Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-03-27

worked for policies and programs
which would improve the working
conditions of Federal employees
and which-as far as I have been
able to-ref1ect the wishes OF the
majority Of Government en-
ployes."
| In that first hearing. the charge
against Miss Bailey was developed
in other ways. She was asked
about her association with a num-
Der of persons. Some. she denied
knowing. All the rest, she identi-
fed as present or past officials OF
UPWA's national organization. its
locals here, or the Industrial
Union. Council. She admitted
having had dealings with all OF
them on union business, but de-
MED other association with them.
She said she had voted for some
of them for union Office. and had
nominated one. She said she had
no reason to suppose they were
Communists.
The panels pursued this matter
Of association by asking Miss
Bailey about her connection with
number of organizations which
are not on the Attorney Generals
prescribed list but which have ac-
uuired a reputation as Com
munist front organizations" Miss
Bailey said she had been men,
Der of the Southern Conference
for Human Welfare for about one
year in 1916 or 1947. She could
not remember whether she had
ever belonged to the National
Negro Congress.
No Further Evidence.
She denied sny association with
the American Peace Mobilization,
American Peoples Mobilization,
League for Women Shoppers or
National Federation for Constitu-
tional Liberties.
There were questions revealing
further information about Miss
Bailey's neutrality-suspicious.. for
example. as to why. as a tourist.
she once spent three weeks sight
seeing in Russia-and whether she
believed in the racial segregation
of blood banks.
All this was what might be
called the circumstantial side OF
the case.
But, beyond the nine ACCUSE
tons listed above, there was
no further disclosure of facts
underlying the specific charge
that Miss Bailey was a Com
munist. This was the full extent
/ to which the defense was let in on
the details. Attorney Paul Porter,
who defended Miss Bailey before
the review panel on December 8.
argued that these naked allega-
tions"-as he called them-were
not enough.
They were. he said. the result
of malicious. irresponsible, reck-
less gossip which has no founda-
ton whatsoever in fact and stems
from an internecine union con-
| troversy ."
The official transcript of that
hearing continues:
Chairman Richardson (Seth
w. Richardson) I can only say to
you that five or six of the reports
come from informants certified to
us by the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation as experienced and
entirely reliable.
Mr.. Porter: We would like to
have their names, and I would
challenge any one Of them to state
it publicly in a non privileged
form. Mr.. Chairman, would
we be privileged to obtain at least
this much information? Those in
formants which are judged reli-
able by the Federal Bureau Of
Investigation, have they been &C
tive in the Federal Workers Union
activity?
No knowledge Of Accusers.
Chairman Richardson: I haven't
the slightest knowledge as to who
they were or how active they have
been in anything.
II think" said Mr.. Porter, that
is very relevant" Later. the for
mer OPA administrator again
pressed this point:
Mr.. Porter: We renew our re-
quest, even though we recognize
the futility Of it, that some identi-
fication of this malicious gossip
be given this respondent or her
counsel.
Chairman Richardson: OF
course, that doesn't help us bit.
If this testimony is true, it is
neither gossip nor malicious. We
are under the difficulty OF not
being able to disclose this.
Mr.. Porter: Is 1t under oathi