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)

386 COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Stripling. Have you ever been employed in the motion-picture industry? Mr, Bessie. I have been employed on and off in the mot ion -picture industry since January 1943. Mr, Stkipi.ixg. Are you a member of the Screen Writers" Guild? Mr, Bessie, This is the same sort of a question that was asked of other witnesses. It involves a question of my association. Mr. Stripling. Do you refuse to answer the question? Mr. Bessie. I have not refused to answer the question, but I must answer the question in the only way in which I know how, and that is, that I believe that such a question violates my right of association and is not properly falling — I do not believe it falls properly within the scope of this committee's inquiry, Mr. Stripling, We will move on to the $64 question, Mr. Bessie. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party? Mr. Bessie. Mr. Stripling and gentlemen of the committee, unless it has been changed since yesterday in our country, we have a secret ballot; and I do not believe this committee has any more right to inquire into my political affiliations than I believe an election official has the right to go into the voting booth and examine the ballot which has been marked by the voter. General Eisenhower himself has refused to reveal his political affiliations, and what is good enough for General Eisenhower is good enough for me. Mr, Stripling. Mr. Bessie, this committee has officially found that the Conmiunist Party in the United States is not a political party but is, in fact, the agent of a foreign government. I will ask you again : Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party? Mr, Bessie. Mr. Stripling, if you did not understand the answer to my question Mr. Stripling. I understood your answer. Mr. Bessie. I suggest you have the secretary read it back to j'ou, Mr, Stripling. Mr. Bessie, there have been charges made before this committee that you are a Communist. I didn't notice anywhere in your statement that you denied that charge. You are now being given an opportunity to deny whether or not you are a member of the Communist Party. You have not answered whether or not you are a member of the Communist Party. Mr, Bessie, In the statement which you were kind enough to permit me to read, I stated I stand on the Bill of Rights on this issue ; and I think either the Bill of Rights means something or it doesn't; and if it doesn't mean anything, it is news to me, and I think it would be great news to the majority of the American people. Mr. Stripling. Mr. Chairman, I ask you to direct the witness to answer the question whether or not he is now or has ever been a member of the Communist Party, which is the essence of this entire matter. The Chairman. Mr. Bessie, in order to save a lot of time, we would like to know whether you are or have ever been a member of the Communist Party. We would like a very frank answer. You can answer it "yes" or "no" ; or if you don't care to answer it, just say so. Mr. Bessie. Mr. Thomas, with whatever respect is due this committee, I now state I have given you my answer to this question. I have not attempted to evade the question. I have given you the