
( 1 ) The Indispensable Organizations for Revolution ;
(2) Culture and Science ;
(3) Organizations Dealing With Domestic Problems and Activity;
(4) Organizations Dealing With Foreign Affairs and Problems ;
( 5 ) Organizations With Appeals to Basic Groups ; and
( 6 ) Miscellaneous Organizations, Committees and Alliances.
An examination of the purposes and objectives of Red Fascism reveals that behind the apparent confusion and disorder of the creation, dissolution and manipulation of thousands of front groups, there are basic, essential patterns that are molded by the functions and needs of a revolutionary organization forced by necessity to operate behind false fronts and fagades.
Consequently, the apparently confused and spontaneous mass of front organizations can be classified logically within the framework of the six basic classifications.
The committee presents herewith an analytical classification of the various Communist fronts into the essential subdivisions under the gen- eral headings of the six basic classifications.
(1) The Indispensable Organizations for Revolution
Any organized program for revolution that is committed to serve the foreign policy of one nation — which is the program and commitment of world Communism — must have two fundamental types of organiza- tions, whose work is closely coordinated and frequently interchangeable.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 47
These two essential fundamental types of organization are : I. Completely Communist controlled basic organizations to carry out Communist work in every segment of society ; and
II. Completely Communist controlled publication and information organizations to carry out Communist propaganda in every seg- ment of society.
Within these two classifications will be found the permanent struc- ture of the Communist Party — the hard core of trained, disciplined, militant and fanatical disciples of Marxism-Leninism-Stalinism. These revolutionaries work day and night to penetrate organized groups to either control or immobilize them to the interest of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia or to prepare for violent revolution at home.
I. Communist Basic Organizations
Organizations for Communist work naturally begin with the Com- munist Party itself. The organizational structure of the Communist Party has been outlined in detail in the 1943, 1945, 1947 reports by this committee. The committee has pointed out that the organizational struc- ture of the Communist Party is subject to constant modification and revision for immediate tactical and strategical purposes, but its essential character, as a secret, conspiratorial, revolutionary institution, never changes.
Next in importance to the Communist Party itself are the American sections of basic international organizations, created by the Comintern to carry on the program of Red revolution throughout the world.
Among such organizations are those for "friendship with Soviet Russia," for defense of Communists, and for political, racial, economic and educational purposes. The most important of all are those that oper- ate within the trade-union field on an international scale, because the Communists depend on ' ' revolutionary industrial unionism " as an indis- pensable element in preparing the way for eventual violent revolution and establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat in any one country.
With the exception of such comparatively broadly based completely Communist controlled organizations as American Youth for Democ- racy, International Workers Order, Morning Freiheit Association, Con- gress of American Women, International Labor Defense and Civil Rights Congress, Labor Research Association, and similar completely controlled Red fronts, the Communist Party does not seek or desire large memberships in its fundamental front organizations.
The reason for this must be obvious to any intelligent observer. These organizations are the hard core of the revolutionary conspiracy and, in accordance with the "vanguard role" of the party, any other attitude would be ridiculous and contradictory.
For the guidance of Californians in untangling this pattern of Red intrigue, the committee presents a quotation from an official Communist source that states in the plainest possible language the Communistic idea of its * ' vanguard role. ' '
48 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
A pamphlet published in 1943 by Workers Library Publishers, entitled: "A Talk About the Communist Party/' contained the follow- ing specific boast :
« * * * Qur party * * * while being a small well-knit group, thinking and working collectively in a way that makes it act dif- ferent from any other party and different from the masses, at the same time, if it is really functioning as the Communist Party, is always in the closest contact with the masses * " * Our program is the most powerful thing in the political life of our country today, the most powerful thing in the world today. We are planting it in America so that it grows right out of the ground of our country and our community. Our party is strong because of this, strong beyond its numbers, because we grow slowly in numbers, we grow by leaps and bounds in our influence * * * We are the ones who always know what we are doing and where we are going * * * We work together, we think together, and that gives us strength beyond any individuals * * * In our agitation around these demands (the everyday needs of the workers) we must emphasize the absolute necessity for the proletarian revolution. Our strategy is to utilize these immediate demands to educate and organize the masses in prep- aration for the final revolutionary struggle, which will abolish capi- talism altogether. Reliance on immediate demands would lead us merely to reformism. Our party is a revolutionary party. It aims not to ease conditions a bit under capitalism for the workers, but to abolish capitalism altogether * * * The Commanist Party * * * knows how to participate in the daily struggle of the workers. It knows how to utilize all these struggles to develop class conscious- ness * * * and thus begin the mobilization for the eventual over- throw of capitalism. ' '
This is the purpose and objective of Communism in a plain statement from an official Communist source and it explains the method to be used to accomplish the goal of violent revolution.
Typical of the Communist organization under this subdivision are : The Communist Party of the United States, American Youth for Democ- racy, International Labor Defense, Civil Rights Congress, Joint Anti- Fascist Refugee Committee, Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, and League of American Writers, etc.
II. Communist Controlled Publications and Information Services
The life-blood of Communist conspiracy is the party's press and publishing businesses. Through their newspapers, magazines, books, sym- posiums, pamphlets, handbills and analytical publications, the Commu- nists train and educate their converts for the revolution ; and, at the same time, they spread their propaganda to confuse, disrupt and divide.
The Communist press and publication system in the United States is comprehensive, well-financed and efficient. Making use of the network of Communist organizations and front groups it is able to systematically and scientifically circulate Communist publications and propaganda throughout the length and breadth of the United States.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 49
The gigantic propaganda apparatus of Fascism and Nazism at its peak never approached the efficient and extensive operation of the net- work of Red Fascist propaganda.
Equally important with the task of proselyting carried on by the Communist press, is the fundamental requirement for machinery and methods for attack and smear. Anyone who opposes or exposes the Com- munist conspiracy must be destroyed.
A continuous program of character assassination is conducted by the Communist publication-system designed to discredit anyone who attacks or exposes Communism. Public officials and law enforcement agencies are to be constantly smeared and discredited in the minds of members of mass organizations.
A characteristic of the Communist conspiracy is the unbroken pro- gram for villification ; the smearing of non-Communist radical, liberal, progressive, and even revolutionary movements. Non-Stalinist socialism is attacked with the same fury as capitalism and parliamentary government.
The committee has in its voluminous files innumerable Communist publications devoted to attacks on individuals, organizations and institu- tions, who refuse to kowtow to the Moscow brand of "progress, peace and prosperity. ' '
No more vicious criticism of trade-unions and trade-union leadership exists than the abusive Communist propaganda smears of anti-Communist trade unions and leaders.
Among typical examples of the Communist press and publications are : The Worker (weekly) and The Daily Worker, New York Commu- nist daily newspaper, circulated nationally; People's Daily World, and People's World Weekend Edition, San Francisco Communist daily news- paper, circulated nationally; New Masses-Mainstream; Political Affairs (formerly The Communist) ; Four Continent Book Corp.; Universal Dis- tributors; Book Find Club; International Publishers; New Century Pub- lishers; Soviet Russia Today; Fraternal Outlook; The Chart; Clarity; Railroad Workers Link; Jewish Life; Woman Power; Teeners' Topics; Youth; Student Outlook; Economic Notes; Among Friends; Congress Views; Freiheit; Labor Defender; Midwest Daily Record; Black and White; In Fact; New Times; New Africa; I cor; New World; Pacific Weekly; Action Bulletin; and the California Eagle.
In addition to completely Communist controlled and dominated pub- lications, there also is a long list of trade-union, racial, minority, liberal and special-interest publications into which Communists have infiltrated as editors, correspondents and contributors. The Communist influence is established through such news services as Federated Press, Economic Notes, Allied Labor News Service, Associated Magazine Contributors, Inc., Trade Union Service, Inc., and Labor Research Association.
