Communist activities in the peace movement (Women Strike for ...

2150 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT
declined to answer other questions. I had a right to join the American
Student Union, if I did.
Mr. NiTTLE. You did not invoke the fifth amendment privilege
the self-incrimination clause—of the Constitution in refusing to respond
to that question?
Mrs. Mackenzie. Are you suggesting it is criminal to have joined
the American Student Union, or to have worked for peace?
Mr, NiTTLE. I am asking whether or not you are invoking the fifth
amendment clause—self-incrimination privilege—in your refusal to
respond to that question.
Mrs. Mackenzie. No, I am not.
Mr. NiTTLE. Were you a member of the Young Communist League
during your attendance at Vassar College?
Mrs. Mackenzie. I refuse to answer the question on the same
grounds.
Mr. NiTTLE. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request that the witness
be directed to answer the question.
Mr. Doyle. I direct you to answer that question, Mrs. Mackenzie.
Mrs. Mackenzie. I decline to answer it on the ground stated.
Mr. NiTTLE. You are not invoking the self-incrimination clause of
the fifth amendment. Is that correct?
Mrs. Mackenzie. That is correct.
Mr. NiTTLE. I should make a further explanation, Mrs. Mackenzie,
that the question is related, of course, to that of present Communist
Party, membership.
Mrs, Mackenzie. I beg your pardon?
Mr. NiTTLE. The question is related to the question of any present
Communist Party membership on your part.
Mrs. Mackenzie. It seems to me that that is an unbecoming thing
to happen in the Halls of Congress.
Mr. NiTTLE. There is a principle in the law that a condition once
shown to exist is presumed to continue.
Mrs. Mackenzie. No condition has been shown to exist.
Mr. NiTTLE. And in view of the subject matter of this inquiry
today, we are also seeking information to determine whether or not
you are engaged in activities in Women Strike for Peace in response to
Communist directives.
It is, therefore, relevant to determine whether or not you are a
member of the Communist Party, and with that explanation, Mr.
Chairman, I respectfully request that the witness be directed to answer
the question of whether or not she was, while in attendance at Vassar
College, a member of the Young Communist League.
Mr. Doyle. I thought I had instructed you, Mrs. Mackenzie, but
if I have not, I do instruct you to answer that question.
Mrs. Mackenzie. I decline to answer. These are not questions.
These are stones that are being thrown at me.
Mr. NiTTLE. The official organ of the American Student Union was
titled Student Advocate. In the Student Advocate of December 1936,
there appeared an item reportedly written by Anna DeCormis, editor,
Vassar Miscellany News.
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
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