which comprises western Pennsylvania, were identified by witnesses before the subcommittee as Communists: Frank Panzino, presently a member of the International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, CIO. Mike Vuletich, formerly business agent for UE Local 601, but presently a member of the United Automobile Workers, CIO. Stanley Loney, formerly president of district 6, UE, but who stated that he was presently unemployed. Campbell Beveridge, who was formerly a UE section steward, presently a member of the International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, CIO, Local 601. When interrogated by the subcommittee, each of the above-named persons, except Campbell Beveridge, refused to answer any questions concerning Communist Party membership or Communist Party activity. Campbell Beveridge denied that he had ever been a member of the Communist Party or that he had ever attended meetings of the Communist Party. (5) Witnesses before the subcommittee testified with respect to the sabotage and espionage potential by Communists who are presently employed in or who have access to industrial establishments in the Pittsburgh area which are vital to the defense of this nation. The testimony further reveals that the modus operandi by which the top Communist functionaries in the UE maintain intimate contact with the operations in the various industrial establishments is via a shop steward system pursuant to which individuals are designated within the various plants who report to the Communist UE leadership. The testimony also reveals such incidents which have occurred as the photographing and mapping of the Pittsburgh area by known Communist agents and the goon squad tactics employed by the Communists. SUBCOMMITTEE COMMENT The testimony establishes that there exists in the area of Pittsburgh, Pa., a serious potential danger to the security of this Nation. It is unthinkable that a large segment of the heavy industrial area of Pittsburgh, Pa., should be manned by a Communist-controlled organization masquerading as a labor union. All the forces of the Government of the United States must be brought to bear promptly to meet this critical situation. JOHN MARSHAL BUTLER (Maryland), Chairman. HERMAN WELKER (Idaho). SUBVERSIVE INFLUENCE IN THE UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO, AND MACHINE WORKERS OF AMERICA, PITTSBURGH AND ERIE, PA. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1953 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE INTERNAL Pittsburgh, Pa. The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., in courtroom No. 4, Federal Building, Pittsburgh, Pa., Senator John Marshall Butler presiding. Present: Senator Butler. Also present: Richard Arens, subcommittee counsel; Frank Schroeder and Edward R. Duffy, staff members. Senator BUTLER. The session will be in order. As chairman of a task force of United States Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, I shall make a few introductory remarks by way of explanation of the purpose and program of the task force here in Pittsburgh. This task force has been constituted for a single purpose; namely: To inquire into Communist penetration of labor organizations and to recommend to the Senate such action as the facts warrant. These are primarily legislative hearings to provide the Senate with information essential to the consideration of a bill I introduced in April 1953, amending the Internal Security Act to deal with the problem of communism in labor organizations. This task force will not be dissuaded from a full and complete discharge of its duty by any cries of "witch hunt," "Red baiting," "union busting," "purges," or "thought control" emanating from Communists or their puppets. It is indeed regrettable that such contemptuous protestations from the lackeys of the Kremlin have often misled honest, conscientious, and loyal Americans. But, I say in all sincerity, no American need fear this task force. Communists and other traitors may well beware. I am in dead earnest when I say that the extensive material which our task force has thus far developed establishes beyond the peradventure of a doubt that, by capturing strategic posts in certain labor organizations, the Communists pose a dagger at the heart of our industrial system and have a key to the inner recesses of our defense establishments. This issue is of vital concern to all patriotic segments of our citizenry, including the overwhelming majority of organized laboring men and women who are caught in the web of intrigue which the few conspirators, a significant but dangerous minority, are able to weave. Much has already been done by groups of organized labor to expose and expel from their midst those who have betrayed this country to the international Communist conspiracy, and I heartily commend them. But the job has not been completed and it is a continuous, tedious, and painstaking process which, like the preservation of liberty itself, requires eternal vigilance. In the light of the basic American concept of government "of the people, by the people, and for the people," this task force invites the support and cooperation of patriotic men and women in organized labor, in management, and in all segments of our society. In fact, the extent of the success of our endeavors will depend largely upon the degree of cooperation which we are able to enlist from those who have vital information and who are ready to cooperate with us. Let it be remembered that under Communist-controlled systems there can be no free labor organizations. The task force will be in executive session today and will hear the testimony of a number of witnesses. We will have public sessions tomorrow and will, in all probability, remain in session, with a recess for Armistice Day, until Thursday evening, with the possibility of running over into Friday. Now, with reference to our procedure, may I say that, as chairman of the task force, and as a lawyer, I shall zealously guard the constitutional rights of every witness who shall appear before the task force. Every witness will be accorded the privilege of counsel. May I state, however, that counsel will be permitted only to advise the witness with respect to his rights. I will not tolerate for one instant the perversion of the objectives of this task force, nor will this task force be used as a forum for Communist propaganda. We will proceed here in an orderly manner. There will be no demonstrations and no obstreperous conduct will be permitted. In addition to myself as chairman, the