Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Given By
IT S. SUPT. TS
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1
COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION
(GOVERNMENT— LABOR, PART 2)
HEARING
BEFORE THE
INCLUDING INDEX
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
36543 WASHINGTON 1953 :
Boston Public Library
of Documents
Superintendent
AUG 1 9 1S53
COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
United States House of Representatives
HAROLD H. VELDE, Illinois, Chairman
BERNARD W. KEARNEY, New York FRANCIS E. WALTER, Pennsylvania
DONALD L. JACKSON, California MORGAN M. MOULDER, Missouri
KIT CLARDY, Michigan CLYDE DOYLE, California
GORDON H. SCHERER, Ohio JAMES B. FRAZIER, Jr., Tennessee
Robert L. Kunzio, Counsel
Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., Counsel
Louis J. Russell, Chief Investigator
Thomas W. Beale, Sr., Chief Clerk
Rafhael I. Nixon, Director of Research
II
CONTENTS
Testimony of — I'age
I. Philip Sipser 1953
Greenstein
\\ illiam 1957
Charles Klare ~~~~ 1960
Index 1967
1 1 r
Public Law 601, 79th Congress
17.
******* SEC.
Committee on Un-American
121.
Rule X
STANDING COMMITTEES
(q)
(A)
*******
(1)
Un-American activities
Rule XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
Rule
5,
83d
January
X
STANDING COMMITTEES
3,
CONGRESS
1953
17.
(a)
*******
Un-American Activities.
Rule XI
POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
EXECUTIVE SESSION l
you God?
Mr. Sipser. I do.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, several communications to the
committee have been received, which should probably be made a
matter of record. Do you desire it to be done now?
Mr. Velde. It depends on the nature of the material.
Mr. Tavenner. There are several affidavits, explaining connections
of certain individuals to activities under question by this committee,
which have never been previously reported.
Mr. Velde. I think we will proceed with the hearing now, and take
the matter under advisement, Mr. Counsel.
Mr. Clardy. May I see the documents, please?
Mr. Tavenner. I understood he wanted it put in the record.
Mr. Velde. I believe we should take this up at another time, Mr.
Counsel.
Mr. Tavenner. Very well, sir.
i
Released by the committee, July 31, 1953.
1953
1954 COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Sipser, are you aware of any effort on the
part of the Communist Party in the city of New York to infiltrate
the National Lawyers' Guild in that city?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question, Mr. Tavenner, on
the same grounds stated before; that is, the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Sipser, committee investigation discloses that
you have been active in the American Labor Party, certainly as early
as 1944, and as late as 1950. In 1949 or 1950, during that period
of time, investigation discloses that you were a candidate for elec-
tion as delegate in the Sixth Assembly District in New York on the
American Labor Party ticket for several years, and that you were on
the administrative committee of the American Labor Party for Kings
County, and that you were actively engaged in the work of that party.
I would like to ask you whether, in connection with your work in the
American Labor Party, you became acquainted with a person by the
name of Morris Zuckman from Albany?
Mr. Sipser. answer that question, Mr. Tavenner, and
I decline to
assert my under the fifth amendment.
privilege
Mr. Tavenner. In connection with your work in the American
Labor Party, did you become acquainted with a person by the name of
I. Nathan Sidman of Troy, N. Y.?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer, again asserting my privilege
under the amendment.
fifth
Mr. Tavenner. Testimony was introduced in the course of our
recent hearings in Albany that these persons, members of the legal
profession, were the heads of their respective groups of the American
Labor Party. Considerable testimony was heard during these
hearings, indicating that the Communist Party of the city of Albany,
along with the Communist Party of Troy, N. Y., were conducting
the affairs of the American Labor Party by placing in high office
in the American Labor Party persons who were members of these
Communist Party groups in those cities.
Do you have any knowledge of that, sir?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question, Mr. Tavenner, on
the same grounds as stated previously; i. e., the grounds set forth
in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Do you have any knowledge of Communist Party
activities within the American Labor Party during the period you
have been active in the American Labor Party in New York?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question on the grounds
set forth in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Scherer. The two lawyers referred to, Zuckman and Sidman,
were both identified as members of the Communist Party in the
hearings in Albany?
Mr. Tavenner. Yes. What official position did you hold, Mr.
Sipser, in the brewer's union to which you referred a few moments ago?