The Communist propaganda system, combined with the nation-wide network of publications, information exchange, special writers, and serv- ices is so comprehensive and integrated that the average leadership of organized groups in America today are totally unequipped to cope with its flood of propaganda.
Communists are so efficiently disciplined that they are able to organ- ize a propaganda campaign on a few hours notice. They will produce publications, press releases, plant Red propaganda in newspaper and
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wire service stories, and start a flood of letters, postcards, telegrams and resolutions, that amazes and bewilders the ordinary American.
(2) Culture and Science
The second basic classification of Communist activity, with relation to the purposes and objectives of world Communism, is that dealing with culture and sciences.
Next to the organizations of trained revolutionary fanatics and their systematic press and propaganda service, infiltration of culture and science is regarded by the Marxists as an indispensable adjunct of prac- tical and successful revolutionary work.
The best test of the importance of this classification, too frequently disregarded or minimized by the average citizen, is the attitude toward culture and science taken by Communists once they have seized control of a nation and established a dictatorship of the proletariat.
Communism is so inimical to the concept of freedom and liberty that its exponents know full well that they cannot tolerate a breath of individ- ual freedom and liberty, lest their entire system be swept away by an indignant populace.
This basic classification of Communist work in this category falls naturally into three subdivisions.
I. Arts and Culture ; II. Sciences and Professional ; and III. Youth and Education.
In every one of these classifications, Communists work incessantly to pervert, to control or to immobilize every institution and organization in these fields to the benefit of Marxism as ordained by the Communist dicta- tors in the Kremlin.
I. Arts and Culture
There is no field of art or culture in which Communists have not developed a program and charted organizational and propaganda actvity. Literature, painting, music, the theatre, opera, ballet, and every one of the popular arts are logical targets for Red corruption because of their recognized influence upon masses of people.
Motion pictures and radio are particular targets for Marxist infiltra- tion because of their propaganda value. Additionally, films, radio, litera- ture and similar fields are attractive to Communists because of the tremendous fund-raising possibilities that exist in the confusion and bewilderment among many high-salaried creative workers on such sub- jects as economics, politics, government, foreign affairs and reform; and in the traditional warm-hearted susceptibility of theatrical and artistic folk to charitable and humanitarian appeals.
Since all art is critical to a greater or lesser degree of nature, human- ity and the imperfect institutions of mankind, artists and art mediums are prime material for the Communist program. Communism, we must always remember, feeds 011 dissent and discord.
The committee has presented detailed analysis and comment in previous reports upon the psychological aspects of those who become
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 51
victims of the Marxist philosophy. The committee is well aware of the fact that many sincere and misguided individuals in the literary, the- atrical, film, music and other artistic fields are deluded by the apparent enthusiasm of Communists for humanitarian ventures.
Celebrities in the public limelight should be particularly careful not to fall for the Red conspiracy through appeal to their sympathetic and charitable impulses. There are scores of bona fide, responsible organi- zations through which anyone can express such impulses. It should be obvious that it is not necessary to rush into special committees and "letterhead organizations7' in order to accomplish worthy purposes.
The motion picture industry, itself a prime target for Communist manipulation and fund raising, has been victimized repeatedly by brazen and financially dishonest Communist front organizations. The Holly- wood Anti-Nazi League, the Motion Picture Democratic Committee, the Hollywood Democratic Committee, the Hollywood Independent Citi- zens Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions, and scores of swiftly created and soon dissolved "letterhead organizations," all con- trolled and directed by Communists, are typical examples.
A significant feature of Communist front organizations in the artistic and cultural spheres is the consistent repetition of the same names in group after group ; and the consistent repetition in the impor- tant paid and executive positions of secretary, treasurer, executive director, executive secretary, program chairman, public relations direc- tor and editor, of the same monotonously familiar procession of Com- munist hacks and party-liners, each of whom is deftly insinuated into these key positions by veteran fellow-travelers in the arts organizations.
A major and subtle feature of Communist infiltration into the arts and cultural fields is the steady, persistent and successful Communist program of planting trusted and adept Communist agents in positions that influence hiring, purchase of material or talent, and the critical and editorial handling of art creations.
This activity is carried on in conjunction with the network of Com- munist schools. Many of these Red institutions pose as general schools of learning and specialize in courses of the arts, professions, trade-union, and economic problems of the day.
Two of the most notorious of these schools in California are the People's Educational Center, of Hollywood, which is the direct suc- cessor to the openly Communist Workers' School of Los Angeles, and the California Labor School of San Francisco. The Communist char- acter and history of these Red centers of intrigue and treachery are documented fully in the committee's previous reports.
Through infiltration into key positions where Communists and fel- low-travelers can be advanced, aided and promoted in their careers, Com- munist propaganda experts are able to engage in smearing, sabotaging and hampering anti-Communist writers, actors, composers, and other creative workers, and are able to conduct an intellectual and psycho- logical reign of terror among liberal minded workers in the arts.
Most of the prominent pro-Communist fellow-travelers among the- atrical, motion picture, literary, and musical celebrities have back- grounds of membership in, and association with, the front organizations sponsored by the Communist Party in the realms of art and culture.
52 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Communists regard the infiltration, manipulation and control of artistic and cultural media as one of the indispensable phases of their program of revolution.
The committee finds that this is a vital phase of American life in which the Communists wield an amazing and unprecedented degree of influence. Such intellectural sabotage provides a fundamental weapon in talent and material for the Red propaganda attack on American insti- tutions ; and it provides celebrities and funds to be used for the promo- tion of Communist causes and programs.
One of the most dangerous manifestations of this Communist attack on American art and culture is found in the alleged scientific program of Marxist writers for corrupting American history, and ghoulishly fastening the label of Marxism upon great American his- torical figures in an attempt to sell Communism to the American people. Communist writers and composers have attempted with subtlety and trickery to twist and pervert the traditional radical history and pioneer spirit of Americans to serve the interests of their unholy aim for totali- tarian dictatorship.
Typical of Communist front organizations in this classification are : Actors Laboratory Theater, American Writers Congress, Artists Front to Win the War, Congress of American Revolutionary Writers, Film Audiences for Democracy, Group Theater, Hollywood Writers Mobili- zation, Frontier Films, League of American Writers, League of Workers Theaters, National Committee Against Censorship of the Theatre Arts, New Dance League, New Theatre League, Theatre Arts Committee, United American Artists, etc.
II. Sciences and Professions
Parallel to and identical with Communist front organization in the subclassification for Arts and Culture, are the Communist fronts for the Sciences and Professions.
For tactical and strategic reasons, such as the Communist attempt to capture support for an independent political program or movement, these groups are combined. The Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions was merged in the present major Com- munist political front group, the Progressive Citizens of America, although it functions independently on occasion.
Communist front groups in the Sciences and Professions follow the same pattern, and have the same general purpose, as those in the field of Art and Culture.
A significant feature in both groups is the establishment of a long list of ready-and-willing fellow-travelers who provide "window-dress- ing" promptly and meekly whenever Communist Party strategy and tactics call for the creation of a new front organization in a hurry.
Typical of Communist front organizations in the Sciences and Pro- fessions classification are: Federation of Architects, Engineers, Chem- ists and Technicians (now the United Office and Professional Workers, C.I.O.), International Juridical Association, National Lawyers Guild, Committee for the first amendment, Screen Writers Guild, Artists Com- mittee to Win the War, etc.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 53
III. Youth and Education
Communists devote interminable discussion and analysis to strategy and tactics to subvert, cajole and lure every segment of the community into either falling victim to the Communist philosophy, or else becom- ing so confused and disunited that it is incapable of effective opposition to Communist intrigue.
The committee 's files contain scores of analytical discussions of the two preceding subclassifications, Art and Culture, and Sciences and Professions. This material is completely flooded out by the downpour of tactical and propaganda material on how to corrupt youth and to dominate and influence education.
