Communist infiltration of Hollywood motion-picture industry : hearing before the Committee on Un-American activities, House of Representatives, Eighty-second Congress, first session (1951)

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COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 1627 do within the framework of the Constitution, to understand why so many people who come before this committee claim the privilege of the fifth amendment. And I recognize we have that right and must always preserve it and protect it. I don't understand why they claim that privilege if they are honest-to-God in their state- ment when they say they want to weed out subversive people and subversive programs. Thank you very much for allowing me to speak with you. Mr. Wood. Mr. Jackson? Mr. Jackson. Mr. James, in light of your statement that you are opposed to communism, do you consider communism to be in the nature of a conspiracy? Mr. James. I don't know whether it is a conspiracy or not. I have heard charges, it has not yet so been proved to be. I can oppose many things without considering them conspiracies, world con- spiracies, or whatever. I think in a time of crisis like this it behooves us all to be a little careful when we call something a conspiracy, to slow down on the emotional word, or else we build up on our side the same type of name-calling that we hear coming from the Russian side in the present situation. Mr. Jackson. That is very broad and glittering statement. How- ever, it seems to me that the time has come to be an American or not an American. The time has come for a lot of people Mr. Wirin. May I interrupt? Mr. Jackson. You may not interrupt me. I have every right to make a statement. There have been a lot of speeches made here to- day and I am only saying that every American should make up his mind whether he is an American or whether he owes his allegiance somewhere else. Do you take exception to that ? Mr. Wirin. This witness hasn't made any statements or speeches. Mr. Wood. Counsel, please restrain yourself under the rules of the committee. Mr. Jackson. I call communism an international conspiracy and those engaged in it to be traitors, and that is with no particular refer- ence to this witness. Mr. Wirin. Are you addressing me? Air. Jackson. I am not addressing you, I am making an observa- tion. Mr. Wood. Applause in this room will not be tolerated, ladies and gentlemen. I have tried to make that crystal clear at the beginning of these hearings. I would dislike very much to have to clear the room, but we will tolerate no further outburst from the audience. Mr. Jackson. If during the war enemy paratroops had landed in a field a half a mile away it would have been the duty of an American citizen who had knowledge of the attack to report immediately the nature and extent of the threat. Those troops, those enemies, are in our midst today and it is my contention that it is still the duty of every loyal and devoted American citizen to forego double-talk, be an Amer- ican, and tell what he knows. Frankly, I deplore the fact that wit- nesses take the position that they owe no obligation to disclose the associations and the nature of this conspiracy, and I repeat it is a conspiracy. Mr. James. Sir, I feel