(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Johnston. The same—the fifth amendment. I will have to invoke the fifth amendment again on that question.
Mr. Wheeler. Is it not a fact that you at one time were business agent for the International Association of Machinists, A. F. of L.?
Mr. Johnston. Again I will have to invoke the fifth amendment.
Mr. Wheeler. To refer to the testimony of Barbara Hartle, page 6094, part 2 of the hearings held in June 1954:
The business agent for several years of the machinists union during this time was Harold Johnston, who was a member also of the district committee of the Communist Party of which I was a member.
Was Mrs. Hartle correct in making that statement?
Mr. Johnston. I will have to again invoke the fifth amendment in that it is liable to incriminate me.
Mr. Wheeler. Were you ever at any time a member of the district committee of the Communist Party of King County?
Mr. Johnston. I will again have to invoke the fifth amendment on the grounds it will possibly incriminate me.