Evening star., 1940-03-29
House Votes
Contempt Order
For Communist
. 6. P. o. Messenger
Called Suddenly in
Dies Inquiry

munist leader, be cited for contempt
of the House for refusal to answer
questions of the Dies committee.
Meanwhile, Emmett Leonard Muir
ray, 25. messenger at the Govern
ment Printing Office, whose name
was found in a mass of documents
seized in a raid on the headquarters
of the Maryland-District of Colum-
bia headquarters of the Communist
party in Baltimore last night by in
vestigators for the Dies committee.
suddenly was called to the witness
stand before the committee today.
Obviously nervous. Murray denied
emphatically he was member of
the Communist party or ever had
been connected with it, but admitted
membership for year in the Young
Communist League in Denver, where
he lived before coming to Wash
ington.
Testimony of Mrs. Dorothy Rose
Blumberg, wife of DR.. Albert E
Blumberg, State secretary of the
Communist party for Maryland and
the District, was interrupted so
Mr. Murray could be placed on the
stand.
Silent on Roosevelt" Card.
One of the questions Dolsen de-
). clined to answer at Dies Commit
tee hearing last Monday regarded
the identity of the person respon-
sible for the issuance OF a Com
munist party card bearing the name
Franklin D. Roosevelt"
A card inscribed with that name
was found in Dolsens possession
when subpoena was served on him
by committee investigator.
The resolution citing Dolsen for
contempt was approved by loud
chorus of Ayes" A single mo" was
heard.
The resolution said that in view
of the "willful and deliberate refusal
of Dolsen to answer specified ques-
tions the committee had been de-
prived of important information.
1t asked that the Speaker OF the
House refer the matter to the United
States attorney here so that Dolsen
may be proceeded against" accord
ing to law.
Letter Is Exhibited.
AS soon as Murray took an oath
today, DR.. j. B. Matthews, research
director for the committee, exhibited
a letter he declared indicated it was
important because it was to be
delivered by courier. The letter DR..
Matthews said. was written by Carl
Campbell. secretary of the Com
munist party in Denver, and ad-
dressed to a Henry" in Baltimore.
Campbell explained in the letter,
according to DR.. Matthews, that it
should serve as transfer out OF
our district of a comrade who has
been active for some time" This
'comrade,' the letter declared, now
lives IN Washington.
Murray, who said he lived at 3716
Jeaifer street NV, testified that no
one had got in touch with him
since he has been in Washington
and he had no contacts with any
one at the Government Printing
Office who represented themselves
as being identified with the Young
Communist League.
Signed G. P. o. Memorandum.
He pointed out that several months
ago he had unqualifiedly signed a
memorandum circulated among en-
ployes of the Government Printing
Office denying he had any connec-
ton with subversive movements. The
memorandum, he explained, threat
ened employees connected with such
activities with immediate dismissal.
Murray admitted that when he
signed the memorandum he had not
formally resigned from the Young
Communist League in Denver, but
had ceased all activities in connec-
ton with it and assumed he was no
longer a member.
While Mrs. Blumberg was on the
stand, DR.. Matthews plucked from a
metal strong box" seized in the raid
in Baltimore cards containing the
names of number of persons living
in both Baltimore and Washington.
The witness declared she knew none
Of them.
Those supposed to be in Washing
ton, DR.. Matthews said, include Ed
ward Sherman. reported to be secre-
tary of the local unit Of the Com
munist party: Irving lapel, Joe
Weinstein and Leon Malakoff. The
purported addresses of these per-
sons. their places of employment or
other means of further identification
were not disclosed.
One From S. S. B.
DR.. Matthews, however, did give
further identification of those liv-
ing in Baltimore, reading from the
cards the national origin, place Of
employment age, ETC., as it appeared.
One name read was that of Mildred
Frayne, whose card bore the nota-
ton IS. S. B." He remarked the
IS. S. B." evidently meant she was
employed by the Social Security
Board.
In the midst of the examination
of Mrs. Blumberg, Chairman Dies
ordered that a subpoena be issued
Immediately for her husband, who
did not appear with her at the hea1
ing.
A committee Investigator left
Washington on train at noon with
the subpoena to serve on DIR. Blum
berg, said to be former associate