Evening star., 1938-08-17
EIGHT j. s. AIDES
HELD MEMBERS
OF REDS 'FRONT.'
Legislator Tells Dies Unit 8
Are in League for Peace
and Democracy.
CARM0DY, CHAPMAN,
SILCOX ARE NAMED
D. W. Smythe, Harry Lambertson,
Mary Anderson and Alice
Barrows on List.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Eight prominent Government Of
cials were named today before the
Special House Committee investigat-
ing un-American activities as being
officers or members in the Washing
ton chapter of the American League
for Peace and Democracy, an organ
ization which Representative Mason,
Republican. of Illinois, a committee
member, charged is being used by
the Communist party to promote its
interests.
Representative Mason named the
following oficials:
Harry Lambertson assistant admin
istrator of the Rural Electrification Ad-
ministration, who he said is chair
man of the Washington chapter.
Fred Silcox, chief of the United
States Forest Service, who, he said, Is
treasurer.
Dallas W. Smythe, economist Of the
Central Statistical Bureau, who he
said is vice president.
Robert Marshall, chief of the Pub
lie Lands Service of the United States
Forest Service.
Oscar Chapman, Assistant Secre-
tary of Interior.
John Carmody, administrator of the
Rural Electrification Administration.
Mary Anderson, director of the
Woman's Bureau Of the Labor De-
partment.
Alice Barrows of the United States
Once Of Education.
Charge Held ridiculous"
Mr.. Lamberton said Representative
Mason's charges were ridiculous"
1T hardly is necessary to say there
is nothing secret about the league" :"
he added. Many Washington people
belong to it and among them are
several Government officials. We be-
Ieve in peace. and If this be treason
make the most Of il"
Mr.. Lamberton declared the league
was dedicated to Quarantine the
aggressor policy enunciated by Dsests
dent Roosevelt In An address at Chi
cago last fall.
Assistant Secretary Chapman of the
Interior Department said he believed"
he was member OF the league.
Il never attended a meeting, and
that Is not said in the way of de-
fense," he told reporters. 1--WE been
very interested in the cause (democ-
racy and peace) and I don't know Of
any Communists in the organiza-
ton"
To Probe League.
Chairman Dies announced that ac-
tivities of the league are to be gone
into thoroughly" by the commit
tee, but at the same time expressed
belief that the Government officials
who joined the organization obviously
were not familiar with the dominating
influence of the organization.
Il don't believe they would have
Joined such an organization if they
knew Of its activities" he declared.
Homer l.. Chaillaux, national Amer
icanism director of the American Le-
gion, who was on the witness stand
ut the time, said:
That's all the more reason for our
educational campaign to expose such
rackets."
Representative Mason also disclosed
that one of the official investigators
of the committee had interviewed Mr..
Marshall, and quoted him as saying
to the investigator:
Personally am in favor of pub
lie ownership of oil lands both in
Mexico and this country"
Mr.. Mason started to make state
ment in connection with the quoted
remark, but stopped after saying:
thing :"
An Associated Press dispatch from
Boston reports that Edward Sullivan,
investigating un-American activities in
New England for the committee, today
said at least score of witnesses would
come to Washington tonight to testify.
Mr.. Sullivan said among the testimony
he has obtained are charges that
known Communists were given prefer
ence in city and State Works Progress
Administration projects.
The committee, it also was revealed,
tsee UN-AMERICAN, Page A-7)