Evening star., 1947-10-28

representatives. sitting quietly In
the back rows of spectators. Gen
orally. they are concerned at the
committees refusal to permit all
witnesses to make statements and
cross-examination and specifically
they express alarm at the impress
sion they fear has been given, that
Hollywood Is Communist dominated.
5. The spectators.
In contrast with the stormy
morning session. yesterday after
Moons hearing started peacefully
enough with MIR. Johnston given
permission to read q statement in
which he urged the committee to
correct 1.-The damaging impression
about Hollywood" which, he con-
tended, has grown out of the hear
ing.
When Mr.. Stripping asked what
the association executive knew about
Hollywood Communists, Mr.. John
ston said he didn't see how any
one could prove a man was a Com
munist.
Il think this committee is going
to prove it," Mr.. STRIPPING observed
But I'm not this committee" Mr.
Johnston replied.
Expressions of Disapproval.
"Well. I wouldn't be surprised
from the statements you've been
making In the past few days that
you've been trying to run It," Mr.
Stripping retorted. The remark
brought expressions Of disapprova
from the spectators.
Mr.. Thomas then embarked on .
heated exchange with Mr.. Johnston
over whether the movie industry
had co-operated with the commit.
tee. The chairman said it make!
me boil" that prominent persons
had approached the committee il
efforts to persuade it to lay off o.
postpone" the hearing.
The chairman added that a mar
had given all the signs Of an offer
in efforts to convince the committed
not to call certain witnesses or ash
them certain questions.
Mr.. Johnston insisted that he hac
given the committee all the CO.
operation 1t sought and denied thar
any such overtures had originated
within his organization.
Another sharp passage involved
former Secretary of State Byrnes
Mr.. STRIPPING said he wanted tt
know why Mr.. Byrnes had with
drawn" as counsel for the Motion
Picture Association.
Byrnes Explains.
That's an unfair question:, Mr.
Johnston replied. "Mr. Byrnes never
Withdrew. Mr.. Byrnes was en-
ployed as an advisor. It was under.
stood that as a former member oi
Congress, he did not want to appear
before g. committee of Congress.
Mr.. Byrnes spoke for himself last
night in a statement in which he
said that when he returned te
private practice Il established the
policy that would not accept en-
ployment to represent any person OF
organization before Legislative
committee.
He said that attitude was under
stood and expressly agreed to by
Mr.. Johnston last June when hi
was retained by the Motion Picture
Association. Mr.. Byrnes also pointed
out that, at the time, he issued
statement saying he would not
appear before legislative commit.
tees.
Having announced I would moi
appear before a legislative commit.
tee, representing any person or or.
ganization, there certainly is nc
mystery about my not appearing
before this committee"
The committee brought out dur
ing the session that Edward T.
Cheyfitz, one of Mr.. Johnston's s
assistants, had been Communist
Mr.. Johnston said Mr.. Cheyfitz
had told him of having joined the
Young Communist League when he
was IS years old and having broken
with the Communist late In 1889 fol-
lowing the Hitler-Stalin pact. Mr..
Cheyfitz, he said, had gone to Rus
sia and became completely disillu-
stoned with the Communist phi
losophy.
The association head told the
committee Mr.. Cheyfitz had been
recommended to him verbally be-