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. MILLER. Yes. I was at one time a shop steward, at one time a shop
committeeman, and, if memory serves me right, I was president of one
of the locals during the war. I am not too clear on whether that was
president or vice president, sir.
Mr. WHEELER. To your knowledge, were there any other members of the
Communist Party in the Aero Mechanics Union?
Mr. MILLER. I do not know with any degree of certainty anyone at Boeing
while I was there who might have been members of the Communist Party.
There was certainly speculation or perhaps reason to assume they were.
However, I would like to confine my testimony to facts, and I do not
know any to be a fact.
Mr. WHEELER. We desire to be confined to facts. Are you testifying that
you knew no one at Boeing Aircraft Co., to be a member of the Communist
Party?
Mr. MILLER. To the best of my recollection at this time, sir.
Mr. WHEELER. You knew no one in the Aero Machinists Union to be a
member of the Communist Party?
Mr. MILLER. In the Aero Mechanics Union?
Mr. WHEELER. Aero Mechanics; I am sorry.
Mr. MILLER. I relate the two together, in that I believe the Aero
Mechanics were only involved with employees of Boeing.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. WHEELER. You have also stated, I believe, that you were not
assigned to any group or unit of the Communist Party.
Mr. MILLER. To the best of my recollection, that was my testimony, sir.
Mr. WHEELER. You don’t recall who recruited you into the Communist
Party?
Mr. MILLER. I do not, sir. In fact, I might explain it this way: I am
not even sure whether it was any specific individual or whether, during
the course of an open meeting, it fell upon me, a desire to become a
member. It is difficult for a man to reach that far back in years and
testify with any certainty, sir.
Mr. WHEELER. You were very vague in your testimony as to how you became
a member of the Communist Party.
Mr. MILLER. Sir, is it unreasonable to be vague on something that
occurred nigh onto 12 years ago when I was between the age of 20 and
21, sir? Is that difficult to understand, that a man might honestly be
vague?
Mr. WHEELER. How many meetings of the Communist Party did you attend
from 1943 until the time you went in the Armed Forces in 1945?
Mr. MILLER. I would be unable to give you any number with any degree
of accuracy. It would be pure speculation and only an estimate. If you
want an estimate, I could give it if the committee so desires.
Mr. WHEELER. I think you can speculate on this part of your testimony.
Mr. MILLER. As I get the question, you are asking me how many do I
think might have gone to. If I am recalling something I would have an
actual number and would not have to estimate. I am not able to recall
any number of meetings at which I attended. There was perhaps 30, 40
meetings, I do not know, over this period of time. It is purely a
speculative answer, sir.
Mr. WHEELER. But you may have attended that many?
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