Chapter IV: Part 4

So the factory cell can only become a strong Party organization
capable of acting efficiently, and connected with the masses,
when it operates on the basis of strong shop cells. Therefore the
strong shop cell is the most important organizational guarantee
for the good working of the general factory cell. The shop cell in
its turn will only work well when it is able to organize the whole
mass of the workers of its shop around the issues of the class
struggle, which are near to and understood by all the workers of
the shop, including non-Party workers and members of the reformist
unions and members of the Social-Democratic Party. Shop cells
should carry on their mass work within the shop on the basis of
the tactic of the united front from below through revolutionary
shop stewards. Revolutionary shop stewards in their turn most
include among their number the most active Communists, members of
the shop cells, but in addition individual revolutionary-minded
Social-Democratic workers and non-Party advanced workers must be
drawn into this work who are ready not to listen to their leaders
in the struggle against the employers and their agents. When the
shop cell succeeds in creating the institution of revolutionary
shop stewards leading their everyday struggle, then no police can
drive the Party organization from the factory, then, in order
to drive the Party organization out of the factory it will be
necessary to shut the factory down, to dismiss all the workers and
recruit a new staff of workers.

22. ON WORK IN THE MASS ORGANIZATIONS

Mass organizations must be divided into two large groups: mass
organizations supporting the Communist parties and other mass
organizations fighting the Communist Parties. To the first
category belong the revolutionary trade unions. ILD, WIR, etc.
Organizations of the second kind are in their turn divided
into two groups: 1) formerly non-Party mass organizations like
reformist christian and other reactionary trade unions, sport
organizations, etc. and 2) all kinds of organizations politically
hostile to us, such as the Social-Democratic Party, various
Fascist political unions, etc.

In all non-Party mass proletarian organizations, such as trade
unions, sport organizations, tenants’ organizations, etc.
the Party should form fractions embracing all Communists and
sympathizers. There are thousands of decisions about fractions
in mass organizations, but up to now the position in all Parties
with regard to fractions is bad. In the first place fractions
are far from being organized everywhere. In the second place,
organized fractions in the majority of cases work without the
direction of the Party Committee. So, the Party Committees should
before all find out whether fractions exist everywhere, where they
should be established, and in the second place it is essential
that Party Committees should direct the work of the fractions
and that the fractions should in the strictist way carry out
all the directions of the corresponding Party Committees. In
the constitution of the Communist Party it is laid down that a
fraction has the right to appeal against the decision of a Party
Committee. A Party Committee is bound to examine the protest of a
fraction against its decision in the presence of a representative
of a fraction. The decision of a Party Committee is binding on a
fraction and there is no appeal against it: it should be accepted
without argument and put into the life without delay. At present
in practice directions of the Party Committee are frequently not
carried out by fractions. The task of the Party is to see that
every fraction carries out these directions in the strictest way.
With regard to fraction members who avoid carrying out directions,
the most serious explanatory work must essentially be undertaken
and in case of necessity, the strictest Party measures should
be taken even up to expulsion from the Party, for otherwise the
Party will be completely unable to direct the work of a fraction.
There may be cases when swift interference of the Party Committee
is called for, while it may be impossible to convene a full
meeting of the Party Committee to give out such a new direction.
For example, some trade union Congress or other is being held.
Before the congress the fraction meets, called together by the
Party Committee and jointly works out instructions. But during the
Congress questions may come up which have not been foreseen in the
directions of the Party Committee. What is to be done? Should the
committee meet immediately? And how can this be arranged, when
questions may arise at any moment which are absolutely unexpected
and which must be reacted to at once? For such cases the Party
Committee must nominate a special group of three comrades or a
plenipotentiary representative, who could decide in the name of
the Party Committee. At the meeting of the fraction it should be
explained that for the leadership of the work of the fraction the
Party Committee has nominated a group of three comrades consisting
of such and such comrades, or such a plenipotentiary, and that
the intervention of these comrades, their propositions, should be
looked upon by all fraction members as official directions of the
Party Committee and carried out without any argument. In this way
uninterrupted guidance of the Party Committee is guaranteed in the
work of the fraction.

Mr. DENNETT. I would only say that the existence of a document of that kind probably was more responsible for Mr. Browder’s insisting that the central committee disavow all previous documents which had been issued prior to, I think, 1938. That one was issued much earlier. This was issued in the period just as the depression was starting. In fact, the depression had not reached its maximum at the time that document came out, and it anticipated the depression was coming, and laid out plans how to take advantage of the depression for revolutionary purposes.

Mr. TAVENNER. I notice under section 17 of this document a reference to the voluntary character of the person’s membership in the Communist Party. This reference reads:

The Communist Party is a voluntary organization, but every worker
who voluntarily joins the ranks of the Communist Party accepts
iron party discipline. If that discipline seems very hard to him,
even unbearable, then the party should not shut its doors upon him.

Mr. DENNETT. At the time I first came into the Communist Party the most common expression I heard in that connection was that you couldn’t leave the Communist Party voluntarily. And I think that document intends to convey that impression because individuals who become members of the Communist Party become privileged to knowledge and information about their associates which, if they leave the Communist Party, may fall into the hands of persons who are unsympathetic to the Communist Party. And they were fearful that whenever anything like that would occur it would hurt the working class. As a matter of fact, most people in the Communist Party are probably just blaspheming me up one side and down the other for testifying here to you on these matters for that very same reason.

