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COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 1519 peace, and that capitalism and communism could exist peacefully in one world. Pamphlets. This book was pushed excessively. We were to not only buy copies of it, ourselves, but see that it was distributed largely in the community. Also, there was the open-the-second-front drive. I am trying to say that these things are all tied in with the national party direc- tives so that we, as a branch, through the medium of the party litera- ture, could then carry out the party directive. I am trying to say that we acted as directed. Mr. Tavenner. You did what? Mr. Townsend. We acted as directed by the party headquarters. Mr. Tavenner. Now, the programs that you held in your Commu- nist Party meetings where the Communist Party line was discussed related to certain definite subjects frequently? Mr. Townsend. Yes, of course. • Mr. Tavenner. Well, when you went to the book shop to obtain the literature which was to be used in subsequent meetings, was that litera- ture picked out for you and was it designated for you, or did you, yourself, have to select that material which conformed to the Commu- nist Party line that was then being discussed? Mr. Townsend. It had been selected for me by the proprietor of the book shop. If I wanted something else in addition to this, I was at liberty to take it, but there was always a suggestion by the proprietor of the book shop what is good this week. Mr. Tavenner. Did you inform the head of the book shop as to the character of the material you wanted or did he tell you what was in conformity with the line which was being discussed ? Mr. Townsend. He told me. Mr. Tavenner. Well, that indicates, then, a preconceived plan, an organized plan by which the pro-Communist line was to be imparted to the membership at your meetings and through the literature \ Mr. Townsend. Oh. definitely. I think the literature played a very important part from the viewpoint of the national headquarters of the party. This was one of the weapons to keep the membership in line. (At this time Eepresentative Charles E. Potter left the hearing room.) Mr. Tavenner. Then that indicates that the Communist Party book shop played a very important function in imparting the Communist Party line at the Communist Party meetings. Mr. Townsend. Yes: certainly it did. Mr. Tavenner. Who was the head of the Communist Party book shop, I believe you said the Lincoln Mr. Townsend. Lincoln Book Shop. Mr. Tavenner. Book Shop ? Mr. Townsend. I am sorry, I remember him only as a man named Jack. Mr. Tavenner. Were there other Communist Party book shops in Los Angeles, to your knowledge, at that time? Mr. Townsend. I was told there was one on Seventh Street, I be- lieve, called the Progressive Book Shop. Other than that, I do not know. Mr. Tavenner. Now, did you hold any other positions within the Communist Party?