Mr. Sipser. I hold no official position in the union, sir.
Mr. Tavenner. How were you employed in that union?
Mr. Sipser. As general counsel of the joint local executive board.
Mr. Tavenner. Will you describe that setup for us, please?
Mr. Sipser. The joint local executive board is a delegated body.
There are eight local unions which sent representatives to the joint
36543—53-
1956 COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION
Mr. Sipser. I am afraid not, sir. The title has been changed to
the Joint Local Board of Greater New York, affiliated with the Inter-
national Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL.
Mr. Tavenner. How long have you been counsel for the Board?
Mr. Sipser. Approximately four and a half years.
Mr. Tavenner. During that period of time, Mr. Sipser, has any
information come to your knowledge indicating an effort on the part
of the Communist Party to infiltrate that union?
Mr. Sipser. Sir, I decline to answer that question on the grounds
set forth in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Information has come to our attention, Mr. Sipser,
that you were one of the sponsors of the Williamsburg Annex of the
Jefferson School of Social Science at 13 Grant Avenue, at Debevoise
Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. That was in the winter of 1947. Is that
information correct?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question, Mr. Tavenner, on
the grounds set forth in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Were you at any time affiliated with the Jefferson
School of Social Science?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question on the grounds set
forth in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Will you please state to the committee whether
or not you have been a member of the Communist Party at any time
when you were a candidate for political office on the ticket of the
American Labor Party?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question, sir, on the grounds
set forth in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Have you been a member of the Communist
Party at any time while you were acting as counsel for the joint local
executive board?
Mr. Sipser. I will refuse to answer that question, asserting my
privilege set forth in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question, sir, on the same
grounds set forth in the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Clardy?
Mr. Clardy. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Sipser. I decline to answer that question, sir, on the same
grounds set forth amendment.
in the fifth
Mr. Clardy. Were you ever in any way affiliated with any affiliate
of the Communist Party?
COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION 1957
sorship of such a resolution before the CIO Council is. I don't think
it is, sir.
Mr. Clardy. I still think, Mr. Chairman, he should be directed to
answer this question. I see no possible incrimination in the question.
Mr. Velde. The Chair concurs, and I direct you to answer the
question, sir.
Mr. Klare. And I, sir, refuse to answer the question on the
grounds of the amendment.
fifth
Mr. Tavenner. Have you participated in any of the activities of
the American Labor Party, and in its campaigns?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer that question, sir, on the grounds
of my rights under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. I have before me a photostatic copy of the Worker
of June 6, 1948, and the Daily Worker of June 13, 1948, describing
certain organized opposition to the Mundt bill. Your name is
mentioned in both articles. In one of these articles you are referred
to as Charles Klare, vets director of the Greater New York CIO
Council. Will you tell us first what the vets director of the Greater
New York CIO Council means?
Mr. Klare. I decline to answer that question, sir, under the
fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Were you the vets director of the Greater New
York CIO Council?
Mr. Klare. I decline to answer that question, sir, on the grounds
of my rights under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Did you participate in the organization formed
in 1948 to oppose the Mundt bill, and if so, I would like you to tell
the committee the circumstances under which this took place in the
organization?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer this question, on the grounds of my
rights under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Were you a member of the Communist Party
at any time while you were office secretary of the Brewery Workers'
Joint Board?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer that question, sir, on the grounds
of my rights under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?
Mr. Klare. I decline to answer that question, on the grounds of
my rights under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Tavenner. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. Klare. I decline to answer that question, on the grounds of
my rights under the amendment.
fifth
Mr. Tavenner. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Clardy?
Mr. Clardy. What other persons, aside from yourself and the two
witnesses who immediately preceded you on the stand, Mr. Green-
stein and Mr. Sipser, have anything to do with actually directing the
activities of the union?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer that question, sir, on the grounds
of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Velde. I direct you to answer that question. I can see no
way in which you can possibly incriminate yourself in answering such
a question before the committee.
COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION 1963
Mr. Klare. I still refuse to answer that question, sir, on the grounds
amendment.
of the fifth
Mr. Clardy. Isn't it true, Witness, from a certain standpoint, that
you and the other two men I named substantially or jointly run and
direct the affairs of the local?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer the question, sir, on the grounds of
the fifth amendment.
Mr. Clardy. How many members are in your local?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer that question, sir, on the grounds of
the fifth amendment.
