JFK Assassination System . Date: 6/15/201 Identification Form Agency Information Released under the John Kennedy Ws5asgsination Records oOllection Act of 1992 AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124-10284-10106 RECORD SERIES: HQ (44 U5¢ 2107 Note). ase#:NW 53130 Date: NS5-31-2017 AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 100-30067-14, 15 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: SCHON, LEO ANTHONY TO: DIRECTOR, FBI TITLE : DATE: 09/06/1943 PAGES: 11 SUBJECTS : JOP, PROMOTION, MANAGING EDITOR, CP, PUBLICATION, PEOPLES WORLD DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: — 01/07/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: = INDEFINITE COMMENTS : INC RPT v9.1 HW 53130) DBocld:32303594 Page 1 wo
‘DETAILS: Inasmuch: as subject noted ‘the dedletes ef the People's World: newspaper, Communist contri y1I a Giseo, and has been active in Communist Party cir. te been designated ag a key figure in ‘the San Francisco | controlled newspaper recently returned. froma. trip. t mother in Georgia, Informant. also advised that the subject spent - aRRROVES TNE EI — |__ FORWARDED. A, HW 53130 DBocld:32303594 Page 2?
¢ San Francisco File 100-1465 *. 7 ; ; 85460 in New York City where he conferred with Communist Party functionaries in New oo. Yorke , ' ; ' Source A further advised that subject.was a member of the Metal Trades Section of the Communist Party, San Francisco, and that this section was being dissolved and the Party planned to transfer members inte neighborhood». branches. Informant stated that he had not yet learned to what branch the Party.” . planned to transfer the subject. = SS . os [coariaentis Informant SF-939 advised that subject was Buest of honor at a party held by the fillmore Branch of the Communist Party at the Abraham Lincoln Victory Center, 1750 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, on” “ | August 27, 1943. oo. Source B advised that he had received information thr ough a contact available to him at Party Headquarters reflecting that the subject’ was considered by Party officials as a possible choice as a candidate for the office of the. Board’ of Supervisors in the city elections in San Francisco. After some consideration, he said that the Party chose’ as their candidate OLETA ; 0" CONOR fYATES, Executiye Secretary of the Communist Party for San Francisco. County. ~~ ss So Source A stated that. the subject ran out of funds in New — York City during his recent trip to the Bast Cast.and that subject sent a | collect telegram to LEO\BAROWAY, the State Financial Director for the Communist Party in California, saying that he had no money to return to the coast and ° wanted to know what todo. LEO BAROWAY advised informant that JOHN G17?MAN acted like a "sountry hick" and that when he returned from his trip from New York the Party would have to instruct him how to handle. himself... BAROWAY . _ further stated that PITTMAN should have known enough to go into the Party Head~ quarters. in New York or the Daily Worker. office and borrow $50.00, ; Y - ; ' a Source C stated that on the occasion of the. visit of” sosney be, Editor of the New Masses, Communist Party magazine, to San-Fran-- cisco during October of 1943, NORTH had a conference with the subject on ‘October ll, 1943, og | Source C stated that he received information that’ subject ~ assisted FELICE CLARK [BIRATTON, New Organizer of the Golden Gate Section, Communist.Party, San Francisco, and uarcury Pocus, Negress, member of the Golda i Gate Section, in writing a campaign leaflet:'‘on the racial question to be used in the city election campaign. 7 e Ay-he stated that functionsries which | NINTER,; held at the Doe In a written report submitted by So - subject was present at.a meeting of high Communist Par included BILL |BCHNEIDERMAN, . OLBTA#O' CONNOR and HEL@ \ xv ~ HW 53130 DBocld:32303594 Page 3
