Mr. Dennett. Well, I think I mentioned earlier—if I didn’t, I should at this time—that there was a young woman by the name of Helen Quist who represented the Young Communist League, who went to Bellingham at approximately the same time I did, and who gave invaluable help in the organization of both the Young Communist League and the Communist Party. She was a member of both, and she was my closest and ablest assistant for quite a period of time in Bellingham.
Mr. Tavenner. Will you spell the name, please?
Mr. Dennett. Q-u-i-s-t, Helen Quist.
When I arrived, the local leadership of the Communist Party consisted of a person by the name of Martin Olson. And I hope that if there are any Martin Olsons who hear of that that they will not worry too much because there are so many Martin Olsons in this area.
But this particular Martin Olson was an unemployed logger at that time.
Mr. Tavenner. In light of your statement then, can you give further identifying information in regard to Mr. Olson so that there will be no confusion as to the “Olson” referred to?
Mr. Dennett. All I can say is that he was a man of small stature, was an unemployed logger at that time. That is about all I can use for description.
There was a person by the name of George Smith in Bellingham. He at that time operated a little hotel which he owned.
Mr. Tavenner. What was his activity?
Mr. Dennett. He was just a member of the sectarian group that just sat around and were satisfied that as long as they had a pure line everything was rosy. The fact that they didn’t do anything about it didn’t seem to disturb them too much. They were satisfied that they were following the straight and narrow path.