Darcey, that might tie you in with some network which would lay a foundation for a criminal prosecution, sir? Mr. BLISS. I stand on the fifth amendment privilege not to testify against myself. Mr. ARENS. If there was a war between the United States and Soviet Russia, where would your sympathies lie? Mr. BLISS. I would defend this country. Mr. ARENS. Would you defend this country against the Soviet Union? Mr. BLISS. I would defend this country against anybody. Mr. ARENS. Would you take instructions tomorrow morning from the Communist Party to engage in espionage or sabotage? Mr. BLISS. I would not. Mr. ARENS. Would you take instructions from the Communist Party tomorrow morning with reference to your operations of the UE newspaper? Mr. BLISS. I would not. Mr. ARENS. You take them right now, do you not? Mr. BLISS. I do not. I stand on the fifth amendment privilege, by the way. Mr. ARENS. Wait just a minute. Do you or do you not take instructions from the Communist Party in the operation of the UE paper? Mr. BLISS. I stand on the fifth amendment privilege not to be a witness against myself. Mr. ARENS. Do you feel if you told us truthfully whether or not you take instructions from the Communist Party in the operation of your newspaper, you would be furnishing information which could be used against you in a criminal proceeding? Mr. BLISS. At this time I not only stand on the fifth amendment privilege not to be a witness against myself, I also stand on the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press to labor newspapers as well as all other newspapers and publications, and your question here is an invasion of that ground of rights. Mr. ARENS. Is the Communist Party of the United States dedicated to the destruction of the fifth and first amendments and all other provisions of the Constitution of the United States? Mr. BLISS. I stand on my fifth amendment privilege not to testify against myself. Mr. ARENS. What is the American League Against War and Fascism? Mr. BLISS. A predecessor organization of the American League for Peace and Democracy. Mr. ARENS. Were you a member of it? Mr. BLISS. No. But I also stand on the fifth amendment privilege. Mr. ARENS. You were a labor director of the American League Against War and Fascism, weren't you? Mr. BLISS. I was the trade-union director of the American League for Peace and Democracy. Mr. ARENS. Who is Gil Green? Mr. BLISS. I stand on the fifth amendment privilege not to testify against myself. Mr. ARENS. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny the fact that in or shortly prior to October 1943, you, Willard Bliss, were in contact with Gil Green, New York State Secretary of the Communist Party. Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. You were unanimously elected chairman in Syracuse, N. Y., of a meeting at the Onandaga Hotel of Communist Party members, were you not? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. You have been in contact with some pretty high celebrities of the Communist Party, haven't you? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. Do you know Roy Hudson? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny the fact that on June 4, 1944, you were present and helped organize the Communist Political Association at Syracuse? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. You were a member of the New York State committee of the Communist Political Asociation, were you not? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. Did you ever live in Syracuse? Mr. BLISS. Yes. Mr. ARENS. Over what period of time did you live in Syracuse? Mr. BLISS. A couple of years. Mr. ARENS. I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny the fact that you presided over the morning session of the Communist Political Association State Convention in New York City in 1945, in July. Is that correct? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. And you were removed from being presiding officer on the charge, at least, that you were bureaucratic and dictatorial in your attitude? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. Don't you even get along with the members of the Communist Party? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. Now, you lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a little while, didn't you? Mr. BLISS. A short period. Mr. ARENS. When was that? Mr. BLISS. 1947, I think. That is the best of my recollection right now. Mr. ARENS. I put it to you as a fact that while you were in attendance at a UE Communist Party cell meeting, held at UE Hall, 217 East Eighth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, that you announced that the UE people should take their Communist Party activities underground and should soft-pedal and deny their Communist Party membership, but nevertheless carry on quietly. Is that true or is it a lie? Mr. BLISS. Same answer as previously. Mr. ARENS. You were chairman of the Communist Party unit of the UE in Cincinnati during 1947, weren't you? Mr. BLISS. Same answer as previously given. Mr. ARENS. You have run for public office, haven't you? Mr. BLISS. Define what public office. I might agree with you. At the present, no, I don't have a good recollection. Mr. ARENS. Isn't a committee member of a political party a public office? Did you ever run in a primary, in the American Labor Party primary? Mr. BLISS. Fifth amendment privilege. Mr. ARENS. Is the American Labor Party a Communist Party organization? Mr. BLISS. I better stick to the fifth amendment privilege. My recollection is fuzzy in there. Mr. ARENS. Would it help you if I would suggest that in March 1944 the Daily Worker, the east coast Communist newspaper, had an article saying that you were one of the candidates for the new State committee of the American Labor Party to be chosen at the State primary elections to be held March 1944? Is that correct? Mr. BLISS. No, I don't-fifth amendment privilege not to testify against myself. Mr. ARENS. You are not ashamed of being a candidate for the American Labor Party, are you? Mr. BLISS. Not necessarily. Mr. ARENS. Are you ashamed of being a Communist? Mr. BLISS. Fifth amendment privilege not to testify against myself. Mr. ARENS. You were 1 of the 11 Buffalo alleged trade-union leaders that tried to get Earl Browder off the hook, weren't you? Mr. BLISS. Fifth amendment privilege. Mr. ARENS. Were you a member of the Citizens Committee To Free Earl Browder? Mr. BLISS. Fifth amendment privilege. Mr. ARENS. Who was Earl Browder? Mr. ARENS. Was he interested in the working people or was he interested in the international conspiracy of the Communist Party? