Evening star., 1947-10-21
The Political Mill
House Probe of Films
Done in KremIin StyIe
Committee Itself Might Be Accused
of un.American Procedure
By Gould Lincoln

of un.American Procedure
By Gould Lincoln
The House Committee on un-American
Activities Is engaged on an important task
to show to what extent Communists and Com
munlst propaganda have infiltrated into the
movie industy Of the United States The COM
mlttee itself, however, should watch its step
lest 1t be accused Of un-American procedure.
IL should also make clear whether it is really
trying to eradicate Communist cells in q great
INDUSTRY or is just trying to smear officials of
the Roosevelt administration
The opening session of the committee hear
ing got under way with dramatic trappings and
several incidents which left anti Communist
nseeners wondering whether the committee was
gong to put on good old purge in the Kremlin
style. Autocratic Is perhaps q better de-
scription
Inc huge caucus room in the old House
once Building was in shape for Hollywood's
"Trip 10 washington. Batteries of moving pic
'ote cameras, lights, sound effects, stills and
raolo apparatus had been installed Obviously
snow was expected small army Of news
paper ana periodical correspondents and radio
commentators was on hand
A Bit Childish.
The first three witnesses were selected from
the great Of the picture industry-Jack l..
Warner, Samuel Grosvenor Wood and Louis
B. Mayer. But before the first witness was
called Chairman Thomas Of the committee
read statement Of the aims Of the committee.
and then three investigators Of the committee
were put on the stand-H A. Smith, A. p
Leckie and Lewis J. Russell. 1t turned out
that all three had held important posts with
the Federal Bureau Of Investigation in the
past. The committee, 1t seemed was anxious
to throw an aura of the FBI around the in
vestigation 1t has been conducting and of COM
plete thoroughness. Seemed bit childish.
With great emphasis Chairman Thomas de-
clared that the hearing was going to be con-
Quoted in order, without demonstrations or in
reference. large squad Of Capitol police in
the hearing room made this announcement
superfuous. Mr.. Thomas gavelled down Rob-
ert w. Kenny, former Attorney General of
California, and his colleague, BARLEY L. Crum,
appearing for movie writers and one actor,
charged by Mr.. Warner with "un- n-American,"
If not Communist leanings in secret testimony
given In California months ago. They are not
to be before the committee until next week.
and Mr.. Thomas declined to allow Mr.. Kenny
to ask any questions regarding procedure in
advance OF their appearance. VERY American!"
Il.
two men retreated to their seats
Paul McNutt, former Ambassador to the
Philippines and former Governor of Indiana,
got no more courteous treatment when he ap-
peared as counsel for Mr. Warner Mr.. McNutt
asked If, as counsel he would be permitted to
cross-examine witnesses. He would not, he was
told, and also the only thing he could advise
his clients-he appeared also for Mr.. Mayer and
as counsel for the Moving Picture Producers
Association-about was any question of their
constitutional rights. The silver haired distin-
guished Democrat sat himself down beside his
clients-and kept silent.
Committee Fares Badly.
The committee, which has sought to pin on
mission to Moscow" the charge OF Com
munist propaganda and the added charge that
it was promoted by high officials of the Gov
eminent, did not fare so well. Mr. Warner,
who produced the movie from former Ambassa-
dor Joseph E. Davies book, told the committee
that the first move to get the book for produc-
ton was made by one of his brothers-not by
Mr.. Davies as he had originally told the COM
mittee investigators. Also, Mr.. Mayer, who
produced the Song Of Russia" during the war,
dropped hunk of ice on the charge which
Mr. Thomas made during the California In
vestigation that Lowell Mellett then an ad-
ministrative assistant to the President, coerced
Robert Taylor into playing the leading role in
that production when Mr.. Taylor wanted to
get into the Navy. The idea Of producing the
picture originated with Metro-G Goldwyn- Mayer,
he said. Mr.. Mayer himself telephoned Secre-
tary of Navy Knox asking that Taylor be given
time to make the movie.
Another effort to smear Mr.. Mellett came
when Mr.. Wood was on the stand. Mr. Wood
was asked If any Government official had asked
him to make a movie during the war. He
replied that Mr.. Mellett had talked with him
regarding short" showing Congress passing
= bill. Mr.. Wood said he had besn unable to
see just how such picture would aid the war
effort. He added that thereafter the conversa-
tion had been rather derogatory to Congress
to belittle Congress, indeed. He said the project
must have been dropped for he heard nothing
more of 1t.
When 1t comes to question of Americanism
plain, ordinary Americanism-Mr Melett
will show well in comparison with either Chair
man Thomas or Mr. Wood
Questions and Answers
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