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1380 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES everything- I possibly can to assist our members in maintaining and bettering their conditions, regardless of whether they are following one branch of onr trade, or another. In doing that I follow their desires. I am not, as general president, in a position to tell our members what they have got to do. They tell me what they want me to do for them. I am not a dictator. The members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America are Americans. An applicant to become a member of the brotherhood must be a citizen of the United States or show proof of his intentions to become a citizen. No Communist can obtain or retain membership in the brotherhood, if it becomes known that he is a Communist. Our members have certain local autonomy, in reference to establish- ing their own working conditions covering hours, wages, and other conditions in connection with their employment. As I stated, I have no written statement. I want to be helpful to the committee in every way I can and I am of the opinion, Mr. Chairman, that probably if you would ask me questions on certain things, I probably could give you a more comprehensive word picture from our viewpoint than I could if I just start in and narrate and travel over the lot. Mr. Kearns. I think it is only fair to you and the committee that you first of all develop your side of the picture from the time of the Cincinnati meeting until the directive was handed down which you disapproved of. Or, it is all right if you want to start with the strike in March 1945 and go on from that point, Mr. HuTCiiESON. We have no strike. Mr. Kearns. Well, if you want to call it a difficulty, then. Mr. HuTCHESON. Our members exercising their right as Americans and as union men, just refused to pass a picket line. Mr. Kearns. Do you want to get into the facts about the directive ? Mr. PIuTCHESON. Whatever you desire, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Kearns. Why don't 3^ou take it from that aspect, after the directive was handed down by the three-man committee. You were at the meeting in Cincinnati when it was decided this committee would be appointed by the general council and their finding was to be bind- ing, as we understand; all parties agreed to work until this directive was handed down. Is that correct? Mr. HuTCiiEsoN. That is correct. Mr. Kearns. I think if you start from that point we will be getting right into the meat of the thing and can go forward from there on. Mr. Landis. Mr. Chairman. JNIr. Kearns. Yes, Mr. Landis. Mr. Landis. I would like to make an observation. The point I wanted to discuss was that there was a directive and the directive clari- fied or was it plain? In the first place, did you agree to abide by the directive that they would hand down and was it clear to the workers what the directive was? Will you cover those two points? Mr. Hutcheson. Mr. Chairman, could I have a little information? Mr. Kearns. Yes, sir. Mr. Hutcheson, Could I ask who constitutes the subcommittee? I am quite willing to give the Congressmen and representatives of the Government, and all the people of the United States all the