Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-28
Martantonio Heads
Communist Group,
Dies Is Told
Representotive-EIect Is
Linked in Testimony
Of New Yorker
BY the Associated Press.

oS Vic AooOClaIcu kTcSos
House Investigators received testi-
mony today that Representative
elect Vito Marcantonio of New York
lis the presiding head of the Inter-
national Labor Defense" which was
described as Communist Front
organization"
The testimony came from Sam
Baron of New York. appearing be-
fore the Dies committee investi-'
eating un-American activities.
Mr.. Baron said the I. L. D. had
sponsored meeting in Jersey City,
N. j., last year at which Represent
atives O'Connell, Democrat, of
Montana and Bernard, Farmer
Labor, of Minnesota were to have
spoken in protest against alleged
circumvention of civil rights in the
city.
He said the organization stuck
Its foot in the water, found 1t too
hot and ran"
Called Head of Order.
Vito Marcantonio," Mr.. Baron
asserted, lis the presiding head of
the International Labor Defense"
You are certain that it is a Com
munist Front organization?" asked
Chairman Dies, Democrat, of Texas.
There is no doubt whatsoever"
the witness replied.
Mr.. Marcantonio, a former mem
Der OF Congress, was elected to Con-
gress November on the Republican
and American Labor party tickets,
defeating the incumbent Represent
alive Lanzetta, Democrat.
Representatives O'Connell and
Bernard went to Jersey City and
then decided not to make their
speeches, on the advice of the I. L. D.
Mr.. Baron resigned from the So
cialist party, he said, in order to
appear before the Dies committee as
an individual only.
Evidence to Contrary.
Earlier Mr.. Baron had contended
that neither the American Civil
Liberties Union nor Roger N. Bald
win, its head, was carrying OUT the
Communist party line" in the
United States. Mr.. Dies said the
committee had documentary evil
dence to the contrary.
Chairman Dies announced he
would ask the new House to appro-
pirate 100000 to continue for two
years his committees investigation.
The committee originally received
s25 900. and Mr.. Dies has said it
would be unable to study numerous
phases of its subject unless addi-
tional funds are provided.
He made public letter asking
Secretary of State Hull to request
Justice Department prosecution of
the Communist party, the German
American Bund and other groups
for alleged violation of the law re-
quiring agents of foreign principals
to register here.
Linked to Moscow.
Mr.. Dies asserted that testimony
before his committee clearly shows
the Communist party in this coun-
try to be an agent of the Communist
Third International and indicated
the League for Peace and DEMOCRACY,
the International Labor Defense,
the Civil Liberties Union and other
groups had similar ties with Moscow.
Earl Browder, general secretary of
the Communist party in the United
States, described Mr.. Dies in an in
terview here yesterday as the Com
munists' best recruiting agent. de-
claring his committee had given the
party "$9,500000 worth of free pub
licity."
Later, in an address commemorate
ing the Soviet Unions 2lst ami
versary, Mr.. Browder advocated a
Westinghouse Moscow axis to offset
the Toxic pact. Touch
ing on the United States defense
program, he said Communists, al
though additionally opposed to
ornaments, would support the pro-
gram IF 1t is used to stop Fascism."