davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-08-29
Reasons for Public
Hearings Explained

Questions are sometimes raised
both by chronic critics of this COM
mittee and by sincere observers as
to whether holding public hearings
on questions of loyalty, espionage
and Communist conspiracy ever
serves the public interest. These
people hold that our committee
should screen witnesses carefully in
secret executive sessions and Sift
the testimony, releasing to the pub
lie only such portions as the COM
mittee decides it should see or hear
1t is argued by those adhering to
this position that this committee
in its zeal to protect the regulations
and feelings of innocent people
whose names may occasionally be
injucted into public hearings, should
operate in large part after the man
ner OF a grand jury and in utmost
secrecy, Withholding from the pub
lie the steps by which evidence Is
accumulated and its decisions made.
This committee yields lo nobody IN
Evening star., 1948-08-29
House Group Sees Grave Need
OF Continued Investiqotions

Congress have the evidence upon
which to base decisions concerning
the new legislation essential to our
national security under prevailing
conditions. Not until these hear
ings began did the people to whom
this Government belongs have any
direct evidence as to the men and
methods being employed to subju-
gate our freedom to the tyranny
OF foreign totalitarian power. The
false security OF complacent ignO-
rance is much worse than having
either no security Or no compla-
cency at all.
1t is also true that in many in
stances the crimes Of treason and
espionage are so difficult to punish
by conviction because OF technical
devices and the necessity Of SO
tightly defining these crimes, that
II near treason and virtual espiO-
mage and "cold-War treason or
espionage are to be safeguarded
against it is imperative that not
only must the power Of public Op-
lnlon be marShaled against these
diSloyal and Self-serving practices
but legislation must be enacted
which will provide appropriate
punishment for these specific dere-
Lotions. To do less than that is to
deny to the people generally the
protection and security they have
d right to expect from alert public
officials.
Evening star., 1948-08-29
Obstructive Tactics
By White House

The committees investigation OF
espionage among Governmnt work.
ers has been hampered at every
turn by the refusal of the execu-
tive branch of the Government to
cooperate in any way with the in
vestigation due to the Presidents s
loyalty freeze order. Not only have
the executive agencies refused to
turn over to the committee the 10y
atty files of the suspected members
of the spy rings, but they have even
gone SO far as to refuse to turn
over the employment records Of
these individuals.
The committee can see no ex-
cuSe whatever for such arbitrary
action since it is obvious that turn
ing over employment records would
in nowise involve disclosing sources
Of information or confidential data.
Had the executive agencies of the
Government co-operated with the
Continued on Page 7, Column II
Evening star., 1948-08-29

Hiss and Whitaker Chambers, as a
man-to-man relationship. stands
without challenge confirmed by the
testimony of both men and the
public hearings held by this COM
mittee. This fact had never been
established by other Investigations.
1t should also be noted that the
stark fact that Alser Hiss and Whit
taker Chambers, self-confeSSed
pair Communist functionary and
espionage agent, were acquainted
with each other and did have nu-
merOus transactions and aSsocia-
lions together, is of far greater
significance under the circum-
stances that whether Chambers was
known to Hiss by the name of
Carl or of George Crosley" This
fact has been established without
challenge for the record by the pub
lie hearings of this committee. al
though through the years it had
been established by no other in
Vestigation.
Hiss will be given every oppor-
tunlty to reconcile the conflicting
portions of his testimony, but the
conformation of the two men and
the attendant testimony from both
witnesses has definitely shifted the
burden of proof from Chambers to
Hiss, in the opinion of this COM
mlttee. Up to now, the verifiable
portions of Chambers testimony
have stood up strongly; the verifi-
able portion of the Hiss testimony
nave been badly shaken and are
primarily refuted by the testimony
OF Hiss versus Hiss, as the complete
text OF the printed hearings will re-
veal.
Evening star., 1948-08-29

position of his 1929 Ford automo.
bile. It is inconceivable that a
man would not remember whether
he had given car away twice or
at all and 1t Is just as inconceivable
that he would not recall whether a
person to whom he had given the
automobile had later returned 1t to
him.
f. Despite the fact that Hiss SAYS
he knew Chambers under the name
Of Crosley, a thorough investiga-
ton by the committee has failed to
date to find any person who knew
him by that name during the period
in question. The committee believes
that the burden is upon Hiss to
establish that Chambers actually
went under the name of Crosley at
the time he knew him and that
Hiss knew Crosley as q free-laee
writer rather than as the adj
mitted Communist functionary which
Chambers actually was during that
period.
Evening star., 1948-08-29