It is my own feeling, however, that the average member of the party is completely unaware of the nature of the discipline. They only come in contact with surface scratches of it.

Mr. TAVENNER. This document also refers to the importance of establishing cells of the Communist Party among the professions, such as the doctors and the lawyers; does it not?

Mr. DENNETT. Yes.

The attitude of the party was simply that it must win the majority of the working class to support its position. To do so often required the aid and assistance of prominent people.

Now this is a political tactic which every political group uses. This is not something peculiar to the Communists, but they used it quite effectively.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, I think that this document warrants a great deal of study and analysis. It should be analyzed, and the contents of it put into this record. It would take too long to attempt to do it through answer-and-question form.

Mr. DENNETT. Well, it has roots in the fundamental theory of the Communist movement, which actually should be pursued when you have time and leisure to do so. It is not something that lends itself to this meeting.

Mr. MOULDER. It has been admitted as an exhibit, and, by order of the committee, if it is agreeable with Congressman Velde, consent will be given to counsel to read such portions as he wishes to read at this point.

Mr. VELDE. May I ask counsel, have we ever had a similar document to this one?

Mr. TAVENNER. I was so impressed with the contents of this document, Mr. Chairman, that I called our Washington office. I received a reply this morning that there is neither a copy nor a record of this document in the files of the committee.

I am unable to state without further study whether there is anything of a similar character. But this document certainly goes into detail. It is much plainer in its purposes than anything I have seen on the subject.

Mr. MOULDER. How many pages are there in the document?

Mr. TAVENNER. It is 26 pages in length. However, the exhibit covered page 1 and pages 17 through 26.

Mr. MOULDER. How do you refer to that exhibit?

Mr. TAVENNER. That is Dennett Exhibit No. 1. It is so marked.

Mr. MOULDER. From whom did you receive this document?

Mr. DENNETT. I received it when I was district agitprop director in the district.

Mr. MOULDER. And do you know the source of it?

Mr. DENNETT. It came through the mail from the central committee.

Mr. MOULDER. The central committee of what?

Mr. DENNETT. Of the Communist Party in New York City.

Mr. MOULDER. Let me ask you the date you received it. Approximately in what year?

Mr. DENNETT. It must have been in about 1932.

Mr. TAVENNER. How long were you engaged in the work of an organizer at Bellingham?

Mr. DENNETT. Approximately 1 year. The latter part of 1932 through the early part of 1933.

Mr. TAVENNER. Did you have any experience in youth work within the Communist Party while you were at Bellingham?

Mr. DENNETT. Not too much in Bellingham. There was a little work of the Young Communist League there. They did interest a few students at the normal school. There was a normal school in Bellingham, and they did organize, I think, a half dozen young people who became interested in the theoretical work of Marx and Lenin. Most of those later became members of the Communist Party.

Mr. TAVENNER. Was there an organization known as Pioneers, or Young Pioneers, in the Communist Party?

Mr. DENNETT. Yes; Young Pioneers of America.

Mr. TAVENNER. Are you now speaking of that group?

Mr. DENNETT. No. That group I have just referred to was the Young Communist League, which dealt with a group in the younger age, but mature people. The Young Pioneers was an effort on the part of the Communist Party to organize a group which would be comparable to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

In the Soviet Union the Young Pioneers occupied that position. It is a position of support to the Government. It is a position of support to the Communist Party similarly as the Scouts are here to the Government and service organizations and patriotic organizations occupy a similar position, parallel organization.

Mr. VELDE. There is one distinct difference, is there not?

Mr. DENNETT. I can think of several.

Mr. VELDE. The Young Pioneer movement is financed by the Soviet State, and here in America the Boy Scout movement is financed by good will of the American people.

Mr. DENNETT. I don’t know too much about how they finance it there. I have an idea that they probably do finance a lot of it through individual contributions, however, there. I think that there are dues, membership, and that sort of thing which carries the big part of the financing. Of course, it receives approval by the Government, and receives favors.

Mr. TAVENNER. Were you called upon in connection with your Communist Party duties to either organize or supervise the operation of any of the Young Pioneer groups?

Mr. DENNETT. Yes.

There was one occasion when I was falling in some disfavor in the eyes of the district leadership, and they wanted to get me out of their hair. At the time a young woman by the name of Yetta Stromberg came to Seattle from California for the purpose of organizing a Young Pioneer summer camp. And she requested the district leadership to assign someone from the district leadership to work with her in the organization and supervision of this camp.

Mr. MOULDER. Can you give us the year on that?

Mr. DENNETT. I am quite sure this was in 1932. I think this was before I went to Bellingham.

Mr. TAVENNER. Was this while you were in Seattle?

Mr. DENNETT. While I was in Seattle.

I was the one chosen to go to this camp to represent the district. The purpose at the camp was to offer summer recreation facilities to provide relaxation for youths, young people, under supervision of party leadership, and to introduce them to some of the theoretical program of the Communist Party.

Mr. TAVENNER. Was it basically an actual part of the Communist Party plan of recruitment and indoctrination?

Mr. DENNETT. Yes, it was. I thought we were quite successful, too.

