Mr. WHEELER. What has been your educational background, Mr. Kroener? Mr. KROENER. First half year of the eighth grade of grammar school. Mr. WHEELER. In Seattle? Mr. KROENER. Yes. Mr. WHEELER. How have you been employed? Mr. KROENER. When I was younger I worked in logging camps and did odd jobs in the steel mills, and as a welder. And, oh, since about 1941 and 1942 I have worked in the machine trade. Mr. WHEELER. In the machine trade? Mr. KROENER. Yes. Mr. WHEELER. For what companies have you worked as a machinist? Mr. KROENER. I don’t remember all of them exactly, and I couldn’t say the times I have worked for a number of the uptown shops and marine yards in Seattle. Some of them have gone out of business. Gibson’s has gone out of business. And I worked at Washington Iron Works and marine yards around Seattle. Mr. WHEELER. Do you know who just preceded you on the witness stand? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. KROENER. I wish to again invoke the fifth amendment on the grounds of self-incrimination. Mr. WHEELER. Were you present in the hearing room when Mr. Eugene Robel testified? Mr. KROENER. I was present. Mr. WHEELER. Are you acquainted with him? Mr. KROENER. Again I wish to invoke the fifth amendment. Mr. WHEELER. Were you present in the hearing room when Mr. Harold Johnston testified? Mr. KROENER. I was present. Mr. WHEELER. Are you acquainted with Mr. Harold Johnston? Mr. KROENER. Again I wish to invoke the fifth amendment. Mr. WHEELER. Is it a fact that the three individuals I just mentioned, along with you and other people, were members of a cell within the machinists union? Mr. KROENER. Again I wish to invoke the fifth amendment on the grounds of self-incrimination. Mr. MOULDER. Do you have any knowledge as to the action taken by a machinists union referred to by Mr. Wheeler in expelling members from that union where there is evidence of their Communist affiliations? Mr. KROENER. I believe there may be some such program going on, but I am not too well acquainted with it. So I couldn’t answer it too clearly. Mr. MOULDER. Is the reason why you refuse to answer because of the fear you might be expelled from the union? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. KROENER. Again I wish to invoke the fifth amendment on the ground that the answer may tend to incriminate me. Mr. MOULDER. Do you have knowledge and information that the union referred to is exercising its efforts to rid its ranks of persons who are Communists? Mr. KROENER. Again I wish to invoke the fifth amendment. Mr. MOULDER. I hope the witness has contributed to the union’s effort. Mr. WHEELER. When and where you were born, Mr. Kroener? Mr. KROENER. Seattle, Wash., April 8, 1920. Mr. WHEELER. Are you acquainted with Mrs. Barbara Hartle? Mr. KROENER. Again I invoke the fifth amendment.