Evening star., 1948-05-31
By Robert K. Walsh

py koDSIt n. VoISn
Paul Robson, the singer, re-
fused to tell the Senate Judiciary
Committee today whether he be-
longs to the Communist Party.
Testifying at an unusual holiday
hearing on the Mundt-Nixon bill to
regulate Communist activities, Mr..
Robson defended the American
Communist Party as standing for
complete equality of the Negro" and
as having developed "out of the
social condition OF the world"
The Negro singer appeared as
surprise witness IN place of Albert
Janney. who had been scheduled as
spokesman for the American Youth
for Democracy.
Mr. Robson launched into a bit
ter attack of the Mundt- Nixon bill
as part of a pattern to deny DEM
ocratic rights in the United States
and he asserted that the proposed
legislation ties in with the type OF
terror and denial of rights" which
he said exist particularly in the
South.
Defies Ferguson Question.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan, interrupted him three
different times to ask if he was
member OF the Communist Party.
The first two times, Mr. Robson
brushed aside the question by say
ing he would come to it later
Finally he replied:
To-day, Senator Ferguson, that
question has become the very basis
of the struggle for American de-
mocracy. I, therefore, refuse to
answer it. I expect to vote this
year, and if you want to send officers
up to the polling place and take
my ballot out of the box to see how
I voted, you can do it,
Nineteen leading Americans are
going to Jail for refusal to answer
that question, and if necessary I
will join them" He referred to 10
Hollywood writer's and others cited
for contempt of Congress for refus-
ing to answer similar questions put
by House committees.
The hearing was interrupted by
applause from about so spectators,
some Of whom said they were af-
filiated with the American Youth
for Democracy.
No Hint of Contempt Action.
Have you a card in any Commu-
mist organizations" Senator Fer
guson asked at another point.
Il must give the same answer"
Mr.. Robson replied, but, anyway.
the Communist Party, I understand,
is legal party"
Senator Ferguson and other COM
mittee members permitted Mr.. Ro-
beson to go on with his testimony
on the Mundt- Nixon bill They gave
no indication whether they would
recommend that he be cited for
contempt Of Congress for refusing
to answer committee questions.
Such citations have been voted
by Congress on several occasions at
the request of congressional COM
mittees, particularly the House
Committee on American Activ-
tiles.
Says Bill Would Terrorize People.
Describing the Mundt-Nixon bill
as part of the hysteria' to break
civil liberties in this codrtry, Mr..
Robson said the measure would
''terrorize people from joining any
kind of liberal organization"
He agreed with Senator Ferguson
that any group which seeks illegal
overthrow of the United States
Government should be declared un-
lawful, especially if it is controlled
by foreign government, He added.
however, that We have plenty of
laws now to deal with that"
AS for the American Communists,
Mr.. Robson asserted they are not
controlled by Russia. and that no
matter what people think OF them.
they are part of this whole strug-
gle to improve social conditions Of
toe world
Declaring that he owes allegiance
only to the United States, Mr.. Robe
son said he nevertheless 7Would not
support fascist" government il
one were ever established in this
country.
He added he would not support
the United States in any war in be-
haif OF fascist government abroad.
He remarked also he sees no rea-
son why an American citizen should
have to support any war that might
be waged sin behalf of the Standard
Oil Co. of New Jersey
Henry Wallace, Mr.. Robson said,
is carrying forward the New Deal
of President Roosevelt. He said that
if Mr.. Roosevelt had lived there
would have been progress in elimin-
ating the poll tax and other prac-
tices which he said Disseminated
against minorities in the South.
Before the Robson testimony
representatives of the District Bar
Association appeared to urge Con-
gress to empower Government au-
thorities to deal severly" with
American citizens as we'll as aliens
working with groups seeking over
throw Of the Government by force.
Kenneth Parkinson and Godfrey
(See MUNDT BILL, Page A.l1)