Evening star., 1948-08-02
By Don S. Worren

Louis BudenZ To-Day LOlQ d Dell
ate committee that the Commu-
mist Party gets "a very big finan-
cial take" from Hollywood and
added that it has "the indellble
stamp" of the Soviet fifth column
which is pledged to the "destruc-
ton by violence" of the Ameri-
can Government.
Mr.. Budenz, who left the party
after 10 years, joined the Catholic
church and is now a professor at
Fordham University, told the COM
mittee that Soviet Russia made
both open and hidden subsidies to
the work of Communist agents in
this country.
He was called to the stand before
the investigating subcommittee OF
the Senate Expenditures Committee
to corroborate testimony by Miss
Elizabeth T. Bentley, self-styled
head of one Soviet spy ring, that
she actually had been engaged in
Communist spy work.
Has NO DOuDt Oh StOiy.
During his testimony, Mr.. Buden7
not only dramatically identified
Miss Bentley. but also declared that
he had no doubt at all her account
OF espionage work was true.
Miss Bentley, who has charged
that she obtained much valuable
wartime secret data from various
Government officials here, attended
the session, held in the Senate cau-
Gus room. She has given testimony
to the Senate committee as we'll as
to the House Un-American ActlVl-
ties Committee before which she ap-
peared on Saturday.
Chairman Ferguson asked Mr.
Budenz today to give details on how
the work of subversive and spy
groups was financed.
The witness said some of the
money came from dues of Commu-
mist Party members, but that it was
swelled by great contributions
from various individuals.
Squabble Over Division.
Then much more money came
from Hollywood he said. AT one
time the contributions from there
were so great there was Jurlsdlc-
tional dispute as to how the money
was to be divided in the use Tor
Soviet activities
The Hollywood groups, he said,
wanted to keep the money, or much
of it, out there, and superior author
tiles had to decide on the division.
In declaring that the Communist
Party was under the discipline OF
Moscow, he said that the American
Communists never have found any
thing wrong with the Soviet or its
leaders. and that all of its activities
show the ''indelible stamp OF a
Soviet fifth column.
Referring to his knowledge OF Miss
Bentley. Mr.. Budenz said she was
introduced to him by jacob
Golas as "one who was very effec-
tive in underground activities.
He had earlier identified Golas as
head of the Communist Partys
powerful Fannce Committee and
contact DStWCCil pdl " iiSiAicNio 49,
Russian secret police IN this
country.
Miss Bentley, he said, was sup
posed to cooperate with him on
important assignments, which he
described as getting information on
the activities of agents In such
secret Government groups as the
Office of Strategic Services.
"She was very trustworthy and
had many serious underground ac-
tivities in her hands," Golas told
HIM, he said, adding she was also
valuable because she could take
stenographic notes.
Witness Pressed for Opinion.
Members of the committee, in
Guiding Senators Mcclellan, Demo-
crat. of Arkansas: O'Conor, Demo
crat, of Maryland, and Chairman
Ferguson. pressed the witness as
. to his Judgment on the story Miss
Bentley has told,
He said: Il have no doubt she
(See COMMUNISTS, Page A-4J