From William Z. Foster on down, the Communist leadership con- tinues to beat its followers over the head with criticism of their mis- takes in this field. Communist agents are continually admonished to cultivate this field to the fullest in true Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist style.
No phase of education is immune from Communist infiltration, strategic and tactical attack. From teachers' unions to child care centers ; from textbooks to the classroom, Communist infiltration proceeds steadily and persistently.
A close relationship will be found between Communist front groups and their familiar window-dressing of confirmed fellow-travelers in the fields of Art and Culture, and Sciences and Professions, and the front groups directly intend to influence the educational structure of America. Likewise, many professors and educators will be found repeatedly in the directorship of front organizations in these interlocking fields, as a glance at the index of this report will disclose.
Through a complicated net of Marxist groups, Ked agents have penetrated into the writing, editing, printing, publishing and purchasing of textbooks to be used in American schools. The objective of this Com- munist penetration is to insinuate condemnation and criticism of the American system into the minds of students, while praising and com- mending Soviet Russia and socialism as the solution of all our problems.
One of the principal l i transmission belts ' ' for such propaganda has been the Committee on Education of the National Council of American- Soviet Friendship.
Another major phase of Communist educational work is the Com- munist Party's own network of schools and classes, running from inno- cent-appearing classes for aspiring artists and trade-unionists to the ultimate postgraduate courses conducted by selected American Com- munists in the Lenin School in Moscow, where the fine arts of espionage, sabotage, street-fighting, dynamiting, and other indispensable skills for violent revolution are taught by the Kremlin's most authoritative experts.
The committee has pointed out in a previous section of this report that the two most important Communist schools in California are The California Labor School in San Francisco, and People's Educational Center in Hollywood. These schools are under the complete control and domination of the Communist Party. In addition to serving the cause of Communist educational work, they also function as intelligence and communication centers between the formal Communist apparatus in. California and the many front groups spawned by the Party.
54 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
These two schools serve as important and convenient meeting places for important Communist functionaries and fellow-travelers. The record of these schools and their management is reported fully in the alphabeti- cal listing of Communist front organizations of this report.
Of comparable importance in the network of Communist schools is another Pacific Coast institution, The Seattle Labor School.
The key mass organization for Communist infiltration and corrup- tion of American youth is American Youth for Democracy, which is the direct successor to The Young Communist League. (See 1945-1947 reports.) An important adult adjunct to American Youth for Democracy is The Citizens Committee on Academic Freedom and similar organiza- tions, formed to defend A.Y.D. from attempts to bar and ban it from participating in campus activities in schools, colleges and universities.
Another important mass organization, heavily infiltrated and effec- tively dominated by the Communist Party, is American Youth for a Free World, which is a success6r to the Communist-influenced American Youth Congress.
American Youth for a Free World was linked directly to the inter- national Communist dominated youth organization, World Youth Coun- cil, with headquarters in London, England. At an international World Youth Conference in November, 1945, in London, a commission was created, which developed The World Federation of Democratic Youth.
This is a completely Communist dominated international body, which has close ties with two other important Red international bodies. These are The World Federation of Trade Unions and The International Demo- cratic Women's Federation.
World Federation of Democratic Youth publishes an official maga- zine, World Youth, in four languages, Russian, French, Spanish, and English. It staged an international conference and youth festival in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in July, 1947.
(3) Communist Fronts for Domestic Affairs
The committee has emphasized in past reports, and it here reiterates as strongly as possible, that the Communist Party in any country is dedicated to the twin program of serving the interests of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia, and of preparing the way for violent revolution at home. This pattern is followed in Communist fronts for domestic affairs.
There are two broad divisions of Communist activity in the field of domestic affairs: those dealing with direct Communist programs and those dealing with Communist infiltration and manipulation of basic community groups. The latter subject is dealt with in the Basic Group Appeal section as Classification Five of the Six Basic Classifications, in a subsequent section of this report.
In the field of domestic affairs, the Communist front groups dealing with direct Communist activities fall into three sub classifications :
I. Defense, Honoring and Support of Known Communists and
Communist Organizations ; II. Legal Defense and Civil Rights; and
III. Political and Legislative.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 55
In addition, the Basic Group Number Five, described in a subsequent section of this report, provides Communist front organizations with special appeal for charity, relief and unemployed, racial, religious and refugee, trade-unions, consumers, farmers, veterans and similar segments of the community.
I. Defense, Honoring and Support of Known Communists and Communist Organizations
An acid test of an individual or organization for Communist leaning is the attitude toward this classification of Communist front work.
No matter how sincere or confused an individual or group may be, there is no excuse for lending his name or the prestige of an individual or group to the honoring, support and defense of known Communists and front groups under the pretext that the supporters of such movements 1 ' do not know what they are doing. ' '
This subclassification is entirely separate from the following sub- classification under the general heading of Legal Defense and Civil Rights, in which are to be found Communist fronts that specialize in capitalizing on controversies that are useful to the Red program of dis- cord and confusion, and which lend themselves to fund-raising campaigns wherein Communists can secure control of large sums under the pretext of carrying on a humanitarian activity.
The most conspicuous recent phase of this type of front organiza- tion manipulation has been the series of committees, resolutions, rallies, protests and publicity statements drummed up by the Communist Party and its fellow-travelers to defend known Communists from charges of perjury, contempt of Congress and the courts, immigration and passport fraud, illegal registration, and other violations of law.
It is a standard policy of the Communist Party to contend, in every case where a Communist is arrested, indicted or prosecuted, that the criminal action against the Communist is not for purposes of law enforce- ment and protection of the United States, but solely for purposes of intimidation, "thought control" and persecution of minorities. It is significant that Communists display little concern for the problems of non-Communists who become involved in the same legal predicaments; and that further, the Communists will not hesitate to demand total denial of civil rights to those individuals and organizations they have labeled as Fascist and reactionary.
Among typical Communist front organizations in this activity are : Citizens Committee to Free Earl Browder, Protest Against Ban on Browder, Bridges Defense Committee, Bridges Victory Committee, Open Letter Protesting Ban on Communists in the American Civil Liberties Union, International Labor Defense, Civil Rights Congress, Prestes Defense, Schappes Defense Committee, Statement Urging Ballot Rights for Communists, Defense Committees for Alexander Bittelman, Eugene Dennis, Gerhardt Eisler, Hans Eisler, Claudia Jones, John Williamson, and other Communists ; Committee for the First Amendment, Committee of One Thousand, Committee for Defense of Joint anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, Progressive Citizens of America, Joint Defense Rallies spon- sored by Los Angeles Public Workers — C.I.O. and Social Workers Local 558, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — A.F.L. • etc.
56 . UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
In addition to defending and supporting known Communist and front organizations when they are in trouble, the Communist Party periodically stages rallies, banquets, fund-drives and other celebrations in honor of important anniversaries of leading Communists, front organ- izations, party publications, and Soviet anniversaries.
Among the most significant of such unquestionably Communist activities are the testimonial banquets for such well-known Communists as Mother Ella Reeve Bloor and Leo Gallagher, rallies honoring anni- versaries or Marxist achievements of Lenin, May Day, California Labor School, People's Educational Center, Daily Worker, People's Daily World, New Masses, Mainstream, Hollywood Writers Mobilization and other important Communist heroes and front organizations.
Amongst typical examples of such Communist activities are: Ben Leider Memorial Fund, Abraham Lincoln Brigades Banquets and Testi- monials, Harry Bridges Victory Committee, Julius Rosenthal Memorial Committee, Leo Gallagher Testimonial Dinner, Annual Anniversary Fund Drives of the People 's Daily World, 10th Anniversary Celebration of People 's Daily World, etc.
