this chair. This is the most democratic union in this country. I have been in AFL, CIO, and other independent unions, and this is the most democratic union of them all as far as membership controlling of this union. That is the only one controls this union.

Mr. SCHERER. Your union was expelled by the CIO for being Communist controlled.

Mr. SMORODIN. That is your opinion.

Mr. SCHERER. Is it not a fact that your union was expelled from the CIO for being Communist controlled or Communist dominated? Mr. SMORODIN. My union left the CIO because they would not be dominated by a body that would tell them how to tell their membership how to vote, how to tell their membership how to think and also to dictate to their membership as to other polícies. We say our membership has a right to determine for itself. That is why our union left the CIO.

Mr. SCHERER. Communist domination of the UE had nothing to do with your separation from the CIO?

Mr. SMORODIN. That is my opinion.

Mr. DOYLE. You volunteered this information about the control of your union. We have had evidence under oath both here and elsewhere to the fact that very frequently the Communist members of the UE, most of them being officers of the UE, at least at the district level, would hold a caucus or meeting before the union itself decided what should be done, and then they passed the line on down to the Communist members in the union. Now, did you ever attend that kind of a caucus of the Communist Party members of the UE?

Mr. SMORODIN. Mr. Chairman, I say again that if you prefer to believe the word of stoolpigeons and paid informers and other assorted finks, that is O. K. with me, except I will stand on the privilege of the fifth amendment.

Mr. SCHERER. What did you say?

Mr. SMORODIN. Finks, f-i-n-k-s.

Mr. SCHERER. What does that mean?

Mr. SMORODIN. You don't have much to do with labor or you would know what a fink is.

Mr. SCHERER. You tell me.

Mr. SMORODIN. A fink is the lowest sort of humanity. A fink is a man that would squeal on his fellowman for a buck. A fink is a guy that would scab when there is a picket line outside his shop trying to get higher wages for him and his fellow workers. That is a little description of a fink. You have had them enough before your committee to know what a fink is.

Mr. SCHERER. He isn't quite as low as a fellow who would take instructions in the Lenin School in Russia, is he?

Mr. SMORODIN. I would rather not get into a discussion with you. on that. I will take my privilege under the fifth amendment.

Mr. DOYLE. I felt that you knew we had evidence under oath both here and elsewhere that the Communist Party members of the UE, the organization you work for, did hold precaucuses and premeetings to determine what the union line should be as a matter of policy and then the Communist Party members of the UE undertook to control that policy.

I felt that as one of the leaders of the UE in this area it was a fair question to ask you whether or not you knew of any such meetings

because our official duty, whether you like it or not, is not to smear you nor the union, but to get the facts and report to Congress the extent to which a totalitarian subversive group of American workmen whether they are in unions or elsewhere, are undertaking to control the activities of organizations in our country. I don't know of any more important level of activity than the working people of my country. You are one of its leaders. You volunteered this matter of control. You yourself suggested that you had the most democratic control in the UE of any labor group. I think under your volunteering that statement that I have the right and you should expect me to go into the question of how your union is controlled. Therefore, I ask you if it is a fact that a group of Communists held these caucuses and meetings, and if you had ever attended one to participate in that kind of control of your union. Isn't that a fair question?

Mr. SMORODIN. No, it isn't.

Mr. DOYLE. Why is it not? You volunteered the matter of control.

Mr. SMORODIN. I think I explained how my union is controlled and if you have been investigating my union, which you have been doing quite a bit of, you should know how my union is controlled and as far as getting me into a trap on Communist caucuses, and these other horror stories, these stoolpigeons have filled this committee record with, I want no part of it and I will take the fifth amendment every time you ask me a question like that.

Mr. DOYLE. I won't waste your time. The record is perfectly clear about your attitude toward this committee as a committee of Congress, your own Congress.

Mr. SMORODIN. That is right. And this committee does it no credit. Mr. DOYLE. I think we have a balance on the ledger in our favor as a committee of Congress.

Mr. SMORODIN. You yourself thought so not too long ago when you voted against appropriations for this committee.

Mr. DOYLE. That is right, I voted against appropriations for this committee years ago because this committee years ago did not allow a witness to have a lawyer by his side in a hearing room. I am still very proud of the fact that I fought this committee in those years because I felt it was not the democratic way. Now we urge lawyers be present.

Mr. SMORODIN. Why don't you fight for the right for my lawyer to cross-examine the stoolpigeons.

Mr. DOYLE. Your lawyer knows it is absolutely impracticable for this sort of thing to occur. It would not work.

Mr. TAVENNER. Are you now a member of the Communist Party? Mr. SMORODIN. I will plead my privilege under the fifth amendment and answer that question as you very well knew I would. Mr. TAVENNER. I have no further questions.

Mr. DOYLE. Thank you very much. You are excused.

(Whereupon the witness was excused.)

The committee will recess until 9:30 tomorrow morning.

(Whereupon, at 5:25 p. m. the hearing was recessed, to reconvene at 9:30 a. m. the following day, Wednesday, May 18, 1955.)

(Remainder of these hearings for May 18 and 19 and July 13, 1955, printed in part II of this series.)

IN THE NEWARK, N. J., AREA-PART II

HEARINGS

BEFORE THNERSITY
OF MICHIGAN

COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAIN

DING ROOM
EIGHTY-FOURTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

65388

MAY 18, 19, AND JULY 13, 1955

Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities

INCLUDING INDEX

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1955

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 Activities, to consist of nine members.

RULE XI

POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES

(q) (1) Committee on Un-American Activities.

(A) Un-American activities.

(2) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee, 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.