Evening star., 1938-10-18
DIES TOLD STAIN
URGEDA.f.L.DO
Detroit Investigator Also
Says Reds Linked to
Sit.DoWn Strikes.
BY the Associated Press.

bS the ASSOCIATED FIess.
A witness for the House Committee
Investigating Un-American Activities
testified today that joseph Stain. Rus
sian dictator, had ordered outright de-
strucion of the American Federation of
Labor.
The witness was Jacob spolansky of
Detroit, q criminal investigator under
the Wayne County (Mfch) sheriff. In
confident language. he told the COM
mittee that Stain. at Moscow con-
ference, had ordered Communist
agents in America to boost the cause
Of industrial unionism and to expand
activity among colored persons.
Mr.. Spolansky attributed to Commu-
nists major part in the sit-down
strikes which have broken out in in
dustry Id recent years. particularly in
automobile manufacturing plants.
Some Of the sit-down ideas. he told
Chairman Dies. came from France and
italy, but the major industrial pro-
kI hkI1 WdS
"Reds' Dominate Body.
Following the conference in Mos
cow" the witness said. ''the Comnu-
nists adopted different procedure In
industrial fields. They wanted to form
a dual organization to the A. F. Of L.
and give it the proper revolutionary
tendencies"
Mr.. Spolansky said similar testimony
by him in Detroit had aroused the an
ger Of Labor's Non Partisan League,
the c. I. O.'s political branch.
Mr.. Spolansky told the committee
Communists completely dominated
the c. I. o. situation in Detroit and
that Homer Martin. president Of the
United Automobile workers, was
scheduled for the slaughter house"
Communists assembled in Detroit
the witness said, to engineer sit-down
strikes with the hidden purpose OF
creating chaos in industry.
Don't Want Peace.
"The Communists don't want indus
trial injustice remedied," Mr.. Spolan-
sky asserted. They are working
toward overthrow of the Government,
md this cannot be accomplished with
out general paralyzing of industry,
widespread discomfort and resentment
of the people toward their Govern
ment."
AS a result of testimony yesterday
about Communist activity in Mime
sofa. committe members may go to
St. Paul or Minneapolis later, Chair
man Dies said. Seven Minnesota
residents testified Communists had
tried to wedge into and gain control
of the Farmer-Labor party, labor
unions and veterans organizations in
their State.
Political Activity Told.
The committee was told that Com
munists were highly active in the
Farmer-Labor Party's recent nomi-
mating convention. Steve Gadler. pale
young consulting engineer from st.
Paul, said the convention carried out
instructions previously given to Com
munist delegates.
In addition, he said, 1t was COM
monty understood that. on orders from
Gov. Elmer Benson, Farmer-Laborite,
the convention was to take no action
in opposition to Communist activities.
Repeatedly he linked Gov. Benson's
name with those of Communist lead
ers. asserting that after his election lit
was not long" until certain WELL
known Communists" became promi-
nent in State and Farmer Labor Party
affairs. He said, however, he had no
information that Gov. Benson was a
Communist
Two Reds Held Endorsed.
Another witness, Albert Kittock,
who said he was former member OF
the Communist party, testified that
two Communist party members were
running at present for places in the
State senate with Farmer-Labor in
dorsement. He said they were Edward
Kelly and Carl Erickson.
Mr.. Kittock also testified that Com
munists dominated Local 665, Miscel-
laneous Workers, affiliated with the
American Federation Of Labor. He
said the business agent, Swan Asser-
son, and two organizers were Com
munist party members.