II. Legal Defense and Civil Rights
One of the most fertile fields for financial gain to the Red Fascists as well as for the promotion of the fundamental tenets of Marxism, is the field of civil liberties. Symptoms of oppression by one group or another, majority restrictions on a minority, abuse or persecution of individuals for racial, religious or class reasons, and any grievance, fancied or legitimate, by a minority or underprivileged group, is lush material for the Communists.
The general phases of this subject will be reported more fully in Classification Number Five — the Basic Group Appeals. Specifically, campaigns and programs for legal defense and defense of civil rights are a keystone in the Marxists' structure for discord and disunity.
The entire theory of Marxism is based on the conception of a class war between the "oppressors" in control of the instruments of produc- tion and the "toiling masses." Communists contend, under a peculiar theory of ' l colonial oppression, ' ' that American Negroes and American Jews and other racial minorities, can be considered the equivalent of oppressed colonial nations.
The revolutionary application of this theory is the attempt to con- vince every segment of the community that it can solve its particular problems and advance its particular interests and aspirations only by joining in the class war and eventually playing a part with the prole- tariat— of which the Communist Party is the most advanced unit — in the violent overthrow of non-Communist government and the establish- ment of the dictatorship of the proletariat.
It is natural, therefore, to fit into the pattern of revolutionary preparation, that front organizations must be created by the Communist Party continuously, to specialize in legal defense of minority or work- ing class individuals or groups involved in legal troubles, discrimination, employment, housing and job opportunities, and persons who come under public censure in connection with activities of a radical, revo- lutionary or subversive character.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 57
The striking exception to this Marxist rule — and an exception that refutes the dishonest pretense to humanitarian motives — is that Com- munists never concern themselves with defending or assisting anti- Communists, no matter how radical they may be.
The general subject of civil rights also is a fertile field for Com- munist agitation. Because of the deep concern for these rights, liberal- minded Americans ever are quick to act to preserve liberty and freedom. By playing upon the theme of civil rights, Communists repeatedly lure well-meaning innocents into providing window-dressing for Com- munist front organizations; and in the name of prominent liberals, huge sums are raised through " letterhead " organizations and com- mittees, very little of which ever goes to the humanitarian purpose that is espoused in screaming propaganda.
The committee has devoted much investigation, thought and study to this phase of Communist activity. The committee finds that one of the best ways to prevent Red manipulation of Americans and their patriotic devotion to the protection of liberties and freedoms, is for all citizens to exercise extreme caution in associating themselves with "wildcat" committees and organizations.
California numbers among its organized groups scores of substantial, reliable and representative organizations for every segment and need of the populace. These include business and trade associations, chambers of commerce, farm organizations, trade-unions, service, fraternal, wel- fare clubs and associations, veteran, professional, religious, civic, charity and educational organizations.
The committee is firmly convinced that any problem confronting American citizens can be dealt with through responsible, bona fide organ- izations; and that recourse to association with Communist traitors and to Communist created and controlled front organizations is the surest prescription for defeating the objective of any legitimate program by any segment of the people.
The committee again calls attention to the plainly worded directive for revolutionary manipulation of "day-to-day" problems:
« * * * Qur program is the most powerful thing in the political life of our country today. We are planting it in America so that it grows right out of the ground of our country and our community * * * our strategy is to use * * * immediate demands to educate and organize the masses in preparation for the final revolutionary struggle * * * reliance on immediate demands would lead us only to reformism. Our party is a revolutionary party. It aims not to ease conditions a bit under Capitalism for the workers, but to abolish Capitalism altogether * * * the Communist Party knows how to participate in the daily struggle of the workers * * * it knows how to utilize all these struggles to develop class consciousness * * * and thus begin the mobilization for the eventual overthrow of Capitalism. " (A Talk About the Communist Party.)
Under this plainly stated outline of purpose, and following its inter- minably propagandized theory of the "vanguard role," the Communist Party never spends one moment of work, one drop of sweat, one adjective pf denunciation unless it is amalgamated with the "daily struggle" of
58 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
the ' ' toiling masses ' ' and advances its program for the ' ' eventual over- throw of Capitalism. ' '
The committee finds that, despite the propaganda smoke screen, no Communist has ever participated with a trade-union, racial, religious or minority group, or joined in a program for the protection of Amer- ican civil rights, except for the sole purpose of twisting the program to serve the foreign policy of Soviet Russia or to prepare the way for eventual violent revolution in the United States.
"Thought Control"
A major feature of the Communist Party's current defense pro- gram is its nation-wide campaign against what they have termed ' ' thought control." In view of the brutal, murderous suppression of free speech, freedom of association, and the free exchange of news and ideas behind the Iron Curtain, imposed by the Kremlin, this Communist smoke screen becomes a tragic joke of cosmic significance.
The current Communist strategy for the defense of its treacherous activities is neither improvised nor casual. The entire program was carefully worked out as far back as 1946, and thoroughly organized in 1947. An aroused American public was anticipated. When the Com- munist Party was reconstituted as a revolutionary party after the war ended, and the "Political Association" was abandoned, the Communist Commissars did a lot of streamlining and reorganizing in order to get back on the beam as a revolutionary party and an instrument of the Soviet Union. The American Communist leadership realized that the resumption of the revolutionary class war and treachery in the United States would necessarily provoke indignation, suspicion and investiga- tion, plus determined action on the part of governmental agencies. American Communist Party strategists consequently planned in advance to make an asset of a liability. An immediate attack was decided upon as the best possible defense.
"Fight Thought Control" was launched publicly in December of 1946. A series of forum meetings were held at the El Patio Theater in Hollywood under the general title "Counter- Attack Against the Plot to Control America's Thinking." (See Committee's 1947 Report.) The Communist front, Hollywood Writers ' Mobilization, sponsored the series. Among those who participated in the "Forum Series" were John Howard Lawson, Howard Koch, Dalton Trumbo, Irving Pichel, and Robert W. Kenny.
Both Lawson and Kenny demanded an l ' investigation of the investi- gators. ' ' The purpose of the forums, of course, was to condition so-called " liberals" and " innocents " in the film industry to accept official investi- gations of Communist activities as an effort on the part of the ' ' bosses ' ' to impose " thought control" upon the nice, kind people who only want to destroy the Government of the United States in a bloody civil war.
Following the ' ' Forum Series ' ' the Communists launched a public rally at the Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, starring Henry Wallace and Katharine Hepburn. Robert W. Kenny introduced Wallace, who was billed as the principal speaker, but Katharine Hepburn stole the show. Her subject, of course, was "thought control," and while her speech was probably written by one of the red writers in the Screen
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 59
Writers Guild, she spoke the lines well and the comrades gave her an ovation. Miss Hepburn denounced President Harry S. Truman and his Democratic supporters; the Republican Party; Attorney General Tom Clark; the House Committee on Un-American Activities; Chairman J. Parnell Thomas; the California Legislature's Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities; State Senator Jack B. Tenney; the Holly- wood Motion Picture Alliance ; and others, as responsible for a "plot" to foist "thought control" on the "liberal" and "progressive" people of America.
The affair was held under the auspices of the Communist front, the Progressive Citizens of America. After the Hepburn tirade, no one was interested in printing Wallace 's speech, but the Progressive Citizens of America boasted that more than three million copies of the Hepburn proclamation had been printed and distributed, in addition to extensive radio rebroadcasts.
The key ' ' line ' ' was thus established. Through the Communist skill in amalgamation, defense of the Bill of Rights, freedom of the press, radio and films, is to be identified with the Communist Party 's desperate fight against investigation and exposure.
