Evening star., 1938-10-28
LEGION D|SAVOWS
DIES UNIT WITNESS
Testimony of Knowles Is
Denied and Three Bodies
DiscIaim Him.
BY the Associated Press.

BAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 20.-A
crescendo Of criticism against testi-
mony before a House committee in
vestigating un-Americanism grew in
California today, while three organ
izations disclaimed any connection
with Harper Knowles, one Of the
witnesses.
Mr.. Knowles, chairman Of the Amer
ican Legions State Radical Research
Committee. climaxed testimony in
Washington by claiming three Cali
fornia Democratic candidates had
communistic connections.
The testimony caused repercussion
In political circles and brought formal
denial from the American Legion that
Mr.. Knowles spoke for it before the
Dies committee.
Held paid Propagandist."
A San Francisco granite concern,
from which Mr.. Knowles is on leave
OF absence, disclaimed any knowledge
Of his activities, as did the Associated
Farmers Of California, itself scheduled
for investigation by the La Toilette
Civil Liberties Committee.
Mr.. Knowles served as secretary for
the Associated Farmers for a time,
but took leave Of absence also from
this post.
The American Legion disclaimer
came from Department Comdr. Henry
G. Waters here after former Comdr.
Dan w. Emmett telegraphed from Los
Angeles that Mr.. Knowles was a paid
propagandist Of certain industrial as
sociations that are opposed to labor
in every FORM"
Comdr. Waters said he did not know
where Mr.. Knowles obtained his in
formation, or for whom he was speak
ing.
Testimony Denied.
II suppose he is speaking for him.
SELF" said DR.. Waters. He is not
speaking for U.s."
Mr.. Knowles assertion that John
G. Clark, Democratic State campaign
chairman, and Ellis Patterson, Demo-
cratic candidate for lieutenant gover-
nor, were communists, and that Gull
bert L. Olson, Democratic candidate
for Governor had accepted a COM
munistic program, brought vigorous
denials from all three.
His claim that Sheridan Downey.
Democratic candidate for United
States Senator, had been the running
mate OF Communist" Upon Sinclair,
also brought fiery denials of any COM
munistic leanings from the two men.
Miss Perkins Denies Ridicule.
GAINESVILLE, Tex. Oct. % (P).-
Secretary Of Labor Frances Perkins
denied tonight that cabinet members
had ridiculed the efforts of the House
Committee on un-American activities.
She denied the charge OF Represent
ative Martin Dies of Texas, chairman
OF the committee, that cabinet mem
bers had aided in "a well-planned
campaign of Misrepresentation, ridi-
cule and sarcasm.
Secretary Perkins declined to am
plify her statement.
Ex-Ofcial Replies to President.
FLINT, Mich, Oct. 20 R.-John
M. Barringer, former Flint City man.
ager, replied tonight to President
Roosevelt's criticism of his testimony
before the Dies Committee in Wash.
ington
Mr.. Barringer made public a lette,
to the President in which he said, IT
is vegetable that you did not concern
yourself with the one-sided, un-Amer.
lean manner in which the La Toilette
committee conducted its hearings
The head Of the city during tn,
General Motors sit-down strike las
year said. MY criticism of Gov. Muir.
ply was based on his refusal to help u:
fight off mob rule of the city Il
had nothing to do with the sit-dowl