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)

1552 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Patterson Slate democrats opposed to franklin d. roosevelt for third term preferred communist line In the California primary election held on May 7, 1940, there was placed before the voters a slate of delegates to the National Democratic Convention, at which Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated for tlie third term. This slate of delegates was called the Pattorson slate ; was headed by Ellis D. Patterson, now Congressman from the Sixteenth Congressional District. This slate of delegates was opposed to the third term for Mr. Roosevelt, opposed aid to England and was strictly isolationist. It followed the Communist Party line ; was in sympathy with the aims of that party, as the records of the great majority of the delegates will show. The principal plank in the platform was : "No men, no arms, no loans to foreign powers. Stop intrigue leading us int» war. (Remember 1916 — He kept us out of war??? In 1940 — We must keep ourselves out of war. ) " Herbert K. Sorrell was one of the candidates on this delegation. Other candidates for membership on this Communist Party line delegation now supporting the Communist-inspired strike in the Hollywood studios were Philip M. Connelly, Carey McWilliams, Reuben Borough, chairman of the ticket, Frank Scully. Workers Alliance This organization was listed by the Attorney General of the United States as a completelj' Communist-controlled organization of the unemployed. Herbert K. Sorrell was one of the speakers at a mass demonstration of this organization before the Hollywood district SRA headquarters, 245 South Western Avenue, on March 7, 1940. At this demonstration the first Hollywood local of the Workers Alliance was set up. Mr. Sorrell spoke as representative of the Motion Picture Democratic Committee, mentioned heretofore. Other speakers at this demonstration were : La Rue McCormick, member of the Communist Party State Central Committee. Emil Freed, Fifteenth Congressional District branch of the Communist Party — Now on the picket lines in the present strike. I have Mr. Emil Freed's record before me. I think it would be appropriate to interpolate that since he has been stated to be on the picket lines : Emil Freed. 930% South Orange Grove, Los Angeles : In county 35 years ; State, 35 years ; United States of America, 45 years ; education, 16 years ; employed as salesman ; married. Description : Male, white, brown hair, brown eyes, 5 feet 41/^ inches, 150 pounds, age, 45 years ; medium complexion. Born in New York, N. Y., Jewish descent. Registered as Communist, Los Angeles, Calif., August 27, 1940. Communist candidate for Congress, August 27, 1940, Fifteenth Congressional District, Los Angeles, Calif. Organizer of Hollywood section. Communist Party, 1938. Sells and distributes Daily People's World. Expelled from Local No. 311, International Association of Machinists, A. F. of L., August 27, 1946, for Communist activity. Arrested at Columbia Studio November 16, 1946, for 166. 4PC (disobeying court order), booking No. 98402; Los Angeles 1227-D-52. Sentence: Judge Byron Walters, 1 year in jail, April 18, 1947. Arrested at Warner Bros. Studio October 10, 1945, Los Angeles County sheriff's office. No action. Mr. McCann. Now, ]\Ir. Chairman, in his case, since he has been a candidate of the Communist Party, I will except him from any notification, with your permission, because an avowed candidate is of course one who has taken the position he is a member of the party.