Chambers, Hiss still denies that he
knew that Chambers was q Com
muniSt, and that he, Hiss, was a
member of the Communist Party at
any time.
Charges Hiss Evasive.
Hiss. testified on August Is and II
that at the time that he leased his
apartment to Chambers he gave him
1929 Ford automobile. In his
testimony in the public session on
August 25, however, when confront
ed with documentary evidence
which committee Investigators pro-
duced, that he actually had trans
ferred the car in 1886 to the Cher
ner Motor Co., who the same day
transferred it to one William Rosen
Hiss changed his position on the
car and testified in a manner which
to the committee seemed vague and
eVaSiVe. He stated that he could
not recall whether or not he gave
the car to Chambers or whether he
loaned it to him. He could not re-
call whether he gave it to him at
the same time he Sublet the apart
ment to him or whether he did SO
several months later after Cham
berS had left the apartment. He
had no recollection whatever of
having transferred the car to the
Cherner Motor Co, although he ad-
.mitted that the signature on the
transfer title was his own. He said
that it was possible that he could
have given the car to Chambers
and that Chambers could have given
it back to him, and that he later
could have transferred it to the
Cherner Motor Co., but that he
could not recall what happened,
This much concerning the testi-
pony. in regard to the car can
definitely be concluded. Hiss stated
on August l6 and II that he sold
or gave the car to Crosley Cham
bers) at the same time that he
sublet the apartment to him, and
that at the time that he did this
he had another car which he him
self was using. A check of the
records by the committee staff
showed that Hiss did not acquire
another car until several months
after the apartment transaction
was concluded and that he actually
transferred the car over a year
later to the Cherner Motor Co.,
His vague and evasive testimony
on this transaction raises doubt
as to other portions OF his testi-
mony. In this connection it should
be observed that on 1873 occasions
Hiss qualified his answers to ques-
tions by the phrase TO the best of
my recollection" and similar quail
fying phrases, while Chambers, on
the other hand, was for the most
part fortnight and emphatic in his
answers to questions.
For example, Chambers testified
on August l that Hiss had ex-
messed deSjre IN tropSfer tho
Evening star., 1948-08-29
Text OF Committee Interim Report Espionage Government

membership in the Communist Party
on the ground Of Standardization.
These 10 witnesses on the same
grounds, also refused to affirm or
deny contacts with one or more OF,
the 40 individuals allegedly involved
in espionage or with Elizabeth Ter
rill Bentley or Whitaker Chambers.
Nine of these witnesses alexander
Koral, Victor Perio. Abraham George
Silverman, Nathan Gregory Silver
master, William Ludwig Ullman,
John Abt, Lee Pressman, Nathan
Witt and Charles Kramer) refused
to affirm or deny charges made
against them by Elizabeth Terrill
Bentley or Whitaker Chambers.
No charge of Communist Party
afnliation was made against either
Lauchlin Currie or Harry Dexter
White. Both denied such afiliation.
However, both admitted acquain-
tance with various members Of the
espionage group named by Eliza
beth Bentley and Whitaker Cham
berS.
The following persons who were
charged with being Communist
Party members denied such affilia-
ton: Bella Gold, Sonia Gold, Duncan
Chaplin Lee, Alger Hiss, Donald Hiss,
Robert T. Miller and Frank Coe.
They all admitted, however, asso-
Citations and acquaintance with va
rlous members of the espionage
groups named. Alger Hiss, after
previous denials, admitted knowing
Whitaker Chambers as George
Crosley. Duncan Chaplin Lee and
Robert T. Miller admitted knowing
Miss Bentley, the former acknowl-
edging also acquaintance with Jacob
Golos, Miss Bentley's superior, now
deceased.
Evening star., 1948-08-29
Testimony Involves
About 40 Persons

