Investigation of Communist Activities in Seattle, Wash., Area, Hearings, Part 1 — John Shaqi
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
Mr. DENNETT. I think it would have to be said that it was
lumber. Actually, to begin with, it was the marine unions. The
organization of the Maritime Federation of the Pacific was something
that was inspired by the Communist Party because the Communist
Party called for the organization of industrial unions, industrial
organization. And that was a result of Foster’s leadership.
Mr. VELDE. You think they were more successful in lumber than
in the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union?
Mr. DENNETT. Yes, I do. I do for the reason that in the
maritime unions at the outset the Communists furnished the aggressive
leadership which initiated the organization of all of the maritime
unions, but it didn’t take very long before those workers, upon getting
together, found that they had differences with those leaders. And the
sailors union particularly made a sharp break with the Communists early
in 1935, not over the issue of Communists but over tactical application
of policy.
The Communists at that time were opposed to Harry Lundeberg’s
organization of the tanker strike. And Mr. Lundeberg felt that he had
the right to go out and improve the conditions of a contract by a
process known as job action.
Now the Communists couldn’t possibly condone a thing like that because
that permits individual action, and the Communist philosophy and theory
did not permit variations of that kind.
It is also true that the old conservative leaders in the labor movement
likewise frowned upon such an action. So you will find that if you have
familiarity with it you will very often find that the most conservative
people and the most radical people, if you go to the point of referring
to the Communists, you very often will find that they are in agreement
more on policy and on discipline than other people in between. Because
both extremes depend upon centralized authority in order to maintain
their positions, whereas the other people in between are a little bit
more apt to make their decision on the basis of the merits of the given
situation--a little more flexibility.
Mr. VELDE. Before you get back to your story, let me ask you
this:
The distinguished chairman was not present at our hearings here last
June, but I am sure that counsel and our investigator and Mr. Dennett,
too, recognize the fact that the great majority of the loyal labor
unions in this area cooperated with this committee 100 percent last
June. While our gratitude was expressed at that time, I again want to
express gratitude to these local labor unions who cooperated with this
committee and did everything within the bounds of reason to eliminate
the Communist movement from this area.
Mr. DENNETT. Mr. Chairman, may I be privileged to just make
one comment about that?
Mr. MOULDER. Yes.
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