Following the Hepburn incident a "Conference on Thought Con- trol" was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on July 9 to 13, 1947, also sponsored by the communist Progressive Citizens of America and its Hollywood Arts, Sciences and Professions Council. The "conference" featured papers by 50 individuals on various phases of ' ' thought control ' ' together with suggestions on strategy and tactics in fighting investigating governmental agencies. Among those who offered "papers" were Henry Wallace, Harlow Shapley, Norman Corwin, John Cromwell, Frank Kingdon, Morris E. Colin, Charlotta Bass, Sam Moore, Darr Smith, Milton S. Tyre, Harold Orr, Paul Draper, Ann Revere, Donald Ogden Stewart, and Hugh De Lacy.
Subsequent to this thinly disguised Communist conference, Pro- gressive Citizens of America published the full proceedings in a series of six pamphlets. It constitutes a compendium of Communist Party "line" thinking and tactics on the ' * thought control ' ' program.
Every Communist Party functionary has been called in and alerted to the current program, and detailed directives have been passed down to the most obscure Communist Party member and fellow-traveler.
The first concrete action based on the "thought control" strategem was directed against President Truman's order for a loyalty check of federal employees. The second barrage was leveled against the Los Angeles loyalty check program of the courageous members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. (This county ordinance has just been declared constitutional by the Los Angeles Superior Court as this report goes to press.) The third operation was launched against the House Committee on Un-American Activities in October of 1947. This Senate committee is the most recent target because of its Oakland and Los Angeles hearings.
This committee wishes to go on record, at this point, in congratulating the four alert, patriotic members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors who had the courage and the vision to adopt the county loyalty check ordinance. It is to be devoutly hoped that other public bodies will be encouraged to follow the course now successfully charted
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by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and its chairman, Ray- mond V. Darby.
Communist groups in California that are taking a leading role in the " thought control" tactic is the Communist Party of California, Mobilization for Democracy, American Youth for Democracy, California Legislative Conference, Progressive Citizens of America, United Public Workers— C.I.O., County Social Workers, Local 558, of the A.F.L., County and Municipal Employees, and the Civil Rights Congress. Every Communist front organization, however, has been alerted, and will carry a share of the fight in order to make the entire program appear to be spontaneous and of ' ' grass root ' ' character.
It should be pointed out that the A.F.L. County and Municipal Employees is not listed here as a Communist front organization. The national organization is strongly anti-Communist. The International President, Arnold Zander, flew to Los Angeles and notified the officers of Local 558 that they were ''dangerously violating" A.F.L. policy in collaborating with the Communist controlled United Public "Workers of America — C.I.O.
The Progressive Citizens of America staged a rally at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles October 16, 1947, in honor of the Hollywood "Ten" cited for contempt of the Thomas Committee in Washington. Speakers on this program for the 10 Hollywood Communists were Larry Parks, Norman Corwin, Lester Cole, Dalton Trumbo, Albert Maltz, Evelyn Keyes, Burgess Meredith, Marsha Hunt, and Irving Pichel. Gene Kelly acted as master of ceremonies and Bert Witt did the "collection show" — the most important part of any Communist rally. Robert W. Kenny introduced Bartley Crum, who described the 10 recalcitrant Com- munist witnesses as * ' great Americans. ' '
' ' Stop Operation Witch Hunt ' ' was staged at the Shrine Auditorium November 9, 1947, under the sponsorship of Mobilization for Democracy, United Public Workers of America and Local 558 of the A.F.L. County Social Workers. Robert W. Kenny, O. John Rogge, former United States Deputy Attorney General, and New York's top communist cultural figure, Howard Fast, were scheduled as the "stars" of this rally. The purpose of the meeting was to launch the Communist attack on the county board of supervisors' loyalty check ordinance.
The Communist Party plan may be summed up as a series of activi- ties designed to play on conflicts and tensions :
(a) By challenging and questioning the legality, rights, duties and authority of investigations, hearings, and loyalty checks that threaten to expose Communist aims, tactics, strategy and members ;
(b) By appealing to prejudices and beliefs on issues, other than that of Communism, to transfer those prejudices and beliefs against indi- viduals and agencies that are conducting or supporting investigations, hearings, and loyalty checks; and
(c) By Communists conducting themselves, in connection with investigations, hearings and loyalty checks, in such a manner as to create incidents that can be used by world Communist propagandists, to delude people in other nations into believing that Fascism, imperialism and a police state are being set up in America.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 61
Part and parcel of the "thought control" campaign is the Com- munist directive to its members to, (1) refuse to answer questions con- cerning their affiliation with the party, and, (2) to boldly challenge the right of 'any committee or agency to inquire concerning such affiliation. It has become increasingly evident to the members of this committee that the adoption of these directives by a witness indicates, better than the display of a red card, that the witness is a member of the Communist Party acting under orders from Communist Commissars.
The current line, as disclosed by recent Communist directives, may be summarized as follows :
(a) Smear any hearing by investigating agencies as invasions of the Bill of Rights, privacy, free association, and free speech.
(b) Challenge conduct and procedure of all hearings and investiga- tions as illegal, and as a suppression of free speech in "an atmosphere of intimidation. ' '
(c) Challenge the right of Congressional or legislative bodies to ask questions of anyone concerning their "political'' affiliations. (This directive includes the process of always amalgamating "political" with "religious", in order to insinuate that "religious" persecution is con- templated.)
(d) Attack all evidence against Communists as hearsay.
(e) Demand that Communist attorneys be permitted to cross- examine witnesses and that the rules of evidence be strictly applied in legislative hearings.
(f) Make every effort to create the impression that Communist witnesses are actually accused of crimes and that they are on trial and are being deprived of all their rights without due process of law.
(g) Charge that investigations of Communism are "witch hunts" and a waste of the taxpayers money. All investigations of Communism are to be charged as directed against labor and racial minorities.
(h) Fill the investigating agency's transcripts with protests and charges ; claim intimidation, and, on every occasion, liken the investigat- ing agency 's methods to Hitlerism.
Among typical Communist front organizations in Legal Defense and Civil Rights in this subclassification are: Bridges Defense Committee; King, Connor, Ramsey Defense Committee; Greater New York Emer- gency Committee Conference on Inalienable Rights ; International Labor Defense ; Civil Rights Congress ; Mobilization for Democracy ; National Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners ; Civil Rights Federa- tion; Committee for the First Amendment; American Committee of Liberals for the Freedom of Mooney and Billings; Scottsboro Defense Committee; National Conference on Civil Liberties; National Negro Congress; American Committee for Democracy and Intellectual Free- dom; National Committee for People's Rights, and the Freedom From Fear Committee.
III. Political and Legislative
Communists have no more use for parliamentary government than they have for capitalism. They seek to destroy both. The one basic goal of Communism is to eliminate capitalism and its parliamentary government, and replace them with a brutal, totalitarian police state under the dic- tatorship of the proletariat.
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Wherever Red Fascism has snuffed out liberty and freedom, the first things to go were civil rights, capitalism and parliamentary government. Just as the Communists in America sneeringly and cynically take advantage of our freedoms and liberties, so do they pervert and corrupt our political and legislative process wherever possible.
The history of Communist front organizations in politics discloses a record of fine causes corrupted, perverted, destroyed or damaged by the Communist Party 's fanatical insistence on bending * ' daily struggle ' ' to advance the program of ' * eventual overthrow of capitalism. ' '
The committee has discovered and reported repeatedly, that the Communists work incessantly to pervert and destroy every institution that does not fit into their pattern of revolutionary conspiracy. Nowhere has this Communist strategy been pursued more consistently and relent- lessly than in the fields of politics and legislation.
The most recent consolidation of this Communist program of legis- lative and political activity through front organizations, has been the recent coalition of a series of Communist front organizations under the banner of the Third Party Movement to elect Henry Wallace President of the United States.
In California, the basic Communist front organizations in this coali- tion are the Progressive Citizens of America, Independent Progressive Party, California Legislative Conference, Communist-Controlled Trade Unions in the C. I. 0., the "Wallace Democrats" Caucus in the Demo- cratic Party, Progressive A. F. of L., and a student movement for Wallace, sponsored by American Youth for Democracy.
