Evening star., 1947-10-26
Un-Americun
Continued From First Page.)

committee becomes prosecutor,
Judge and jury, and the individual
becomes the defendant.
with no vested right to be heard
and no vested right to challenge
accusations against him, the in
nocent citizen Is helpless. He can
be indicted and convicted in the
public mind on the unchallenged
say-so of a witness who may be
completely sincere, but can be either
misinformed or riddled with pref
udice. Without fear of reprisal, a
prejudiced witness can exercise
venom as we'll as veracity."
Indorses investigations.
Mr.. Johnston said he did not
mean to question the right of Con-
gress to hold investigations.
"1n my opinion, the broad power
Of the Congress to investigate is
among the great sentinels of the
public welfare" he commented. I'm
no other way can corruption be so
effectively exposed or facts so ade-
needful legislation"
But, he added, whenever q con-
gressional committee in its effort to
expose or develop facts has injured
an innocent. individual, it has in
jured itself more. The entire in
stitution of the Congress suffered.
We arm the advocates of paternal-
ism and the police state and under
mine the legislative system"
Of the committee conducting the
Hollywood inquiry, Mr.. Johnston
said only that "its procedure, good
and bad. is the common practice of
all, investigating committees"
BY his letter, Mr.. Johnston, in
effect, aligned himself in objecting
to committee procedure with the
group of 10 prospective hostile wit
nesses."
The 10, not all of whom are likely
to testify, according to Chairman
Thomas, have attacked particularly
Mr.. Thomas refusal to permit cross
examination by their counsel of the
so-called friendly witnesses.
Lawyer Was Elected.
One of the battery of six lawyers
representing them, Charles J. Katz
of Los Angeles, was elected from the
hearing last Tuesday when he
interrupted proceedings in an effort
to cross-examine.
The Committee for the First
Amendment also has complained
about denial of the -examina-
ton privilege. practice which Mr..
Thomas has explained merely fol-
lows regular committee procedure.
Mr.. Thomas has made plain he
has no intention of changing COM
mittee policy when the hostile wit
nesses take the stand
They will be hanked by their law
yers, who have promised to advise
them not to answer any questions
infringing on their constitutional
rights" The tenor of statements
by BARLEY c. Crum, Robert w. Ken
ny and the other attorneys for the
19 has indicated they will consider
most committee questions as in that
category.
Files on 10 Promised.
Mr., Thomas has promised to in
troduce this week completely docu-
mented" files on committee investi-
cations of 70 persons. Only one of
these, Playwright Clifford Odets, has
been identified, but the committee
staff has indicated a number of
those in the group Of 10 have been
checked by investigators.
Mr.. Thomas also has announced
his intention to produce a surprise
witness to testify concerning active
espionage involving Hollywood Com
munists. The announcement came
after testimony last week alleging
a Hollywood literary agent obtained
confidential information from a
test pilot concerning a "supersonic'
plane. The agent subsequently de-
MED the charge.
When the first of the writers is
called to the stand tomorrow, law
yers are expected to attempt again
to introduce a motion that the SUBJ
poenas for their clients be quashed
on the ground the entire investiga-
ton has no legal basis.
Mr.. Kenny tried to get a ruling on
this motion when the hearing be-
gan last Monday, but Mr.. Thomas
ruled him out of order. The chair
man said the committee might con-
slider it later, when a Kenny client
took the stand, but made no prom
! ise.
Disney Explains Testimony.
The National League Of Women
Voters yesterday made public tele-
gram it stated Walt Disney, car
toon Aim producer, had sent the
House committee referring to f1is
inclusion of the League Of Women
Voters in testimony concerning al
legged Communist front" groupe
which he said attacked him at the
time of a strike at his studio.
MY testimony referred to the
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