Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-22
Ve|de Inquiry
Finds Oman Is
Not Communist
No Decision Reached
On Purging Files of
False Statements
By Allen Drury

The House Committee on I'm
American Activities voted Bishop
G. Bromley Oman a clean bill
of health early today, so far as
any sort of Communist Party
utilization is concerned, but left
unsettled whether it would purge
its files of what the churchman
called false statements and half
truths about his connection with
Communist-front groups.
Bishop Oman is Methodist
leader for the Washington area.
In a gruelling, 10-hour session
/ which came to an end at 1920
a m. some members of the COM
mittee charged that his zeal for
social reform-plus what one
legislator called "muddled think
ing"-had led him into SuSpi-
cious company.
What the marathon hearing
had proved was an open question
today. One thing it showed was
that both the bishop and his
queStioners had plenty of stub
bornness-and stamina. The
hearing opened at 2:30 pm.
Because of Bishop Oxnam's
scheduled departure for Europe
Friday, it kept going-with an
hour out for dinner and a couple
of recesses to permit committee
members to go to the House floor
to vote.
JackSOn'S Charge Recalled.
One thing it did not show
was that Bishop Oman ever
served God on Sunday and
Communist front for the balance
of the week." as Representative
Jackson. Republican, of Cali
fornia had charged in a House
speech last March. It was this
statement which had led Bishop
Oman to demand yesterdays
hearing.
AS the long evening wore on
the session strayed far from the
point at issue. Before Dime"
the attitude of committeeman
was sober and serious. After
dinner things tended to come
unstuck. But few of the 500-odd |
spectators who damned the
House caucus room to see the
show went home before the end.
They stayed until Chairman
Velde shook hands with Bishop
Oman and wished him God
speed"
Questions and Answers.
During the scattered periods
when the bishop and the COM
mittee managed to make each |
other stick to the point, the bish-
op was able to get into the rec
ord his answers to a series of al
legations previously published by
the committee.
These were:
1. A committee press release
dated July 3, 1916, I'm Which it
is alleged I sponsored the
American League Against War
and FdSciSn. -"
II had no association with it,"
the bishop said. II never be-
longed to it, would not have
belonged to it,"
He denied he had been a spon-
sor of a league meeting in 1887, |
but when committee counsel |
showed him a New York Times
story listing his name as a spon-
sor he amended his answer to
say he did not attend the meet
ing.
2. A release dated Septem-
Der 4, 1916, "in 10hich it is
alleged that am referred to
as collectiUist bishop that I
presided at meeting addressed
by one B. Gebert, president of
the Polish section of the IN
ternGtiondl Workers ORDER
that I haze been associated
Nth SeDerdl groups in which
Langston Hughes has also held
membership"
GAS a matter of fact" Bishop
Oman said, II never presided at
this meeting, and never met Mr..
Gebert. So far as I know, I |
have never met Mr.. Hughes
and the whole reference is gra-
tuitous. 1t is clearly designed
to discredit."
3. A release dated Septem-
Der 10. 1850, in Which he Wds
alleged to haze been inUited BIZ
the YuooSldU government to
Confined on Page AS, Col. - |
A. Cali Cu~I1~~: