Evening star., 1948-07-09
Six More Witnesses
BaIk at Questioning by
House Labor Probers
lY the Associoied Prexx

NEW YORK, July "a House
subcommittee, locked in a verbal
tug-of-war with union witnesses
who refused to tell their political
connections, was to decide today
whether to press contempt charges.
Six more union officials baked
Yesterday at answering questions
put by the subcommittee, which is
investigating alleged Communist
influences in labor organizations.
Two of the witnesses were half
showed, half dragged from the
hearing room by United States
deupty marshals after clashing
loudly with committee members on
the line of questioning.
Several others were abruptly or
dered from the stand.
Cite Amendments.
Chairman Hartley of the House
Education and Labor Committee,
of which the investigating group Is
a branch, said a decision will be
made today on whether contempt
ClCdLlOIlS Will Dt SouSilI.
Five of those who defied the in
vestigators yesterday refused to say
whether they belonged to the Com
mupist Party.
They raised the same objections
voiced by three others who testified
Wednesday, claiming that the first
and fifth constitutional amendments
lico1ocitorr thoir
political ideas.
zone of those forcibly elected from
the room, Samuel Lewis, business
manager of Local of the CIO De-
partment Store Union, shouted,
Don't push me around-take your
hands off me-" as he was led out.
While he was on the stand, Mr.
Lewis was asked by Representative
Kersten, Republican, of Wisconsin,
chairman of the subcommittee, if he
belonged to the Communist Party.
Talks of Army Record.
That is an infringement on my
constitutional rights said Mr.. Lewis,
and as a Congressman you ought
to know that. Id like to know why
management witnesses were not ac-
corded the same treatment you've
given me, and furthermore
Don't talk that way" interposed
Representative Hartley.
Never mind how l talk" Mr.. Lewis
retorted.
Representative Kersten then Or
dered the witness taken from the
room
When William Nicholson. business
manager of Local 2 of the Depart
ment Store Union, was asked the
question about Communist member
ship, he began talking about his
Army record.
Representative Kersten raised the
Communist question again, and Mr.
Michaelson began, Mr.. Kersten,
when l 60 in to vote"
Representative Kersten demanded
a yes" or mo" answer.
Mr. Nicholson replied: Il consider
inviolate my rights to exercise my
judgment at the moment I enter
the polling booth and the screen is
closed behind me"
ASKS wage FrODe.
When the witness was asked about
connections with an organization
classified "subversive" by the Gov
ernment, Mr.. Nicholson launched
into demand that the committee
investigate wages and working con-
ditions" and "the record of democ-
racy in our union"
Nicholas Carnes, president of Lo-
cal 1850. shouted his answer when
asked Are you now, or have you
ever been, member of the Commu-
mist Party?"
This confirms my opinion" he
said loudly, that these hearings are
intended to do the work the en-
ployers have not been able to do
to frame union leaders and send
them OF Jail"
Warned not to make speeches but
to answer the questions, Mr. Carnes
began talking about his first job in
1888 at Orbach's department store,
where the salary was $895 a week
and we worked IS hours weekly"
Another witness hustled out by
United States marshalS was Jack
Paley, secretary treasurer of Local
65