Evening star., 1939-09-12
Business Men Aided
Communist Party,
Dies Witness Says
At Least q Score Cove
$1,000 Each, Financial
Secretary Testifies
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

BY JOHN c. HENRY.
! At least a score of well-known
business or professional men have
contributed as much as 81 900 each
to the Communist party in the
United States, the Dies Committee
was told today by Robert W. Weiner,
the party's financial secretary.
Mr.. Weiner declined to identify
these donors on the ground it might
embarrass them, but offered to turn
their names over to an individual
not connected with either the Com
munist party or the committee
which is investigating un-American
activities. Such an individual, he
! suggested, could determine legiti-
macy of the donations.
In the two and one-half years
ending last July l, the national
headquarters has received total in
come of about 1868 900, of which al
most $250,OOO was in contributions
| and most of the remainder in dues
from members
The witness denied emphatically
that the party in the United States
had received any subsidy from Rus
sia or other foreign sources since
he became financial secretary in
1893.
Starnes Presses Point.
Representative Starnes Democrat,
of Alabama quizzed Mr.. Weiner on
the possibility of contributors get
ting money from abroad and then
turning it over to the party.
Suppose you came to my Office
and gave a contribution to the
party, how do I know where you
got the money!" Mr.. Weiner coun-
tered.
Then you're not prepared to
swear there were no foreign funds
supplied the party?" Representative
Starnes pressed.
I'm swearing for myself, not for
you. For all know, we may have
received money from a bank rob-
berry"
The witness gave the party re-
ceipts from all sources as follows
1887, s258,316; 1888. S191 ,722, and
1889 (siX months, $113146.
all receipts is retained by district
and sectional organizations. the fig
ures given being only the sums
reaching national headquarters
Before todays hearing began a
United States marshal served on
committee members papers in the
suit filed last week by William
Dudley Pelley, head of the Silver
Shirts. Mr.. Pelley sued each men,
Der for $5OO,OOO for damages grow
ing out of their investigation of
his organization. Chairman Dies
laughed heartily as the marshal
distributed the papers.
Recalls No Subsidy.
Among uses of Communist funds.
Mr.. Weiner explained, have been
political activities in many States.
Liberal and progressive candidates
have been supported regardless of
party. Many times without their
consent or knowledge he added.
The witness said he recalled no
subsidy by national headquarters of
activities in the District of Colum-
bia. Neither was any money sent to
San Antonio, Tex, he said, for the
recent rally which led to riot.
Funds have been donated for sup
port of strikes on occasion, he testi-
fed
For many years the party did all
its financial business on a cash
basis, keeping its funds in safe de-
post boxes. A bank account system
was started in 1887, Mr.. Weiner said,
but he refused to admit the earlier
arrangement was for the purpose of
leaving no record of certain deal
ings.
At present, two bank accounts are
maintained, both in the name of
Weiner. One such account is in the
Chase National Bank and the other
in the Amalgamated Trust Co., both
OF New York. Personal and party
= funds are not segregated, ne ad-
mitted.
Meanwhile, Government officials
and employees who are members of
the League for Peace and Democracy
had been promised an opportunity
to tell the committee whether they
were still active in the organization.
The decision to hear them was
reached by the committee after Ben
Gitlow, former general secretary of
the Communist party in the United
States, had testified the league was
"a Communist Front organization
Demanding appearance of the
.-Government officials, Representative
Mason, Republican, of Illinois said
the league had issued statement
defending the non-aggression pact
between NaZi Germany and Soviet
Russia.
He asserted that officials of the
league included Paul Sifton, deputy
wage-hour administrator. and F.. A.
SilcoX, chief of the Forestry Service.
No Inference Of Disloyalty.
In agreeing to Representative
Mason's demand, Chairman Dies
said the league members would be
asked whether they were still active
and whether they approve the real
purposes of the league.
There Is no inference" Repre-
sentative Dies said, that the COM
mittee suspects any one of disloyalty
to the American Government This
will simply give them chance to
give us their views"
Mr.. Gitlow, who once served a
, prison term for his part in the Com
munist movement in 1922, concluded
his testimony yesterday after four
days before the committee.
He said that if he had been SUBJ
poenaed before the signing of the
Russo-German pact, Il would not
have testified"
I've presented something in the
nature of a confession" he told the
committee. 1T was my duty to tel
the truth. I once believed that the
Communist movement was to better
the existence of mankind and now
l believe it will achieve the direct