I have quit singing, however. My voice doesn’t suit for that.
Mr. Tavenner. Do you recall whether the first name was Kate or Kay?
Mr. Dennett. I knew her by the name of Kate, K-a-t-e.
Now the other day Mr. Wheeler asked me to think of the names of persons whom I knew, and I wrote down those which came to my mind in an offhand sort of way. Now in speaking of these names I want to again reiterate my personal moral objection to being called upon to bring to public notice the names of people whom I did know in the Communist Party for the reason that I think it is much better for them to speak for themselves.
Mr. Tavenner. Just a moment. If you can devise some plan for Communists speaking for themselves without the committee ascertaining their names we would be glad to have the suggestion.
Mr. Dennett. Maybe when I get through they might want to.
Mr. Tavenner. I might say the committee has to take the responsibility for asking you these questions, and realizes that it is not being generously given.
(At this point Representative Harold H. Velde left the hearing room.)
Mr. Dennett. Well, I make the point of my objection for the reason that among nearly all of my friends are people who believe in bending over backwards the other way to protect the good name of any person. And I fear the consequences to the individuals.
I mean I just hate to be a party to doing anything which will in anywise injure any of them. I trust that the way in which this is done it will not injure them. However, I know that they are going to suffer some embarrassment as a consequence of it. However, the names that I am going to submit to you are persons who were known to me to be members of the Communist Party, and I am sure they knew what they were doing when they were members of the Communist Party.