Evening star., 1940-04-23
Reds Could Para|yze
New York Subwavs,
Dies Group Told
Union Has Gun Clubs
Like Christian Fronts,
Witness Contends
BY the Associated Press,


Thomas Humphrey O'Shea, for
mer New York City subway worker,
told the Dies Committee today that
Communists had power at the pres
ent time to paralyze the city's trans
port system. He added that members
of the Transport Union, dominated"
by Communists, had organized gun
clubs" for target practice.
Mr.. O'Shea, now a w. P. A.
worker, was asked whether the
Communists could paralyze the
city's transport system under pres
ent conditions.
He replied, YES"
"The Communist leadership with
its control in the union," he added,
could stampede the men into a
strike"
"They have the absolute power, If
they see fit to exercise it,"
In replying to questions by j. B.
Matthews, committee aide, concern
ing revolutionary activities in the
Transport Workers Union" Mr..
O'Shea asserted that gun clubs had
been organized by union members
for regular target practice.
Likened to Christian Front.
"They have these guns for the
same reason that these II Christian
Front people had them?" inquired
Representative Thomas, Republican,
of New Jersey and Mr.. O'Shea
assented.
They apparently referred to
group Of young men now being
tried in New York on charges of
plotting the overthrow of the Gov
ernment
In a thick brogue, Mr.. O'Shea
related that Communists had car
ried on campaign to place men,
bers in unions of men employed by
the Interborough Rapid Transit Co.
of New York.
Asked by Chairman Dies what the
purpose of this penetration was, the
witness said:
Naturally it was to get control of
the industry"
Communist Refuses Answers.
Previously the Dies Committee
met defiance from a Communist
party leader, Andrew Rudolph Onda
of Cleveland, who refused to supply
names of other Communists lest
such action subject them to black
listing" by employers.
Mr.. Onda took this stand despite
the fact that the committee pre-
viously had voted contempt cita-
tions against other Communist party
officials who refused to furnish
membership lists.
In their cases, the House has re-
ferred the record to the district at
torney for presentation to a grand
jury.
Mr.. Onda, county secretary of the
party at Cleveland, refused to say
whether Arnold Johnson, identified
as a leader of the unemployed, was
Communist.
Il know that other persons whose
names have been mentioned before
this committee find it difficult to
hold their jobs" Mr.. Onda said. II
know that they will have difficulty
getting new jobs. I don't want to
become partner to anything like
that"
Identifies One Party Aide.
Chairman Dies pounded for order
and remarked that it seemed strange
that Mr.. Onda and others belonged
to an organization which they con-
tended was legal and at the same
time were afraid to disclose their
membership in it.
We're here to get vital informa-
ton" Representative Dies declared.
Mr.. Onda, despite Mr.. Dies ef-
forts to cut short his comments, de-
clared it was a fact that not only
Communists, but Democrats in some
instances, were Disseminated against
for certain reasons"
Mr.. Onda identified Yetta Land as
State chairman of the Communist
party in Ohio.
Like some other Communist wit
nesses, Mr.. Onda refused to answer
Representative Dies questions as to
where his allegiance would lie in
event of this country's going to war
with Russia.
"Is there such WARP" the witness
snapped back.
I'm event there were such a war,
what would you do?" Representative
Dies persisted.
There was momentary whispering
between Mr.. Onda and his attorney,
Louis F1eischer of New York, then
Mr. Onda looked up at the chairman
and asked:
IF there was a war between the
North and South what would you
do?"
Dies Won't Answer.
I'm asking the questions" Repre-
sentative Dies said sharply.
In a hubbub, punctuated by gavel
pounding. the witness shouted that
when the time (of war with Rus
sia) comes you call me back and
I'll answer the question" And
Representative Dies, grinning said:
Mr.. Dies will support the United
States"
Earlier, Chairman Dies said he
would ask his committee to investi-
gate any war propaganda directed
by Great Britain and France
against the United States as we'll as
purported Berlin Moscow attempts
to forestall shipments of American
supplies to the allies.
Asserting that the allies "are
just as anxious" to obtain the aid
OF this country as the Commun-
lists and Nazis are to prevent it, Rep
resentative Dies told reporters:
This country is the big prize of
the war-one side has the SYM
pathy of our people and doesn't