Behind a facade of specious promises of "peace, progress and pros- perity, ' ' the Third Party movement has proceeded with mechanical pre- cision, following every twist and turn of the Communist Party line on foreign affairs and domestic issues. It has conducted its activities in such a manner as to stamp itself as an American tool of the international Com- munist conspiracy. Its policies, tactics and appeals fit the specifications for every type of Communist front organization described and classified in the entire report of this committee, and it follows the party "line" meticulously.
The Third Party movement to elect Henry Wallace is the creature of the Communist Party. Its policies, programs, organization, structure, public relations, personnel and directing leadership all have followed and now follow the Communist Party pattern with unbroken monotony. Its key personnel are known Communists, fellow-travelers and veteran apologists for Soviet Russia and American Communism.
Hugh Bryson, state chairman of the Independent Progressive Party in California is a Communist and a veteran of Communist conspiratorial activity in the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union, C. I. 0.
Among I. P. P. and Wallace leaders in California, are Robert W. Kenny, Harry Bridges, Philip M. Connelly, James Burford, James Daughterty, vice-chairman ; A. B. Goolsby, Treasurer ; Elinor Kahn, state director ; Harper W. Poulson, Southern California regional director ; Mrs. Ruth Slade, Southern California campaign manager ; Mrs. Tiba Willner, Southern California finance director ; on Southern California trade-union sponsor list are Howard de Silva, Charles Gladstone, William Elconin, Edward L. Barnes, Maurice Howard, Bernard Lusher, C. C. Carlson, Antonio Lucio, Lloyd Seeliger, Joe Heilbrun, John Huhn, Katie Brooks,
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 63
A. J. Richardson, John Allard, Frank Green and Joseph 0 'Conner. Among the alleged Democrats are Victor A. Shapiro, and Judge Stanley Moffatt.
Among the Communist front organizations in the fields of politics and legislation are : Progressive Citizens of America, Independent Citi- zens Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions, Hollywood Demo- cratic Committee, Motion Picture Democratic Committee, California Leg- islative Conference, Progressive A. F. of L., American Youth for Democ- racy, National Congress for Unemployment and Social Insurance, and National Right-to-Work Congress.
(4) Communist Fronts for Foreign Policy
The only interest the Communist Party has in foreign policy is to serve the interests of Soviet Russia. The Communist Party of the United States frequently has tied itself into knots in attempting to follow the "sharp turns" and "pretzel twists" of world Communism diplomacy.
Like all major Communist policies, this one also has a huge bibliog- raphy of strategic and tactical literature, all centered around a so-called "theory of capitalist encirclement." Simplified to its bare bones, this theory contends that Communist states can never tolerate being encircled by capitalist states, so therefore, it is an obvious fact to all Marxists that all non-Communist capitalist governments be destroyed and replaced with dictatorships of the proletariat.
The committee has found that the theme song of the American Com- munist Party on foreign policy is the protection of the Communist father- land, Soviet Russia.
There never has been an instance in the history of the U. S. Com- munist Party; of its front groups, of its conspicuous fellow-travelers, when the party, its front organizations, or its stooges have critized any phase of Soviet foreign policy. The interests of the United States, when- ever its foreign policy came in conflict with that of Soviet Russia, is promptly and roundly denounced.
There are three major subclassifications of Communist fronts in the field of foreign policy. These are :
I. Fronts for Support and Praise of the Soviet Union ; II. Fronts for the Support and Praise of Communist-dominated
Nations and of Communist Parties in Other Nations ; and III. Fronts on War, Peace and Foreign Relations.
It is vitally important to the Communist Party that it maintain con- stant activity in the propaganda field with fronts in these three subclassi- fications. One of the duties of fellow-travelers is that they be ever ready to serve on such fronts, and whip up propaganda activity in support of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia, no matter what stigma accrues from such activities.
Thus, when the Communist Party ordered an all-out support of * * The Yanks Are Not Coming" program, during the period of the Hitler-Stalin pact, Philip M. Connelly, Communist secretary of the Los Angeles C. I. 0. Council, dutifully led demonstrations on the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall.
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Connelly also led the Communist sponsored strike at North Amer- ican Aviation, a strike which was broken up by United States troops under orders of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who condemned the strike as Communist-inspired treachery.
Connelly was an important "window-dressing," but when Com- munist Party policy dictated action that must necessarily prove unpopu- lar with many Americans, Connelly obeyed. It is a sad commentary on the memory of many responsible community leaders that Connelly, with the aid of clever publicity from leftwing propagandists, managed to cover up his pro-Communist activity against America when Stalin and Hitler were partners. He posed as a responsible and patriotic civic leader after the U. S. Communists turned to all-out patriotism when Hitler invaded Russia.
Connelly is a conspicuous and typical example of hundreds of native- born Communists who have stamped themselves as subservient tools of the criminal Communist conspiracy.
It is significant, although Connelly was the secretary of one of the two big C. I. 0. councils in California, that it was necessary for him to fol- low the party line in opposing fundamental patriotic policies. Americans are prone to regard Communist functionaries and key fellow-travelers in the light of the positions they hold. This is wholly a wrong viewpoint. The fact is, that f uctionaries and key fellow-travelers are considered by Communist Commissars as infantry shock troops in a mass battle. When one falls through enemy fire, another is expected to step forward to take his place. Under Communist policy, if Connelly and the Communist propagandists had not succeeded in covering up his brazen, unpatriotic display, Philip M. Connelly would have been liquidated from his impor- tant post as C. I. 0. secretary in Los Angeles. He would have been trans- ferred to another assignment, and the Communist caucus would have put up another candidate for his job.
One of the basic tests of the dyed-in-the-wool fellow-traveler is the alacrity in which he follows the "sharp turns" of Communist Party line strategy in connection with foreign policy. Connelly is merely an example of hundreds whose names trail across the letterheads of hundreds of front organizations that come and go as Kremlin strategy dictates.
The committee refers interested readers to the brief analysis of the "sharp turns" of Comintern thinking cited in the Committee's 1943 Report, pages 39-50; the Committee's 1945 Report, page 90; and to the Committee 's 1947 Report, pages 17-34.
The committee recommends that all citizens of California give par- ticular scrutiny to the backgrounds, associations and motives of indi- viduals and organizations who seek to propagandize the people in behalf of foreign policy issues. The committee particularly stresses the fact that one of the basic functions of the U. S. Communist Party is to serve the interests of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia. It should be held in mind that the foreign policy of Soviet Russia today is squarely opposed to the policies and aspirations of the United States and all freedom-loving countries.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 65
I. Fronts for Support and Praise of the Soviet Union
When the Communist Party was founded in Chicago, Illinois, Sep- tember 1-7, 1919, it declared in its First Manifesto, adopted by the organ- izing convention, that :
"A giant struggle is convulsing the world * * * between the capitalist nations of the world and the international proletariat, inspired by Soviet Russia. * * * The Communist Party is a party of the working class. The Communist Party proposes to end capital- ism and organize a workers' industrial republic. The Communist Party is a party realizing the limitations of all existing workers' organizations, and proposes to develop the revolutionary movement necessary to free the workers from the oppression of Capitalism. * * * The Communist Party insists that the problems of the Amer- ican worker are identical to the problems of the workers of the world. * * * The Communist Party is the conscious expression of the class struggle of the workers against capitalism. Its aim is to direct this struggle to the conquest of political power, the overthrow of capitalism and the destruction of the bourgeois state. * * * The Communist Party directs the workers' struggle against capitalism, developing fuller forms and purposes in this struggle, culminating in the mass action of the revolution. * * *
t( * * * rp^ communist International, issuing directly out of the proletarian revolution in action, is the organ of the International revolutionary proletariat. * * * The Communist International rep- resents a Socialism in complete accord with the revolutionary char- acter of the class struggle. It unites all the conscious revolutionary forces. It wages war equally against Imperialism and moderate Socialism * * * the workers must prepare for the proletarian revo- lution and the Communist reconstruction of society. * * * The Com- munist International calls. Workers of the world, unite ! ' '
The Communist Party was launched with praise and support of Soviet Russia, and a firm pledge of allegiance to the Communist Inter- national. It made a bold promise of violent revolutionary overthrow of the Government of the United States.