Mr. Scherer. I believe, Mr. Chairman, that the witness should be
directed to answer the question.
Mr. Velde. Again you are directed to answer the question.
Mr. Klare. Sir, I have stated that I am an employee of the
Brewery Workers' Joint Board in New York.
Mr. Clardy. The question is, How many are in the local?
Mr. Klare. I decline to answer the question, sir, on the grounds
of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Clardy. You ha Ye been directed to answer. Do you still
decline?
Mr. Klare. Yes, I still decline.
Mr. Clardy. Witness, I asked how many were in the local and
you have declined to answer. How many were in the entire group,
composed of all the locals?
Mr. Klare. There are approximately 6,000 to 6,500 members of
the brewery workers that are in local unions affiliated with the New
York Brewery Workers' Joint Board.
Mr. Clardy. So, of necessity, a member of some one local affiliates
with the entire group. What is it?
Mr. Klare. I am not a member of any local, sir, other than the
one in New York City.
Mr. Clardy. Have you ever been?
Mr. Klare. I have never been, sir.
Mr. Clardy. What other persons besides yourself, Mr. Greenstein,
and Mr. Sipser have anything to do with running the affairs of this
joint organization? The one with which you have been tied up?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer that question on the grounas of
my rights under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Clardy. Are there any others, other than you three?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer, sir, on the grounds of the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Clardy. Where does your group hold its meetings?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer, sir, on grounds of the fifth amend-
ment.
Mr. Clardy. Are there any Communists in the organization that
you know of?
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer this question, sir, on the grounds of
my rights under the fifth amendment.
Air. Clardy. Were you a veteran?
Mr. Klare. Yes, sir; I am a veteran.
Mr. Clardy. One of the earliest questions asked was something
about directing the vets' affairs. Do you mean director of affairs
dealing with veterans who are members of the various locals making
up this group?
1964 COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer the question, sir, under the fifth
amendment.
Mr. Clardy. Mr. Chairman, I ask that he be directed to answer
that question.
Mr. Velde. The Chair will concur and, without objection, you are
directed to answer the question.
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer, on grounds of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Clardy. When you were supposed to appear in New York
City, and no subpena was served, and you did not appear, were you in
the city at the time?
Mr. Klare. I was in the city, sir, when I received a phone call to
the effect that there was a subpena to be served.
Mr. Clardy. Was that prior to the date of the hearing?
Mr. Klare. That was on a Thursday afternoon. The Thursday
before the Fourth of July weekend.
Mr. Clardy. And did you leave town thereafter?
Mr. Klare. I beg your pardon?
Mr. Clardy. Did you leave the city of New York, or did you remain
there after you learned of this fact?
Mr. Klare. One moment, please.
(Witness confers with counsel.)
Mr. Klare. I refuse to answer that question, on the grounds of my
rights under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Velde. You are certainly directed to answer that question as to
whether or not you left New York City. There is no way that could
possibly incriminate you, that I can see. I direct you to answer.
Mr. Klare. Nevertheless, sir, I refuse to answer that question on
the grounds of the fifth amendment.
Mr. Clardy. You recall roughly the dates the committee held hear-
ings in the city of New York recently; do you not?
Mr. Klare. Roughly, yes. I think it was immediately after or
during the Fourth of July weekend. I might add that the entire
matter of the subpena was left in the hands of my counsel.
Mr. Scherer. From whom did you receive that telephone call with
respect to your appearance before the committee?
Mr. Klare. I believe that was a Mr. Jones who called then.
Mr. Clardy. Was that how it was brought to your attention?
Mr. Klare. That was the person who brought it to my attention,
or informed me about the subpena. A person who identified himself
as Mr. Jones, from Washington, representing the House Committee
on Un-American Activities.
Mr. Scherer. What did you say to Mr. Jones?
Mr. Klare. I told Mr. Jones I would call my counsel and tell him
there was a subpena which was to be served.
Mr. Clardy. Were you struck with any illness immediately after
that information was given to you, or did you remain in good health
until the hearings were over?
Mr. Klare. The best of health, sir.
Mr. Clardy. You had no difficulties at that time which prevented
your attendance at the hearing?
Mr. Klare. No, sir. As I say, the matter of the appearance was
left in the hands of my counsel. I believe I referred Mr. Jones to my
counsel.
Mr. Scherer. Whom did you refer him to?
COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION 1965