Evening star., 1947-11-03
EisIer in Attendance.
AT Reception for 10
In Hollywood Inquiry
BY the Assoeioted Press


| BY the Assoeioted Press
NEW YORK. Nov. 3.-The House
Committee on n-American Activi-
ties was assailed by 10 speakers at
reception given yesterday ny the
Civil Rights Congress in honor OF
10 subpoenaed Hollywood writer's,
directors and actors
Twelve of the 10 were present, in
cluding six of the 10 subpoenaed
witnesses who were cited for con-
tempt of Congress because of their
refusal to answer some of the COM
mittee's Questions during the inves-
tigation of alleged communism in
Hollywood.
Also among the 400 persons pres
ent at the Park Central Hotel were
Gerhard Eisler, who has been de-
scribed by the House committee as
the No. Communist in America,
and his wife. Eisler. under convic-
ton for passport fraud and con-
tempt of Congress, is free on bail
pending appeal. He is brother Of
Hams Eisler. Hollywood composer.
Dorothy Parker Speaks.
George Marshall, chairman Of
the board of the Civil Rights Con-
gress, told the gathering that street
Fascists" were responsible for dis
rupting Saturdays rally held in
Independence Square. Philadelphia,
by the Progressive Citizens of Amer
lea to protest the House commit
tees movie inquiry.
Dorothy Parker, the writer, said
that when she viewed committee
session last week it was incredibly
hideous, as though the Gestapo
were there, and fascism was there"
"Fascism isn't coming here-it is
here" she declared. Miss Parker
said the Hollywood investigation was
shocking, dreadful, terrifying"
Sheean Fears Thought Control"
Author Vincent Sheean, a vice
chairman of the Civil Rights Con-
gress and chairman at the recep-
ton, said the House committee Is
part of a network of attempts at
thought control" which he declared
was bound to last long time"
Larry Parks, the actor, one of the
10 subpoenaed Hollywood figures
honored at the reception, denounced
the committee for citing for con-
tempt 10 witnesses who refused to
state whether they are or have
been Communists.
Albert Maltz, a writer and one of
the 10 cited, said the committee is
attempting to get Hollywood pro-
ducers to pledge what type of pic
lures they will or will not make, and
what people they will or will not
hire. He said the committee seeks
the right to burn films right
which he declared would end event.
ually in the right to burn the
people who made the films"
Sees Legal Basis for Fight.
Irving Pichel, director and one
Of those subpoenaed. Said the 10 will
seek to induce Congress to reject the
citations, as a possible means of
ending the committee.
Ben Margolis, one of five lawyers
retained by the 10, said there is "a
sound legal basis for fighting this
committee, and added that what
the Supreme Court does depends to
large extent on the political eli
mate of the country" He predicted
that the political climate" will be
wrong unless the American people
unite -" and the committee is
exposed as an enemy of the people. :"
Others of the subpoenaed wit
nesses at the reception were Ring
Lardner, jr., John Howard Lawson,
Lewis Milestone, Samuel Ornitz,
Robert Rossen, Waldo Salt, Alvah
Bessie, Richard Collins and Herbert
Biberman. The witnesses cited for
contempt who were present were
Mr.. Lardner, Mr.. Lawson, Mr.
Ornitz, Mr.. Maltz, Mr.. Bessie and
Mr.. Biberman.
$3.50 in Funds Raised.
The reception guests, it was an
nounced, contributed $2,370 to the
Civil Rights Congress for its cam
paign aimed at abolition of the
House committee. Donations of $25
each were announced for John
Santo, international organizer Of
the CIO Transport Workers Union,
and Michael J. Obermeier. head of
an AFL hotel employees union local,
both of whom are defendants in
proceedings seeking to deport them
as alien Communists.
In Philadelphia, Harry Knable,
commander of chapter As, Military
Order of the Purple Heart, said he
is going to see President Truman
today to protest the action of three
Federal judges in sanctioning the
rally opposing the Hollywood in
quiry.
Il am going to ask the President
to remove those three judges" Mr..
Knable told a reporter, "and I'm
going to urge that all veterans march
on the Capital in protest"
City Was Overruled.
The rally was held after the Pea
had been denied use Of independence
Square by the city and then author
lied to continue by two Federal
courts.
1t was interrupted by flying fists,
shouts and the odor of stencil bombs
as q police squad moved in to pre-
vent further trouble.
The city's refusal to authorize the
II Guaranteed
/ PIIJkABINGl |