Mr. Lawrie. I am ready to proceed.
I would like to know if I can state my reasons for not answering this question.
Mr. Moulder. Certainly, if it is not at great length in the form of a speech. Or, you may decline to answer claiming and invoking the first amendment, as you have.
Mr. Lawrie. I don’t think that it will be long, but that is my opinion.
I state again, as I stated before, because of many workers losing their jobs because they were mentioned by this committee or in some subpena, I believe that I have the right to earn a living, and that this committee may be responsible for my losing my job to make a living. And I would like to decline from answering that question, but if the committee compels me to, I will.
Mr. Velde. In that connection, have you ever made a living by being a member of the Communist Party? Has the Communist Party paid you anything for being a member of it?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Lawrie. I am going to refuse to answer any questions that refer to communism—in this committee under the fifth amendment.
Mr. Wheeler. Where are you presently employed?
Mr. Lawrie. I am going to make the same statement as I made before, that, due to the fact that many working people were fired from their jobs at the last hearing, that I am liable to the same thing happening to me, lose my source of income and——