Investigation of Communist activities in Seattle, Wash., Area, Hearings, Part 2United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
History
Investigation of Communist activities in Seattle, Wash., Area, Hearings, Part 2
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
Communism -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
And it has always been my habit to take rather copious notes. As a
matter of fact, most people screamed to high heaven because the notes
I take are a little bit too full and too elaborate. I do that for my
own benefit because I try not to rely solely on memory. I have found it
very profitable in my own experience to have my full memoranda at hand
when I am called upon to testify.
And in this testimony here I am testifying almost completely from
memory, but I assure you that I have plenty of memoranda and data
which cannot only substantiate what I have been testifying, but enrich
it very, very much.
Mr. TAVENNER. What further information can you give us as to the
Communist Party membership of individuals in this new field in which
you were engaged?
Mr. DENNETT. Well, of course, one of our principal centers of interest
was the International Woodworkers of America. And there, of course,
it became my responsibility to become well acquainted with the top
leadership in the International Woodworkers of America. And I think
that many people have made the accusation but probably few people know
of their own knowledge such as I do, that practically all of the top
leaders were, with a few exceptions, members of the Communist Party.
And that began with Mr. Harold J. Pritchett.
Mr. TAVENNER. Will you spell the last name?
Mr. DENNETT. P-r-i-t-c-h-e-t-t.
Mr. Harold Pritchett was a very able and outstanding man from the
lumber industry.
Mr. TAVENNER. What was his official title?
Mr. DENNETT. He was the president.
Mr. TAVENNER. What is the period or the date?
Mr. DENNETT. 1938.
He was a Canadian and was barred from reentry into the United States
shortly afterward, and has been unable--he was at that time unable to
continue his functions as president, and had to give up the office of
president.
We were quite disappointed that that occurred. We tried every way
we knew to insure that he could continue to serve in that capacity.
However, we had to be satisfied with allowing another member who was
a vice president to take his position. This was Mr. O. M. Orton,
O-r-t-o-n, better known to us as Mickey Orton. He was the vice
president who took over when Mr. Pritchett had to give up the office.
The office staff--I mean the girls who worked in the office were
virtually cleared by the Communist Party before they secured their
employment in the office. The girl who was in charge at that
office--the name I knew her by----
Mr. TAVENNER. You said virtually cleared?
Mr. DENNETT. Yes.
Mr. TAVENNER. Does that mean that the worker you have in mind must have
been a member of the Communist Party? In other words, we do not want
you to give us the name of a person unless you have evidence of actual
Communist Party membership.
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