testimony regarding Communist
espionage activities within the Gov
eminent involving approximately 40
individuals was given before the
committee by Elizabeth Terrill
Bentley, Whitaker Chambers and
Louis F.. Budenz, admitted former
tunctionaries of the Communist
Party.
Mr.. Chambers was formerly editor
OF the tCommunist) Daily Worker
and Of the New Masses. He is now
a senior editor of Time magazine.
Mr.. BudenZ was formerly managing
editor of the (Communist) Daily
Worker. He is now a professor at
Fcluham University.
Miss Bentley. according to her
IoWn testimony. which has been veri-
held by MI. Budenz. was formerly
active in Communist underground
activity. The committee is in pos
session Of supporting evidence to
establish these previous Communist
affiliations.
OF these forty-odd individuals
named, Lauchlin Cmrie, Harry D.
White (deceased), Bella Gold. Sonia
Gold, Frank Coe, Alger Hiss, Donald
Hiss appeared before the committee
at their own request and categOri-
caly denied the accusations MADE
by Miss Bentley and Mr.. Chambers.
| Henry H. Collins, Victor Perlo,
Abraham George Silverman, William
Ludwig Ullman. Nathan Gregory
Silvermaster. John Abt, Lee Press
man, Nathan Witt, Duncan Chap
lin Lee. Robert T. Miller and Charles
Kramer appeared in response to sub
penas. Alexander Koral, who was
allegedly involved in these activities,
was also subpenaed. j. Peters,
alleged head of the Communist un-
derground in this country, will be
served with subpoena on August 80.
Norman Bursler, Allan Rosenberg,
Solomon Adler, Solomon Leshinsky,
Mary Price. Donald Niven Wheeler,
Edward j. Fitzgerald, Harold CHASER.
Joseph Gregg. Rose Gregg, Irving
kaplan, and certain Russian con-
facts known only as Frank, Al, and
Jack, have not appeared before the
committee. Harold M. Ware is de-
ceased, as is also Jacob N. Golos.
Witnesses Wouldn't Answer.
Ten witnesses alexander Koral,
Henry H. Collins. Victor Perlo. Abra-
ham George Silverman. Nathan
Gregory Snvermaster. William Lud-
wig Ullman. John Abt. Lee Press
man. Nathan Witt and Charles
Kramer refused to affirm or deny
Evening star., 1948-08-29
another individual who co-operated
with the Silvermaster group.
Unattached Individuals,

another individual who co-operatet
with the Silvermaster group.
Unattached Individuals.
Miss Bentley further testified tha
there were certain individuals EN-
ployed in the Government who CO
operated in obtaining information
from the files OF the Government
tor the use of Russian agents bu
who were not actually attached t,
either the Silyermaster or Perl,
groups. These individuals, as name,
by Miss Bently, and the govern
mental agency with which they wer
employed during the period con
cerned in the testimony, are a
follows:
Michael Greenberg, Board of
Economic Warfare; Foreign Eco
nomic Administration; specialist
in China.
Joseph Gregg, Co-ordinator of
Inter-American Affairs, assistant
in Research Division.
Maurice Halperin, Office of
Sterategic Services; head of
Latin American Division in the
Research and Analysis Branch;
head of Latin American research
and analysis, State Department.
j. Julius Joseph. Office of Stra-
tegic Services, japanese Division.
Duncan Chaplin Lee, Office of
Strategic Services. legal adviser
to Gen. William j. Donovan.
Robert T. Miller, head of po-
litlcal research, Co-ordinator of
Inter-American Affairs; member,
Information Committee, Near
Eastern Affairs, State Depart
ment; Assistant Chief, Division
OF Research and Publications,
State Department.
William z. Park, Co-ordinator
OF er-American Affairs.
Bernard Redmont, Co-ordina-
tor Of mter-American Affairs.
Helen Tenney. Office OF Stra-
legic Services. Spanish Division.
William Remington Of the Depart
menl OF Commerce was mentioned
ny Miss Bentley before the Senate
investigator Committee as havin>
been associated with this group.
Ware -Abt-Witt Group.
On August 3, the committee hear(
the testimony Of Whitaker Cham
bers. He testified regarding an un
derground apparatus which was Sc
up by the Communist Party in tn,
early 30s for the purpose of inlil.
tratlng the Federal Government
The members of this group, accord.
ing to Mr. Chambers, and theil
governmental employment during
the period concerned in the testi.
mony, are as follows:
Harold Ware (deceased), De-
partment of Agriculture. '-
John J. Abt, Department of
Agriculture, Works Progress Ad-
mlnistration, Senate Committee
on Education and Labor, Justice
Department.
Nathan Witt. Department of
Agriculture, National Labor Re-
latlonS Board.
Lee Presslnan, Department of
Agriculture, Works Progress Ad-
ministration.
Alger Hiss, Department of Ag-
rlculture, Special Senate Com
mittee Investigating the NUM-
tlons Industry, Justice Depart
ment, State Department.
Donald Hiss, State Depart
ment, Labor Department.
Henry H. Collins, National Re-
covery Administration, Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Charles Kramer (Krevitsky).
Victor Perlo.
Evening star., 1948-08-29