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Sase criginated at:SAN FRANCISCO . File No, 100-1465 : Banort made at: | “Date: Pericd: Report made by: Oe «SAN FRaNcIscCO | 9/16/43 9/2,3/43 LEO ANTHONY SCHON id JOHN PITTMAN | INTERNAL SECURITY = ¢ ete [nea enmarencer seater any en aeeeetperteethrenpeanstiuang en SYNOPSIS OF FACTS: Subject, a Negro, has been promoted to managing editor of thesBEOPLE'S WORLD. His: editoria: ipolley Has been criticized bytomnunist Party officials for not correctly interpreting the Party line, Subject is a member of the San Francisco County. Committee of the GP, and has been transfered to the Shipfitters Branch, Metal Trades Section of the Party. He is a popular public speaker and has aelivered addresses at several CP meetings on the Negro problem. PITTMAN has been classified 1A in the draft and the Party is attempting to get a deferment for him. -P. | REFERENCE: =) Renort. of Special agent GEORGE V. SCHNEIDER dated _ at San Francisco January 11, 2943. Saurce & advised that when ADTRICHMOND, managing” PEOPLE'S “ORLD, well known Communist pubiication fy. Special Agent | in Charge 5 - Bureau U \ 2 - ONY San Franciseo® 1 ~ G-2 San Franciseo 4 ~ San Francisce HW 53130 DBocld:32303594 Page 4
post RD IN i { i . 85are San Francisco #100-1465 in San Francisco, was inducted into the Army in February 1943, subject who was formerly the foreign editor, succeeded him. Source B- asserted that in carrying out his present duties as managing editor of the , PEOPLE'S WORLD, subject is called upon frequently to write editorials which expound the’ Communist Party policy. Informant asserted that the subject's editorial policy has been frequently criticized by WILLIAM“SCHNEIDERMAN, California State Secretary of the Party, and also by Other high Party officials who feel that freqnently the approach of PITTMAN to laying down the Communist Party line is not that which the County Committee had decided upon. Informant stated that . subject's editorials sometimes were said to be almost as bad as WESTBROOK PEGLER's column and that the subject almost. justified PEGLER: _ criticized by WILLIAM SCHNEIDERMAN for his approach on the Negro® | question, and that SCHNEIDERMAN said that if the subject can't write straight on the Negro problem the Party officials won't allow PITTMAN | to write on it at all. : , d oo On January 9, 1943 Source B adviséd that subject is, . a member of the San Francisco County Committee of the Party. Source C advised on July 9, 1943 that subject was being transfered to the Shipfitters Branch, Metal Trades Section of the Party. This transfer was verified on August 26, 1943 by Source D who. made available an _ official registration blank of the Communist Party showing: subject to - be a member of this branch and section, which is-being maintained in the files of the San Francisco Field Division. ° ' LO Source B advised that despite. subject's affiliation with known Communists and his position on the staff of the PEOPLE'S WORLD, he appears to desire that his Party membership be kept a secret. jin this connection informant asserted that.on the oceasion of EARL 7FBROWDER's address at the Eagle's Hall in San Francisco in January 1943, there was, a discussion among high Party officials as to the advisability of having a Negro. sit on the platform at this rally. Informant assertéd that the name of subject was suggested but it was stated that subject _ would.probably refuse because of his desire to keep his Party membership’ a secret. . oe . CONP, INFT,SF 939 stated that subject attended a special meeting’ “ of the Fillmore Branch of the Party on May 12, 1943 at which time the coming State Convention of the Party. was discussed. _=2- HW 53130 DBocld:32303594 Page 5 Informant stated further that subject, who is a Negro, was even”. WA
ay 4 X gan Francisco #100=1465— - 854 CE Source A advised that when Admiral EMERY LAND held a. press conference on the West Coast: Maritime situation in San Francisco the last week of May 1943, subject PITTMAN was in conference with HARRY#BRIDGES, well known West Coast Communist, who asked the subject to send a PEOPLE'S WORLD reporter to. the press conference to ask Admiral LAND certain questions furnished by BRIDGES in order to , "put Admiral LAND ‘on the spot". Core “Asp 1212 stated that subject was the former Educational | Director of Phe * TAMESSCONNOLLY Branch of the Golden Gate Section of the Party, however that. whtri he was unable to devote sufficient time te carrying loft the duties attendant to this position, subject was asked - by VIOLETRORR, Organizer of the Golden Gate Section,.to resign as Educational Director or.else he would be dismissed for his lack of 4 activity and leadership in this position. Informant advised that the James Connolly and the Frederick Douglas Brenches of the Party had been consolidsted into the Fillmore Branch, and that previously to - the subject's transfer into the Shipfitters Branch, Metal Trades