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)

MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES 2361 Committee on Un-American Activities that "Herb Sorrell. business agent for the Studio Painters Union, was resarded as the only Communist Party comrade iu an American Federation of Labor union in Los Angeles who could put over the entire party line iu his union." Rena M. Vale further testified that in connection with a session of the Los Angeles County convention of the Communist Party at 121 West Eighteenth Street, Los Angeles, "I recall that Herb Sorrell was <loorman at the sessicm I attended and accepted my credentials." I want to saT that I have before me now what I am informed is a photostatic copy of the minutes of the Communist Party convention of 1938 in which it is stated that Herb was one of the sergeants-at-arms, as expressed in his dossier on the basis of Rena Vale's testimony. Mr. Kearxs. Do you Avant to say Herb Stewart or Herb Sorrell? Mr. Levy. All I say is Herb. Herbert K. Sorrell admitted to the California Committee on Un-American Activities that he gave permission to have his name on some committee which accounted for his name in script on a copy of the minutes of this Los Angeles County Communist Party convention, which was held in April-May 1938. He also admitted to the California committee in testimony taken July 31, 1941, that Paul Cline and Jack ^Moore. admitted Communist functionaries in California, •came to him when he tried to raise the per capita tax of his union and told hina it was "going against the Communist Party line." The California Committee •on Un-American Activities in a letter dated February 19, 1946, stated that, "The secret Communist Party affiliations of Herbert K. Sorrell is therefore established beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt, and his activities explained in light of current Communist Party purposes and olijectives. 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 pres•ently an important stooge and tool of Communist Party design for tlie destruction of American Federation of Labor unions in Hollywood and the establishment of Communist influence and domination in the motion-picture industry." I want to interrupt my reading of this dossier, Mr. Chairman, to make a request of you: When Mr. William C. Doherty, one of the members of the executive council connnittee of three was on the witness stand, at my request a question was presented to him in substance asking whether or not there had been discussions before the executive <'OLnicil of the American Federation of Labor of the situation involving Communist influences in Hollywood studio labor. Mr. Doherty said that he remembered such discussions but that he would not be able to testify with respect to it without getting the minutes of the executive council. In view of the fact that this honorable committee has undertaken to investigate the Communist influences in Hollywood studio labor. I think it is im]iortant for a complete picture of this situation to ask the three members of the executive council committee of three, or whichever member of that committee is present in Washington, to present those portions of the minutes of the executive council of the American Federation of Labor on the Communist problems in Hollywood, which have not been presented to this committee. I know that the executive council minutes with respect to all other matters have already been presented, and I therefore make the request so that your committee's record may be complete. Mr. Ke.\kxs. I will instruct committee counsel's secretary to write the three-man committee, Mr. Knight, Mr. Birthright, and Mr. Doherty, and have Mr. Doherty furnish it for us. Mr. Levy. And that will be included in the record at this point? ]\Ir. Kearns. Yes. Mr. Levy, Thank jou, sir.