Evening star., 1947-07-21
Reds Instructed
To Read Eis|er,
Witness Says
Former Organizer
Denies Instruction
He Served as Spy
By NewboId koyes, Jr.

by NeWDoIo NoyeS, JI.
Communist Party workers were
instructed to study carefully an
article written by Gerhart Eisler in
the November, 1888, issue of The
Communist, Government witness
testified in District Court today.
Manning johnson, colored. former
Communist organizer for the Buffalo
IN. W district, said he was told
the, article should be read and
re-read for the edification of the
party members "
The essay, entitled "For an In
tensive Struggle Against Right
Opportunism" and signed "E. Ed
ward" was the text of a speech
delivered by Eisler before a meeting
of the National Committee of the
Communist Party, Mr.. johnson said.
Eisfer, alleged chief Kremlin agent
in this country, is charged with fail
ing to inform the Government when
he applied for an exit permit to
Germany in 1945, that he had Com
munist Affiliations here, had used
ALIASES dIlu I1du pCCt4 ALI biiC OiAOSo
States in the 1905.
Witness Grilled by Defense.
Mr.. johnson, key prosecution
witness, was closely ross-examined
by Chief Defense Counsel Abraham
j. Isserman as to his testimony OF
last Friday.
At that time Mr. Johnson, a native
of Washington and now resident in
Oakland, Calf, told the jury OF
seven men and. five women that
Eisler, in 1898, instructed the Com
munist Central Committee in New
York to sink its roots into basic
American industries as q prelude
to selling power.
The witness said also, under direct
examination by Assistant United
States Attorney William Hitz, that
he arranged a secret meeting in
Buffalo in 1888 between Eisler,
American Communist Chieftain Earl
Browder and two leaders Of the
Canadian Communist Party.
There was heated exchange be-
tW6cIl UIlc uClCllSC 1oWyCA oAiu oAsS
witness when Mr.. Isserman tried to
draw from Mr.. Johnson an admls-
sion that he had conferred about
Communist activities with the New
York police before he withdrew from
the party in 1889.
mo, did not" Mr.. Johnson said
repeating loudly, II did not"
When the attorney asked If 1t was
not true that johnson had acted as
a spv in the Communist ranks, the
witness shouted:
That is a cowardly and dastardly
insinuation"
Passport Testimony Heard.
Another Government witness to-
day was Samuel Liptzin. German
born member of the Communist
Party from New York. He testified
that in 1888 or 1884 his naturallz-
ton papers were stolen.
The Government contends that
Eisler used these papers when he
allegedly applied for passport in
1884. A Samuel Liptzin" applied
for a passport in that year, and the
Government maintains it was Eisler
Mr.. Liptzin said he had never ap-
piled for a passport. He never
knew Eisler, he added.
Ashley j. Nicholas. assistant chief
of the passport division of the State
Department, also appeared briefly
on the witness stand this morning
He produced some papers bearing
on trips which the prosecution con-
tends were made by Eisler in 1895
and 1896, under the name of Sam
uel Liptzin."
One Witness INDICATED.
Mr.. Hitz told reporters the Gov
ernment still has been unable to
locate an important witness in the
case. He Is Jay Lovestone. who was
chief of the American Communist
Party before 1929 but was ousteo
from party ranks when Earl Brow
der took control.
Mr.. Hitz said agents have beer
attempting for several days te
subpoena Mr.. Lovestone but have
been unable to reach him either al
his office or at his home in New
York.