Evening star., 1941-09-27
Senate May Decide
On Continuation Of
Movie Investigation
Defect Is Predicted
For Inquiry if Vote
Is Token on Floor
Ry !. A. OLEARY.

The battle over the scope of the
Senate Interstate Commerce SUBJ
committee inquiry into war films
may be brought to a head in the
Senate itself before the hearings
are resumed October 6.
The Today recess was taken late
yesterday, at the end of turbulent
day, in which Senator Mcfarland,
Democrat of Arizona, protested
against injection of the employment
policies of the British Purchasing
Mission here. and challenged the
iSolationiSts who outnumbered him
on the subcommittee to test the will
of the Senate toward the investiga-
tion. Senator Mcfarland predicted
not more than 18 of the 96 Senators
would indorse the investigation.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota. who Joined Senator Clark,
Democrat, Of Missouri in starting
the investigation, later construed
Senator McFarland's S assertion as an
indication the administration may
make IAN organized attack" on the
inquiry next week
IF the issue is raised" said Sena-
tor Nye, there is much that can be
said and will be said in defense of
the resolution authorizing the in
ouiry."
Resolution Never Passed Senate.
The Nye-Clark resolution has
never passed the Senate, but was
tn ha nj Stot to
merce Committee for report. The
hearings are being held in accord
ance with senatorial custom of in
vestigating to find out whether there
should be an investigation.
Senator Clark. Democrat, of
Idaho, presiding over the subcom-
mittee. said he believed the Senate
would continue the hearings.
Unless the subcommittee changes
It's plans in the meantime, Charles
Chaplin, the veteran screen come
dian, and Will Hays, car of the film
industry, will be on the witness list
when the hearings are resumed.
There were some indications, how
ever, the subcommittee might con-
clude after hearing Mr.. Hays and
seeing some of the pictures alleged
10 contain war propaganda by the
sponsors of the resolution.
Overruling objections of Senator
Mcfarland against going into racial
issues, the subcommittee heard three
witnesses on the chg "Ces made
Thursday by Senator TC y, Repub-
lican. of New Hampshire that the
British Purchasing Mission here did
not want employees of German, Jew
fsh or Southern Irish descent
Robert LHeureaux. a member of
Senator Tobey'S Office staff, testi-
fed he heard the report during
casual conversatio at the home
Of neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. John E.
Adams. Mrs. Adams testified that
In her work in the employment serv-
Ice of the Boyd School she was in
formed not to have German, Jewish
or Irish persons answer calls for
employment at the British offices.
British Employment.
Mrs Charlotte Pairo Oehmann.
also from Boyd's. testified that when
the British Purchasing Office called
for employees there was a restric-
tinn as to whether they and their
parents we're born in this country
or we're of German. Jewish or
Southern Irish descent. She said.
They do it because their work is
confidential"
Senator Mcfarland and Chairman
rIorH 1otor nuor toctiponpv
concerning telephone conversations
the witness said he had with the
British Office. Senator Mcfarland
said the witness had agreed with
him that the British Office asked for
the ancestry information, but did
not say they would not give the en-
ployment. Chairman Clark asked
If her instructions were mot to send
them up" and she answered in the
affirmative. Senator Clark said
there was no Inconsistency in the
two versions.
Mcfarland Protests.
Senator Mcfarland closed the day
with another protest against in
lection of the question, and Senator
/ ODsN Interrupted W tidI &c tlldl
m the opening day of the. inquiry
Wendell L. Willkie, counsel for the
film industry, had injected the racial
issue.
That is amusing, Senator" Mr..
Willkie replied. I'll loan you Daryl
zanuck to put on real comedy"
Earlier in the afternoon Mr..
zanuck. vice president of Goth
Century Fox, had drawn long ap-
plause from the crowded room when
he declared that, from its inception,
the film industry he's protrayed 1.-The
American way of life" so forcefully
to the world that when Hitler and
Mussolini came into power 1.-The first
thing they did was to ban our pic
lures. to throw us out. They wanted
no part of the American way of
life