Evening star., 1947-11-24

film Groupby
Vote Of 3.46 TO II
Citation of Other Nine
To Follow; Separate !,
BoIIot Due on Each (
BULLETIN

BY vote of 346 to II. the
House this afternoon cited for
contempt Hollywood Screen
Writer Albert Maltz, the first
of 10 film writer's, directors
and producers recommended
for contempt action by the
House Committee of I'm Amer
ican Activities. On the roll
call, one member voted pres
ent. Citation of the other nine
men was expected to follow in
short order, with separate
votes on each.
Chairman Thomas of the
House Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities today called on
the House to cite 10 Hollywood
personalities for contempt on the
ground they "defled" his COM
mittee with utter contempt and
impunity" A vote on the cita-
ton is expected this afternoon.
Leading the floor debate on citing
the 10 movie writer's, producers and
directors, Representative Thomas
fatty called them Communists.
The chairman said that was the
reason they refused to answer the
committees direct question as to
their afflliation with the Communist
Party during last months commit
tee hearings on Communist infiltra-
tion in Hollywood.
Drive to Continue.
They knew we had the evidence
that they were Communists, he
declared, land they knew we were
in a position to expose their Com
munist activities which they had
been engaged in over a period Of
years."
He added that the committee
hearings already held are only a
beginning" of what he termed its
drive to force Communists out of
Hollywood.
Mr.. Thomas began his remarks
after the clerk read the committees
report on the first case, citing Albert
Maltz one Of the writer's, and Civ
ing the question and answer ex-
change between Mr.. Maltz and the
committee.
Mr.. Thomas referred to the
double-talk and quibbling of Mr..
Maltz which he sought to give as
an answer to the questions on
l,ic ,iet ,.&x -
Mr.. Thomas charged that there
has been concerted effort on the
part of the Communists, their fell
low travellers, their dupes and paid
apologists to create a lot of fog
| about constitutional rights, the
First Amendment, etc."
Not Chosen at Random.
He said he wanted to make 1t
clear that the 10 men were not
chosen at random and brought be-
fore the committee to be asked about
their political Affiliations. They were
brought in, he said, because of the
overwhelming evidence which was
before the committee that they
were identified and active in sub
versive and foreign directed con-
spiracy which goes under the mis-
nomer of the Communist Party Of
the United States"
He pointed to "an extensive CAM
paign" to villify the committee and
confuse the American people into
believing that the committee in
vaded the constitutional rights of
the 10 witnesses in asking if they
were members of the Communist
Party.
In answer to that charge, Mr..
Thomas declared that:
TO say that committee of Con-
gress cannot inquire into the sub
versive aff1liation-the reasonable
afiliation-bf an individual, Is
ridiculous. The Constitution was
never intended to cloak or shield
those who would destroy it,
The citations before tine House to-
day are the most controversial Of
scores slapped on recalcitrant wit
nesses since the committee was
created in 1898.
The group has never lost a con-
tempt action in the House. nor even
encountered a close vote. On the
other hand, no one cited by the
committee ever has gone to jail.
Although there have been numerous