Mr. TAVENNER. Was that a correct estimate of the membership at that time? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that this answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. In other words, you will not tell this committee anything regarding your knowledge of Communist Party activities in the Milwaukee area? Mr. ALTMAN. I gave you my answer, fifth amendment. Mr. SCHERER. He could be very helpful knowing who the 118 are. I would like to know whether they are in some of these defense plants. Mr. TAVENNER. How many clubs were there of the Communist Party in 1945 in Milwaukee? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that this answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. I desire to introduce the document in evidence and ask that it be marked "Altman Exhibit No. 3" for identification purposes only, and to be made a part of the committee files. Mr. DOYLE. It is so ordered. Mr. WILLIS. The number indicated on that card is the number of the alleged memberships in one particular club; is that right? Mr. TAVENNER. That is right; yes, sir. It was a club known as the North Side Communist Club at that time. We have introduced in evidence, Mr. Altman, an application for post office box in the name of Mr. Sigmund Eisenscher. Your name was given as a reference by him. A box was assigned as a result of the filing of that application, box 1088, which was used for Communist Party purposes. Were you interviewed or written to by the Post Office Department with regard to the reliability of the person seeking that post office box? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that the answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. The date of that document is September 30, 1954. Were you on September 30, 1954, a member of the Communist Party? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that the answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you acquainted with Mr. Eggleston, who testified here today, Mr. James R. Eggleston? (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer. I invoke the fifth amendment on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Eggleston testified here before this committee that he knew you as a member of the Communist Party. He testified as to the circumstances under which he knew you. Do you desire to deny or in any way explain that testimony relating to you? (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee how the Communist Party in this area raised the funds necessary to carry out its objectives in this area? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you now a member of the Communist Party? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions. Mr. WILLIS. Did you say you are in the rug business? Mr. ALTMAN. I didn't say I was in the rug business. I said that is my trade. Mr. WILLIS. What business are you in? Mr. ALTMAN. I am a carpet layer by trade. Mr. WILLIS. Do you operate a shop of your own or are you working for someone? Mr. ALTMAN. No; my wife operates a shop and I work for her. Mr. ALTMAN. Long Life Rug Service. Mr. DOYLE. Does your wife have any other employees besides you? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. WILLIS. Do you refuse to say how many people work in the same establishment that you work in? (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. SCHERER. I ask that you direct the witness to answer as to how many employees there are. (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. ALTMAN. Under advice of my counsel I refuse to answer on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amend ment. Mr. SCHERER. Are there any other persons connected with the Long Life Rug Co., other than you and your wife? (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. ALTMAN. Same answer. Mr. SCHERER. I ask that you direct the witness to answer. (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. ALTMAN. The same answer that I gave before, fifth amendment. Mr. SCHERER. Could your refusal to answer that question be based on the fact that all the other employees are members of the Communist Party? (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. ALTMAN. Same answer that I gave before. Mr. SCHERER. Is it a fact that you only employ Communists? ment. Mr. DOYLE. This gentleman does not claim that he is the proprietor. It is his wife that is the proprietor as I understand the testimony. Is that correct? Is it your wife's business solely or do you have an interest in it? You volunteered the information. That is why I am questioning you. (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. ALTMAN. It is her business solely. Mr. DOYLE. The reason I asked that question, Mr. Altman, to be frank with you, is that our information is that it is quite a policy to employ Communists. Our information might be in error, but we do not think so. Mr. SCHERER. Is that information we have correct? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me, fifth amendment. Mr. SCHERER. You do not deny that? Mr. ALTMAN. I just gave you my answer, fifth amendment. Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Altman, we believe our information is accurate and I think the questions that our distinguished counsel has asked you indicate that we know considerable. You have exercised your constitutional privilege under our great Constitution and claimed the privilege of the fifth amendment. May I, as just one American to another, urge you to get out of the damnable conspiracy headed toward totalitarian revolutionary force in the country, get out of it and help your country instead of the conspirators that we believe you now are associated with. Mr. ALTMAN. I am a very good American. Mr. DOYLE. You are not a good American if you are identified directly or indirectly with the Communist conspiracy. The courts have held pretty generally in the last 2 years that that is a totalitarian conspiracy designed to use force and violence, and you know it, do you not? What is your answer to that? Mr. ALTMAN. I refuse to answer. Mr. DOYLE. Of course you do. It puts you on the spot and you refuse to answer it. I gave you the chance to clear yourself as a good American. You cannot do it. I think that is all, Counsel. Witness conferred with counsel.) (Witness excused.) Mr. DOYLE. The committee will stand in recess until tomorrow in this room at 9 o'clock in the morning. (Whereupon, the hearing was recessed at 5 p. m., Monday, March 28, 1955, to reconvene at 9 a. m., Tuesday, March 29, 1955.) INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE MILWAUKEE, WIS., AREA TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1955 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, PUBLIC HEARING Milwaukee, Wis. The Subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to recess, at 9: 15 a. m., in the marble courtroom, Federal Building, Milwaukee, Wis., Hon. Clyde Doyle (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Committee members present: Representatives Clyde Doyle (chairman), Edwin E. Willis, and Gordon H. Scherer. Staff members present: Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel, and W. Jackson Jones, staff investigator. We Mr. DOYLE. The committee will please come to order. We will adjourn at 12 o'clock and reconvene again at 1:30. anticipate meeting again tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock and finishing tomorrow afternoon. May the record show, please, that the full subcommittee personnel is here, being the official subcommittee for these hearings: Mr. Scherer, of Ohio, on my left; Mr. Willis, of Louisiana, on my right; and I am subcommittee chairman, Mr. Doyle, of California. Are you ready, Mr. Tavenner? Mr. TAVENNER. I call Michael Ondrejka. Mr. DOYLE. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. ONDREJKA. I do. Mr. DOYLE. Please be seated. TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL J. ONDREJKA Mr. TAVENNER. Will you state your name, please? Mr. ONDREJKA. Michael John Ondrejka. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Ondrejka, it is noted that you are not accompanied by counsel. Do you know that you are entitled to counsel if you so desire? Mr. ONDREJKA. Yes, sir. Mr. TAVENNER. When and where were you born? Mr. ONDREJKA. I was born in Mayville, Wis., on August 28, 1924. Mr. TAVENNER. Where do you now reside? |