Evening star., 1950-06-25
veIde Asks Reopening
OF Investigation Info
Movie Communism


Declaring that the House Com
mittee on Un-American Activities
has "photostatic evidence" of the
Communist party aff1liation OF
% movie figures, Representative
Velde, Republican, of Illinois,
called today for the reopening of
the Reds-in- Hollywood hearings.
THE film capital has been a
hotbed Of Communists for a long
time," he asserted, land its about
time we cooled them off,"
To prove they can be cooled of,
Mr.. Velde pointed to the recent
refusal of the Supreme Court to
review the convictions for con-
tempt of Congress of two Holly
wood writer's, Dalton Trumbo and
John Howard Lawson.
Given Year In Jail.
Trumbo and Lawson refused to
answer when the committee asked
them in the fall of 1947 whether
they were Communists. They were
cited by Congress and convicted in
District Court. Each got a year In
Jail and was fined $1,000.
Eight other writer's who also re-
fused to answer the committees
big question at that time agreed
to be bound by the decision in the
Trumbo-Lawson case, but are now
seeking separate trials.
Mr.. Velde said he was hopeful
that the % others would learn
from the experience of what the
Daily Worker calls The Hollywood
Ten and be cooperative witnesses.
The Hollywood hearings, first
launched in the 80th Congress, is
in the news again on another
front. Drew Pearson, in a running
attack on Committee Chairman
Wood. has accused the latter of
falling to investigate the Aim
capital after a lawyer friend re-
ceived a $4,000 fee from Metro
Goldwyn-Mayer for handling a
minor business matter in Wash
tngton.
May Turn to Other Matters.
Before the attack on Mr.. Wood
began. 1t was known that he had
planned to reopen the hearings
during this session of Congress.
Some observers feel that he may
now turn to other matters on the
crowded committee. agenda rather
than be accused of bowing to the
columnist.
The committee. although it has
taken a back seat in the headline
business to the Mccarthy charges
OF Communists in the State De-
partment. has been extremely ac-
tive and has big plans for the
remainder of the year, according
to Mr.. Velde.
A nearing which may be set
up, the representative said, would
involve DR.. Edward U. Condor.
director of the National Bureau
OF Standards. who was called zone
OF the weakest links in our atomic
security" by House subcommit-
tee two years ago.
The committee was widely
criticized for not hearing the sci
enlist at the time. He has said he
would never request an appear
ance before the group. Mr.. Wood,
IN turn, has stated that the COM
mittee would grant DR.. Condor a
hearing If he asked for it, but
would not call one otherwise. The
chairman is reported to have
changed his mind and now to be
receptive to the idea of calling in
the Standards chief.
Working on Sorge Case.
Mr.. Velde also said that COM
mittee investigators have been
working quietly on ramifications
here of the Sorge spy ring case
f1rst revealed by Gen. MacAr-
thurs headquarters in Tokyo in
February 1949.
DIR. Richard Sorge was a Ger
man-born Soviet spy master who
operated in Japan from 1881 until
he was caught and hanged in
1943. In his diary and confession
he listed the names of many
Americans as contacts or persons
ne believed might be developed as
sources for the ring. The COM
mittee has been checking some of
these persons. one of whom is q
wen-known author and magazine
writer on China.
Listed on the committee calen-
dar for July are the following:
l. Release next Sunday of exec
utive session testimony which was
the basis for the grand jury in
dictment Of William j. Reming-
ton. Commerce Department off,
cial, on charges he perjured him
self when he denied ever having
been a member of the Communist
party.
2. Further hearings into the
United Electrical Workers Union
on July 10. Ben Riskin, Alexan-
der Leith, Winchard Dee and
Henry Fiering. U. E. of1icials, will
be subpoenaed.
3. A hearing on July IS into a
case of international espionage
and violence