Investigation of Communist Activities in Seattle, Wash., Area, Hearings, Part 1United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
History
Investigation of Communist Activities in Seattle, Wash., Area, Hearings, Part 1
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
Communism -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Consequently, when the unemployed councils in the city of Seattle
issued a call for a march on Olympia, that call was transmitted to
Bellingham where we entered into the people’s councils and won a
majority vote in support of such a march, and with the further request
that they call upon the unemployed citizens’ leagues in Seattle to join
the march, which they did. They prevailed upon the unemployed citizens’
leagues to join in the march.
Consequently, we had two somewhat hostile groups participating in the
same event, marching on Olympia.
But when they got to Olympia there was a split. There were two
demonstrations. And there is a gentleman in this room who suffered as a
casualty of one of those demonstrations because at that particular time
he was a leader in the unemployed citizens leagues.
The unemployed councils people wanted to chase the leadership of the
unemployed citizens leagues and the people’s councils away from the
head of that demonstration. And Mr. Jess Fletcher was a casualty on
that occasion. He was pulled down off of one of the--I forget what you
would call it--one of those approaches to the steps. And he had a badly
crushed ankle as a result of that occasion.
I was called upon by the district leadership of the party at that
time to make a speech. I was instructed to expose Mr. London and to
otherwise denounce the Social-Fascist leaders of those organizations.
And, of course, being a thoroughly disciplined Communist, I did
precisely what I was instructed.
It had some repercussions because when we returned to Bellingham I had
some other unfortunate experiences about it.
I should say that in this demonstration in Olympia the Unemployed
Citizens League people did wait out the Governor and did get a
committee in to see the Governor, whereas the unemployed councils
people left Olympia without seeing the Governor and without
accomplishing their objective.
Mr. TAVENNER. If I correctly understand these two
illustrations which you have described, in one instance the Communist
Party occupied this very building, joined in the activity of the
unemployed citizens leagues, and attempted to obtain for its own credit
whatever credit could be obtained, whereas in the other instance, by
devious means, they got the other organizations to cooperate with the
unemployed councils in the march on Olympia.
Mr. DENNETT. That is true.
Mr. TAVENNER. The Communist Party reversed its tactics.
Mr. DENNETT. That is true. We were very flexible people. We
could do almost anything with our tactics.
Mr. TAVENNER. Therefore, the Communist Party’s objectives were
accomplished in both instances.
Mr. DENNETT. That is right. And what was even more important
to the party was to be able to carry a great big newspaper story in the
Daily Worker to the effect that the revolution was starting because the
workers had seized the County-City Building in King County, State of
Washington, and held it for 3 days.
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