TASK lalleQ DlncuIt.
In dealing with groups and in
dividuals that engage in this sub
versive conspiracy, the committee
has the difficult task of pursuing its
inquiry through regulations and
procedures which. when formulated
were meant to apply only to law
abiding citizens of the country.
1t is noteworthy, for example
that not until the House Commit
tee on Un-American Activities be-
gan its current hearings on the
subject did the general public have
any knowledge that the now estab-
lished and disclosed Communist
espionage activities had reached
into vital positions of high author
fly in Government. Not until these
hearings began did the general pub
he or even the average member OF
Evening star., 1948-08-29

automobile in question to q Com
muniSt Party worker and that he
effected this transfer by taking the
car to a used-car lot which was op-
Grated by Communist Sympathizer
who IN turn was to turn 1t over to
a. Communist organizer. To date
the committees investigations of
the car transaction tend to bear out
Mr.. Chambers version of what hap
pened rather than Hiss version. The
only evidence Of the transfer of
the car is of the transfer to the
Cherner Motor Co in 1896 and to
William Rosen to whom the car was
transferred by Cherner. When ques-
toned by the committee, Rosen re-
fused to answer any questions con-
corning the car or concerning
whether he was member of the
Communist Party on the ground of
Standardization. The commit
tee will continue to pursue its in
vestigations of this transaction.
Conclusions Regarding Hiss.
In summary. the developments of
the Hiss Chambers controversy to
date warrant the following con-
c1usions:
/. Despite his denial that he has
ever been member of the Com
munist Party or had any friends who
were Communists, Hiss has admitted
knowing and aSSociating with Harold
Ware. Nathan Witt, John Abt Hen
ry Collins, Lee PresSman and Whit
taker Chambers, all of whom are
either known OF admitted MEM
bers of the Communist Party, or
who have refused to answer the
question as to whether they were
members of the Communist Party
onsthe ground of self f-inerimination
1t stretches the credulity of the
committee to believe that Hiss could
have known these people, including
Chambers, as well as he did without
at some time suspecting that they
were members of the Communist
Party.
2. The committee believes that
Mr.. Hiss was not completely forth
right in his testimony before the
committee on August when he
failed to tell the committee that he
noted a familiarity about the fea-
lures of Whitaker Chambers when
a picture of Chambers was shown to
him. He has since admitted that
he told several friends before the
hearing of his noting this famili-
arity but when shown a picture of
Chambers he deliberately created
the impression that the face meant
nothing to him whatever. 1t is
hard to believe that Hiss could
have known Chambers as well as
he admits he knew Crosley without
being able to recognize the picture
which was shown him during the
hearing of August S.
3. Hiss has either failed or re-
fused to tell the committee the
whole truth concerning the dis
Evening star., 1948-03-01
Hollywood:
Evelyn Reyes
Is Typed as
Perfect Wife
By SheiIoh Grohom

Gary Cooper will star for Warmers
In "Tne Dragger CAPTAIN" based on
a series Of New Yorker articles
Gary starts this one after he COM
pletes THE Fountainhead" with
Lauren Bacall.
Evelyn Keyes, who played Mrs. Al
Jolson on the screen, Is now wanted
to play Mrs. Eddie Cantor In Eddie's
movie of his life! That's really get
ting typed.
Everything Fred MacMurray ,
touches seems to turn to gold. He
paid $4,000 for Innocent Affair, .
and when he sold the story to James
Nasser, he received $50, 600, plus an
extra 100000 for starring In it
They say that Fred is the richest
actor OF modern income-tax-times
in Hollywood.
Jane Wyatt will star in the stage
play Here Today" for the Expert
mental Theater in New York.
Ann Sheridan says she will wait
for "Flamingo' Road" so there will
be no other movies for her ahead OF
that. The perfect cast for this pic
ture would be Charles Laughton
Ronald Reagan and Lloyd Nolan
Ronnie is the only male signed SC
far. The movie starts when Director
Vincent Sherman finishes Erro]
Flynn's Don Juan"
II \ II II
The announcement that Jennifer
Jones will star for Carson Kanin In
his Come What May" is interesting
because he first wanted Olivia de
Havilland to make 1t, then Ingrid
Bergman. I don't know why they
refused because Kanin usually
writes good stuff. This ones a COM
edy; maybe that's why. Both Ingrid
and Olivia prefer strong drammer.
Joan BENEFITS pretty 14-year-old
daughter, Melinda Markey, has
decided she'll be a movie actress
Well, the movie profession has cer-
tainly paid off for her mama. Joan
has been q top star since Melinda
was born.
Esther williams will swim again
Evening star., 1948-03-01

