The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-20
FEDERAL THEATRE
STILL UNDER FIRE
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agan's sympathics for communism
can be traced in some of her plays
and that as far back as 1927 she
made a tour of Soviet theaters
and wrote a book lauding them.
She quoted a publication which al
legged that Mrs. Flanagan attend
ed a theater meeting in which Red
flags were displayed, and said that
she employed Elmer Rice, the
playwright, on an important post
in the New York project" despite
the fact he is a "1eftist."
Miss Huffman produced let
ter, allegedly written by Mrs.
Flanagan, stating that "propa-
ganda plays have been the rule"
on federal projects, and read 4
list of productions by the WPA
in an attempt to prove the point.
Socially significant is the
term Mrs. Flanagan used" she
remarked, "but of course they
were communistic propaganda
She alleged that all but one of
the supervisors Of the New York
project are members Of the Work.
crS' Alliance, that an insurance
salesman had been given a high
ranking job without previous the
alter experience, and that a "ra-
zor blade peddler" was given an
actors role.
"Do you mean to say that pub
lie funds of our taxpayers are
being used to build up cOmmun-
ism in this country through the
Workers. Alliance?" Chairman
Martin Dies. d., Tex. demanded.
Yes, sir"
Dies indicated he intended to
call for all Of the records Of the
federal theater projects. Miss
Huffman related that Workers
Alliance statements and propa-
ganda frequently "cluttered up"
the projects bulletin boards but
that the practice was stopped af-
ter the congressional inquiry be-
gan.
Through the influence Of the
theater project and the Workers
Alliance, communiStic influences
are gaining Il foothold in equity
for the first time" she added.
William H. Humphrey, of Wash
ington, who played the part Of
Earl Browder. communist leader,
in a WPA play, appeared as a
voluntary witness, but committee
members peppered him with
questions us to his motives for
'eStllying, and Dies adjourned
the session before bearing him.
Humphrey said he resigned from
the project.
Earlier, Margaret A. Kerr Of
the Los Angeles Better America
Federation, was recalled to identi-
fly and explain her previous doc
umentary evidence allegedly link
ing Harry Bridges, west coast
Go leader, with the Communist
party. She told of attending Il
meeting last November in San
Francisco concentrating h c
10th anniversary Of the commun-
iStic government in Russia. She
said that more than $4,000 was
collected at the meeting to estab-
lish a daily communist newspaper
in San Francisco and that the
"movie section" contributed about
s. 900 with a request mot to dis
close names"
While the committee is inquir-
ing into charges that high labor
department official "protected'
Bridges while efforts were being
made to deport him as an alien
and communist, the Clio News al
legged that the Dies committee is
playing a crap game with load
ed dice" and ridiculed testimony
that the CIO is filled with "reds. "
Dies replied that the committee
will devote just as much time to
nazism and fascism in the United
States as to communism in an eff
fort to get all the facts"
He indicated that Bridges would
be called to testify and said that
CLIO Chairman John L. Lewis had
been invited to testify.