Section, he held a position in May 1943 on the Executive Committee of the Fillmore Branch. An article apvearing ih the PEOPLE'S WORLD issue of ‘April 23, 1943 announced a lecture to be delivered by subject entitled "Africa Against the Axis" on April 23 at the TOM MOONEY LABOR SCHOOL, 678 Turk Street, admission fifty cents. It is noted that the TOM MOONEY LABOR SCHOOL is a well known front organization . for the Communist Party. ay . . oe den SSP 1159 stated that on June 23, 1943 subject delivered an address on race’ riots before a joint meeting of the Fillmore Branch and Branch 6 of the Metal Trades Section of the Party. He stated that all riots which had recently broken out such as the. Detroit and Beaumont riots, started at the same time which proves they were inspired by Axis friends, He further stated that he had observed that the riots. started when the Axis powers were caught between two forces of Allies -in Europe... He said that Communist Party policy is to demand protection for Negroes and Mexicans from the police, and also to contribute more to war production. a - ‘, oo 4 news item.in the OAKLAND TRIBUNE on July 13, 1943 stated that JOHN PITTMAN, Negro. columnist, would be the guest speaker at a public meeting to be held by the Berkeley Branches of the Communist Party at 1942 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, California on July 15, and that subject was. to discuss the effect of the recent so-called "raee - riots", ' ‘ HW 53130 Docld: 32303594 Page 6
! |. 43130 Docld:327303594 Page 7 POETS ST SN ~) San Francisco #100-1465 Co | | - 854e7 On July 23, 1943 an article appeared in the. PEOPLE'S WORLD stating that the first of a special series of six weekly classes on "Peoples of the Pacific" would be held at the TOM MOONEY LABOR SCHOOL, and that JOHN PITTMAN, managing editor of the PEOPLE'S WORLD -woudld talk on Japan at meetings to be held | on July 2h and 31. SF 939 advised that on August 30, 1943 PITTMAN spoke at a Communist: Party meeting “held. at the Abraham Lincoln Victory Center, ' 1759 Fillmore Street, on the problems of Negroes, stating that his people have always been discriminated against and were prevented from progressing to a normal and satisfactory manner of living. Source D made available a handbill advertising a " speech to be delivered by subject, the editor of the PRHOPLE'S WORLD, on the coming election in San Francisco on August 19, 1943 at 1402 Powell Street; San Francisco. This meeting was held under the auspices of ‘the North Beach Branch of the Communist Party. Source E advised that subject had ‘been classified LA and that the Party, through GEORGESANDERSEN , well known attorney for _the Party in San Francisco, had been trying to get a deferment for him. Informant advised that subject's draft board advised PITTMAN on August 4, 1943 that he would be ordered for induction soon, Party officials feel howéver that if he can be defered for a few months, the Army will not take him inasmuch as he will be 38 on December 17, -1943.. Source A advised that on ‘August 26, 1943 subject received permission from his draft board to leave the city for a month in order sain he might visit his aged mother in Georgia. oh. | “hypo SF 517 reported that on September: 12, 1939 subject | Renee spoke, Eder thea auspices of Lodge 694, INO, at 136 Valencia Street, ‘San Francisco on-the subject of the world situation and the German and Soviet Non-Agression Pact. Informant advised that an article appeared in the July 1939 issue of the FILLMORE SPOTLIGHT, published by the 2end Assembly District of the San ‘Francisco Communist Party, advertising an open branch meeting of the Party, scheduled to be held on July_20, 1939 at 1732 O'Farrell Street. The article stated that JOHN PITTMAN, staff member of the: PEOPLE'S “ORLD, ‘would’ speak on "The Negro Looks at 1940". Informant further advised that on March 20, 1940 subject led a forum. sponsored by the PEOPLE'S “SORLD on the topic "This Week Abroad" held at the Sorosis Hall, 536. Sutter Street, San Francisco. Informant advised that subject delivered an address at the Eagle's Hall, 273 ¢ Golden - Gate Avenue, on September 19, 1941, the occasion being a meeting es under. the auspices of the Peoples! “orld Forum. ELIZABETH GURLEY. FLYNN, Secretary.of the Citizens Committee to Free EARL BROWDER, and \a nationally known Communist Party functionary, spoke on the same program, ~ PENDING -" on Ne ee