Evening star., 1939-05-11
Red Plot to kidnop
Member Of Congress
1oIdW. P. A. Probers
Alliance Members
At Reading, Po.,
Held Involved
By BLAIR BOLLES.


Testimony that some Communist
members Of the Workers Alliance
plotted unsuccessfully to use force
to prevent a member of Congress
from attending the Reading CPaD
post Office cornerstone-laying cere-
monies because he had voted against
increased relief funds, was unfolded
today before the House Appropria-
tions Subcommittee investigating the
w. P. A.
The testimony came from Chris
Doose, committee investigator, who
read series of affidavits which he
collected yesterday and Tuesday
during a stay in Reading.
The witness said the marked"
member of Congress is Representa-
tive Guy L. Moser, Democrat. Of
Pennsylvania, who is scheduled to
speak at the Reading ceremonies
Saturday.
According to an affidavit given Mr..
Doose by mysterious person identi-
fed only as "a spy" the Workers
Alliance meeting in Reading Tues
day night was offered a resolution
binding the alliance to remove Repre-
sentative Moser bodily from the
speakers stand and make off with
him if he should go through with his
speech-making date.
The fact the alliance voted down
the force" resolution meant Moth
Ing, Mr.. DooSe's informant reported,
because the Communist element in
the organization walked out in pro-
test and subsequently held rump
meeting at which it planned to 60
ahead with the "kidnaping.'
Resolution Author Named.
The anti-Moser resolution, ac-
cording to the Doose affidavit, was
offered by one Ben Rubin, described
as educational director of the
Workers Alliance in Berks County,
of which Reading is the seat. An
other affidavit from Vellet Rivers,
president of the Boons- -Birdsboro
local of the alliance, said Mr.
Rubin was Communist. along with
George Maurberger, chairman of
the Reading local of the Workers
Alliance; Harry Brown. president of
the Berks County Alliance; Ed
VIM, secretary-treasurer of the
alliance in Berks County and John
Hueston, chairman of the County
Alliance Grievance Committee.
Representative Moser sat at one
end of the committee table as Mr..
Doose testified and told newsmen
he certainly would" attend the post
ofice exercises Saturday.
Legislator Not Surprised.
Representative Moser later testi-
he'd himself, saying the story of the
kidnap threat was news to him, but
was not surprising" because he has
received other threats from the same
source. He said the Workers AL
lance members leading the opposi-
ton to him are registered as Repub-
licans.
The Representative said that
when he protested to w. P. A. chiefs
here about irregularities in his dis
trict, the projects he questioned were
Cancelled.
The Communist element in Local
No. l, Berks County, where there
are six Alliance locals, seeks to de-
stroy Alliance procedure by taking
matters into their own hands and
going ahead on rule or ruin
methods" according to the Rivers
AFFIDAVIT. Mr.. Rivers said the State
Alliance officers consisted of
president, secretary-treasurer and
16 vice presidents. The Berks
County Alliance membership totals
300.
Meeting Is Described.
The case of Mr.. Maurberger was
developed in another affidavit and
In the minutes of q meeting held
last November 18 between one Yost,
county w. P. A. director, and the
Workers Alliance. At the Yost
meeting, according to the affidavit,
Mr.. Maurberger complained about
Otto A. Nygard, construction super
intendent of the Berks County
w. P. A. and Mr.. Maurberge's su-
perior. The minutes quote Mr..
Maurberger:
II am letting you (Mr. Yost) know
that Mr.. Nygard had better watch
his step and his statements or he
will be found in a sandpit. One
day he told the fellows to go to hell.
I'm giving the orders around here"
Representative Cannon, Demo-
crat, of Missouri, member of the
committee, asked Mr. Doose:
He objected to Mr.. Nygard be-
cause he was too efficient?"
That's right" rejoined Mr.. Doose
Mr.. Maurberger, foreman of con-
struction on the Skyline boulevard
project outside of Reading, was the
principal character in the affidavit
OF Henry D. Maths, who supplied
the rock for the project from his
quarry.
Mr.. Doose read the Maths state
,,eopt which alleged that Mr. Ma,1r.