Evening star., 1939-09-07
Gems From Moscow
Aided Communists
In II, Witness Says
Ousted Porty Worker
Asserts Relief Funds
Were Used
Sy the Associated Press.

Iy the Associated Press.
BENJAMIN Gitlow, former general
secretary of the Communist party
in the United States, told the'Dles
Committee today the party's early
activities had been subsidized by
diamonds and jewelry from MOSCOW
which were converted into cash.
He testified the diamonds and
jewelry came to the United States
soon after the first two branches
of the party were formed in 1919.
Since then, he said. Moscow,
through the Communist Interna-
tional, has been supporting" party
activities. Funds were sent to this
country to support the Communist
party to finance trips of trade union
leaders to Moscow and to finance
organization of party in Latin
America, he declared.
Relief Money Used.
The Communist party in 1922 re-
ceived its largest subsidies from
money that should have gone for re-
lief purposes" the witness said.
Earl BroWder, present general Sec
retary of the party in this country
testified yesterday that, to his
knowledge, the party had received
no subsidies or contributions from
a foreign country since he took
office in 1890.
Mr.. Gitlow, who referred to Joseph
Stain at one point as the Red
Fuehrer of Soviet Russia" said he
was the first person arrested and
imprisoned "as Communist" in the
United States. He asserted that he
served three years before Gov. Alfred
E. Smith Of New York pardoned him
In 1925.
Expelled From Party.
Then. in 1929, he testified, he was
expelled from the party for dis
obedience to Moscow
The leaders of the party in Rus
sla, he said, give the orders and
all Communists in all countries
must obey or be expelled. All de-
cisions, once made, must be car
ried out explicitly
The witness added, however. that
despite his expulsion he did not
completely break with the philos-
ophy of communism until the recent
signing OF the non-aggression pact
between Russia and Germany.
When collaboration between
Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia
was announced as something that
would help the Russian and Ger
man people" Mr. Gitlow told the
committee, Il concluded that it was
necessary to repudiate Communism
and expose it for what it is"
Ten Organizations Bra
Yesterdays session of the COM
mittee was marked by bitter ex-
change OF accusations between two
members of the examining group,
Representatives Thomas, Republican.
OF New Jersey, and Dempsey, Demo-
crat, of New Mexico
After Mr.. Browder ratified of a
list of transmission belts for Gem
munism, such as trade unions
and peace societies, Representative
Thomas wanted to know if 10
organizations. including the Amer
lean Civil Liberties Union, the
American Student Union and the
American League for Peace and
Democracy, could be included.
Mr.. Browder replied, YES" in
each case. Then Representative
Thomas observed that Secretary of
the Interior Ickes, Secretary OF
Agriculture Wallace and Mrs. Frank
lin D, Roosevelt had addressed recent
conventions of some Of those organ
lzations.
TT may just be a coincidence, ="
Mr.. Thomas said. But it seems
more than that to me. 1t seems to
me that the New Deal has been
working hand in glove with the
Communist party. The New Deal
either is aping the Communist party
or playing into the hands of the
Communist party
Representative Dempsey broke in
to accuse Mr.. Thomas of making a
cheap political speech" and added
that he resented that kind of
thing. Spectators applauded.
Brisk Exchange.
Its no more cheap political
trick than what was done by you
yesterday morning-this straw man
you brought up for the purpose of
smearing the Republican party" Mr..
Thomas retorted. Nothing was sub
mitted by Mr. BroWder to show that
such man existed"
Mr.. BroWder had told the commit
tee Tuesday that man he could
identify only as Davidson" offered
the Communist party S25O,0O0 if it
would nominate President Roosevelt
as its presidential candidate in 1886
Mr.. BroWder said the man said he
represented small group of Repub-
licans.