Evening star., 1947-05-15
Denies Charge
He Forced Taylor 10
PLAY Pro- Soviet Role
by the Assoeiotsd Press


Actor Robert Taylor,s testimony be.
fore a House Committee that he Was
forced by a Government representa-
tive to appear against his viii in q
picture he considered Russian
propaganda brought from its chair
man today q declaration that @this
is another indication that persons
in the Government have been aid
ing and abetting Communism
The chairman, Representative
Thomas, Republican, OF New Jersey
following Mr.. Taylor's appearance
before his Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities, told newsmen the
Government representative was
Lowell Mellett, former adviser to the
late President Roosevelt and Office
of War Information official.
tMr. Mellett, Washington coll
l,mnist, who was chief of the
Owls motion picture division,
during the war, denied today
that he compelled Robert Taylor
or any one else to do anything.
He. said he did not intend to
issue a statement in reply to Mr..
Taylor's charge or the comment
of Mr.. Thomas. IF Thomas
wants to know what I know
about the matter I'll be glad to
tell him when he gets back to
Washington" he added -
Studio Declines Comment.
Mr.. Thomas declared Mr.. Taylor
testified his entrance into the Navy
Air Corps was delayed until after
his appearance in the film, Song OF
Russia" which he said the actor
described as favoring Russian
ideologies," institutions and ways OF
life over the same things in cur
country"
"This government official" contin-
ued Mr.. Thomas, came here specif1-
cally on orders of his superior to
see that Mr.. Taylor played that
leading role.
ITO me this Is another indication
that persons in our government have
been aiding and abetting COM
munism, even to the extent of
getting our most prominent actors
to play leading roles in pictures to
which they objected"
Off1cials of MGM studio, which
made the picture, refused comment.
Mr.. Taylor was but one of a num-
ber Of Hollywood celebrities called
to tell the committee behind closed
doors what they know about COM
munistic activities In the film cap
ital.
Another actor, Richard Arlen, told
newsmen he advised the committee
that Hollywood Communists have
influence for exceeding their num-
bers because they are efficient and
secret organizations and composed
for the most part of frustrated
people"
IF someone plants seed of COM
munism in the script, that seed can
grow In the movie -goer's mind" he
continued. "The studios want to
stamp subversive elements out, but
there is q camaraderie among the
Communists that makes it hard to
uncover their activities. It's easy to
make charges but hard to prove
communism.
Mrs. Rogers Is Witness.
Another witness was Mrs. Leila
Rogers, mother and business man.
ager of Actress Ginger Rogers, while
a fourth was Henry Ginsberg, studio
general manager. ia fE8 7
Mrs. Rogers told reporters later
that there is mo doubt that Com
munist influences in Hollywood are
Of serious proportions-you have q
hard time getting good American
story into the studios"
She said that in one picture q
whole scene fostering the idea Of
having an institution, other than
the family. raise children" was de-
leted at her daughters insistence
and that in another scene Ginger
refused to use the line-"share and
share alike, that is democracy"
Mr.. Thomas said Mr.. Ginsberg
urged the committee to sponsor an
executive board of studio heads to
confer with committee members and
"sift out" Communist propaganda.
Those summoned before the COM
mittee today include Adolph Menjou,
Producer Jack Warner, Writer
Howard Emmett Rogers, Producer
Leo McCarey and Author Rupert
Hughes.