Evening star., 1950-02-06


Introduced Christoffe
As a Good BoIshevik
Louis F. Budenz, ex-Communis
and former editor of the Dali
Worker, official organ of the Com
munist Party. today testified il
District Court that Harold r
Christoffel was introduced to hin
as "a good Bolshevik
Mr.. Budenz, now an economic
professor at Fordham University
is the Governments star witnes
against Christoffel in the forme
Milwaukee labor leaders trial O,
perjury charges.
ChriStoffel is on trial for tn,
second time on charges that h,
lied before a House Labor Com
mittee in" 1947 when he deniet
having Communist affiliations.
MIR. Budenz, a small scholarly.
looking man, took the stand al
noon. After describing his active
participation as a member of the
Communist Party, starting ir
1885, he described his first meet.
ing with Christoffel in Chicago ir
1887.
Meeting Recalled.
The scene, he said, was in the
building of the Midwest Daily
Record, official newspaper for the
Communist Party in Chicago. Mr.
Budenz said that two men, de-
scribed as active Communists, in.
troduced Christoffel to him with
these words:
This is a good Bolshevik. He i,
a member of the Socialist Part,
who is working to disintegrate it.
Mr.. BudenZ said the two men
Gunnar Nicholson and Emi
Costello. and Christoffel thel
Joined him in a conference. MI
Budenz said he had been de
legated by the Communist Party
fPolitburo to operate the Midwes
Daily Record, He added that tn,
conference was to study variou
policy matters of the party.
The witness said that JacI
Stachel also joined them. HI
identified Stachel as perhaps tn
most powerful man in the Polit
buro."
Mr.. Bundenz added that Stache
recognized Christoffel without an,
introduction at that time.
Greeted as Comrades"
They greeted each other a
comrades" Mr.. Budenz said. H
explained that comrade was tn
customary saluation" used b,
party members.
He continued that the primary
item of~business at that meeting
was to study means of gathering
nucleus of Communists within
the Socialist Party in Wisconsin.
The witness recalled tha
Stachel said disintegration ant
destruction of the Socialist Part,
was imperative because it was /;
rival to the Communist Party.
Mr.. Budenz said all those pres
ent at the meeting, including
Christoffel, joined a discussion O
a scheduled meeting of trad
unionists, largely Communists, t,
launch a financial drive to sup
port the Midwest Daily Record.
Mr.. Budenz testified that h
saw Christoffel several times dur
ing the next two years.
In the House this Afternoon
Chairman LesinSki of the Hous
Labor Committee reported t.
| Speaker Rayburn that he ha'
gone to District Court this morn
ing in response to subpoena t
Christoffel's trial, but had no
taken with him committee record
which had been demanded. Thi
was in accordance with instruc
tions given him by the House las
week.
Demanded Al Records.
Mr.. LesipSki reported that at
torneys for Christoffel did not in
sist on getting the minutes of hi
committee for the present. Con
gress. but did demand those fol
the committee meeting of Marci
2, 1947.
The House took no furthel
action Immediately on the matter
1t was pointed out last week b.
Majority Leader Mccormack tha
Mr.. Lesinski did not have custod.
of committee records of the 80tl
Congress and that they were il
charge of the House clerk.
Christoffel was convicted in tn
first trial of committing perjur
before the House Labor Committe
in 1947. The Supreme Court late
reversed this verdict because tn
Government failed to show that
committee quorum was presen
when Christoffel allegedly lie
when he denied any Communis
affiliations.
| Thirteen present or forme
1 members of the committee hav
testified in the second trial tina
they were present when the allege
;lperjury was committed. That fig
ure constitutes a quorum. Defens
Counsel o. John Rogge is expecte
Ito challenge this testimony vigor
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