Evening star., 1947-10-30

which, he said, turned out to be Mr.
Lardner's.
The committee investigators re-
port listed Mr.. Lardner as having
been affiliated with many allegedly
Communist front groups, Mr.. Strip
ling stated. He said Mr.. Lardner
as chairman of Screen Writers
Guild Committee, sponsored the
James M. Cain plan for literary
dictatorship through the so-called
American Authors Authority"
Other Organizations.
Other organizations with which
Mr.. Lardner was affiliated, Mr.
Stripping asserted, were the Holly
wood Writer'S Mobilization, Amer
lean Youth for Democracy, Cali
tornia Action Conference for Civil
Rights, American Friends of Span
ish Democracy and Veterans of the
Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Progress
sive Citizens of America, League of
American Writers, Artists Front to
Win the War and the Voice of Free
dom Committee.
Writer Dorothy Parker, who was
among the spectators at today's
hearing, was an organizer of the
Voice of Freedom Committee and
her record of affliation with Com
munist-fron organizations is set
forth in a separate report" Mr..
Stripping stated.
fLoa 70 hp hoH
no opportunity to read Mr.. Lardner
asserted that compared to what I
have seen recently, Hollywood is a
citadel of freedom" He described
Adolphe Menjou and John c. Mof-
fit, earlier witnesses before the
committee, as throwing so many
furtive glances over their shoulders
that they run serious risk of dis
location"
Mr.. Lardner said he was not dis
turbed by "preposterous documents
your investigators produce from un-.
named sources describing my afflha-'
tions." He said his own war record
and the career of his father and of
his brothers disprove any charges
that he was un-American.
Disturbed by Motive.
He was disturbed, he said. by "the
ultimate purpose behind" the cur
rent investigation. He warned
against the danger of an industry
blacklist" and Stacking OF the
motion picture industry, and later
the press, radio and education.
Mr.. Coles appearance on the
stand was briefer and less stormy
than that of Mr. Lardner, but it
ended up the same way.
He asked to read a prepared
but was informed by Mr..
Thomas that st is clearly another
case of vilification and not per-
tinent to this hearing.
When Mr.. STRIPPING asked him If
he belonged to the Screen Writers
Guild, Mr.. Cole began: Il believe
the reason that question is asked
is
No! No! MOI" Mr.. Thomas
shouted. Answer the question"
Balks at Simple Answer.
I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman" the
witness said, Il have to answer the
question in my own way
It's very simple question. Can't
you answer it by yes or no?" Mr..
Thomas demanded.
MY answer is very simple Mr..
Cole said. Il am not unable to an
swer it by yes or no, but I feel I
must make the answer in my own
way. 1t cannot be answered simply
by yes or no."
Mr.. Thomas wanted to know how
much time the witness would need
if allowed to answer it in his own
way.
oh" Mr.. Cole responded, any
where from a minute to 20 minutes. >
Mr.. Cole went through the same
routine when asked if he is or ever
had been a member of the Com
munist Party.
The reason that question is being
asked is that an election is about
to be. held in the Writers Guild
and"
Escorted From Stand.
Answer the question: Mr.
Thomas demanded, pounding his
gavel.
Just let me answer it in my own
way" Mr.. Cole begged, as a Capitol
policeman escorted him from the
witness stand.
Mr.. Thomas plans to announce
later today the names of the 79