the enemy of freedom and civilized
order in the world. His program is
one of despoilation and degradation
of humanity, and his technique is
dramatically effective. Sebastian is
a fascinating leader Men (symboliz-
ing nations) join him, voluntarily or
by force, and he uses them until
their further service is hopeless, In
which case he destroys them.
Sebastian, who might be Russia
even though the playwright never
says SO, or perhaps communism
without reference to political geog-
raphy, has forsaken God, but God
has not forsaken him.
Defeat for the despot's program is
devised in the shape of his convent
trained daughter, Denise. When he
destroys her, he learns how far his
madness has led him into the hope
lessness of evil. The play ends on
his repentance.
" ~
1.-THE Portion of Foxes" lays q vir-
tual despotic tax upon the acting
resources of the university theater.
1t does not exhaust them. however.
Director Brady has contrived to find
performers In quantity and quality
up to the requirements of Play
wright Lardizabal.
The summit of his success, as it
should be, is in the discovery of Bill
Callahan for the overpowering role
OF Sebastian. Callahan's villain Is a
towering demon, a blasphemer, q
brute and an international bully. He
is a man without a conscience and
he is called upon literally to erupt
language Of evil. That he does 1t
with never an apparent miss of
memory gives his performance dra-
matte dimension that the author
was too careless to have anticipated.
Marilyn Hurley is a pretty per-
sonification of Sebastian's daughter,
and another character in the play
who assumes a monumental burden
of poetic language.
The others, whole regiment Of
them, respond quite suitably to the
excessive requirements of Lardiza-
balls allegory.
X X X
James Waring, who conceived the
settings and lighting which make 1t
possible to reduce the world (of
Lardizabal's ideas) to the small di-
mensions of the university stage, did
it brilliantly. 1t might even be that
many spectators will remember him
as the hero of 1.-THE Portion Of
Foxes"
Evening star., 1948-03-01
Where and When
Current Theoter Affections
and Time Of Showing

Stage.
Catholic University-"Portion o1
Foxes; $50 pm.
National-"The Chocolate Sol
der; $50 pm.
... -+ Screen.
Ambassador-"The Swordsman' -
Ills, 800, 5:25, 7:35 and e:45 pm.
Capitol-"The Tender Years"
ii am, LAS, 4:30, 7:15 and 10 pm
Stage shows: 1885, $40, 6:25 ane
e:10 pm.
Columbia-"You Were Meant fol
Me-; 1925 am, 1880, $3.50, $50. 7:3(
and 9:35 pm.
Hippodrome-"I Know Where Tn
Going; 2:15, 4:05, 5:55, 7:45 ane
$50 pm.
Keith'-"The Bishops Wife,;
11:25 am, 1870, $3.50, 5:35, TAO and
9:4o PM.
Little--"shoe Shine; 11:05 am.
12:45, 2:30, Ais, 6, 7:50 and 9:40 pm
Metropolitan-''In 'Intermezzo" l1:5s
am, 1855, $3.50, $50, 7:50 and $50
pm.
Palace Call Northside TIT;
10:45 am, 1855, 3:05, Sis, 7:25 and
e:35 pm.
Pix-"Shanghai Gesture; 2:10
4:5O, 7:30 and 1910 pm.
Warner-"The Swordsman" II 80
am, lao, 3:45, 5:55, 7:55 and 9:5C
pm.
Evening star., 1948-03-01

In her next movie, ''Neptslne'a
| Daughter" She tells me that hel
ears are quite all right now, "but
I must never again dive into Q
Ideep-water tank"
Can you imagine, Rudy Vallee Il
competing with Charlie Chaplin
jr.. for Toni Doyle's smiles anc
dates. Toni is the California Cen.
tennial girl. don't want to upset
either of them. but Toni prefers
Nal Boyd, the publicity boy.
Dan Tobin, the New York stage
actor, plays Monty Woolley's
brother in THE Tatlock Millions, >
to be directed by Richard Haydn
who usually acts himself.
Andrea King makes one more
movie before departing these pre-
cincts to do q play on Broadway
Andrea has just been offered new
|long-term deal at Warmers, but she
makes more money as free-lancer
Elizabeth Taylor has asked me to
put in word for her to get the
dresses she wore in "A Date With
Judy" Says she'll even pay for
them, they're 50 beautiful. I saw
them and they really are.
Betty Cradle and Dan Daley had
better see April Showers" starring
Ann Sothern and Jack Carson, be-
fore they start "Burlesque." Because
Ann and Jack play a couple OF
vaudevillians just like Betty and
Dan have to do In their picture,
and it might be repetitious.
Geraldine Brooks planning to
New York to see her family, and to
take another peek at "Oklahomap p
Geraldine owns per cent of the
nonstop play.
(Released BY North American Newspaper
Alliance, Inc)