Mr. TAVENNER. What age group attended that camp?

Mr. DENNETT. Well, at that particular camp the age limits were not restricted too narrowly. Ordinarily the age limit would be in the teens for the Young Pioneers. Some of them did get up just beyond, up into the early twenties. These young people were of mixed age and grouping.

Mr. TAVENNER. I hand you another document which we found among the documents you turned over to the committee, and I will ask you to identify it, if you will, as a flier advertising the camp to which you refer.

(Document handed to the witness.)

Mr. DENNETT. Oh, yes. This was circulated by the party to its branches, and was especially circulated among what we called the language sections.

The language sections were organizations such as the Finnish Federation, and there were some Slavic organizations; there were some Jewish organizations, which were national in form. I mean only members of those particular national groups belonged to those organizations. And we were trying to offer them an opportunity to see to it that their children had a chance to go to a summer camp and to have as much prestige and as much satisfaction as people who went to YMCA or YWCA camps, or Girl Scout or Boy Scout camps.

We were trying to rival them, compete.

Mr. TAVENNER. In other words, was the Communist Party selecting what was probably to the interests of a group of people and attempting to use it for the benefit, and the advancement of Communist Party purposes?

Mr. DENNETT. Very true.

Mr. TAVENNER. I desire to offer the document in evidence, and ask that it be marked “Dennett Exhibit No. 2,” and that it be incorporated in the transcript of the record.

Mr. MOULDER. The exhibit offered in evidence, marked “Exhibit Dennett No. 2,” for identification, will be admitted as a part of the record.

DENNETT EXHIBIT NO. 2

PIONEER’S SUMMER CAMP

On the other side of this page are the questions which will have
to be filled out in detail by all the children who wish to go to
the camp, or by their parents. The Pioneer Summer Camp this year
will be held at Pine Lake, 30 miles outside of Seattle. The camp
will open on July 10, and will last for a period of one month
unless too many children who wish to go cannot be accommodated
during this time. If such is the case, the camp will last for 6
instead of 4 weeks. Each child will remain for a period of two
weeks.

The charge will be $5 for the two weeks, if possible the parents
pay this amount. If not, then the sponsoring organization is
to make arrangements to raise the money. By the sponsoring
organization is meant the organization that recommends the child
for the summer camp and assists the camp project in every way
possible. Every child coming to the camp must be O. K.’d by some
such organization, so that we are sure that the children at the
camp are worth while elements to work with. 50 children will
be accommodated during each shift. The transportation will be
provided by the sponsoring organization. Parents, if they like,
will be able to visit the camp during week ends.

The camp will provide swimming, boxing, boating, dancing, music,
dramatics, educational and organizational training along working
class lines. A lot of fun and real training for every worker’s
child. The location is great, right on the shore of Pine Lake,
pine trees on the grounds, good beach, swings and teeter-totters
for the children. The children will be taken good care of, there
will be a nurse at the camp the full time, good meals will be
served and the children will be watched all the time they are
swimming, so parents need have no fear that their children will
not be properly cared for.

For further information, phone Main 9850, Seattle, or write to
Lila Walker, Secretary Pioneer Camp Committee, 1421½ Eighth
Avenue, Seattle.

All children who have filled out their application blanks and
have been accepted by the executive committee of the summer camp
conference in Seattle should bring the following equipment with
them:

1. A sheet blanket, to be used instead of sheets, or sheets if the
parents prefer them; also pillow case (pillows will be provided.)

2. Sufficient blankets and quilts for covering.

3. Three or four towels.

4. Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap.

5. Bathing suit, several pairs of stockings or socks, several
changes of underwear, play clothes, tights for boys, some kind of
sun suit for girls, if possible.

6. Balls, bats, checkers, dominoes, puzzles, books, paints, etc.,
should be brought by the children if they have any and would like
to put them into the camp library while they are at camp.

THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS WHICH EVERY CHILD MUST PASS

1. The child must be sponsored by some working class organization.

2. The child must be examined by a physician furnished by the
sponsoring organization.

3. The signature of either or both of the child’s parents must be
obtained before the child will be considered for the camp.

4. The child must be between the ages of 10 and 15. (Inclusive.)

5. The registration fee of $5 must be brought with each child to
the camp when he or she comes, this fee to be paid by the parents
or by the sponsoring organization.

6. The child must be of a working class family and his parents
must thoroughly understand the purpose of the camp.

7. Each child must fill out one of the registration blanks sent
out from the Pioneer Camp Committee, 1421½ Eighth Avenue,
Seattle.

REGISTRATION BLANK FOR PIONEER SUMMER CAMP AT PINE LAKE

(Please read the instructions on the other side carefully before
filling out this blank.)

