Evening star., 1947-10-29

AFTERNOON voted to recon-
mend contempt of Congress
citations against two more
FINLAND figures-Ed Edward
Dmytryk and Adrian Scott,
director and producer, respec-
lively, of the film "Crossfre,"
after each had spent less than
10 minutes on the witness
stand.
Screen Writer Samuel Ornitz
and Writer director Herbert j.
Biberman today were added to
the growing list of Hollywood
personalities facing contempt
citations after they avoided
questions as to their Communist
Party Affiliations asked at the
hearing of the House Committee
on Un-American Activities.
Another witness, Emmett Lavery
president of the Screen Writers
Guild, declared firmly. however
I'm not Communist. never have
been, and don't intend to be-"
Unlike Mr.. Ornitz and Mr.. Biber-
man, who were ordered from the
witness stand, Mr.. Lavery was
commended by Chairman Thomas
for his very refreshing" frankness,
and remained to give his opinion
that the influence of Communist
members of his guild was mot half
as much as they make out"
Deny Refusal to Answer.
The two against whom Mr..
Thomas said contempt action would
be sought, were the fifth and sixth
of the so-called hostile witnesses
to leave the stand amid bitter pro-
tests against the questioning of
Chief Investigator Robert E. Strip
ling and the vigorous gavel pound
ing Of the chairman.
AS had their banished predeces-
sors. they insisted they were not
refusing to answer questions about
Communist Party and Screen Writ
ers' Guild membership but merely
wanted to answer at length, and
In their own fashion.
Mr. Lavery, on the other hand,
answered the party query even be-
fore Mr.. Stripping had a chance to
ask it, and said he was delighted
and proud" to be a member of the
guild he heads.
Mr.. tavery, a member of the New
York Bar, prefaced his declarations
with the statement that las a stu
dent of constitutional law" he was
not sure the committee had a right
to inquire into union or political
party affiliation. He added, how
ever, he wanted to lend the sus-
pense" at once.
Before resuming the committee S
investigation today Chairman Thom-
as said the committee was aware
that powerful influences" had tried
to divert the inquiry.
Not Inundated, Thomas Says.
Il am proud to say this committee
has not been sWayed, intimidated,
or influenced by either Hollywood
glamour. pressure groups. threatened
ridicule or high-pressure tactics on
the part of high-paid puppets and
apologists for certain elements of
the moving picture industry" he
declared.
Mr.. Thomas charged that the wit
nesses who have been attacked have
come as Communists always do and
scream Bill of Rights, Constitution
and vilify those who would seek to
expose them"
Mr.. Ornitz duplicated the per-
formance already given by John
Howard Lawson. Dalton Trumbo,
Alvah Bessie and Albert Maltz.
He asked to read a statement
which Mr.. Thomas ruled was "out
of order and another case of vilifica-
ton"
Il accuse" Mr.. Ornitz began
to shout.
You will not accuse anybody"
retorted Mr.. Thomas, pounding his
gavel while Mr. Ornitz continued to
shout.
The chairman ordered the witness
to step aside" but Mr. Stripping in
terrupted to begin his questioning.
Question of Conscience
When he reached the question of
Mr.. Ornitz's membership in the
Screen Writer'S Guild the witness
said reply to this involves a seri-
GUS question of conscience"
"Conscience?" asked Mr.. Thomas.
Conscience, sir, conscience" the
witness repeated firmly.
Between interruptions, the witness
got as far as saying that a question
of conscience was raised when you
ask me to act in concert with this
committee in violating the Consti-
tuition"
Asked if he is or even had been
a Communist, Mr.. Ornitz replied
that his political, like his religious
beliefs, were fully guaranteed by the
Constitution, and he had the right
to join any party.
Even If that party Is the agent
of a foreign power?" Mr.. Stripping
asked.
That is a loaded question and I
will not reply to It," the witness
returned.
That was the end of Mr.. Ornitzs
appearance.
Disruption Effort Charged.
Mr.. Biberman, who followed, as
serted he was willing to answer the
committees questions whether he
belonged to the Screen Writer'S S
Guild, and the Communist Party,
but that he wanted ito answer those
questions at full length"
When Thomas and Mr. Stripping
told MIN that the questions were
very simple ones and could be
answered by yes or no answers" :"
Mr.. Biberman cried:
"It has become very clear to me
that the real purpose Of this inves-
t1gation Is to drive wedge be-
[See UN-AMERICAN, Page A-30