Evening star., 1947-10-27
Lawson Is Cited for Contempt
After Refusing to Tell Probers
WhetherHe Is Film Communist
Ordered From Stond;
e-Poge Report Heard
On Red AffiIiution
BULLETIN

In a heated exchange Cnalr-
man Thomas of the House
Committee on Un-American
Activities today told Eric
Johnston, president of the Mo-
ton Picture Association OF
America, that prominent per-
sons" had asked the commit
tee to clay off or postpone" its
Hollywood investigation and to
refrain from calling certain
witnesses and lone man gave
all the signs of an offer" Mr..
Johnston denied he had been
responsible for these attempts.
Screen Writer John Howard
Lawson today faced a citation
for contempt of Congress after
being ordered from the witness
stand at the motion picture in
dustry hearing for refusal to say
whether he was a member OF t1e
Communist Party.
Chairman Thomas of the House
Committee on Un-American Actlv-
tiles, who also heads the subcommlt-
tee conducting the investigation OF
Communists infiltration in Holly
wood, announced the subcommittee
unanimously would recommend the
citation to the full group.
The announcement came after
committee investigators had reao
into the record nine-page report
on an investigation of the writer
declared to constitute proof that
mfr. Lawson had publicly avowed
his allegiance to the line OF the
Communist Party during four dis
tinctly divergent periods"
Refuses to Quash Subpoenas.
Mr.. LaWson's brief but stormy ap-
pearance followed the committees
denia! of a motion to quash sub
poenas against 10 hostile witnesses,
including Mr. Lawson.
Mr.. Lawson, first hostile wit
ness to appear as the committee
entered the second week OF its In
yestigation of communism in Holly
wood, attempted to read a statement
as soon as he reached the stand.
MI. Thomas took one fast look at
the statement and refused to let
him make it. Mr.. Lawson protested
that the committee had permitted
Jack L. Warner and Louis B. Mayer
to read their statements last week
and the exchange of angry words
followed - .-a
Charges Violation of Rights.
AS Committee Counsel Robert
Stripping asked each question, Mr..
Lawson started his answer by pro-
testing that the committee was in
vading his private rights in inquiring
into his membership and Affiliations,
Each time as Mr.. Thomas started
pounding his gavel, the witness
would finally answer the question.
Once he yelled, I'm not on trial
here. The committee is on trial
before the American people. Let's
get that Strengthened.
Mr.. Thomas at first attempted
to be conciliatory. He said in a
soothing voice: Nov, you're Just
trying to make big scene for
yourself"
Appearance Stormy.
But as Mr.. Lawson shouted he
was being treated differently from
the other witnesses, Mr.. Thomas
raised his voice, too.
This will have to stop" he told
the witness. "If you're trying to
force me to put. you in contempt
you won't have to try much longer
and you know what has happened to
other witnesses who did that"
Mr.. Lawson shouted back, You
are trying to intimidate me-
Finally, the big question came.
Are you now or have you ever
been a member of the Communist
Party?" Mr.. Stripping asked.
Not Related, He Answers.
Mr.. Lawson replied that the ques-
ton was in no way related to the
inquiry. Mr.. Thomas assured him
the question was the most pertinent
one the committee could ask.
When Mr. STRIPPING repeated his
question, Mr.. Lawson said the COM
mittee was trying to use the same
technique used in Hitler Germany
Were going to get the answer
to that question if we stay here all
(See UN-AMERICAN, Page A-6)