Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-18
WHALEN TEST|F|ES
IN RED INQUIRY
Former Police Commissioner
Answers Subpoena Issued
by House Group.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July I8-Shortly after
subpoena had been issued for
him, former Police Commissioner Gro
yer A. Whalen appeared today as a wit
ness before the House committee in
vestigating Communist activities in the
United States.
He apologized to the committee for
his late arrival, saying he had been
misinformed as to when he was to APP
pear.
In less than Is minutes of testimony
before the committee recessed for lunch
con, Whalen said that when he was
police commissioner survey of the
Communist situation here was begun
by. the police at the request Of the
Labor Department In washington.
More than 1000 questionnaires were
sent to suspected Communists, 500 of
those receiving the questionnaires fall
ing to answer them.
Whalen then began a discussion of
the criminal records of strike leaders
who participated in Communist walk
outs in New York during the past four
years. He said that practically all of
the Communist strike leaders had GRIM
inal records. AS illustrations, he said
that Peter DarCk, Harry Raymond and
Irving Potash had been convicted of
misdemeanors and felonieS.
Late at Session.
The former police commissioner, who
shortly before his resignation made
public documents purporting to show
that strikes and violence were instigated
here on direct orders of the Third In
ternationale at Moscow, was due before
the committee at 10 o'clock &c. D. To-.
When he had not arrived half an hour
later, Representative Hamilton Fish
announced that a subpoena would be
issued
The Representative was informed that
Whalen was under the impression he
was supposed to appear at o'clock in
stead OF 10, but Fish said that the
subpoena would be issued anyway and
the former commissioner be brought in
Immediately.
While awaiting Mr.. Whalen, the COM
mittee heard S. Stanwood Menken
League who declared all Communists
who were not Americans should be
deported.
Representative Bachmann of West
Virginia pointed out that in view of the
lack of diplomatic relations with Soviet
Russia, the United States Government
could not deport them to that country.
Menken said he was not afraid Amer
lea would become communiStic, because
of the form of the Government here
the savings accounts, the homes and
"the common sense Of the American
people"
"Prison Makes Martyrs"
Asked by Representative Eslick of
Tennessee what he would do with
American Communists, Menken
said he would make them men without
country.
Chairman Fish Of the committee
asked him if he would favor the plac-
ing Of all Communists on an island
where they could practice their theories
without interference. Menken replied
that he doubted If it would be feasible,
and said that to place them in prison
would make them martyrs in the eyes
of their sympathizers.
Representative Nelson Of Maine in
terrogated him as to the plan used in
England, where undesirableS are given
q limited time in which to leave the
country. Menken said he thought 1t q
sound policy, but that one Of the best
ways in which to counterfeit the Soviet
influence was to reason with them and
to convert them to American ideals Of
government.