Hearings regarding the communist infiltration of the motion picture industry. Hearings before the Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first session. Public law 601 (section 121, subsection Q (1947)

COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 49 Mr. Thomas. Not only Iminorous. Mr. Warnek. Well, strike the word "Imniorons." I stand corrected. Mr. Thomas. You might say in an insidious vein. Mr. Warnek. Yes; insidious. Mr. Thomas. We can't understand, if you have talked to the other producers, why they don't do something. Mr. Waknkk. I talked to them individually. Mr. Thomas. All right, individually. They jjrobably consciously or unconsciously agree with you, but just give you a blank stare, as you say. But we •want to know what you can do about it. How will you correct the situation? Mr. Warner. As I said, I have gone out whole hog to try to get these people to •do something about it. I cant luiderstand why i:>eople engage them. Mr. Thomas. That is what we would like to know. Mr. WARNFJt. I can't fathom it, to save my life. Mr. Thomas. But we want to know liow you are going to correct the situation. Do you think they will keep on engaging them and keep on doing this until, the iirst thing you know, the industry gets a black eye, or will they ultimately get religion as you have got religion? Mr. Warner. I would like to correct that statement. I didn't get religion. I have always been that way — an American. Mr. Thomas. I didn't mean that. Mr. Stripling. Become aware of it. Mr. Thomas. By religion I meant you have become aware of the danger. Mr. Warner. Of the danger ; that is correct. Mr. Thomas. Will they become aware or not become aware and the industry get a black eye':" Mr. Warnek. I can say this for the industry : They are all good Americans, but some of them look upon this type of man drawing a big salary as lieing a good, -capable writer and see no reason why be should not keep on working, because there is no law against it. Mr. Thomas. Well, there is no law against it, but I want to tell you if I had :a business it would not make any difference — whether it is the insurance business -which I have got — or whethei it was the moving picture business or some other l)usiness — if I had a business I would not keep a commie in there 5 seconds. Mr. Warner. That is my policy and my brother's policy. Mr. Thomas. You have done the same thing. Mr. Warner. Detinitely. Mr. Thoaias. But the dollar sign plays a big part with some of the other fellows, and that is what astounds us. Mr. Warner. I would like to make a bi'ief statement outlining the policy of the <-onipany and ourselves personally regarding subversive elements such as leftists, fellow travelers, or members of the Connnunist Party. I wish to reiterate the very tenor of Congressman Thomas' feeling as just stated because I could not improve on it. I also want to offer as evidence, if you will accept it, two of our personnel blanks that have been in use for a number of years. This yellow application form was first used in 193(). I would like to have you look at question No. 10. And on the white form, page 3. question No. 17, where we deliberately put in there through my personal direction — I would like you to read it [handing •documents to IMr. Stripling]. Mr. Stript.ing. I will read it into the record. Question No. 10. "Are you atiiliated with any organization or group that is fintagonistic to the principles of our American form of government?" That is on the yellow form. Now, the white form, question No. 17: "Are you atiiliated with any organization or group antagonistic to the principles of our American form of government? (Yes or no) — . Are you a member of any organization, society, group, or sect owing allegiance to a foreign government or rule? (Yes or no) — ■" Mr. Warner. We had plenty of rebuffs from people who had to answer them or they wouldn't get a job. (The afore-mentioned documents were marked "Warner Exhibits Nos. 1 and 2." I'o.spectively. )' Mr. Stripling. Don't you tliink tlie most effective way of removing these Communist influences — and I say Communist influences; I am not saying Com " Sop appendix, p. .">2.3. for Warnpr exhiliits 1 and 2. .submitted in pxocntive hearings, May 15. 1047, now designated as exhibits 9 and 10.