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104 COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY
Mr. Menjou. Yes, sir.
Mr. Nixon. You would not want that charge made?
Mr. Menjou. Without substantiation, that is right. That is playing right into the Communists' hands.
Mr. NrxoN. In answer to a question by Mr. Stripling you indicated that although you might not know whether a certain person was a Communist, I think you said he certainly acted like a Communist.
Mr. Menjou. If you belong to a Communist-front organization and you take no action against the Communists, you do not resign from the organization when you still know the organization is dominated by Communists, I consider that a very, very dangerous thing.
Mr. XixoN. Have you any other tests whicli you would apply which Avould indicate to you that people acted like Communists?
Mr. Menjou. Well, I think attending any meetings at which Mr. Paul Robeson appeared and applauding or listening to his Communist songs in America, I would be ashamed to be seen in an audience doing a thing of that kind.
Mr. Nixon. You indicated you thought a person acted like a Communist when he stated, as one person did to you, that capitalism was through.
Mr. Menjou. That is not communistic per se, but it is very dangerous leaning, it is very close. I see nothing wrong with the capitalistic system, the new dynamic capitalism in America today. Mr. Stalin was very worried when he talked to Mr. Stassen. He asked him four times when the great crash was coming in America. That is what they are banking on, a great crash, and I do not think it is coming.
Mr. Nixon. You indicated that belonging to a Communist-front organization, in other words, an association with Communists, attending these planned meetings, making statements in opposition to the capitalistic system are three of the tests you would apply.
Mr. Menjou. Yes, sir.
Mr. Nixon. Do you have any other tests from your experience you would like to give this committee?
Mr. Menjou. I don't know of any better ones.
Mr. NixoN. Do you believe that the motion-picture industry at the present time is doing everything it can to rid itself of subversive un-American influences ?
Mr. Menjou. Yes, I do. I believe it has been that way for almost "a year, or maybe a little more than a year.
Mr. Nixon. You see no further steps the industry can take at this time that it has not taken in the past?
Mr. Menjou. Except eternal vigilance that every American and every citizen of the United States should exercise toward communism. 1 would rather label it as Stalinism; there is no such thing as communism.
^Ir. Nixon. Do you feel congressional action is necessary in order 10 assist the industry in going aiw further with this campaign?
Mr. Menjou. This is a secret organization. Very few people admit to being members of it, only a few, and of course their records are disgraceful. Mr. Mate of the French Communist Party was sentenced to 20 years for mutiny; Mr. Torres was sentenced to 6' years for desertion. Mr. Eugene Dennis, one of the members in New York, has a police record in California. I think I would keep away from those kind of people; at least I have been taught that way.