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

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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?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT 2165 Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer. Mr. NiTTLE. Under the plan set up in Posner Exhibit No. 1 is it not possible for a well-organized minority to pack the county group, the Central Coordinating Committee, and the General Assembly? Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer. Mr. NiTTLE. Have vou ever resided at 740 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx, N.Y.? (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mrs. Brancato. Yes, I have. Mr. NiTTLE. Did you in 1949 circulate and witness a nominating petition of Benjamin J. Davis, Communist Party candidate for councilman of the city of New York? Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer. Mr. NiTTLE. I hand you Brancato Exhibit No. I, a photostatic copy of that petition titled "Communist Party Independent Nominating Petition," addressed to the Board of Elections in the city of New York, N.Y., upon which appears the statement that the undersigned persons declare they are duly qualified voters intending to support, at the ensuing election, the person so nominated, and select the name of the Communist Party as the name of the independent body making the nomination. The signature and affidavit of "Jeanne Brancato" appears on that petition certifying that she, "Jeanne Brancato," knows each of the voters who subscribe to the petition and that each of them subscribed to the petition in her presence. Is that your signatm-e appearing thereon as the witness to that petition? Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer. (Document marked "Brancato Exhibit No. 1" and retained in committee files.) Mr. NiTTLE. Are you a member of the Communist Party, Mrs. Brancato? Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer. Mr. Doyle. I instruct you to answer that question or specifically state what constitutional privileges you stand on, if any. Mrs. Brancato. I invoke my constitutional privileges under the fifth amendment. Mr. NiTTLE. And you are invoking the self-incrimination clause of that amendment? Mrs. Brancato. Yes. Mr. NiTTLE. At the time you executed this petition, Brancato Exhibit 2,^ did you not know Elizabeth Gurley Flynn as a member of the Communist Party and a leading Communist functionary who was at that time convicted under the Smith Act? Mrs. Brancato. I stand on my previous answer. (Document marked "Brancato Exhibit No. 2" and retained in committee files.) Mr. DoYLE. Counsel, may I inquire whether you asked the witness about present Communist Party membership? Was that the question, or was it whether or not she was a member of the Communist Party when she signed this petition? > Independent Nominating Petition, Peoples Rights Party, naming Elizabeth Ci. Flynn as candidate for Representative in Congress, 24th Congressional District, Bronx County, New York, dated September 1, 1954.
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COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE M
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CONTENTS Page Synopsis 2047 Decembe
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RULES ADOPTED BY THE 87TH CONGRESS
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2048 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PE
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2050 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE P
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2054 COIMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE P
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2064 COIVIMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE
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,^?,?J°^ PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 9999 057
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