Mr. Wheeler. Where are you presently employed?
Mr. Johnston. Mr. Chairman, the subpena was served on me. First, they went to my home and my wife told them where I worked. And they went to the shop and were very courteous and called up my foreman, and I went out and they served me. And I am sure the committee has a record. And I don’t feel that it would do myself any good or the company to make it a part of the official record as to where I work. And I would like to not answer this question on that basis.
Mr. Moulder. Do you decline to answer the question?
Mr. Johnston. No. I definitely—I would like to be excused from answering it. I am not taking a position that I—but inasmuch as the deputy sheriff served me on the job, very courteous about it—met me at the gate and did not come in; told me he would be there—and I went out and looked him up—the committee knows where I work and I don’t feel it should become a record here of the company I work for.
Mr. Moulder. Do you mean that answering the question as to where you are employed would reflect unfavorably upon the company which employs you?
Mr. Johnston. It is possible with publicity in the paper. No use to bring unnecessary publicity on it. I feel that the committee should take that into consideration. They know where I work. Their man served a subpena on me. I would not like to answer that question.
Mr. Velde. Mr. Chairman, I feel I must insist that the witness answer the question as to where he is employed.
Throughout the history of this committee every witness who has appeared before the committee has been required to give his place of residence and his place of employment, or take refuge under the fifth amendment. It would be grossly unfair to all the witnesses who have previously appeared before this committee to allow you to escape answering that question.
Mr. Johnston. Inasmuch as you already know——But I will answer then if you insist that I answer. I work at Lake Union Shipyards as of today—I don’t know about tomorrow.
Mr. Wheeler. What type of work do you do for the Lake Union Shipyards?