Evening star., 1938-12-02
U.S.. Weighing
Prosecution Of
Communists
Bund Also Included
For Failure to Register
As Foreign Agent
BACKGROUND


: set up several months ago to in
Destigate subuersive activities in
this country. Representative Dies
OF Te,ras, the groups aggressive
chairman, has directed most of
his attention at Communists. al
though q number OF witnesses
haze testified concerning the
German-American Bund. At one
point committee tDds rebuked bv
President Roosevelt for testimony
concerning Coz. Frank Murphv
OF Michigan.
By the Associated Press.
The Justice Department is study
ing seriously request for prosecu-
ton Of the Communist party, the
German-American Bund and some
other organizations for failing to
register as agents Of foreign prin-
cipals.
Representative Dies, Democrat, of
Texas recently asked the State De-
partment that such action be taken.
Mr.. Dies. chairman of the House
Committee on Un-American Activi-
ties, asserted that evidence present.
ed to his committee indicated the
Communist party was an agent of
the Communist Third International
which maintains headquarters at
Moscow.
In the absence of Secretary OF
State Hull, Undersecretary Sumner
Welles forwarded the Dies letter to
Attorney General Cummings, who
referred it today to Brien Mcmahon,
chief of the Justice Department. s
Criminal Division, for careful con-
sideration."
Mr.. Mcmahon said he would give
the matter close personal attention.
Representative Dies letter said
other evidence indicated certain
front organizations Of the Commu-
mist party also were agents for the
parent organization. He named spe-
cif1cally the League for Peace and
Democracy, the International La
Dor Defense and Civil Liberties Un-
Ion. There are other indications,
Mr.. Dies added, that the German
American Bund represents Ger
many's Nazi party In this country.
Reds Feared Probers.
Representative Dies asserted today
that Communists had been forced to
loosen their hold" on American
labor unions because of their "ex-
poslire" by his committee.
Homer Martin, president of the
United Automobile Workers, told the
committee yesterday Communists
were active In all labor orgas1fxa.
tions, including both the American
Federation Of Labor and the c. I. o.
Mr.. Martins union is one Of the
largest in the c. I. o. He said he
had told John L. Lewis, c. I. O.
president, that some of the organi-
cations leaders who since have been
removed were nothing but stooges
for the Communist party and
threaten to destroy the c. I. O."
Sees Forced Cleanup.
Summing UP the testimony of the
U. A. w. executive and other wit
nesses who have discussed Commu-
nism in the labor movement, Chair
man Dies said:
Il think this exposure Of Com
munists is going to result In respon-
sible labor leaders being forced to
clean them up. There is q tremen-
dous sentiment in the labor move
ment to take them out of strategic
positions where their influence won t
be felt"
In his testimony, however, Mr..
Martin said the number of Commu-
nists active in labor unions has been
''overemphasized."
He also took occasion to criticize
the Dies committee as a political
tool in the hands of reactionary" in
terests. He had appeared before the
committee only reluctantly, after be-
ing subpoenaed.