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1450 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Communists. I think it is a fair conclusion that he is still in, in view of the fact that I know he was in. Mr. Doyle. This morning you didn't have time to go into the subject very much of what campaign, if any, the Communist Party had while you were in it to try to take over control of any of the political parties in our State. Was there any such program, to put into positions of leadership in any of these parties, other than in the Communist Party, any leadership ? Mr. Ashe. I will have to go back a little to lay a basis for it. In 1934 Upton Sinclair ran for governor on the Democratic ticket with his EPIC movement. The Communist Party severely criticized the EPIC movement, later took another position, finally reversed itself and came to a third position; namely, that the Communist Party should infiltrate the EPIC club—they had local clubs—should in- filtrate these clubs and help to control them and, incidentally, do Communits Party recruiting in this. However, this final decision was made solely that it had no practical effect on Mr. Sinclair's campaign. However, the following spring—I would say about February, pos- sibly—the EPIC's had a post mortem convention at the A. F. of L. Labor Temple, and at that time the Communists were beginning to infiltrate into the EPIC movement. I remember the EPIC movement expressed itself through the Democratic Party. From then on the Communists made considerable headway in Democratic clubs. I have not too much actual knowledge of this except insofar as it was a matter of discussion in the Communist Party committee meetings. I do know they made a considerable amount of headway, but I am not in any position to name names at this late date. I do know, without any shadow of doubt, that they did make headway. Mr. Doyle. You mentioned a Syd Birke, B-i-r-k-e. I noticed that you said that was a party name, B-i-r-k-e ? Mr. Ashe. That's correct. Mr. Doyle. And that Berkowitz was his real name ? Mr. Ashe. That's correct. Mr. Doyle. What do you mean by a party name ? Mr. Ashe. A party name is a name—not in all instances, but in many instances people joining the Communist Party will, upon their application card, select another name by which they will be known in the party or, more often, by which the party card will be issued. Now, this may sound a little confusing. In some instances a person will be consistent in taking a party name and will use the party name in every sense of the word. John Broman is an example. He is better known today as John Broman than he is his real name, Jack Wilson. In other words, he took this party name, but I have always been known as an open party member and used my real name in speaking on behalf of the Communist Party, once I came out into the open. Mr. Doyle. Well, is a fictitious name generally encouraged for party members ? Mr. Ashe. At the time I came in it was; yes. It was considered a security measure. Mr. Doyle. Security against what ? Mr. Ashe. Security against being exposed as a Communist Party member. Mr. Doyle. I notice you testified as to Emil Freedman——