other members of the task force are: Senator Herman Welker of Idaho and Senator Pat McCarran of Nevada. The counsel to the task force is Mr. Richard Arens and the other members of the staff who are present are Mr. Frank Schroeder and Mr. Edward R. Duffy. We will now proceed in executive session and will remain in executive session until tomorrow morning at 10 a. m. All members of the press will please leave, as well as others, except representatives of the Immigration Department and the people who have been summoned. Everybody else will please leave the room. I want to offer for the record S. 1606, being the bill I introduced on April 9, 1953, a bill "To amend the Internal Security Act of 1950, and for other purposes." (S. 1606 follows:) [S. 1606, 83d Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To amend the Internal Security Act of 1950, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Internal Security Act of 1950, as amended, be further amended as follows: By adding to the duties now devolving upon the Subversive Activities Control Board, created by section 12 (a) thereof, the following: "SEC. 117. Whenever it is charged that any 'labor organization' as defined in section 2 (5) of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, as amended, is substantially directed, dominated, or controlled by any individual or individuals (whether officers of such labor organization or not) who are or ever have been a member or members of the Communist Party or of any Communist-action organization, or Communist-front organization, as those terms are defined in section 3 (3) and (4) of said Internal Security Act of 1950, as amended, or who have consistently aided, supported, or in any manner contributed to or furthered the activities of such organizations, or of any other 'totalitarian dictatorship' as defined in section 3 (15) of said Internal Security Act of 1950, as amended, the Board shall investigate such charge and if it has reason to believe that allegations therein contained are meritorious, it shall issue and cause to be served on such labor organization a complaint stating the charges together with a notice of hearing before the Board or any examiner thereof stating the place and time of such hearing which shall be not less than twenty days from the date of service of such complaint and notice of hearing. "Simultaneous with the service of such complaint and notice of hearing on such labor organization, the Subversive Activities Control Board shall cause to be served on the National Labor Relations Board and the General Counsel thereof copies of such complaint and notice of hearing together with an intermediate suspension order providing that such labor organization shall be ineligible to act as exclusive bargaining agent or to become, or to continue to be, the recipient of any procedural or substantive benefit under or by virtue of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, as amended. "SEC. 118. Upon the service of such complaint and notice of hearing the Board (or any member thereof, or any examiner designated thereby) shall be empowered to hold hearings in accordance with the applicable provisions of section 13 (c), (d) (1) and (2), (e), and (f) of the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950, as amended. "SEC. 119. If after such hearing the Board shall conclude that such labor organization is dominated, directed, or controlled by any individual or individuals, whether officers or not, who are or ever have been a member or members of the Communist Party, or of any Communist-action organization, or Communist-front organization, or who have consistently aided, supported, or in any manner contributed to or furthered the activities of such organizations, it shall make permanent the intermediate suspension order provided for in section 117 of the Act, and shall serve such final order on such labor organization and copies thereof on the National Labor Relations Board and the General Counsel thereof. "SEC. 120. The disqualifications of such labor organization provided herein shall not render void or voidable any collective bargaining contract previously executed between such labor organization and any employer, insofar as such contract bestows rights or benefits upon either the employees or the employer: And provided further, That elections to select a successor exclusive bargaining agent may be directed by the National Labor Relations Board without regard to the limitation provided by section 9 (e) (2) of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, as amended. "SEC. 121. Any party aggrieved by the final suspension order of the Board may obtain a review of such order by filing in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, within sixty days from the date of service upon it of such order, a written petition praying that such order be set aside. A copy of such petition shall be forthwith served upon the Board, and thereupon the Board shall certify and file in the court a transcript of the entire record in the proceeding, including all evidence taken and the report and order of the Board. Thereupon the court shall have jurisdiction of the proceeding and shall have power to affirm or set aside the order of the Board; but the court may in its discretion and upon its own motion transfer any action so commenced to the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit wherein the petitioner resides. The findings of the Board as to the facts, if supported by the preponderance of the evidence, shall be conclusive. If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence, and shall show to the satisfaction of the court that such additional evidence is material, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the Board and to be adduced upon the proceeding in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as to the court may seem proper. The Board may modify its findings as to the facts, by reason of the additional evidence so taken, and it shall file such modified or new findings, which, if supported by the preponderance of the evidence shall be conclusive, and its recommendations, if any, with respect to action in the matter under consideration. "If the court shall set aside such final suspension order of the Board, the decree of the court shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court upon certiorari, as provided in title 28, United States Code, section 1254. However, pending review by the Supreme Court, the final suspension order of the Board shall retain its full force and effect." |