Evening star., 1948-09-17
Fur Union Red Activity
Found, Probers Say;
Contempt Action Due
By james Y. Newton

"A HOUSE LABOR subcommittee
claimed success today in the
search for Communist activity in
the CIO Fur. and Leather Work
ers' Union and prepared to rec
ommend contempt of Congress
citations against seven officials
of the union who refused TO tell
whether they are Communists.
AS the committee closed the pub
lie hearings after seven full days,
Chairman Schwabe declared his
group had found overwhelming
evidence" of Red activities in the
union.
I'VE did not prove. perhaps Mr..
Schwabe said, that Communism
has worked to the detriment of the
union There was disagreement
among the witnesses on that. But
it may be that the activity results
in higher costs of furs to the con-
sumer The union was shown to
have its good points and its bad
ones. Certainly We showed that
Communism is alive
To Urge Further Action.
In regard to the union officials,
five of them vice presidents, who
defled the committee by refusing to
say whether they are or ever have
been members of the Communist
Party, Mr.. Schwabe indicated the
group would recommend further
action to the full Labor Committee.
Certainly there appears to be
ample grounds for contempt cita-
tions,' he said We will make our
recommendations shortly"
Ben Gold, the president of the
union and a board member Of the
Communist Party. was not among
those who SHE'D away on constitu-
tional grounds from answering the
Communism query put to nearly
every witness.
You bet I will" Mr. Gold replied
when asked if he would reply to the
question.
He then proceeded to say that he
had been a member of the Com
munist Party for more than quar-
ter century, that he took his COM
munism seriously. that he was proud
of it and that he would fight to
the death" to preserve America S
free institutions.
Mr.. Gold argued that capable
Communists make good union lead
ers," that they have high principles
and are most democratic.
He was engaged repeatedly in
heated exchanges with Representa-
tive Lucas, Democrat, of Texas, a
member of the committee.
The union head refused to say
whether other officials are Com
munists, telling Mr.. Lucas, even if
I knew would not tell you. I'm
no stool pigeon"
Defends Unions Patriotism.
He stoutly defended the patriotism
of his union and said that Com
munist influences had not been
exterted in running the affairs OF
the organization.
Mr.. Lucas asked the witness if he
would bear arms against Russia ana
got the reply why should -"
III bear arms against no nation
that the war mongers and the
munitions makers tell us to attack, :"
he continued.
Mr.. Gold said he would give my
life" if this country were attacked,
but he said Russia would never
attack us.
They like Americans" he added
"They want peace with them
When Chairman SchWabe asked
whether an objective of the Com
munist Party was the overthrow OF
this Government, the witness re-
piled:
Would Fight Against Overthrow.
I'll give you my Communist
word of honor that the Communists
will fight to the death to prevent
any Fascist overthrow of our demo-
cratically elected Government"
Mr.. Gold contended that his union
had brought not only greatly i'm
proved pay and working conditions
to the fur industry but reIaIlVe
peace. He cited instances of "vio-
lence and bloodshed' in the indus
try before the time Communism
was an issue.
Six witnesses yesterday refused to
tell the committee whether or not
they are Communists. Earlier, Sam
Burt. vice president of the Fur
Workers. had refused to answer the
question.
The others who added their def
ance of the committee were: Sam
Mencher, Joseph Winegradsky, Jack
Schneider and Lynden Henry, vice
presidents: George Kleinman, edi-
tor of the union newspaper, and
Mrs. Ida LANCER, member of the
union control board