Evening star., 1950-08-29
Probers Abruptly Shift
Plans 10 Quiz Budenz
On Pressman Activity
By james J. CuIIinone

The House Committee on Un-
American Activities today abrupt
ly shifted plans to question Louis
Budenz. former Communist Party
editor about the past Communist
activities OF Lee Pressman.
Pressman disclosed yesterday
that he was an active Communist
Party member while he served as
general counsel for two major
New Deal agencies in 1885. He
said he had broken "organization-
ally" with the Communist Party
after leaving Government service.
but maintained an theological"
aff1liation until the outbreak of
the Korean war.
No explanation was given by
committee members for shifting
their plan to question Mr.. Budenz
today, The former editor of the
Daily Worker, who renounced
communism several years ago and
since has exposed the names of
many underground party workers,
was present in the committee Of
fees long before today's hearing
was scheduled to begin. He talked
at length with staff investigators.
Hearing One Hour Late.
The public hearing was more
than an hour late in starting. The
first witness. Alex Leith of Buff
falo. a public relations worker for
the left-wing United Electric, Ra-
dio and Machine Workers Union.
refused fatty to answer any ques-
tions seeking to link him with
Communist activities.
Expenditure reports fled by the
Communist Party after the 1910
presidential campaign showed
that an Alex Leith was paid
$542.50. committee council Frank
Tavenner told the witness. He
asked Leith if the money had been
paid to him.
Leith replied that he refused to
answer because the Fifth amend
'nent protected him against testi-
tying against himself. He also
refused to tell whether he ran
on the Communist Party ticket
for assemblyman in New York city
in the 1910 campaign.
3 Others Want To Testify.
Three other United Electrical
Workers were waiting to testify
when acting Chairman Walters
adjourned the hearing indefinite
ly. He refused to disclose what
information Budenz had offered
this morning that prompted the
sudden shift in plans.
Yesterdays session was electri-
fled from time to time by the
introduction of such well-known
names as Alger Hiss and his
converted" accuser, Whitaker
Chambers; Judith Coplon and
her Russian co-conspirator, VAL
entin Gubitchev: three we'll
associates Of Pressman in an
exclusive Agriculture Department
Communist cell; Yuri Novikov,
Third secretary of the Soviet EN-
oassy. and a score of others.
Budenz has told the committee
previously that he knew MIR
Pressman as a party member.
This theological separation
from the Communists began when
the Reds invaded South Korea,
Pressman explained, and was
completed when he announced
earlier this month that he was re-
signing from the American Labor
Party. His resignation followed
by few days the resignation of
Henry Wallace from the Progress
sive Party, which named him as
Its presidential candidate in
l948.
Now. Pressman explained. he is
'anti-Nazi, anti-Soviet and pro-
democratic.
The committee members ques-
Toned Pressman closely as to the
'ightness Of his theological af-
iliation with the Communist
Party while he was serving as
counsel of the CIO. He
admitted he continued to meet
With Communist leaders after his
'organizational" separation from
he party and heard their recon-
as to what should be
lone to advance the party line in
he ranks of labor.
Selected Beliefs.
He insisted. however, that he
never accepted Communist lead
RS recommendations unless they
conceded with previously estab-
ished or newly developed CIO
policy.
Pressman was emphatic in de-
nying that Alger Hiss was a mem
Der Of his cell. Hiss was convicted
of perjury for lying that he
passed Government secrets to
when the latter was an
admitted Communist Party cour-
Ter.
But, Pressman said. Chambers
came to his New York law Office
In 1886 with client whom he
introduced as "Joe Eckhart." The
latter identified himself, Press
man testified, as an official Of the
Spanish Loyalist Government,
who wanted legal help on a gun
buying mission in Mexico. Press
man said he went to Mexico with
Mr.. Eckhart, but their mission
was unsuccessful because they