Organization sponsoring-----------------------------------------
Name------------------------------------------------------------
Address-------------------- City--------------- State-----------
Age----------- School attending------------------ Grade---------
Occupation, if any------------------------------ Wages----------
Where employed--------------------------------------------------
Member of what organizations------------------------------------
Did you ever attend a Pioneer camp before?----------------------
If so, when and where-------------------------------------------
Did you ever attend a summer camp for Boy Scouts, Girl Reserves,
Girl Scouts, etc.?------------ If so, when----------------------
Mother’s name---------------------------------------------------
Occupation---------------------- Working?---------- Wages-------
Are you willing that your child go to a working-class children’s
camp for the purposes of recreation, physical development, and
working-class training?-----------------------------------------
(Yes)

-----------------------------------
Mother’s Signature

Father’s name---------------------------------------------------
Occupation---------------------- Working?---------- Wages-------
Are you willing that your child go to a working-class children’s
camp for the purposes of recreation, physical development,
and working-class training?-------------------------------------
(Yes)

-----------------------------
Father’s Signature

Fee of $5 for two weeks being paid by organization
sponsoring------------------------------------------------------
Fee of $5 for two weeks being paid by parents-------------------
This is to certify that I have examined-------------------------
and have found him, her, with no physical disabilities and
free of communicable disease. Signed
---------------------------
Examining physician

The------------------------------ Feels that--------------------
Name of sponsoring organization child’s name

--------------------------------answers all the requirements for
admission to the Pioneer Summer Camp and is sponsoring him, her.

------------------------------------
_Secretary of sponsoring organization._

------------------------------------
_Chairman of sponsoring organization._

Mr. TAVENNER. I would like to read into the record one or two sentences from this advertisement:

Every child coming to the camp must be O. K.’d by some such
organization, so that we are sure that the children at the camp
are worthwhile elements to work with.

What was meant by that?

Mr. DENNETT. Well, I cannot recall exactly at this time except to say that it was our purpose then to find young people who would have at least enough knowledge and understanding to be possible leadership material. It was our hope and purpose to develop more leaders. We needed them very much.

Mr. TAVENNER. To develop them for leadership in the Communist Party?

Mr. DENNETT. True.

Mr. TAVENNER. Did you conduct any courses at the camp yourself?

Mr. DENNETT. Yes; I did.

Mr. TAVENNER. We find among the documents that you turned over to us what apparently is a questionnaire submitted to a number of members of the class, with their names appearing on them and with questions relating to their plans for the future, what they consider about class struggle, surplus value, materialist conception of history, and so forth.

I do not want you to mention in the testimony the names of any of these individuals at this moment, but I would like you to examine the questionnaire.

Mr. DENNETT. I have my own copy.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you examine the group and state whether any child attending these classes was as young as 15 years of age?

Mr. DENNETT. I have one 19, I have one 16. Yes; here is one 15.

Mr. TAVENNER. In fact, there are several as young as 15 years of age, are there not?

Mr. DENNETT. 21, 20, 15, 17, 17. Yes; 18, 17, 17.

Mr. TAVENNER. Am I correct in stating that this is in the form of a questionnaire to determine the success of the training at this camp?

Mr. DENNETT. Well it must be remembered that I was just fresh from teaching, and one of the things that a teacher has to learn is whether or not their teaching is successful. The way you determine that is to devise a test. So I devised a test to determine whether or not my efforts had been successful. So this is in the form of a test.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, what reaction you get from reading the test papers of some of the younger of the group? Say, 15, 16, and 17 years of age.

Mr. DENNETT. I have picked out those 2 that were 15 years of age.

I had something here in which I asked this kind of question: What organizations they belonged to. I asked them to list them. And this one said: “YPA,” which was the Young Pioneers of America. And a workers’ youth club.

And I asked also what kind of work they did in the organization, and one of them says that he was the secretary of the club. And I asked what his occupation was, and he said a student in school. And I asked if he had any special abilities, and he says “Sing, act, sports, football and track.” Hobby: “music, sports, reading.” Main shortcoming: “To learn more about organization.” Received most benefit from camp: “Art and music.” Most benefit from class: “What Marxism is based on.”

Mr. MOULDER. Are you reading the answers to the questions?

Mr. DENNETT. These are the answers to the questions.

I asked what they knew about the materialist conception of history, and this student answered:

“It is based on scientific facts.”

I asked if the student understood surplus value, and this student answered:

“The difference between the amount paid to the worker and the amount of goods he produces.”

I asked this student if he understood the meaning of the class struggle, and his answer in his own handwriting is:

“It is the history of the workers fighting against their rulers.”

I asked his plans for the future, and his answer is:

“To help organize the Pioneers and the Workers Youth Group.”

And I asked if there was anything special, and this student answers:

“I want to start a sports club, and I wish to play the baritone horn.”

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. DENNETT. I have another one here of a little older one who was 21 years of age at that time. Without going through all of the preliminaries, there are certain details here that are of some concern. And this is in that student’s own handwriting.

I asked what is the most benefit he received from the class, and his answer is:

“Why the present system cannot stand up.”

I asked what his understanding of materialist conception of history was, and he said:

“Taking a scientific attitude.”

I asked him if he understood surplus value, and his answer is:

“Is the amount of the value left after the laborer’s wages are paid.”

I asked him if he understood the class struggle, and he said:

“It is a struggle for the needs of the working class.”

I asked for plans for the future, and his answer:

“To work on Pioneer--”

I asked if anything special, and he says:

“To develop public speaking and to be able to teach workers of the class struggle.”

We looked upon that student as a very promising student.

Mr. TAVENNER. For any particular reason?

Mr. DENNETT. For the reason that he indicated that he was interested in continuing his efforts in the class struggle.

