PUBLIC LAW 601, 79TH CONGRESS The legislation under which the House Committee on Un-American Activities operates is Public Law 601, 79th Congress [1946], chapter 753, 2d session, which provides: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * * * PART 2-RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 17. Committee on Un-American Activites, to consist of nine members. (q) (1) Committee on Un-American Activities. (A) Un-American activities. (2) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommit tee, is authorized to make from time to time investigations of (i) the extent, character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States, (ii) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propaganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and (iii) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary remedial legislation. The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investigation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable. For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person designated by any such chairman or member. 1. There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Congress, following standing committees: (q) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members. (b) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee, is authorized to make from time to time, investigations of (1) the extent, character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States, (2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propaganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary remedial legislation. The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investigation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable. For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member designated by such chairman, and may be served by any person designated by any such chairman or member. COMMUNIST METHODS OF INFILTRATION (GOVERN MENT-LABOR, PART 2) MONDAY, JULY 20, 1953 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, Washington, D. C. The Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to call, at 2 p. m., in room 225, Old House Office Building, Washington, D. C., Hon. Harold H. Velde (chairman) presiding. Committee members present: Representatives Harold H. Velde, Kit Clardy, and Gordon H. Scherer. Staff members present: Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel; W. Jackson Jones, investigator; Leslie W. Scott, research analyst; and Dolores Anderson, reporter. TESTIMONY OF I. PHILIP SIPSER, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL, JACOB SCHNEIDER Mr. VELDE. Let the record show that I have appointed a subcommittee, consisting of Mr. Scherer, Mr. Clardy, and myself, Mr. Velde, as chairman, for the purpose of this hearing, and that all are present. Will the witness stand to be sworn, please? In the testimony you are about to give, do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. SIPSER. I do. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, several communications to the committee have been received, which should probably be made a matter of record. Do you desire it to be done now? Mr. VELDE. It depends on the nature of the material. Mr. TAVENNER. There are several affidavits, explaining connections of certain individuals to activities under question by this committee, which have never been previously reported. Mr. VELDE. I think we will proceed with the hearing now, and take the matter under advisement, Mr. Counsel. Mr. CLARDY. May I see the documents, please? Mr. TAVENNER. I understood he wanted it put in the record. Mr. VELDE. I believe we should take this up at another time, Mr. Counsel. Mr. TAVENNER. Very well, sir. 1 Released by the committee, July 31, 1953. Will you state your name, please, sir? Mr. ŠIPSER. My name is I. Philip Sipser. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you accompanied by counsel? Mr. TAVENNER. Will counsel please identify himself for the record? Mr. SCHNEIDER. My name is Jacob Schneider, of 50 Broad Street, New York, N. Y. Mr. TAVENNER. When and where were you born, Mr. Sipser? Mr. TAVENNER. What is your profession? Mr. SIPSER. I am an attorney. Mr. TAVENNER. How long have you been a practicing attorney? Mr. SIPSER. If my recollection is correct, I have been an attorney for 13 years. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, what your formal educational training has been? Mr. SIPSER. I went to Public School 161 in Manhattan, then I went to Boys' High in Brooklyn, N. Y. I then went to Brooklyn College and to the Brooklyn Law School, in New York. Mr. TAVENNER. When did you complete your legal training? Mr. TAVENNER. Since that time you have been engaged in the practice of law? Mr. SIPSER. That is correct, sir. Mr. TAVENNER. Where have you been engaged in the practice of law-in what city? A Mr. SIPSER. In New York City. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Sipser, during the course of the investigation conducted before the committee in Los Angeles, considerable testimony was heard which indicated the activities of a Communist Party group within the National Lawyers' Guild. A witness by the name of David Aaron, an attorney, testified before the committee that he had been a member of the Communist Party and had withdrawn from the party along in 1946 or 1948, but that during his Communist Party membership, efforts were made by his Communist Party group to infiltrate the National Lawyer's Guild in Los Angeles. This witness advised the committee of the nature of that infiltration movement and the nature of the control the Communist Party endeavored to effect in that organization. The committee's investigation has disclosed that you have been a member of the National Lawyers' Guild, and probably still are. Is that correct? Mr. SIPSER. I refuse to answer that question, sir, on the grounds set forth in the fifth amendment. Mr. CLARDY. Mr. Chairman, I don't think the fifth amendment can afford an excuse not to answer that question. I think he should be directed to answer. The Lawyers' Guild has not, in my opinion, been handled in such a way to afford him that protection. Mr. VELDE. Are you familiar with the citation, Mr. Clardy? Mr. CLARDY. It hasn't been called Communist, but a Communist front, which may mean a lot of things. Mr. VELDE. I see no reason to direct him to answer that particular question. We should proceed. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Sipser, are you aware of any effort on the part of the Communist Party in the city of New York to infiltrate the National Lawyers' Guild in that city? Mr. SIPSER. I decline to answer that question, Mr. Tavenner, on the same grounds stated before; that is, the fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Sipser, committee investigation discloses that you have been active in the American Labor Party, certainly as early as 1944, and as late as 1950. In 1949 or 1950, during that period of time, investigation discloses that you were a candidate for election as delegate in the Sixth Assembly District in New York on the American Labor Party ticket for several years, and that you were on the administrative committee of the American Labor Party for Kings County, and that you were actively engaged in the work of that party. I would like to ask you whether, in connection with your work in the American Labor Party, you became acquainted with a person by the name of Morris Zuckman from Albany? Mr. SIPSER. I decline to answer that question, Mr. Tavenner, and assert my privilege under the fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. In connection with your work in the American Labor Party, did you become acquainted with a person by the name of I. Nathan Sidman of Troy, N. Ÿ.? Mr. SIPSER. I decline to answer, again asserting my privilege under the fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Testimony was introduced in the course of our recent hearings in Albany that these persons, members of the legal profession, were the heads of their respective groups of the American Labor Party. Considerable testimony was heard during these hearings, indicating that the Communist Party of the city of Albany, along with the Communist Party of Troy, Ñ. Y., were conducting the affairs of the American Labor Party by placing in high office in the American Labor Party persons who were members of these Communist Party groups in those cities. Do you have any knowledge of that, sir? Mr. SIPSER. I decline to answer that question, Mr. Tavenner, on the same grounds as stated previously; i. e., the grounds set forth in the fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Do you have any knowledge of Communist Party activities within the American Labor Party during the period you have been active in the American Labor Party in New York? Mr. SIPSER. I decline to answer that question on the grounds set forth in the fifth amendment. Mr. SCHERER. The two lawyers referred to, Zuckman and Sidman, were both identified as members of the Communist Party in the hearings in Albany? Mr. TAVENNER. Yes. What official position did you hold, Mr. Sipser, in the brewer's union to which you referred a few moments ago? Mr. SIPSER. I hold no official position in the union, sir. Mr. TAVENNER. How were you employed in that union? Mr. SIPSER. As general counsel of the joint local executive board. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you describe that setup for us, please? Mr. SIPSER. The joint local executive board is a delegated body. There are eight local unions which sent representatives to the joint 36543-53- 2 |