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. TAVENNER. Spell it, please.
Mr. DENNETT. I cannot be certain of the spelling of it, but, as near as
I recall, it was H-u-t-e-n-e-n. There was double spelling in there that
I am not certain of. Helmi was H-e-l-m-i.
There was a leader of the radio operators, marine radio operators, by
the name of Thomas J. Van Erman. I observed in Mrs. Hartle’s testimony
that she referred to a Mr. Van Orman. I am not referring to any Van
Orman. I don’t know any Van Orman. The man I know was Van Erman,
V-a-n E-r-m-a-n. And Mr. Van Erman that I knew worked on the Seattle
waterfront as a radio operator and was, I believe he was the port agent
of that organization.
Mr. TAVENNER. Let the record show in describing these persons you knew
and met, that you knew them as members of the Communist Party.
Mr. DENNETT. That is correct.
I frequently made myself quite obnoxious to Mr. Van Erman because I
was always asking him to be a little more militant and a little more
positive in his work. And he was quite insistent that I was wrong, and
we had a continuing friction over that point. However, we were great
personal friends.
The Cannery Workers Union was a local affiliate of the United Cannery,
Agricultural, and Packinghouse Workers of America. In the national
leadership I knew a Mr. Donald Henderson, who was the president of that
organization. I knew him very well, associated with him frequently at
the convention, transacted a great deal of business with him concerning
the cannery workers out here because we were having a great deal of
difficulty over language problems. The cannery workers in that union
were those who were sent to Alaska regularly each year to work in the
salmon industry.
And in the local area I knew Mr. Conrad Espe. Mr. Con Espe was the
local representative of that international union.
There was a member of that union who was the most promising Communist
that we had, by the name of I. Hosue, H-o-s-u-e. He was a very able
man. I have heard since from people who are somewhat acquainted
with the facts that Mr. Hosue went into the military service,
became an officer during the course of the war, and turned bitterly
anti-Communist. And I understand that he gave testimony against certain
other members of the organization in certain deportation hearings. I
can only give you that much by way of identification. But that is the
man I am speaking of.
Mr. TAVENNER. May I suggest, Mr. Chairman, if the witness recalls any
other names, that he give them to us at a later period, as we desire to
proceed now with other witnesses.
Mr. MOULDER. All right.
Mr. TAVENNER. I want to recall this witness a little later in the day
on other matters.
Mr. MOULDER. At what time do you want Mr. Dennett back?
Mr. TAVENNER. I believe that he should be back after lunch. I would say
at 2 o’clock.
Mr. MOULDER. Two o’clock.
Thank you, Mr. Dennett. At 2 o’clock you will be recalled.
Mr. WHEELER. Mr. Paul Delaney, please.
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