Mr. TAVENNER. In looking over these I find another name where the age is given as 14 years of age. I believe that is about the youngest of the group.

Among those papers is also a list of the names of students. I am not certain that they are the same students whose examination papers are attached.

Mr. DENNETT. They are.

Mr. TAVENNER. I desire to have these documents marked “Dennett Exhibit No. 3” for identification only. I do not want to make them a part of the record. However, I desire to withdraw from this exhibit one typewritten sheet describing the objectives of the Pioneer Leader’s camp and have it admitted in evidence and marked “Dennett Exhibit No. 3-A,” to be incorporated in the transcript of the record.

Mr. MOULDER. It is so ordered.

And the committee wishes to announce the purpose of so admitting them in that manner is that we do not wish to reveal at this time the names of young people who were then being indoctrinated into the Communist philosophy or belief through their enrollment in the Young Pioneers’ youth camp. Is that the name of it?

Mr. DENNETT. Young Pioneers.

Mr. MOULDER. Because we feel that it might be an injustice to them for they probably have had no connection with the Communist Party, and maybe never did have so far as we have any evidence to show.

DENNETT EXHIBIT NO. 3-A

The Pioneer Leader’s Camp had two objectives: One to equip those
in the Camp with the necessary theoretical foundation to do
effective work in the Revolutionary Movement in general; and
second to equip and train them to do Pioneer Work in particular.

The First Objective was approached mainly from the class in
Theory which dealt with 1. The Materialist Conception of History,
2. Dialectics, 3. Surplus Value, 4. The Class Struggle, 5.
Orientation in Organization, 6. Proletarian, 7. Discipline as
Social Control.

The Second Objective was approached from the very organization
of the camp itself. Study circles were arranged in the subjects
of Revolutionary Art, Revolutionary Music, Study of Science,
Woodcraft--practical work, gathering wood etc.--sewing--practical
work, sewing badges for Pioneer Leaders, organized
sports--learning games which have been organized with a view
to adaptation to use with workers children in a way to take
chauvinism out of them, etc., and still retain the benefits of
physical exercise contained therein.

Mr. VELDE. I presume, Mr. Chairman, that some of those members of the Young Pioneers are still in the area.

Mr. DENNETT. I think some of them probably are, although it is very difficult to keep track of young women because of their changing names.

Mr. MOULDER. It might result in an injustice to reveal them at this time.

Mr. DENNETT. Right.

Mr. MOULDER. May I ask, Are you going into the conduct of the classes, how you proceeded to teach them, what they were taught, and whether or not you felt the answers to the questions were the result of your teaching at that time?

Mr. DENNETT. I think I could answer that briefly, that they certainly were the result of my teaching.

Mr. TAVENNER. I have a few other questions, Mr. Chairman, to finish this subject.

Mr. VELDE. Let me state that while I concur with the chairman and the views of our counsel that the names of these young people should not be put on record, I do think that any adults you knew to be members of the Communist Party should be identified in this record at the present time.

Mr. MOULDER. May I also add that further investigation will be made concerning it.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Dennett, we have followed with a great deal of interest the record of many of these young people who were gotten into camps, gotten into the Young Communist League organizations in school, Labor Youth League organizations in school, to determine what happened to them afterward.

We have found at one place, for instance, that there was an organized drive made by the organizer of the Communist Party in that area to follow these young people after they had finished their schooling.

Mr. DENNETT. It was my intention in this case, too.

Mr. TAVENNER. To follow them and to eventually bring them into active work within the Communist Party. Was that the general purpose?

Mr. DENNETT. That was my purpose. And I tried to do it. But I was shifted around a little bit too rapidly, and I broke contact too many times and lost track of all of them.

Mr. TAVENNER. I want to ask at this time, with the chairman’s approval, this question:

Are there any of these young persons who attended this camp who you later learned identified themselves with the Communist Party and became active in Communist work? If so, I think those names should be given.

Mr. VELDE. Certainly I concur.

Mr. DENNETT. There is only one in this list that I feel certain enough about to identify in the manner in which you ask. The rest are names which do not ring as clearly to me after a passage of 20 years. Remember now that was in 1932. It is nearly 25 years ago. In fact, I had no idea that I even kept this record. I had forgotten that I had kept it.

But it is very refreshing to me because it brings back to my own recollection certain things which, if I hadn’t kept such a record, I would have completely forgotten.

The only person in this group that I remember distinctly is Oiva Halonen.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you spell the name, please?

Mr. DENNETT. The first name is O-i-v-a, and the last name Halonen, H-a-l-o-n-e-n.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, this individual was also identified by Barbara Hartle while a witness before this committee as having been known by her to be a member of the Communist Party, and has been subpenaed.

Mr. MOULDER. Is that a man or woman?

Mr. DENNETT. It is a man.

Mr. MOULDER. Do you know where he is located now?

Mr. TAVENNER. He is under subpena, Mr. Chairman.

Will you examine the answers to his test, and state whether you can identify the handwriting, whether you filled it out, or whose it was?

Mr. DENNETT. His was the one I referred to as a very promising one.

Mr. TAVENNER. You are at least correct in stating that he found his way into the Communist Party, according to the testimony of Barbara Hartle and yourself.

Mr. DENNETT. Yes; he is the one who said he wanted to develop public-speaking ability so he could teach workers the class struggle.

