The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-05-15

| TT I)--luiCudCl
Quill, president of the Transport
Workers Union (CIO), took the words
stool pigeon" and hurled them into
the teeth of the Dies committee here
during the course of a tempestuous
session May s.
Quilts appearance before the COM
mittee to refute charges that he is a
member of the communist party and
that the TWU is a communist con-
trolled union came to an abrupt end
when two capital policemen escorted
him from the room after he charged
the committee with seeking to pro-
mote war hysteria.
AS he left Quill shouted, "You don't
want to hear the truth. You're afraid
to hear the truth" He waved a pack
age containing alleged evidence that
Thomas H. O'Shea, previous commit
tee witness, attempted sabotage in the
N. Y. subways.
The war hysteria charge came after
Rep. ]. Parnell Thomas (R., N. j.
asked Quill the committees pet ques-
ton, whether he would bear arms for
the U. s. in the event of war between
the U. S. and the Soviet Union.
Quill retorted that he would bear
arms for the U. S. if this country was
invaded by any foreign country.
Thomas asked what Quilts attitude
would be in the event it was neces-
sary to send an army overseas to fight
in the Soviet Union.
II am opposed to sending any men
overseas anywhere" Quill replied.
''Hhat's what this committee is trying
to do. This committee is trying to
bring about war hysteria."
Pandemonium broke loose in the
committee room, Dies pounding the
gavel, Thomas demanding that Quill
be cited for contempt and Quill shout
ing, you're not frightening me.
You're afraid to hear the truth"
Reckoning to two capitol policemen
nearby, Dies shouted, Remove him.
Remove him." and Quill left the hear
ing room, escorted by the cops, both
of whom wore broad grins.
From the moment the hearing be-
gan, Quill was at odds with Dies and
the committee members present. He
attempted to put into the record a |
statement attacking the committee
and O'Shea who had told the commit
tee Quill is a communist and the I'M |
ion is run by communists.
"The Dies committee is presently |
engaged in an intensified campaign |
against organized labor and is engi- |
neering finks and stool pigeons into |
giving testimony which contains stu
pid and vicious ISLANDERS against labor |
Quilts statement began.
II am certain the people of the U.
S. will not long tolerate union bust
ing, un-American practices of the Dies
it concluded.
Dies insisted it was against the pol
icy of the committee to listen to pre-
pared statements and Matthews began
questioning Quill Matthews read
from a magazine article about the
TWU and asked Quill whether the
statement was correct.
as that the issue that contained
the story on the murder of Laura
Law? (Wife of member of the in
executive board of the init.
Woodworkers Assn, CIO) Are you
going to investigate that?" Quill re- !
Lorted.
Dies slammed his gavel and charged
that you came here for the purpose
Of insulting this committee. | have a
copy of a speech you made in New
York calling the chairman a stooge."
"You don't want to hear my story"
Quill answered
More gavel pounding by Dies who
demanded that the witness show re-
spect for the committee. 81 have re- s
,pect for this committee but | have {
40 respect for the stooges of this
said Quill !
Peace eventually restored, Matthews
urned to questions concerning Austin
Hogan, president of the N. Y. local !