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

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2100 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT Mr. Doyle. Do you understand the question, Mrs. Meyers? Help us by answering that question. Mr. BouDiN. I wonder whether counsel wouldn't indicate the pertinency of the question, to help the witness. Mr. Doyle. Counsel;^ would you do that? Mr. NiTTLE. I think the pertinency of that question is indisputably clear, Mr. Chairman, and I don't think we need subject ourselves to a delaying tactic on that point. Mr. BouDiN. It was a very small delay. Mr. NiTTLE. I think an explanation has been made, both in the chairman's opening statement and by myself, as we proceeded. I, therefore, again respectfully request that the witness be directed to answer the question. Mrs. Meyers. Mr. Doyle, if it was said to me that Mrs. So-and-so or Mrs. So-and-so stands for such a program, do you stand for the program, I would be able to tell you how I feel about the program. But when it is a case of just personal associations, I think my rights under the first amendment Mr. Doyle. I understand that, and we are not questioning motives in these hearings at all. We are not going into that. The question onl}^ bears on whether or not there is any connection between the women that you are associated with and the leadership of Mrs. Wilson in Washington. That is the question. Mrs. Meyers. I think I have answered, Mr. Doyle, that we have tried to keep contact in every way with anyone who is interested in promoting a basic program for working towards peaceful alternatives in this world. So that would include everyone and anyone who I felt were working for peace. When I have to answer about a particular person, I don't think that is related to my activities in Women Strike for Peace. Mr. Doyle. It is related to whether or not your group is affiliated, or in any way connected, with the Washington group. Mrs. Meyers. I have reached personally with anyone I knew, to hold hands with anyone at all in this country or in Europe or any place who is interested in seeking out peaceful alternatives to solving the world's problems on which a bomb seems to be the biggest solution. I think that is inclusive enough, sir. Mr. Doyle. I understand that, but, really, the question is whether or not there is any connection—that is what it goes to—between your group and the Washington group led by Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Meyers. I think when I am asked about particular people, there is a value then, in terms of personal association, and I will answer in terms of how my activities in peace were being promoted within this group. Mr. Doyle. Go ahead, Counsel. First, Mrs. Meyers, I will direct you to answer that question. Mrs. Meyers. I decline to answer that question on my rights under the first amendment, to associate freely, and, also, because I feel that this is not pertinent to the inquiry, to the role that I have in this inquiry, and because of my constitutional privileges under the fifth amendment. Mr. Doyle. Very well. Proceed, Counsel. (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. NiTTLE. Mrs. Meyers, when you invoke the fifth amendment, do you invoke the self-incrimination clause?
COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT 2101 Mrs. Meyers. I am relying on that part of the fifth amendment which provides that no person shall be required to be a witness against himself. Mr. NiTTLE. Mrs. Meyers, it appears from the public records that a Ruth Meyers, then residing at 1751 East 10th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 27, 1948, signed a Communist Party nominating petition for Simon W. Gerson, an identified Communist, who was then publicly seeking the office of councilman for the Borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Are you the Ruth Meyers who executed that petition? (Witness conferred with counsel.) Mrs. Meyers. No, sir. Mr. BouDiN. Could I see the petition? Mr. NiTTLE. I hand you a photostatic copy of that petition, marked for identification as Meyers Exhibit No. 1. Mrs. Meyers. I never resided at that address, and it is not my signature. (Document marked "Meyers Exhibit No. 1" and retained in committee files.) Mr. BouDiN. It is rather interesting to speculate, Mr. Doyle, as to whether the witness was called because a similar name appears on a petition. Mr. Tuck. I object to the counsel interrupting. Mr. BouDiN. I was addressing myself to the chairman of the committee. Mr. Doyle. The witness answered positively. Mrs. Meyers. Except, Mr. Doyle, when that question is put, it shows the intent of this committee. Anyone who talks for peace must be Mr. Doyle. No, you misjudged the intent, Mrs. Meyers. Mrs. Meyers. I don't think I misjudged, Mr. Chairman. It is like the taxi driver that I got caught in traffic with. I must say that he objected to a parade and said, "You must be a Communist if you objected to a parade." Mr. Doyle. You answered frankly and immediately that you were not the same person, but we certainly want to know with whom we are dealing. Mrs. Meyers. Why? Because I stand for peace? Do you have to find out Mr. Doyle. No, because someone with your name signed that Communist petition. Mrs. Meyers. Perhaps, sir, I shouldn't have accepted that subpena, if there are so many people by the name of Ruth Meyers. Mr. NiTTLE. Mrs. Meyers, have you ever been a member of the Communist Party? Mrs. Meyers. And this is a continuation of the intent of that first question. If I stand for peace, I have to stand up here and say or answer this question. I think, sir, Mr. Doyle, that this is a disgrace, and any American who takes a dissenting role Mr. NiTTLE. WUl you please answer the question? Mr. BouDiN. You are interrupting the witness. Mr. NiTTLE. The question is a simple one. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
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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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Page 22 and 23: 2054 COIMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE P
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ii INDEX G Gage-Colby, Ruth I*aee 2
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iv INDEX Communist Party of the Uni
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: i INDEX Women's InternationalfStr
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,^?,?J°^ PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 9999 057
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