Mr. DENNETT. They would raise perfectly legitimate reasons which any ordinary person would recognize as proper. Mr. TAVENNER. And they brought their influence to bear on the formation of the organization through that method. Mr. DENNETT. That is right. Mr. TAVENNER. As a result of that action did you say a convention was held? Mr. DENNETT. A convention of the Commonwealth Builders was held, which changed the name to Washington Commonwealth Federation. (At this point Representative Harold H. Velde left the hearing room.) Mr. DENNETT. Because of that affiliation of whole organizations which were not geographical in nature--take a labor union: It was not geographical in nature; it was a complete affiliate without having geographical definition whereas a Democratic club in a particular district or a particular part of the city was restricted to a particular area. I say the federation part became a necessary part of the title because of the nature of the changed affiliations. Mr. TAVENNER. Before the name was changed what was the title? Mr. DENNETT. Commonwealth Builders. Mr. TAVENNER. In other words, it was a conversion of Commonwealth Builders into an overall organization. Mr. DENNETT. It was. Mr. TAVENNER. Titled “Washington Commonwealth Federation.” Mr. DENNETT. That is true. Mr. MOULDER. The committee will stand in recess for approximately 5 minutes. (Whereupon a short recess was taken.) (Representatives Moulder and Velde were present upon reconvening at the expiration of the recess.) Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Dennett, I think you have made it clear in your testimony that the Commonwealth Builders were not organized by the Communist Party and that there was very little, if any, Communist Party influence within those affiliated organizations as such. Am I correct in that? Mr. DENNETT. Well, that is essentially correct. Mr. TAVENNER. I want to be certain as to what the picture is with regard to the Washington Commonwealth Federation which succeeded; that is, whether or not at the inception of that organization it was heavily controlled by the Communist Party. Mr. DENNETT. No; it was not. And, as a matter of fact, it was quite anti-Communist at the very beginning. Mr. TAVENNER. The original method used by the Communist Party to become entrenched in the federation was through the various organizations which were affiliated with it. Mr. DENNETT. Through the process of building the organization larger and bringing into affiliation organizations in which it did have influence and ultimately getting top influence in the WCF. Mr. TAVENNER. I think that explains it. You made reference to a convention that was being called. When and where was the convention held? That is, the convention of the Washington Commonwealth Federation.