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
Mr. DENNETT. I will not name anyone unless that person was a member
of the Communist Party, according to my knowledge. Well, the girl
who was looked upon as the office manager--I don’t recall the exact
title she had--but her name was Gladys Field, F-i-e-l-d. And all the
stenographers and bookkeepers who were employed by the organization had
to meet her approval before they could be employed in that office. And
her approval was based upon whether or not the person would be friendly
or hostile to the Communist Party, as well as being, of course,
efficient and able to do the job. She was an exceedingly efficient
girl herself, and did a splendid job as an office manager. She would
be a credit to any office so far as her office work is concerned, and
she was a credit to that organization. She had as one of her able
assistants a girl by the name of Helen Sobeleski. I am not sure that I
can spell that. It is a Polish name.
Well along in that period Mr. Karley Larsen came into prominence in the
Woodworkers.
Mr. TAVENNER. To what union does this testimony relate concerning
officials and employees?
Mr. DENNETT. The International Woodworkers of America.
Another person I knew was Nat Honig, H-o-n-i-g.
Nat Honig was brought into the district by Morris Rappaport to become
an agitprop director. I knew Mr. Honig quite well, and I sympathized
with the task that he had. He didn’t last very long in that either.
He soon found himself as editor of the Woodworkers’ paper, the
International Woodworkers of America’s paper. And I had occasion to
attempt to get him to carry out the party line, and I was amazed to
find a man who was officially holding a position of district agitprop
director while he was editor of that paper, and yet, when the May
Day issue of that paper came out there wasn’t one single mention of
the fact that May Day was the historical day to be commemorated for
the 8-hour day in America and was heralded throughout the world as
laborers’ day.
Mr. Honig explained it away, that he didn’t think it was appropriate to
do it.
I went to Mr. Rappaport complaining, “What kind of a district agitprop
is this man anyway?”
And Rappaport had quite a session with Honig, and shortly after that
Mr. Honig began to have some disaffection from the party and the party
policy, and I believe he appeared before the Canwell committee shortly
afterward and gave voluminous testimony about the Communist Party. I
have not read his testimony. I do not know how valid it is. I couldn’t
confirm or deny what he said. I don’t know.
Mr. VELDE. What was the approximate time?
Mr. DENNETT. That was in that period 1939, I believe; 1939 or 1940 when
that happened.
Mr. TAVENNER. Can you recall any other individuals connected with the
International Woodworkers of America who were members of the Communist
Party?
Mr. DENNETT. I have a little difficulty thinking of any others at the
moment in that particular union.
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