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COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 1423 Mr. Tavenner. How long were you in that section of the Commu- nist Party ? Mr. Ashe. I was in the downtown section, or the successors to it— they changed the terminology some—until the day I terminated my membership in the Communist Party, which was in February 1939. Mr. Tavenner. Now, I would like to go back to the first group that you were assigned to, the Hollywood street group, and ask you if you can identify the names of the members of that group. Mr. Ashe. I will try. Bill and Clara Ward were members; my wife and I were members. Mr. Tavenner. Now, let's not go quite so fast there. Bill Mr. Ashe. Bill and Clara Ward. Mr. Tavenner. Now, will you, in identifying them, give us such further information relating to them as you can from your recollec- tion as to their participation and their position and vocation? Mr. Ashe. Well, I never did—well, I'll take that back. I do now know what Bill Ward's vocation was. He was a police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department. Bill and Clara Ward at various times were on—or, I believe, at one time she was membership director. At another time—this is for the county. At another time I believe she was dues secretary, and for a considerable length of time she served on the disciplinary committee. In fact, I was on the disciplinary committee for a while with her. Bill, to my knowledge—I don't be- lieve ever held any position of responsibility, but merely went along with his wife and sat in on many of these meetings. Mr. Tavenner. All right. Will you continue ? Mr. Ashe. There was a man by the name of Morton Beeman. 1 I believe he is now deceased. It is my recollection that he was organizer at least part of the time while I was in; his wife, Ruth, whose first name I can't now recall. There were two Japanese whom I can't further identify. One or two other people whom I can't bring into focus at this time, and in addition, there was Will Geer. Mr. Tavenner. Will Geer? Mr. Ashe. That's right. Mr. Tavenner. What was his occupation? Mr. Ashe. I believe at that time he was trying to get work in the studios. Probably did occasional bit work. Mr. Tavenner. A person by the name of Will Geer, an actor, ap- peared before the committee in Washington and refused to answer questions that were propounded to him regarding his alleged Com- munist Party affiliations and activities. Do you know whether it was the same individual ? Mr. Ashe. Well, it is only an assumption on my part. I think it is a fair assumption, because I followed Will Geer's professional career for some years. I know that the same Will Geer that I knew in 1934 was the Will Geer who appeared in two outstanding theatrical pro- ductions m 1937 in New York City. He was appearing in two simul- taneously, as I recall it. I believe one was called Pins and Needles. I don't at the moment recall the other one. Mr. Tavenner. Now, do you know whether or not there was any change m the spelling of his name? 1 Ad individual was named by Mrs. Mildred Ashe as Morton Beaman.