Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

■ 1544 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Mr. Kearns. Mr. Counsel, the Chair will have to rule this way : Mr. Levy is under oath. What he wishes to tell the committee at this time he is perfectly privileged to do so, and any other witness who comes before us to deny or make countercharges will also be under oath. I think in the long run it will clarify itself, sir. Mr. McCann. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the committee chairman but I contend this witness may quote 20 people to the effect that someone is a Communist and we haven't one scintilla of evidence that justifies the committee in making any such affirmation. Mr. Kearns. Mr. Counsel, as long as he makes the accusation and puts it in the record he is under oath and assumes that responsibility, does he not ? Mr. McCaNjSt. He assumes the responsibility without legal obligation. Mr. Kearns. Well, maybe somebody else will make it legal then. You understand I am just trying to clear this up. Mr. Levy. I understand very well. I want to read two telegrams and then I will proceed to read the letter that I wrote you. Mr. Kearns. All right, Judge, go ahead. Mr. Levy. Thank you very much. We will have a witness here who will testify. I am presenting the statement on behalf of my client. I continue reading from Senator Tenney's telegram : There is no doubt in the minds of the members of the joint fact-finding committee on un-American activities that Herbert K. Sorrell is a member of the Communist Party and presently an important stoose and tool of the Communist Party design for the disruption of American Federation of Labor unions in Hollywood and the establishment of Communist influence and domination in the motion-picture industry. On February 18, 1946, the subcommittee on law and order of the State assembly, under the leadership of C. Don Field, which has investigated the violence in the 1945 strike, submitted a report containing the following : "From its investigation the subcommittee concludes that there was a definite and serious break-down of law and order in the county of Los Angeles and particularly in the city of Burbank, in connection with the so-called jurisdictional strike at the motion picture studios in the month of October 1945. Mass picketing and acts of violence in disregard of law and orders of the court, induced and inspired by subversive elements taking advantage of the strike situation were not prevented nor immediately curbed by law-enforcement agencies." We hope your committee will ascertain all the facts in the current studio situation before taking any action which might unintentionally support these subversive elements active in the studio situation. If I can be of service to you feel free to call upon me. Jack D. Tenney. I have no doubt, sir — although I cannot speak with knowledge — that after these telegrams were sent to the Honorable Fred A. Hartley it was thought there ought to be an investigation of the entire Hollywood jurisdictional strife situation. Now I proceed to continue to read the letter which I was privileged to write to the Honorable Carroll D. Kearns on November 28, 1947, pursuant to the authorization of the subcommittee in Los Angeles. Since I have certain exhibits here tliat ought to be presented and you have the original letter, I would appreciate it if you would let me have the letter and the exhibits. I shall present them in that way. Mr. Kearks. All right, sir. [Handing the witness documents.] Mr. Levy. Thank you very much.