Mr. TAVENNER. Did you write the answers? Is this in your handwriting?

Mr. DENNETT. It doesn’t look like my handwriting to me. In fact, I am quite certain this is not my handwriting. It looks to me as though it is written in the same manner as the name, which was his.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, whether other camps were conducted after this one?

Mr. DENNETT. Yetta Stromberg tried hard to get someone in this area to continue the camps each year. She was unable to return each year herself. I believe 1 or 2 camps were held after that. I lost track of it. So I couldn’t swear as to what happened later.

But it was a very difficult undertaking. It required volunteer help from the mothers of these young people. The camp was held out at Pine Lake. Pine Lake could best be located by someone familiar with the county territory. But one of the members of the Finnish Federation--I believe it was the Finnish Federation--owned some property out there at that time and built a rather large dining hall there, tents were pitched, and the regular facilities of a summer camp were established.

Mr. TAVENNER. Have you any recollection now how many persons attended that camp?

Mr. DENNETT. I think, looking at my list, that there were at least 22 persons who attended it, including some of the adults who were there to do the work and supervise the camp. It looks to me as though there were about 18 young people.

Mr. MOULDER. Before taking a recess, however, it is announced that a subpena was duly issued for service upon Jerry O’Connell, 3415 Central Avenue, Great Falls, Mont., to be and appear at this place of hearing in this room, 402, County-City Building, Seattle, Wash., at 9:30 a. m., on this date, March 17, 1955, to testify in matters of inquiry committed to this committee to inquire into, and it appears from the record that the subpena was personally served upon Jerry O’Connell on the 8th day of March of this year, as provided by law. The witness, Jerry O’Connell, has been called several times on this day but has failed to appear as he was required to do as provided in the subpena.

Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of this subcommittee, both of Congressman Velde and myself, that unless cause or satisfactory legal excuse is presented for his failure to appear and abide by the summons or subpena, that the subcommittee will recommend and request that Jerry O’Connell be cited for contempt as provided by law.

The committee will stand in recess for 5 minutes.

(Whereupon, a brief recess was taken.)

Mr. MOULDER. The committee will be in order.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Dennett, I have asked you to produce the original examination paper of the young man to whom we referred, Oiva Halonen. Do you have it before you?

Mr. DENNETT. I have.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, I desire to offer that particular examination paper in evidence, and ask that it be marked “Dennett Exhibit No. 4,” and that it be incorporated in the transcript of the record.

Mr. MOULDER. It will be admitted.

Mr. TAVENNER. I would like to have the privilege of replacing the original exhibit by photostat.

Mr. MOULDER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. TAVENNER. Inasmuch as reference has been made to this individual and the fact that he has been subpenaed, I believe the committee should hear him now. I ask that Mr. Dennett be excused until tomorrow morning, and that we proceed with the other witnesses.

Mr. MOULDER. Mr. Dennett, you will be excused for the remainder of the afternoon, with the instruction to report tomorrow morning at 9 a. m.

Mr. DENNETT. Thank you, sir.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Halonen, will you come forward, please, sir.

Mr. MOULDER. Will you hold up your right hand and be sworn? Do you solemnly swear that the testimony which you are about to give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. HALONEN. I do.

TESTIMONY OF OIVA R. HALONEN, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL, JAY G. SYKES

Mr. TAVENNER. What is your full name, Mr. Halonen?

Mr. HALONEN. Oiva R. Halonen.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you spell it, please.

Mr. HALONEN. The first name is O-i-v-a; the initial is R; the last name is Halonen, H-a-l-o-n-e-n.

Mr. TAVENNER. It is noted you are accompanied by counsel. Will counsel please identify himself for the record?

Mr. SYKES. Jay, J-a-y, G. Sykes, S-y-k-e-s.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Halonen, when and where were you born?

Mr. HALONEN. In Minnesota, in 1912.

Mr. TAVENNER. Where do you now reside?

Mr. HALONEN. In Seattle.

Mr. TAVENNER. What is your occupation?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I am a machinist.

Mr. TAVENNER. How long have you worked as a machinist in Seattle?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. The last 12 years.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, briefly, what your educational training has been?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Merely a high-school graduate.

Mr. TAVENNER. What employment have you had in Seattle other than the employment beginning 12 years ago which you just described?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Prior to the time that I became a machinist I knocked around in the apple orchards, harvest fields, did odd jobs this way and that way--no particular trade.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Halonen, where did you live in 1932?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. In Minnesota.

Mr. TAVENNER. What was your first address on arriving in Seattle?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. 1011 East Columbia Street.

Mr. TAVENNER. During what period of time did you live at that address?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. From the middle of 1933, I would say; between the 15th of May and the last of June, somewhere in there, for approximately a year, or a year and a half. I can’t remember.

Mr. TAVENNER. I hand you Dennett Exhibit No. 4, purporting to be a test or an examination taken at the Young Pioneer camp at Pine Lake in the State of Washington. Please examine the exhibit and state whether or not the handwriting found thereon is your handwriting.

(Document handed to the witness.)

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. On advice of counsel, that the answer to that question might tend to incriminate me, I must invoke the fifth amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you examine, please, the name at the top of the test paper and read what name you find there?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I must invoke the fifth amendment again, for the same reasons as stated before.

