INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE NEWARK, N. J., AREA-PART II WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1955 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, PUBLIC HEARING Washington, D. C. A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to call, at 10: 45 a. m., in the Caucus Room, Old House Office Building, Hon. Francis E. Walter (chairman), presiding. Committee members present: Representatives Francis E. Walter (chairman), Clyde Doyle, and James B. Frazier, Jr. Staff members present: Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel. The subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. Velde, Doyle, Frazier, and Walter, will hear the witnesses. The committee was unable to serve a subpena on Walter Barry at the time it was hearing evidence relating to the publication March of Labor, and it was likewise unable to serve a subpena on this individual at the time of the Newark hearings. As to this witness, Walter Barry, the hearing will be a continuation of the hearings heretofore conducted relating to March of Labor and the hearing heretofore conducted at Newark, N. J. Another witness will be called for the purpose of obtaining information believed to be within his knowledge relating to Communist Party activities in Colorado, Ohio, and possibly other places. Mr. Tavenner, call your first witness. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Walter Barry. The CHAIRMAN. Will you raise your right hand, please, Mr. Barry. Do you swear the testimony you will give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. BARRY. I do. TESTIMONY OF WALTER BARRY, ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL, ROBERT LEWIS Mr. TAVENNER. What is your name, please, sir? Mr. BARRY. Walter Barry. However, perhaps the committee is aware-if not, I have had other names in the past which I should inform you of. Mr. TAVENNER. But before doing so, I would like counsel accompanying you to identify himself for the record. Mr. LEWIS. My name is Robert Lewis, L-e-w-i-s; offices at 615 Columbus Avenue, New York City. Mr. BARRY. As a youth I organized the Twilight Baseball League of 8 teams. During the course of that period there was a movie called Private Izzie Murphy in which George Jessel appeared. For various reasons the boys' league nicknamed me Izzie Murphy on that basis. That is one name which has been attached to me during the period of my adulthood. My original name my parents gave me was Israel Eisenshtat, E-i-s-e-n-s-h-t-a-t. The reason for the change to Walter Barry was that I found it difficult because of biased and prejudiced people in industry to get a job with that name, and therefore I legally changed that name the latter part of the 1930's. At the present time my legal name is Walter Barry. Mr. TAVENNER. Have you used any other name? Mr. BARRY. Based on some of the testimony of some of the cooperative witnesses' fantasies-only a few weeks ago in Newark one of the witnesses underwrote or fingered a man and swore he was dead. He is as alive as you and I. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, the answer is not responsive to the question. Mr. BARRY. Let me finish. The CHAIRMAN. Answer the question. Mr. BARRY. I can't determine what some psychopath who comes as a witness The CHAIRMAN. Never mind calling loyal Americans psychopaths. Mr. BARRY. I merely give you an indication, a man under oath swore a man was dead when he wasn't. The CHAIRMAN. He is a loyal American devoted to the preservation of the Government that you would destroy. Mr. BARRY. Personally, you have no right to say that. The CHAIRMAN. I am assuming the right. Mr. BARRY. You have no right to do that on the basis of anything that you have before you. The CHAIRMAN. Repeat the question, Mr. Tavenner. Mr. BARRY. Just a moment. I think the Congressman has no right prior to any hearing or in a court of law to charge me with un-American activity. I wish you would withdraw that. The CHAIRMAN. We will hear more about this in a few minutes. Mr. TAVENNER. My question was whether or not you have used any names other than those you have mentioned. Mr. BARRY. It appears that the committee insists that I testify against myself, and therefore I will use the first and fifth amendments. The CHAIRMAN. Do you refuse to answer the question whether or not you have used any other names? Mr. BARRY. I have asserted the privilege, as I have informed you. Mr. TAVENNER. Have you ever used the name Walter Wishnefsky? Mr. BARRY. I give you the same answer. I assert the privilege. The CHAIRMAN. Do you refuse to answer because of the provisions of the first and fifth amendments? Mr. BARRY. Yes. Mr. TAVENNER. When and where were you born, Mr. Barry? Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, what your formal educational training has been? Mr. BARRY. Yes. I went through high school. Mr. TAVENNER. What is your profession or occupation? Mr. BARRY. I have had a few. I have worked in shops, I have worked in stores. Mr. TAVENNER. I mean your occupation at the present time. Mr. BARRY. Labor organizer, writer. Mr. TAVENNER. How are you presently employed as a labor organizer? (The witness conferred with his counsel.) Mr. BARRY. Up until 1950, I was employed by the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America Mr. TAVENNER. Let me interrupt you, please. You said up until 1950. Will you give us the date you began working at the UE? Mr. BARRY. About 1938 to 1950. Prior to that I worked for the CIO. Mr. TAVENNER. What was the nature of your employment during the period 1938-50? Mr. BARRY. I was field organizer and international representative. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you please tell us, please, what period you were a field organizer and where you were assigned? Mr. BARRY. I was field organizer between about 1938 and 1941, assigned to New Jersey. Mr. TAVENNER. That is in what district? Mr. BARRY. District 4. Mr. TAVENNER. Then in 1941 you became Mr. BARRY. International representative. Mr. TAVENNER. Where were you assigned to work? Mr. BARRY. Michigan. Mr. TAVENNER. That would be from 1941 until what date? Mr. BARRY. 