Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-21
WOMAN DEFENDS
REDS IN SENATE
John Reeds Wife Says
Anarchists, Not Bolsheviki,
Nationalized. Women
AS A RESULT
Eject Spectators Who Start
Commotion-Witnes Admits
Movement Unfit for L. ).

Washington, Feb. Il - Spectators
were cleared from the hearing room Of
the Senate propaganda investigating
committee because Kisses, attempts al
applause and general commotion inter
rupted the testimony of Louise Bryant,
wife of John Reed, an American writer
recently returned from Russia, VINO, the
witness said. was employed in the propa-
sanda department Of the BolsheNlS'
government.
Trouble started from the moment
Miss BRYANT, as sne is known, TOOK ihe
stand and kegan answering questions
about her religious beliefs and under
standing of the nature or an oa'h'
Manifestations Of interest among the
spectators grew as she was examined
about her participation III Woman :
party demonstrations including me az
TEMPT to burn President Wilson IN et1gN
before the. white House, and ABOUT me
speech she made al a recent Washington
meeting that was largely responsible Tor
the committees new investigation
AS the spectators We're being put out
Chairman overman began 20 ask the
witness about her husbands employ
ment. Miss Bryants answer brought
from Senator Nelson the admonition
Don't be SO impairment.
\ section of the audience applauded
again and the clearing-out process
proceeded more rapidly,
Comrade Of BoIsheyists
When the room was cleared Senator
King picked up "A book written by Miss
Bryant and asked, Were you a MEM
Der of the International Revolution
AIRY Propaganda with which Boris Rein
stein. of Buffalo. was associated
Yes" replied the witness.
Miss Bryant said she had a Bolshevist
passport when she went to Stockholm
from Russia and admitted she was "a
comrade of the BolShevists.' She eK
planned that Everybody is called com
rade."
Would the Bolshevists call a repre-
sentative of the American Government
comrade?' asked senator Nelson.
"Oh, no." replied the witness be
cause Mr., Francis was not popular. They
called Mr.. Robins american Red Cross
officiaD comrade, though. He was re-
garded as a real American. in sympathy
with the revolution and the real repre-
sentative of America"
The witness at that point said she
wished TO get into the record hat the
Soviet government was not responsible
for the naturalization of women.
The anarchists did hat and they
were shot" said the Witness.
She laid it was true she left Russia
on a B~olshevist passport as an oficial
courier of the Bolshevists.
The questioning turned back TO the
naturalization of women, and the wit
ness said Jerome Davis. head OF the
Y. NJ. G. A. in Russia. would support
her contention! she said Davis had
made a statement 10 this effect in the
New York Call.
That's a Socialist paper, isn't it?'
asked Senator Nelson. ..
Yes" replied Miss Bryant.
Miss Bryant said the propaganda with
which her husband had TO do was aimed
at starting a revolution in Russia.
questioned about her present knowl,
edge or affairs in Russia. the witness
said she had secured her Information
from the man in charge OF the Finnish
information bureau, a Mr.. Nourteva, and
also from Mr.. Robbins in New York
Nourteva had told her. she said. tina,
IF there is any Bolshevlst propaganda
in the United States | am it,"
Miss Bryant said while in Russia she
metz among other persons, Miss Bessie
Beatty. a correspondent of the New
York Call, and Arno Dosch- Fleurat, OF
NV +NCW. lOIN NCllu.-
Who brought information to Colone.
Robins. of the Red Cross" asked Major
Humes.
Miss Beatty. myself. Reinstein. Mr.
Williams and my husband, John Reed
all brought him information" she said.
Bolsheyists Were Shot
The witness said when she was pass
ing through Finland the White Guar(
came through the train, took some Boil
shevists off and shot them.
Why didn't they shoot you you haC
a Bolshevist passport and papers witt
Bolshevist seals on them?" asked Majol
Humes.
II showed them my American pass
port"
You had passports describing you al
an internationalist >"
Yes, everybody who ever believes II
the lea gue of nations is an interna,
tionalist," replied Miss Bryant.
Senator Wolcott. Of Delaware. asked
You say your husband, Boris Rein.
stein and Albert r. Williams were en-
gagged in propaganda in Petrograd-'
yes, for the purpose of influencing
the Germans on the front" interrupted
the witness.
Was part 10 be accomplished by at
lacking the United States and Presl
dent wilson
mo"
Asked Help of United states
We'll, here's a paper which thi
propaganda got out containing an at
tack ON the United States and Presi
dent Wilson
They had nothing 20 do with that,
the witness said. My husband ca
tell you more about it a l car
He is here, why don't you call him?"
Miss Bryant said that before signin
the treaty of Brest-Litovsk the Russian