Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-04
Senators Told
Red Probing
Is ineffective
Ex-Porty Member
Hits 'Rucketeers of
Anti-Communism'
BY L. EDGAR PRINA


the Daily Worker. blasting the
I"racketeers" of anti-communism,
today told the Senate Internal
Security Subcommittee its in
of Reds had been
ineffective"
James S. Chaser, the lead-off
witness in the second phase of
the subcommittee inquiry into
Isubversives in press, radio and
television, testified freely but
under protest. He said he had
been trying to destroy the
cancer of communism" since he
broke with the party in 1886
after two years affiliation.
But you can't do 1t eight
Reds with Investigations of this
type because they enhance the
reputation OF questionable char
acters who are in the Commu-
mist Party for six or eight years
and quit and then blossom out
as experts" he asserted.
"They pose as national celeb
rites. but they are degenerate
intellectuals, journalistic prosti-
tutes and racketeers who make a
business of fighting commu-
nism," Mr.. CHASER added.
Cites Background
The 56-year-old witness. a
former New York Times copy
reader. said he joined the staff
of the Bronx Home News in 1887
and when that paper merged
with the New York Post he re-
manned on the staff. He is still
employed by the Post.
Mr.. CHASER protested at being
called in public session after
having been questioned behind
closed doors. He told the sub
committee his appearance today
served only Ito place me on ex-
.hibition and make spectacle of
me because of a dreadful mis-
take, / made 81 years ago." He
added;
II have suffered bitterly 1t
has been a horrible nightmare.
Now you are raking up old
wounds and causing me to suffer
all byer again.
Chairman Eastland. Democrat
lof Mississippi, and Senators Jen-
Iner of Indiana. Welker Of Idaho
and Watkins of Utah. all Re-
ipublicans. assured Mr.. CHASER he
was making substantial con-
tribution to the Nations efforts
to combat communism by his
public testimony.
Pleads for Privacy
But the short. gray haired
witness was not convinced. Il
Just want to be left alone-why
can't people leave me alone?" he
asked.
Nj. CHASER said he had not
made "a lead cent" out of his
Communist experience, although
he had been offered fabulous"
sums to write inside stories about
it. He told the subcommittee ne
Joined the Communist Party on
principle and left it on principle"
MI. CHASER said he joined the
New York Times in 1929 and left
in July, 1884. TO take the post of
managing editor Of the Daily
Worker. He assured the Seaa-
tors that the Times had never
followed the Communist line.
Mi. CHASER said the Daily
Worker had announced he would
write series on corruption and
graft in the New York Times
the day he was to take over as
managing editor. He said he
told the Communist high COM
imand that he had no intention
of writing such a series and al
most quit the Daily Worker
right then and there.
He added that he never did. in
fact. write such a series.
Identifies Policy Maker
Under piIncfI6pipu hv ctIhr0Y,1
,mittee counsel j. G. Sourwine the
witness said a man by tie name
of Edwards. whom he tier iden-
tilted as Gerhart Eisler, actually
dictated the policy of the Daily
Worker as Moscow's representa-
tive in the United States
Seven Of the nine subcommit-
tee members were present as the
hearing got underway in the SEN
| See SECURITY. Page As