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. Who was Ernst Thaelman? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. He was a big-shot German Communist leader, was he not? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. And he was in prison in Germany, wasn't he? Mr. BLISS. Same answer. Mr. ARENS. Did you go to the German consulate and try to get Thaelman released; were you one of the delegation? Mr. BLISS. Same answer previously given. Mr. ARENS. Were you a member of the Trade Union Unity League? Mr. BLISS. Same answer previously given. Mr. ARENS. Was that a Communist outfit, too? Mr. BLISS. Same answer previously given. Mr. ARENS. Mr. Chairman, in the presence of this witness, I suggest that Mr. Mazzei be invited to take the chair. Senator BUTLER. Mr. Mazzei, will you take the chair? Mr. ARENS. What is the May Day parade, Mr. Bliss, if you will pardon me just a moment? What are the May Day parades? Mr. BLISS. The May Day parade was originally established to commemorate the hanging of the Haymarket martyrs. Mr. ARENS. What are they now? Have they been taken over by any segment of our society? Mr. BLISS. They are still the days of celebration for the rights of man. Mr. ARENS. Is that all? They are not controlled by the Communist Party? Mr. BLISS. Same answer, the fifth amendment privilege. Mr. ARENS. As a matter of fact, you were one of the instigators of and organizers of several of the May Day parades down in New York City controlled by the Communist Party; isn't that true? Mr. BLISS. Same answer as previously given. Mr. ARENS. What organizations do you belong to now? Mr. ARENS. Do you belong to a church? Mr. BLISS. Same answer as previously given. Senator BUTLER. I direct that you answer the question. Mr. BLISS. The first amendment of the Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, guarantees me freedom of religion. Senator BUTLER. Next question. Mr. ARENS. You decline to answer that question? Mr. BLISS. You heard the Senator. Mr. ARENS. He ordered and directed you to answer the question. Mr. BLISS. He said next question. That is what I heard him say. Mr. ARENS. Our record is clear on that. Mr. Mazzei, do you know the man who has just been testifying here, Mr. Willard Bliss? Mr. Mazzei. Yes. Mr. ARENS. Under what circumstances did you know him? Mr. MAZZEI. I met him in the presence of Roy Hudson, Steve Nelson, and Jim Dolsen. Mr. ARENS. Who are they? Mr. MAZZEI. Roy Hudson was replaced by Steve Nelson, and Steve Nelson and Dolsen have been sentenced on a sedition trial here in Pittsburgh. Mr. ARENS. As conspirators? Mr. MAZZEI. That is right. Mr. ARENS. And this man was Mr. MAZZEI. In the office of the Communist Party. Mr. ARENS. Did you know him as a member of the Communist Party Mr. MAZZEI. Yes, sir; I did. Mr. ARENS. That will be all; thank you. Did you have any connections with the group in San Francisco in the waterfront strike out there, some years ago? Mr. BLISS. I stand on the fifth-amendment privilege not to testify against myself. Mr. ARENS. Sam Darcey was out there, wasn't he? Mr. BLISS. Same answer previously given. Senator BUTLER. Do you know Sam Darcey? Mr. BLISS. Same answer, Senator, previously given. Mr. BLISS. If I may, before I am dismissed, and I understand that is what is to happen, I would like to say this for the sake of the record before I leave this chair. Senator BUTLER. I would rather not have it, unless you are asked a question. You can answer it then. Otherwise, the committee is not interested in what you have to say. Mr. BLISS. Very well, sir. You are not interested in what I have to say. That is my impression. Thank you. Senator BUTLER. Do you object to your picture being taken? Senator BUTLER. In the presence of Almighty God, do you solemnly swear that the testimony you shall give this task force of the Internal Security Subcommittee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Mr. VULETICH. I do. TESTIMONY OF MIKE VULETICH, TRAFFORD, PA. Mr. ARENS. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occupation. Mr. VULETICH. Mike Vuletich, R. D. 1, Box 56, Trafford. I am employed at the Fisher body plant at Dravosburg, Pa. Mr. DUFFY. Could you spell it? Mr. VULETICH. That is rough on the spelling. I am not a very good speller. Senator BUTLER. Keep your voice up a little. Mr. VULETICH. Okay. Mr. ARENS. I am not certain of the status of the record. Have you given your occupation? Mr. VULETICH. My occupation is a pipefitter. Mr. ARENS. Where are you employed? Mr. VULETICH. Fisher Body, General Motors, Dravosburg. Mr. ARENS. That is UAW? Mr. VULETICH. That is United Auto Workers, CIO. Mr. ARENS. Are you connected with UAW? Mr. VULETICH. I am a member at present. Mr. ARENS. In what capacity, just a member? Mr. VULETICH. Just a member. Mr. ARENS. What offices, if any, have you held in UAW? Mr. VULETICH. I have held the president's office. Mr. ARENS. Over what period of time did you hold the office of UAW president? Mr. VULETICH. Early part of 1952, to my best recollection, I think. Mr. ARENS. For part of a year? Mr. VULETICH. For 6 months, and then the election came around again, and there was another man elected in my place. Mr. ARENS. What other posts have you held in the labor organizations? Mr. VULETICH. In UAW? Mr. ARENS. Well, start with UAW. Mr. VULETICH. I have been a steward on the third shift, that is, a committeeman in our union, for approximately maybe roughly speaking, 5 or 6 months on the third shift. Mr. ARENS. In UAW? Mr. VULETICH. UAW. Mr. ARENS. What year was that, if you please, sir? Mr. VULETICH. 1951, I think. |