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
TESTIMONY OF HAROLD JOHNSTON, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL, JAY C. SYKES
Mr. WHEELER. Will the witness state his name, please?
Mr. JOHNSTON. Harold Johnston.
Mr. WHEELER. Are you represented by counsel? Will counsel
identify himself for the record?
Mr. SYKES. Jay G. Sykes, Seattle.
Mr. WHEELER. When and where were you born, Mr. Johnston?
Mr. JOHNSTON. 1907, Yakima, Wash.
Mr. WHEELER. And what is your educational background?
Mr. JOHNSTON. Very little, less than grammar; didn’t finish
grammar school.
Mr. WHEELER. How long have you lived in the Seattle district?
Mr. JOHNSTON. By Seattle district you mean King County?
Mr. WHEELER. Yes; or the periphery.
Mr. JOHNSTON. I don’t live in Seattle.
Mr. WHEELER. I understand that.
Mr. JOHNSTON. I have been there 15 years.
Mr. WHEELER. What is your employment record?
Mr. JOHNSTON. For the last 10 years it’s been machinist.
Mr. WHEELER. And prior to that?
Mr. JOHNSTON. Oh, odd jobs.
Mr. WHEELER. Are you presently employed?
Mr. JOHNSTON. Yes, I am.
Mr. WHEELER. Where are you presently employed?
Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. Chairman, the subpena was served on me.
First, they went to my home and my wife told them where I worked. And
they went to the shop and were very courteous and called up my foreman,
and I went out and they served me. And I am sure the committee has
a record. And I don’t feel that it would do myself any good or the
company to make it a part of the official record as to where I work.
And I would like to not answer this question on that basis.
Mr. MOULDER. Do you decline to answer the question?
Mr. JOHNSTON. No. I definitely--I would like to be excused
from answering it. I am not taking a position that I--but inasmuch as
the deputy sheriff served me on the job, very courteous about it--met
me at the gate and did not come in; told me he would be there--and I
went out and looked him up--the committee knows where I work and I
don’t feel it should become a record here of the company I work for.
Mr. MOULDER. Do you mean that answering the question as to
where you are employed would reflect unfavorably upon the company which
employs you?
Mr. JOHNSTON. It is possible with publicity in the paper. No
use to bring unnecessary publicity on it. I feel that the committee
should take that into consideration. They know where I work. Their man
served a subpena on me. I would not like to answer that question.
Mr. VELDE. Mr. Chairman, I feel I must insist that the witness
answer the question as to where he is employed.
Throughout the history of this committee every witness who has appeared
before the committee has been required to give his place of residence
and his place of employment, or take refuge under the fifth amendment.
It would be grossly unfair to all the witnesses who have previously
appeared before this committee to allow you to escape answering that
question.
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