In the course of his testimony he told the committee how a man by the name of Lowell Wakefield was sent by the Communist Party from New York to Seattle to engage in organizational work for the Communist Party and that one of his chief assignments was to assist in the organization of the Washington Pension Union. Were you acquainted with Mr. Lowell Wakefield? Mr. O’CONNELL. I don’t remember anybody by the name of Lowell Wakefield at all. In my time, I mean my only recollection--was Wakefield later some kind of a representative for a fish company or operated a fish company of his own down on the waterfront? Mr. TAVENNER. I understood he did, but not down on the waterfront in Washington. I think he went to Alaska. Mr. O’CONNELL. Well, anyway, I think I heard about him but I don’t think I ever met Wakefield personally, or personally knew him. Mr. TAVENNER. Have you any knowledge of his activities? Mr. O’CONNELL. My only recollection, if it is the same Wakefield, is that he was a contributor to the Democratic Party, if it is the same person. What I want to do, I don’t want to get myself in trouble, I certainly didn’t know Wakefield as a Communist or knew that he was a Communist or anything of the kind and I don’t want--my recollection is if it is the same Wakefield he had some kind of a fish company or was a representative for a fish company and did make contributions to the Democratic Party while I was executive secretary. Mr. TAVENNER. Were you acquainted with Tom Rabbitt? Mr. O’CONNELL. Yes; I was acquainted with Tom Rabbitt. Mr. TAVENNER. He was State Senator and also an office holder in the Washington Pension Union; is that right? Mr. O’CONNELL. He was Washington State senator from the 35th legislative district. He was, I think, a delegate to the King County Democratic Central Committee from that district. Mr. TAVENNER. Is it a fact that the State legislature refused to seat him? Mr. O’CONNELL. I don’t think so. I think the State legislature, before I came to the State of Washington, refused to seat a party by the name of Lenus Westman, elected as a State senator from up in Snohomish County, but at least in my time nobody challenged Rabbitt’s senator-ship. Mr. TAVENNER. I am probably in error. Mr. VELDE. Mr. Counsel, isn’t it true both Mrs. Hartle and Eugene Dennett testified that both Wakefield and Rabbitt were members of the Communist Party? Mr. TAVENNER. Yes, sir. I think the record should show that William J. Pennock was identified by Barbara Hartle not only as president of the Washington Pension Union but as a member of the district committee of the Communist Party for the State of Washington and that Tom Rabbitt was likewise an officer of the Washington Pension Union and a member of the district committee of the Communist Party.