Since that plain statement of purpose was made, the U. S. Com- munist Party has set up hundreds of fronts to honor and support Soviet Russia. It mobilizes every possible activity in plain defiance of the inter- ests of the United States in its consistent support of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia.
Among the more conspicuous fronts for this purpose are : American Council on Soviet Relations, American Friends of the Soviet Union, Friends of Soviet Russia, Friends of the Soviet Union, Congress of Amer- ican-Soviet Friendship, Golden Book of American Friendship With the Soviet Union, National Council of American- Soviet Friendship, Open Letter for Closer Cooperation With the Soviet Union, Open Letter to American Liberals, Russian- American Industrial Corp., Russian Famine Relief Committee, Soviet Russia Today, Statement by American Pro- gressives on the Moscow Trials, and the American-Russian Institute.
6— L-7088-D
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II. Fronts for Support and Praise of Communist Dominated Nations and Communist Parties in Other Lands
The committee has pointed out in this report, and in its 1943, 1945, and 1947 reports, that the Communist blueprint for world conquest includes in its detailed technical analysis and teachings, the basic theme of Marxism-Leninism-Stalinism theory of ' ' capitalist encirclement. ' '
Under this theory, the Soviet fatherland, Russia, as custodian of the flame of international revolution, will never be safe as long as it is " encircled" by capitalist countries. Therefore, it is necessary that Com- munists everywhere protect Russia from the "encircling" capitalist states by revolutionary activity in every country in the world.
Second only to Soviet Russia itself, as objects of honor, praise and support, are the nations in which Communist Party revolutionists have schemed and tricked their way to power. These nations are hailed by Communists as "the new democracies" and their dictators, Tito, Dimit- roff, Gottwald, and other bloodstained Red Quislings, are high on the list of those for whom only praise is reserved in the Communist press.
There is no Communist-dominated country behind the "Iron Cur- tain ' ' for which there is not an American Communist front to agitate and propagandize in its behalf.
Next in importance are the Communist Parties and their front groups in nations not yet dominated by the Communist dictatorship; whose "workers struggles" are hailed regularly in the Communist press and propaganda services ; and for whom front groups continually raise huge sums of money in this country.
Among the more conspicuous fronts in this sub-classification are: The American Committee for Free Yugoslavia, American Friends of the Chinese People, Conference on Pan-American Democracy, Council on African Affairs, Council for Pan-American Democracy, Abraham Lincoln Brigade, American Friends of Spanish Democracy, Friends of the Abra- ham Lincoln Brigade, and scores of other fronts in connection with the Spanish civil war; American Croatian Congress, American Slav Con- gress, Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, Slovene National Congress, United Committee of South Slavic Americans, etc.
III. Fronts on War, Peace and Foreign Relations
All the Communist fronts described in the two preceding sub- classifications, and hundreds of more permanent and special fronts, have been utilized by the Communist Party to promote agitation, propaganda, political activity and demonstrations on general questions of war, peace and foreign policy, all of which are solely the business of the American people, but toward which the Communists with unvarying consistency, apply the single yardstick: "How will it serve the interests of Soviet Russia?"
The committee has found repeatedly, and it again reiterates that the attempt of the Communist Party of America to appear as a legally con- stituted domestic political party, is purely a deceptive fiction.
The committee has urged, and it urges again, that immediate steps be taken to strengthen the statutes of California, wherever necessary, to the end that this fiction of legality and respectability of a foreign-con- trolled subversive organization in the State of California be ended for-
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 67
ever. The committee is now preparing legislative recommendations for
the consideration of the Legislature in its 1949 Session.
The committee reiterates its findings that the Communist Party is
the agent of a foreign power, specifically Soviet Russia. The committee
cites particularly the following :
All Communists believe themselves to be in a state of perpetual warfare with all capitalist governments. The over-all strategy of the Communist Party is designed to bring about the destruction of all democratic governments. The ultimate objective is the establishment of the so-called dictatorship of the proletariat *
* * * All Communists firmly believe that the Soviet Union is the Red Fatherland of the proletariat everywhere, and, as such, it must be protected in its development at any cost, because it is the arsenal for world conquest. Meanwhile, Communists in all countries work for revolution, taking Stalin at his word, when he said that ' * in the event of necessity (Soviet Russia) would come out even with armed forces against the exploiting classes in their states." Thus, every Communist in the United States is a potential traitor, saboteur and espionage agent of Soviet Russia * * *
* * * Acts of sabotage and violence, terror and assassination may be expected, if diplomatic relations between the United States and Soviet Russia become strained * * * The American people must be awakened to the fact that every member of the American Communist Party is a potential espionage and sabotage agent for the Soviet government. Our people must realize, now more than ever before, that it is the admitted and avowed purpose of Moscow to create and foster a Communist revolution in every capitalist democ- racy in the world * * *
Among the more conspicuous Communist fronts that have defied brazenly the interests of the United States and other freedom-loving nations whenever they have been in conflict with the interests of Soviet Russia and world Communism are: All American Anti Imperialist League, American Committee for Struggle Against War, American Congress for Peace and Democracy, American League for Peace and Democracy, American Peace Crusade, American Peace Mobilization, Committee to Defend America by Keeping Out of War, Committee for Peace Through World Cooperation, Emergency Peace Mobilization, Student Congress Against War, World Congress Against War, " Yanks Are Not Coming" Committee, Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, etc.
(5) Fronts for Appeals to Basic Groups
The Communist Party never attacks a problem from one vantage point alone. Since front organizations are false-faces for Communism, it is natural that the Communist Party attempts to create an air of spon- taneity for its programs. This usually is accomplished by having several alleged humanitarian and liberal front groups join in a "coalition" for the Communist purpose.
The practical application of this technique is through Communist Party infiltration into organizations, in addition to those organized by the Communists for the purpose.
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A typical instance of this strategic and tactical manipulation of fronts may be found in the current major Communist "party line" pro- gram to "fight thought control and defend civil rights."
The actual truth is that a large number of Communists have been arrested, indicted, jailed and prosecuted for violations of law. Charges against the Communists include passport and immigration fraud, false registration, perjury, contempt, and advocating the overthrow of the United States Government by force and violence.
The Communists were forced to devise a strategy to meet this situa- tion. The strategy, naturally, was carried into effect through front groups, and every appeal was made to lure and trick all possible support behind Communist functionaries.
The committee has compiled and examined a large file of propaganda material on the subject of the Communist sponsored campaign against alleged ' ' thought control. ' '
This material has been checked and compared with the resolutions, press releases and statements, communications and advertising of the various Communist front groups on the same subjects.
The committee has been impressed with the pattern of Communist Party policy running through these two sets of propaganda material, one from official Communist sources, the other from Communist front groups.
The committee has pointed out that it is a standard practice of the Communist Party, in every instance where a Communist functionary is arrested, indicted or prosecuted, to contend that the law enforcement against the Communist is not for the purpose of enforcing the law, but solely for purposes of intimidation, persecution of labor and minorities, and for "thought control."
This is the same position that is taken invariably by Communists on the witness stand at legislative investigations into Communist activity.
