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

2164 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT
Mr. NiTTLE. Have you been active in a group known as Women
Strike for Peace of Metropolitan New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut?
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
Mrs. Brancato. I question the authority of the committee to
require me to answer. I don't understand its pertinence and I invoke
mj' constitutional privileges under the fifth amendment.
Mr. NiTTLE. Would you repeat the witness' answer, please? I
did not hear it.
(Answer was read by reporter.)
Mr. Doyle. I think in view of that answer I should ask. Were
5^ou in the hearing room yesterday morning when I read the preliminary
statement?
Mrs. Brancato. Yes.
Mr. Doyle. You heard it read?
Mrs. Brancato. Yes.
Mr. Doyle. That is all.
Mr. NiTTLE. W^hen you invoke the privilege of the fifth amendment
as basis for your refusal to respond to that question, are you
invoking the self-incrimination clause of that amendment?
Mrs. Brancato. Yes.
Mr. NiTTLE. Do you sincerely believe that a reply to the question
posed to you might involve you in a criminal prosecution?
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. I hand you a copy of a document previously marked
for identification as Posner Exhibit No. 1, which is titled "Structure
for Women Strike for Peace, Metropolitan N.Y. New Jersey
Conn."
Did you participate in the preparation or adoption of that plan of
structure?
Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. As a member of the Central Coordinating Committee
do you have access to the official records, minutes, and proceedings of
this organization?
Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. Have any formal or written rules of procedure been
adopted by that organization to implement or to supplement the
structural plan established in Posner Exhibit No. 1?
Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. It appears in Posner Exhibit No. 1 that the local group
provides the basic representation in the county group, on the Central
Coordinating Committee, and on the General Assembly. However,
the structural plan defines a local group as consisting of "any body of
women who have meetings and act in concert for the general purpose
of peace."
Of what local group are you a member?
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
Mrs. Brancato. T stand on my previous answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. Are there any rules established by the organizational
plan, Posner Exhibit No. 1, or any implementing bylaws, rules, or regulations,
to define the acceptable composition and number of a local
group that would authorize representation of it on a county group
or on the Central Coordinating Committee?