Evening star., 1947-06-19
Anti-Fuscist
Continued From FIRST Page.)

that they attended party meetings.
he added.
Cites Named of Organization.
One reason why he believes the
organization was Communist
front group, Mr., Alexander said,
was the name of the organization
itself-''Anti- Fascist"
Does the fact that man is anti
Fascist mean he is Communist"
Mr.. Rogge asked.
That is possibility" said Mr..
Alexander.
Another reason for the suspicion,
the witness testified, was the type
of refugee for whom the Anti-F'ascist
Committee. sought to gain admit
tance to this country.
my opinion is that most of them
were Communists" he said.
Mr.. Rogge pressed Mr.. Alexander
as to why he thought Mrs. Leider
was Communist The witness said
he based the opinion on the type of
visa cases handled by the woman
lawyer.
Had Tried Visa Cases.
He said perhaps dozen such cases
had been handled by Mrs. Leider-
aliens who are Communists and
are trying to get into the country .
Mrs. Leider, the witness said,
further incurred his suspicion when
she took over the files of deceased
New York lawyer who had been
handling several Communist cases.
Asked by Mr.. Rogge whether the
fact that a lawyer had Communist
clients meant he was Communist,
Mr.. Alexander replied:
Not that alone. In other words,
I wouldn't say you are a Communist
because you are handling this case" ;"
Mr.. Alexander said one indica-
ton of a lawyers Communist ten
denotes might be the way he han
died the visa cases in applying to
the State Department.
Stresses Naming of Only Three.
THE Communist element is in
clined to have everybody write in,
he observed. I'VE are swamped with
letters and kilograms"
At the end of his cross-examina-
ton. Mr.. Rogge asked the witness
whether he still believed the Anti
Fascist Committee was honey
combed" with Communists, remind
ing him he had named only three
persons whom he suspected of party
Affiliations. Assistant United States
Attorney Charles B. Murray, Gov
ernment prosecutor, objected to the
question.
very we'll" Mr. Rogge said, 'if
counsel wants to leave the record
that way, it's all right with me-"
Later in the trial, Representative
Wood, Democrat, of Georgia is ex-
pected to testify for the prosecu-
tion to tell what information the
House committee had about the
groups alleged un-American activi-
ties.
Mr.. Wood was chairman of the
House committee in 1946 when, the
Government charges, the defendants
conspired together.
Mr.. Rogge based his motion Tues
day to exclude defendants testi-
mony before the House committee
on law of 1856, providing that no
testimony given before congress
sional committee can be used as
evidence in any subsequent criminal
proceedings against the person who
gave it. Attorneys for both sides
devoted all day yesterday to argu-
ing the motion.
Ruling Important in Case.
Legal experts were generally OF
the opinion that, if Justice .Keech
rules fayorably on this defense mo-
ton, most, if not all of the Govern
ment's case against Is defendants
would be out the window.
Mr. Murray explained to reporters
last night that the reason for Mr.
Woods testimony on the background
of the Anti-FasciSt Committee is
that the Government must prove
the pertinency of the House COM
mittee's request TO see the records
OF that organization.
A legal skirmish seemed to be
in the making in this connection.
Mr.. Rogge said yesterday he hoped
10 produce defense witnesses to
dispute the pertinency of the House
committees demands, on the anti
Fascist group.
1t appeared certain, meanwhile,
that the trial would be considerably
slowed up as a result of develop
ments of the last two days. Mr..
Rogge said last night he doubted
that former Vice President Wallace,
scheduled as the first defense wit
ness to appear before the jury,
would take the stand this week.
Arguments Run More Than 6 Hours.