Mr. VELDE. Mr. Chairman, I notice the witness states that he must invoke the fifth amendment.

The fifth amendment is a privilege that you have, and you are under no compulsion to invoke the fifth amendment.

The only question is, do you?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I do invoke the fifth amendment.

Mr. TAVENNER. Will you examine the exhibit again, please, and state what you see on the line immediately under the name appearing at the top of the page.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Again, I do invoke the fifth amendment for the reasons previously stated.

Mr. TAVENNER. I am not asking you, Witness, whether or not that is your address. I am asking if you will read what appears on the document? I am asking you no question other than what is it that appears on the document.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I respectfully give the same answer I gave before, on advice of counsel.

Mr. TAVENNER. Do you see it before you?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Yes; I see it.

Mr. TAVENNER. Rather than lose more time, I will read into the record from this document that the address on the line under the name Oiva Halonen is 1011 East Columbia, Seattle.

Mr. MOULDER. Is this the same document that you referred to as an exhibit which was identified by Mr. Dennett?

Mr. TAVENNER. Yes, sir; and it is marked “Dennett Exhibit No. 4.” Was that your address in 1933?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. MOULDER. Did he state what his address was at the beginning of his testimony when he first appeared on the stand?

Mr. TAVENNER. Yes, sir; I asked him where he lived when he first came to Seattle, and it is the same address, if I recall the testimony correctly.

So that there may be no uncertainty about it, what was your address in 1933 when you came to Seattle?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. It was 1011 East Columbia.

Mr. MOULDER. Is that the same address appearing on this exhibit?

Mr. HALONEN. Yes.

Mr. VELDE. May I inquire of counsel the year he attended the youth camp at Pine Lake, as testified to by Mr. Dennett. Was that in 1932?

Mr. TAVENNER. No, sir. The year was not specified.

Are you acquainted with Mr. Dennett who just testified here a moment ago?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Was the name Dennett or Bennett?

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Dennett.

Mr. HALONEN. On advice of counsel, on the grounds that the question might tend to incriminate me, I do invoke the fifth amendment and refuse to answer the question.

Mr. VELDE. I can’t possibly see how the admission that you were acquainted with any person would possibly tend to incriminate you. So I ask the chairman to direct the witness to answer the question.

Mr. MOULDER. The witness is directed to answer the question.

Mr. HALONEN. I do invoke the fifth amendment.

Mr. MOULDER. I want you to answer this question.

You say upon advice of counsel you are advised that the answer might tend to incriminate you. Now is it because of the advice of counsel or do you yourself feel that it will incriminate you?

Mr. HALONEN. I do it on advice of counsel. Counsel advises me to invoke the fifth amendment.

Mr. MOULDER. May I ask you this:

Would your answer tend to incriminate you?

(The witness confers with this counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. It might tend to incriminate me.

Mr. MOULDER. Proceed, Mr. Tavenner.

Mr. TAVENNER. Did you attend a Young Pioneers summer camp at Pine Lake in the State of Washington?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Could we be more specific as to time?

Mr. TAVENNER. Did you attend any “Pioneer” summer camp at any time?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. On advice of counsel, I do again invoke the fifth amendment on grounds of possible self-incrimination.

Mr. TAVENNER. Are you acquainted with Barbara Hartle?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Again on advice of counsel, I find myself in the position that I do invoke the fifth amendment on grounds of possible self-incrimination.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. TAVENNER. Were you present in the hearing room at the time Mr. Dennett identified you as having been a member of the Communist Party?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Yes; I was in the room.

Mr. TAVENNER. You heard his testimony?

Mr. HALONEN. Yes.

Mr. TAVENNER. Was he correct in stating that you became a member of the Communist Party?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I find myself in the situation of invoking the fifth amendment again on grounds of possible self-incrimination.

Mr. TAVENNER. And you do so invoke?

Mr. HALONEN. I do so invoke.

Mr. MOULDER. Do you decline to answer the question for that reason?

Mr. HALONEN. I decline to answer the question on grounds of possible self-incrimination under the fifth amendment.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mrs. Barbara Hartle testified in June of 1954 before this committee as follows:

Oiva Halonen was a member of the Communist Party in the central
region; lived in that area; and was connected with the national
group’s work of the district.

Do you desire to explain her testimony in any way or to deny it? Or do you confirm it as being true?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I decline under the grounds of the fifth amendment, on possible self-incrimination.

Mr. TAVENNER. Are you now a member of the Communist Party?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I decline to answer that question under the fifth amendment for the reasons stated before.

Mr. TAVENNER. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I decline to answer that question for the same reasons.

Mr. TAVENNER. Have you engaged in various activities of the Communist Party within mass organizations in the area of Seattle?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I decline to answer that question for the reasons stated previously, under the fifth amendment.

Mr. TAVENNER. Were you at any time affiliated with the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I decline again, under the fifth amendment, to answer that question, as previously stated.

Mr. TAVENNER. Were you actively engaged in the work of the Young Communist League in 1942?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I decline to answer that question under the fifth amendment, as previously stated.

Mr. TAVENNER. Have you traveled outside of the continental limits of the United States?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. SYKES. May we have a minute, please.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. MOULDER. Let the record show that the witness is conferring with counsel.

