The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-11

Rev. Joseph F. Donnelly in a~pub- lie statement today accused Reid Robinson. president of the c. I. O. Mine, Mill & Shelter Workers union, of sending to Waterbury "a group of Communists who are dis grace to our city" Father Don- nelly demanded the Robinson sup porters answer the charges of Com munism which have been directed at their leader instead of "conven- iently missing the point at issue"
 Father Donnelly's statement comes in rebuttal to the declaration issued yesterday over the signatures of officers of the Chase local in which they accused the clergyman of echoing the Berlin radio in his attacks on the union, and of work ing against Americas war effort. Father Donnelly's statement fol- lows:
 The statement issued over the names of the executive officers" of the Chase union is notable docu- ment. However, it is reasonable that 1t should be for the signers are notable individuals. Two of them are paper boys for The Daily Worker. A third, one of the Cath olics", who was sent to the first session of the Diocesan Labor school, instructed to cause disruption and who did not have the courage to start it, knows the nature of the men he is serving and is as guilty as any of them. A fourth, accord- ing to his fellow unionist, is sincere ly duped by this crowd who have come into town, something difficult to believe in the face of the evil dence presented.
 In my statement I took particular pains to indicate the point at is sue which is the Communistic na- ture and activities of this group but they-like their chief, Reid Robinson in the past-insist on con- veniently missing the point at issue.
 They accuse me of "smearing" MT. Robinson. If that "smearing" means what believe it to be, I deny that I have "smeared" MT. Robin- son.
 I have merely stated the national reputation and activities of MT Robinson and I concluded: "These things are either true or false. I am convinced that they are true and so convinced I believe that the working men in Waterbury should know them.
 If they are false, believe that the working men have a right to know that they are false. But these fellows neglected to deny them.
 Was MT. Robinson vice-chairman of the group who put pickets around the White House? Did he order his union to fight the conscription of manpower for the defense of our country? Did fe 6o an about face, not on the 9th of December, the day of Americas decision, but rather on the Fist of June, the day of the Soviet decision? Is MT. Robinson associated with all the Communist front organizations with which he is charged in the Congressional Rec- ord? If these things are false. the defenders of MT. Robinson have the duty to so inform the Waterbury working man, but for some reason they avoid the issue.
 , As far as I am concerned this man Robinson has sent into Wa terbury a group of Communists who are disgrace to our city. They have fooled a great number of peo- ple for a long time. but they may be surprised to know that there are many whom they have not fooled. MT. Robinson knew who and what they were when he sent them into Waterbury and I charge that he has done a disservice to 8 city of decent people in allowing any such group to come into this city.