Communists under investigation have repeatedly and brazenly defied Congress, the California State Legislature, courts, and police authorities. They openly practice and advocate defiance and disrespect for parlia- mentary bodies, for police and government agencies, and for the courts, as a basic tenet of their avowed program of work through "daily struggle. ' '
The committee points out that American Communists openly advo- cate the total destruction of our national heritage of liberty and freedom, and brazenly take advantage of civil rights in order to hamper legislative and police processes essential to the protection of our State and Nation.
The committee reports that the Communist technique of defiance of Congress, the Legislature, the courts and the police agencies of our Nation is part and parcel of the revolutionary conspiracy to destroy our liberties and freedoms by an organization that is a servant of a foreign power.
Our citizens must be provided with information based on authori- tative investigation and public disclosure of individuals and organiza- tions that conspire to destroy our freedom and liberties.
While providing every possible safeguard to insure our complete right and authority to inquire into the conspiracies of traitors, we must likewise safeguard against the destruction or nullification of our liberties and freedoms.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 69
The American public is now thoroughly familiar with what has heretofore been labeled the "$64 Question," "Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party ? ' '
The committee has heard the testimony of many Communists and fellow-travelers, and it has examined the transcripts of numerous investi- gations and hearings by congressional and legislative bodies. The Com- mittee has discovered that no Communist, except those who are publicly proclaimed as such, ever give a straightforward answer to this question.
The attempt of Communists and fellow-travelers to evade answering this question presents a monotonous pattern of propaganda-statements.
The testimony of suspected Communists, their prepared statements, their interviews in the Communist press, and the propaganda rallies, advertisements and literature issued in their behalf, are a revelation of the interests and preoccupations of the Communist Party.
Invariably, the defense tactics by, and in behalf of, suspected Com- munists presents a lengthy harangue ; they contend that they are being persecuted because they are friends and leaders of organized labor, of minority groups, of the underprivileged and the impoverished, the veterans, the unemployed, the victims of capitalist oppression, and vari- ous other basic groupings of the citizenry whom the Communists consider likely targets for agitational work.
The committee has conducted a thorough investigation and analysis of those organizations.
Analysis of the claims of the Communists (and the prompt echoes of front organizations) in defense of arrested, indicted and convicted Com- munists, reveals that the following general subclassifications may be listed as Basic Groups. These groups are, as the committee has pointed out, in addition to the other four major classifications of front groups described in preceding sections of this report: (1) The Indispensable Organizations for Revolution; (2) Fronts for Culture and Science; (3) Fronts for Domestic Affairs ; and (4) Fronts for Foreign Affairs.
These are the subclassifications in the Basic Appeals Group :
I. Fronts in, and for, Organized Labor. II. Fronts for Charity, Relief and the Unemployed.
III. Racial, Refugee and Alien.
IV. Veterans and Military. V. Farmers.
VI. Consumers.
Analysis qf programs and policies of revolutionary science pro- claimed in Communist official statements, and textbooks, reveals that creation of front groups in these basic appeals groups, together with Communist organized fronts, are considered indispensable to preparation for a successful revolution.
I. Fronts in, and for, Organized Labor
The backbone of the Communist revolutionary conspiracy is the crea- tion of revolutionary industrial trade-unions.
International Communism never has made a secret about its inten- tion to use trade-unions as the spring-board for its revolutionary plotting. Alert and patriotic United States trade-union leaders have known this
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fact from the beginning. The most aggressive, well-informed and prac- tical enemies of Communism will be found among such trade-union leaders.
America is fortunate that such a reservoir of sanity and vigilance exists at the very spot Communists consider to be the Nation's weakest point. The committee commends the leaders and members of organized labor who oppose Communism and its bloody tyranny over workers. The committee urges every responsible leader of business, church, fraternal, veteran, and patriotic organizations, that he acquaint himself with the problems and philosophies of responsible trade-union leadership in deal- ing with the menace of Communism.
The committee cites the statement of policy toward organized labor, from the First Manifesto of the Communist Party of the United States, adopted at the Communist Party's organizing convention, September 1-7, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois :
The Communist Party is the conscious expression of the class struggle of the workers against capitalism. Its aim is to direct this struggle to the conquest of political power, the overthrow of capi- talism and the destruction of the bourgeois state * * * It brings to the workers a consciousness of their oppression, of the impossibility of improving their conditions under capitalism * * *.
The Communist Party shall make the great industrial struggles of the working class its major campaign, in order to develop an understanding of the strike in relation to the overthrow of capi- talism.
(a) The Communist Party shall participate in mass strikes, not only to achieve the immediate purposes of the strike, but to develop the revolutionary implications of the mass strike.
* * * The Communist Party must engage actively in the struggle to revolutionize the trade unions. As against the unionism of the American Federation of Labor, the Communist Party propagandizes industrial unionism and industrial union organization, emphasizing their revolutionary implications. Industrial unionism is not simply a means for the everyday struggle against capitalism ; its ultimate purpose is revolutionary, implying the necessity of ending the capitalist, parliamentary state. Industrial unionism is a factor in the final mass action for the conquest of power * * * The Communist Party recognized that the A. F. of L. is reactionary and a bulwark of capitalism * * * It shall be the major task of the Communist Party to agitate for the construction of a general industrial union organiza- tion, embracing the I. W. W., W. I. I. U., independent and secession unions, militant unions of the A. F. of L., and the unorganized workers on the basis of the revolutionary class struggle * * * The United States is developing an aggressive militarism. The Commun- ist Party will wage the struggle against militarism as a phase of the class struggle to hasten the downfall of Capitalism.
This is the blueprint for the use of trade-unions as instruments for violent revolution laid down by the organizing meeting of the Com- munist Party of the United States. Never since that time in 1919 when the Communists organized to betray their own country, has Communist policy deviated from this fundamental policy.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA 71
The incessant struggle and conflict within American trade-unions, between Communist conspirators and honest and patriotic members of organized labor is explained in light of the foregoing knowing, and resenting, the fact that the Communists seek to use their unions to per- vert them to the cause of revolution, the overwhelming majority of American union men and women are the targets of abuse, character assassination, slander and physical violence, whenever they oppose the Communist plotters in their midst.
The committee has found that one of the major battlegrounds in the struggle against Communism will be in the trade-unions of the world.
This committee has no power or authority to investigate or report on relations between management and labor except where the question of Communist activity is raised.
The committee warns that free American trade-unions will not have freedom from Communist disruption until Communism is completely defeated. All workers everywhere are entitled to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that the American way of life provides more abundantly than any other political system known to history.
The committee commends patriotic and alert American trade-union- ists who oppose Communism despite personal abuse, slander, vituperation and threats on their lives and persons. The committee urges all respon- sible citizens to assist such patriotic trade-union leaders and members in their determination to protect their organization from Communist infiltration and destruction.
The committee has been impressed in its many investigations and studies with the unvarying persistence of a distinct pattern of Com- munist strategical and tactical attitudes toward trade-unions in the United States, and particularly in California. This pattern is one that the committee has noticed in many fields, but it is most pronounced with regard to trade-unions. It is a simple and brutal policy. The Communist Party regards all union organizations as falling into two simple classifica- tions : Either an instrument to be controlled, dominated and used to serve the interests of the foreign policy of Soviet Russia and the preparation for violent revolution at home ; or an enemy, to be disrupted, attacked and destroyed.
A substantial number of individuals in the trade-union movement are known Communists, or fellow-travelers, who consistently follow the pattern of Communist activity outlined in this report in their own trade- unions and in numerous front groups.
Pursuing their stated purpose of infiltrating union organizations in order to twist and pervert them to the interests of the Communist con- spiracy, the Communists have infiltrated and now control and dominate a number of important trade-unions in the United States, and particu- larly in California.
The committee refers to its documented analysis of Communist technique in penetrating and corrupting trade-unions in its 1943, 1945 and 1947 reports.
72 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
II. Fronts for Charity, Relief and Unemployed
Of great importance to the Communist program for