Mr. HALONEN. To the last question I again invoke the fifth amendment on grounds of possible self-incrimination, and refuse to answer.

Mr. TAVENNER. Were you a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade?

Mr. HALONEN. Once again I do decline to answer the question on the grounds of the fifth amendment, as previously stated.

Mr. TAVENNER. Were you in the Spanish area 14 months during the Spanish Civil War?

Mr. HALONEN. Once again I decline to answer the question, under the fifth amendment, on grounds previously stated.

Mr. TAVENNER. Have you had any affiliation with the International Workers Order?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Once again I decline to answer the question, under the fifth amendment, for previously stated reasons.

Mr. MOULDER. In response to the question asked by counsel, which you refused to answer or declined to answer, there are constitutional reasons as to whether or not you served in the armed services in Spain.

Now you declined to answer the question in reference to the Spanish Civil War. I want to ask you this question:

Did you ever serve in any branch of the armed services of the United States of America?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. No; I never did.

Mr. MOULDER. Do you refuse to state whether or not you have served in the armed services of another country?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I refuse to answer that specific question; yes.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. MOULDER. In other words, it leaves the impression you were willing to fight for some other country but you are not willing to fight for the United States of America, your own native country.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I refuse to answer the question in regard to the Spanish Civil War.

Mr. MOULDER. Proceed, Mr. Tavenner.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Halonen, I don’t want to leave an inference that this committee feels that a person should be criticized by it for any position he or she may take regarding any bill before Congress, but if a certain bill before Congress is being opposed by the Communist Party and the Communist Party is instrumental in creating opposition to it, then the committee would be interested in that fact.

Now I am not attempting to criticize any opposition you may have registered to the Walter-McCarran Act, but, if you did oppose it, I want to know whether or not the Communist Party had anything to do with the position that you took in the matter.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I decline to answer that question on the grounds of the fifth amendment, as previously stated.

Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions.

Mr. MOULDER. Mr. Velde?

Mr. VELDE. Were you born in Minnesota?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Yes.

Mr. VELDE. I note you took refuge in the fifth amendment when questioned about your acquaintanceship with Mr. Eugene Dennett.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. That is correct.

Mr. VELDE. You were here in the hearing room while he was testifying about your activities at the youth camp at Pine Lake, were you not?

Mr. HALONEN. I so testified earlier.

Mr. VELDE. You did see him here, didn’t you?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Yes, I did.

Mr. VELDE. Had you ever met him before? Did you recognize him when he was testifying?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I invoke the fifth amendment and decline to answer that question on the grounds of possible self-incrimination.

Mr. VELDE. You might have some misunderstanding about what acquaintanceship is. I wanted to know if you ever saw him before. I can see no reason why you shouldn’t answer that question or why that would tend to incriminate you in any way.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Not being too sharp on the legal aspects, I am afraid of waiving my rights under the fifth amendment, and, for that reason, I am invoking the fifth amendment.

Mr. VELDE. I am not trying to trap you. Seriously, I can see no reason for not identifying him or anyone else you may have seen before. A lot of people in this room are acquainted with people who have been incriminated and have served jail sentences. I see no reason why an acquaintanceship of that type with a person should incriminate you or me or anyone else.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. Well, I respectfully invoke the fifth amendment again on the question asked for the reasons previously stated.

Mr. VELDE. Have you ever known any member of the Communist Party?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I again must decline to answer that question under the fifth amendment, as previously stated.

Mr. VELDE. Have you ever met a member of the Communist Party?

Mr. HALONEN. Again I decline to answer under the fifth amendment for the reasons stated previously.

Mr. VELDE. Do you know anyone in this room?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I know my counsel here.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. VELDE. Why do you admit that you know your counsel and refuse to admit that you know Mr. Dennett?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. My acquaintance with my counsel could not possibly incriminate me in any way.

Mr. VELDE. Do you feel that you are engaged at the present time in any activity which is of a subversive nature and subversive to the Government of the United States?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I must decline to answer that question again, under the fifth amendment, for the reasons as stated previously.

Mr. VELDE. That is all, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. MOULDER. In connection with the last question Mr. Velde was asking if you had any knowledge, or if you ever committed any act of espionage or engaged in any activity contrary to the interests of the United States, I will ask you this question?

Are you engaged in any organization work or any activities leading toward the overthrow of our present form of government by force or violence?

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. I must decline, or I must state that I have never engaged in any espionage, but, as far as the rest of the question is concerned. I must again invoke the fifth amendment on possible self-incrimination.

Mr. MOULDER. In other words, you answer by saying that you did not engage in any espionage, but refuse to answer as to whether or not you are actively engaged in any effort to overthrow our Government by force and violence. That is the way I construe your answer.

(The witness confers with his counsel.)

Mr. HALONEN. That is correct.

Mr. MOULDER. Are there any further questions?

Mr. VELDE. No, but I do feel that the witness possesses a great deal of information which would be valuable to the committee in its work, in its obligations that we are duty bound to perform, and I regret the position the witness has taken.

I hope he will reconsider his position and return to give the committee the information he possesses.

Mr. MOULDER. The witness is excused.

(Whereupon the witness was excused.)

Mr. MOULDER. Counsel, proceed with the next witness.