1942. Mr. TAVENNER. Where did your next assignment as international representative take you? Mr. BARRY. New Jersey. Mr. TAVENNER. How long were you there? Mr. BARRY. Until about 1948. Mr. TAVENNER. 1942 to 1948. Then you were still an international representative for the additional period of 2 years. Where were you located during that 2-year period? Mr. BARRY. I then went to Connecticut and worked out of the national office, and then went back to Jersey. Mr. TAVENNER. During what period of time were you in Connecticut? Mr. BARRY. I think it was the early part of 1948. Mr. TAVENNER. You were in Connecticut just part of 1 year? Mr. BARRY. Yes, part of 1 year. I wasn't there very long. Mr. TAVENNER. What was your next assignment? Mr. BARRY. I worked for the national office for a while. The na tional office of the union in New York. Mr. TAVENNER. In what capacity? Mr. BARRY. International representative. Mr. TAVENNER. That was from 1948 until what time? Mr. BARRY. Until 1949. Mr. TAVENNER. What was your next assignment? Mr. BARRY. New Jersey. Mr. TAVENNER. Were you still an international representative? Mr. BARRY. Right. I understood that you are Mr. TAVENNER. How long were you there? Mr. BARRY. Until 1950 or 1951. I am not sure. Mr. TAVENNER. 1949 until 1950 or 1951. still an international representative of the UE. (The witness conferred with his counsel.) Mr. TAVENNER. I thought that was the inference of your answer a few minutes ago. Mr. BARRY. No, it wasn't. Mr. TAVENNER. I am incorrect. Then how are you employed now as a labor organizer? Mr. BARRY. I have other employers. Mr. TAVENNER. I understood you to say your present employment is that of field organizer. Mr. BARRY. I did not say that. Mr. TAVENNER. Did you serve as a field organizer of UE at any time after 1950 or 1951? Mr. BARRY. No. Mr. TAVENNER. Did you have any affiliation or connection with the UE after 1951? (The witness conferred with his counsel.) Mr. BARRY. Yes. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell us what your connection with the UE was? Mr. BARRY. I was a member. Mr. TAVENNER. Did you hold any position of any character after 1951? Mr. BARRY. No. Mr. TAVENNER. What was the reason for your leaving the position of international representative in 1950 or 1951? (The witness conferred with his counsel.) Mr. BARRY. To take other employment. Mr. TAVENNER. What was that employment? (The witness conferred with his counsel.) Mr. BARRY. At this time, because of certain attacks initiated by this committee, I make use of my privilege under the first and fifth amend ments. Mr. TAVENNER. For how long did you remain employed in this character of work which you will not describe for us? Mr. BARRY. The same answer. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you still employed in the same character of work, whatever that may be? Mr. BARRY. I assert the privilege of the first and fifth amendments. Mr. TAVENNER. What is your present employment? Mr. BARRY. I assert the privilege of the first and fifth amendments. Mr. TAVENNER. I have before me the August issue, 1951, of March of Labor, and I see there a letter addressed to the readers. In the course of the article there appears blocked out a photograph with the name "Barry" under it. Will you examine it, please, and state whether that is a photograph of you? (Witness examined document.) (The witness conferred with his counsel.) Mr. BARRY. I assert the privilege. Mr. TAVENNER. Do you refuse to answer, relying upon the fifth amendment as the reason for doing so? Mr. BARRY. Yes. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to read this letter or this statement in evidence, please, which was in behalf of the management of March of Labor. DEAR READER: It is with a great deal of pleasure that we make this announcement. Walter Barry has accepted the post of associate editor of your magazine, In recent years Barry has been UE's international representative in New York and New Jersey. Walter is among the most respected progressive labor leaders in the East. He brings with him a wealth of experience in organizing campaigns and strike struggles. We are grateful to UE President Fitzgerald for granting Brother Barry an indefinite leave of absence so he can devote his time, energy, and experience to MOL. March of Labor, published monthly at 799 Broadway, New York 3, N. Y., Spring 7-6480, by March of Labor, Inc. Editor, John Steuben. Associate Editor, Walter Barry. Art Editor, Charles Keller. Isn't it a fact, Mr. Barry, that you did. obtain a leave of absence from your position with the UE and became associate editor of March of Labor in July or August 1951? Mr. BARRY. I assert the privilege. Mr. TAVENNER. Do you refuse to answer? (The witness conferred with his counsel.) Mr. BARRY. I decline to answer because I do not wish to testify against myself, and therefore I assert the privilege. Mr. TAVENNER. I have before me the April 1954 issue of March of Labor. Investigation by the staff has reflected that on this date the name of Walter Barry was dropped as associate editor of this publication. On that date I read from the publication, "March of Labor, editor, John Steuben," without any reference to there being an associate editor. Did you cease being an associate editor of this magazine in April 1954? Mr. BARRY. It has been evident by former testimony to this committee that this committee has a design of attacking organizations and periodicals contrary to the Constitution of the United States, which allows for freedom of press and assembly, and also to smearThe CHAIRMAN. Answer the question. Mr. BARRY. I therefore am again forced to The CHAIRMAN. Don't make a speech. Mr. BARRY (continuing). Decline to answer and to assert the privilege of both the first and the fifth amendments. Mr. TAVENNER. What was your employment in May 1954? Mr. BARRY. I decline to answer, utilizing the privilege. Mr. TAVENNER. Did you continue in any employment with March of Labor after April 1954? Mr. BARRY. I decline to answer, using the privilege. 65388-55-pt. 2-13 |