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

2170 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT
Mr. Taylor. We have lost 3-011.
Mrs. Chesman. Where are you? There is no underHning particularly
and it is difficult to
Mr. NiTTLE. The item appears in the initial paragraphs.
In and around New York on Oct. 3, several hundred women were to assemble at
shopping centers and on busy street corners with petitions designed to "make the
candidates speak out on the peace issue." The day was designated for an all-out
effort to obtain signatures on the nation-wide petition initiated by Women Strike
for Peace. The goal is one million signatures.
The petition pledges signers to vote for candidates who will support measures
to 1) bring an end to nuclear testing and spread of weapons; 2) achieve general
and complete disarmament under UN safeguards and develop a national program
to facilitate conversion to a peacetime economy; and 3) strengthen the UN and
the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
Was this action of Women Strike for Peace initiated or directed by
the Central Coordinating Committee of the New York group of
Women Strike for Peace?
Mrs. Chesman. Honestly, I do not know.
(Document marked "Chesman Exhibit No. 1" and retained in committee
files.)
Mr. NiTTLE. Did you participate in any discussions which led to
the adoption of that particular action?
Mrs. Chesman. I may have, but I would be dishonest if I answered
you absolutely.
Mr. NiTTLE. Mrs. Chesman, the official record indicates that a
Miriam Chesman in 1946, resident at 117 White Plains Koad, Bronx,
N.Y., was a signer of a Communist Party nominating petition for
several persons, including Robert Thompson who was listed as a
candidate for the office of Governor of New York upon the Communist
Party ticket.
I hand you a photostatic copy of that petition marked for identification
as Chesman Exhibit No. 2. Are you the Miriam Chesman
whose signature is upon that nominating petition?
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
Mrs. Chesman. I question the authority of the committee to
require me to answer. I do not understand its pertinency to this
hearing and I again must invoke my constitutional rights under the
fifth amendment that states that I do not have to testify against
myself.
(Document marked "Chesman Exhibit No. 2" and retained in
committee files.)
Mr. NiTTLE. You will note that the petition is titled "Communist
Party Independent Nominating Petition." It is directed to the
Secretary of State of New York and states that the signers of that
petition declare their support of the candidates nominated, and select
the name "Communist Party" as the name of the independent body
making the nomination.
Were you a member of the Communist Party at the date of execution
of that petition.
Mrs. Chesman. I will have to repeat that I again invoke the fifth
amendment which says that I do not have to testify against myself.
Mr. Doyle. May I ask what is there, and I am not asking this
just to be argumentative, about signing a petition like this for the
nomination of a man to public office, when the Communist Party is
involved, which raises in your mind a possibility of criminal prosecu-