Evening star., 1939-04-18
Bv the Associated Press,

Bv the Associated Press
Herbert Benjamin, general secre-
tarJ Of the Workers Alliance. today
told the House Committee investl-
eating the w. P. A.. that he is a
member of the Communist party.
In response to questions. he said
he did not believe in overthrow
OF the United States Government
by force. He added that he saw
nothing inconsistent in what he
believed to be the philosophy of the
Communist party and the institu-
tions and beliefs of a democratic
form Of government.
Mr.. Benjamin denied. in reply
to a question, that he had reported
to the Third International that for
nation of the Workers Alliance
represented the successful culmina-
ton of four-year campaign by the
Communist party.
Reserves Private Beliefs.
The witness asserted that in his
official capacity he confined his
uttelances to the view of the Alli-
ance and did not indulge his pri-
vate beliefs.
At the start of the days hearing,
national officers of the Alliance ac-
cused the committee "of feverish
attempt to make few newspaper
headlines-to manufacture a scam
dal."
The witnesses, Mr.. Benjamin and
David LASER, national president of
the Alliance, drew an immediate
reprimand from members of the
committee when they sought to pro-
test formally against the line of
the committees questioning.
Asserting the committee had
practically ignored the subject it
was directed to investigate-admin-
istration of the w. P. A.-the Off
cials declared the committee called
the Alliance officials to be questioned
apparently ION their political be-
liefs, their past history. the jobs
they have held, the clubs they be-
long to-"
This committee has not estab-
lished what it is attempting to prove
through this line of inquiry" the
statement said.
If this committee believes our
organization is subversive, it should
say so and then take the RESPONSE
bility of proving it,
Objections Made.
Mr.. Lasser's attempt to read the
statement brought immediate and
vigorous objections from Represent
ative Woodrum. Democrat, OF Vlr-
ginia, who declared the committee
did not intend to submit to aec-
lures" from its witnesses. The Vlr-
ginian informed the witness the
committee would have no trouble
getting all the authority necessary to
force answers to its members ques-
tions and recommended that the
witnesses "co-operate."
Although Representative Wood
rum said he personally did not like
the tone" of the witness statement,
it was allowed to 60 into the record.
The statement said that unless the
committee announced what 1t hopeo
to show, 1T permits itself the luxury
of a fishing expedition without as
suming any responsibility"
I'VE believe that the committee
will find that the closet which is
supposed to reveal some monstrous
plot" the statement added, when
opened, will be found completely
bare"
Pamphlet Produced.
Representative Otter, Republican,
of Pennsylvania produced at yester-
days hearing a pamphlet which ne
said Mr.. Benjamin had prepared Tor
w. P. A. employees. 1t said in part:
"The right to organize means the
right to strike. Nothing in the w.
P. A. rules or regulations legally
denies you this right. Do not hesl-
tate to use this, your strongest
weapon, in your struggle against
starvation. No one in America shall
starve! Franklin D. Roosevelt WILL
not fulfill this pledge. But the work.
ers Of America can give 1t meaning
through the inyincible power OF the