Investigation of Communist activities in Seattle, Wash., area. Hearings, Part 3

by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities

Mr. Tavenner. Why didn’t you?

Mr. O’Connell. It wasn’t our job to do anything of that kind. As a matter of fact, I am sure, Mr. Tavenner, you have been around here a long time, and I mean the development as far as these organizations are concerned that you are talking about to me now, the proscription of these organizations, certain individuals, are things that have gone on. I went into this foundation selected solely as a friend of Bob Marshall’s. I went in with an honest mind determined to do the best job I knew how to see that the money was spent to do what I thought Bob would like to have seen done.

Mr. Tavenner. Bob unquestionably wanted to promote a new economic system in the United States based on the theory of production. That is what Bob wanted to do according to his last will and testament.

Did you make grants aggregating $6,000 to Frontier Films?

Mr. O’Connell. I am pretty sure we did. I can’t recall the particular grant now or know what it was made for. I think there was a particular picture. Wasn’t the picture of 1937 Little Steel strike out in Chicago where many of the workers were murdered? You see it is very difficult to go back 17 or 18 years and try to put it in the pattern that you now work on today.

Mr. Tavenner. We know that Frontier Films produced the Communist film Native Land based on Richard Wright’s Native Son. The picture featured the Negro actor, Paul Robeson. That is the only information that I have.

Mr. O’Connell. I know as far as Frontier Films were concerned whatever the picture was, as I recall, it was a labor picture and my best recollection is it was the picture about the Little Steel strike and particularly the Memorial Day massacre in 1937 at Republic Steel in Chicago.

Mr. Tavenner. Do you recall who solicited the grant?

Frontier Films was cited by this committee as a Communist front on March 29, 1944.

Mr. O’Connell. No, the first name of Paul comes to my mind. I can’t remember any last name. The party came and talked to us about it—was there a Paul—Paul comes to my mind. That is all I can recall.