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

2182 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT
Mr. Doyle. Any questions, Governor?
Mr. Tuck. I have no questions.
Mr. Doyle. Any questions, Mr. Bruce?
Mr. Bruce. I have no questions.
Mr. Doyle. Thank you. Witness.
Are you ready, Counsel? Call j^our next witness.
Mr. Nittle. Would John W. Darr, Jr., please come forward.
Mr. Doyle. I just wish to simply say that enough applause is
plenty, but there will be no toleration by the Chair of undue taking; of
time to applaud or interrupt the hearings. I expect the cooperation
of every patriotic American in the room. That is the only time I will
say this.
Mr. Darr, v/ill you raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear
you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help you God?
Mr. Darr. I do.
Mr. Doyle. Please be seated.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN W. DARR, JR., ACCOMPANIED BY COUNSEL,
LAWRENCE SPEISER
Mr. Doyle. Mr. Darr, you complied with rule IX of the committee,
which requires that any witness deshing to read any statement
to the committee shall submit that statement to the committee for its
reading and information at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.
This subcommittee received your proposed statement dated December
10. We have considered it, and I read our reply to you at this time:
The committee received and has given consideration to your communication
in submitting a statement of your views regarding this hearing and the reasons
for the position you propose to take when questioned.
The committee disagrees with your conclusion that the hearings are not justified
and it does not accept as vahd the grounds asserted by you for your anticipated
refusal to answer questions. Upon conclusion of your testimony, the
committee will determine whether any portion of it is relevant and shall make it
the subject of investigation and whether it will be inserted in the official transcript
of the proceedings.
Mr. Darr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My difficulty is that this
statement states my grounds for refusing to answer any questions at
this hearing and, since I don't stand on the first or the fifth amendment,
I really need a fuller statement of these grounds.
Mr. Doyle. Of course the committee doesn't recognize anything
except legal constitutional grounds as reasons for refusing to answer
questions.
Mr. Darr. I realize that, sir.
Mr. Doyle. Therefore we cannot permit you to take the time to
read this lengthy document.
Mr. Darr. Would you be willing to recognize conscience?
Mr. Doyle. I have answered your question. You give whatever
answer you feel is justifiable or essential as far as your conscience or
anything else is concerned, but we can't permit you to take time to
read this prepared statement.
Mr. Darr. Thank you, sir. You may have noticed at the bottom
of my statement I asked if you would be willing to include in the
record of this hearing the record of my testimony before the Senate
committee since it supplements the stand upon which I refuse to
cooperate?