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COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 1471 California that we could take over and act as the top functionaries in this area in case the party was driven underground. Mr. Tavenner. You were named as one of the three persons to such a committee? Mrs. Ashe. That's correct. Mr. Tavenner. What was the date? When were you appointed to that committee? Mrs. Ashe. I think about 1936. Mr. Tavenner. Who were your associates on that committee? Mrs. Ashe. Ida Miller and Charley Young. Mr. Tavenner. Well, did this committee ever function? Mrs. Ashe. No, not in the way that it was supposed to. I mean, we didn't go underground. We met frequently. In fact, this com- mittee was so hush-hush that no one was supposed to know about it except the people that were on the committee. Even my husband Avas not supposed to know anything about the functioning of this committee. Mr. Tavenner. Now, did that committee go through a course of training in preparation for its assignment? Mrs. Ashe. Yes. We were trained on where mail would be re- ceived, how addresses would be rotated Mr. Tavenner. I doubt if the committee can hear you without the aid of the amplifying system. I think it is all right now. Mrs. Ashe. Ali right. I don't think it is. Mr. Tavenner. Will you tell us—I believe you did tell us who your associates were. Now, will you tell us what type of training you took in preparation for your assignment ? Mrs. Ashe. We were trained in where to receive mail, how dues, stamps, and so forth would be received and distributed. We were given a code that would be used in sending messages back and forth between various points. We were taught that code. We were given messages to decode and we were taught to send messages in the code. In other words, we familiarized ourselves very thoroughly with the code that was to be used in the event it was needed. Mr. Tavenner. How long did you serve on that committee ? Mrs. Ashe. Well, I didn't serve very long. A few months. The reason I was taken off of the committee, I was injured. I had an auto- mobile accident which necessitated a 6-months leave of absence, and I never again served on that committee. Mr. Tavenner. Did you learn who succeeded you on that com- mittee ? Mrs. Ashe. No, I didn't. I have no idea. Mr. Tavenner. Do you have in your possession any documentary evidence of the giving of directions or orders to you by Louise Todd ? Mrs. Ashe. I have a communication that I carried when I made collections. In other words, as a responsible comrade, I presented a document to prove that I did represent the party and to make the people who were contributing sure that their money was going to the P^ty- Mr. Tavenner. And you exhibited that when soliciting funds ? Mrs. Ashe. Yes. That was my passport. Mr. Tavenner. Do you have it ? Mrs. Ashe. Yes, I do have it.