Evening star., 1938-10-26
Un.American
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American Legion, present brief
which charged that Communists were
active in both c. l. o. and A. F. of L.
unions on the coast.
Careful of Testimony.
But before letting them submit an
other brief, dealing with charges that
some California candidates for office
were Communists, the chairman said
he wanted first to "go into the factual
situation very carefully before decid-
ing whether to admit this testimony"
Mr.. Dies took pains to ask them
whether their evidence was well sub
stantiated by afhdavits and could be
proved by witnesses.
He also got them to state en-
pnatically that the Legion's investi-
cation of un-American activities on the
coast was nonpartisan. involved no
bias or prejudice and had been con-
Quoted by both Republicans and DEM
ocrats.
In discussing Communist activity in
West Coast labor unions Mr.. Knowles
asserted the American Newspaper Guild
and the National Lawyers Guild were
composed in part of members of the
Communist party.
With respect to the American News
paper Guild he said, 1T is not sub
mitted that all of the members of this
organization are Communists but it is
Very definitely believed that some of
the officials and that the matter which
appears in our daily papers is more or
less Influenced by this afiliation."
The witness presented the names of
number of members of the Northern
California Chapter of the National
Lawyers Guild, whom he character
lied as members of the Communist
party or some of its affilates.
Reds in A. F. L., He Says.
Mr.. Knowles asserted at another
point that while Communists con-
centrated their labor activities within
the ranks of the c. l. O., there were
nevertheless large number of Com
munists in A. F.. of L. unions.
Gov Murphy's name had come be-
fore the committee last Friday during
an inquiry into the question of whether
Communists had a hand in Michigan
sit-doWn strikes.
John M. Barringer, former Repub-
lican city manager of Flint, testified
she Governor was guilty of treason
able action in not giving us help when
we should have had it" during strike
in the Fisher body plant.
Paul " Godola, Republican judge
who granted writ for election of
the strikers, said Gov. Murphy had
prevented Sheriff Thomas Wolcott
from carrying out the order.
Questioned about the testimony at
his press conference yesterday, Mr.
Roosevelt said he preferred to write
out statement. In it, he spoke of
. "the absurdly false charges made by
coterie of disgruntled Republican
office holders against profoundly re-
lgious able and law-abiding gov
ernor."
The committee allowed its witnesses
to make ''lurid charges" against Gov.
Murphy. Mr.. Roosevelt said, without
attempting to elicit from them facts
as to their undeniable bias and their
charges and without attempting to OBJ
tain from the governor or, for that
matter, from any responsible motor
manufacturer. their version OF the
events'
Most fair-minded Americans" he
added. hope that the committee will
abandon the practice of merely pro-
viding forum to those who for polit-
ical purposes, or otherwise, seek head
lines which they could not otherwise
obtain"
Murphy Hits Critics.
After learning of the Presidents
statement, Gov. Murphy said last
might in campaign speech at Kala-
mazoo, Mich, that the committee
testimony "was clearly a planned at
tempt to win an election"
The reactionaries carefully built
up this situation" he added, assert
ing the committee has ceased to in
vestigate facts and become a political
instrumentality."
Former Gov. Frank D. FITZGERALD
Gov. Murphy's Republican opponent
commented:
President Roosevelt has attempted
to purge other States Of public officials
he did not like. In Michigan, he is
interested in saving one he does
like.
Il am sure the Republicans Of Michi.
gan had nothing to do with either
the Dies Committee disclosures or with
the Endorsement Of Gov. Murphy BY
the Communist party"
In an earlier informal reply to thu
Presidents statement, Chairman Die
took exception to labelling the commit
tee testimony mere opinion evidence
The evidence with reference to th'
Michigan case would be accepted il
any court" Mr. Dies said. Some o
the witnesses were former officials o
the (auto) union, and the principa
witness was tlas chief oe the Stat