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

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

Mr. Tavenner. Do you know whether any part of the $4,000 grant or any other grant from the foundation was used for the benefit of the Civil Rights Congress in the State of Washington?

Mr. O’Connell. I don’t know whether it was, that grant or any other grant. I know there was some argument and some consultation with me by Mr. Daschbach about it and I was very specific—I think that was before the grant was made—and I was very specific with him that no part of the grant would be used for any other purpose than that for which it was made. That was the Pacific Northwest Labor School.

Mr. Tavenner. Was John Daschbach an official of the Civil Rights Congress in Seattle?

Mr. O’Connell. If I remember correctly, I left Seattle, I don’t remember when the Civil Rights Congress was organized in Seattle, but as I remember when I left Seattle Daschbach was then functioning as head or director of the Washington Civil Rights Congress.

Mr. Tavenner. Did he hold that position at the time he spoke to you about the use of proceeds of the grant for the Civil Rights Congress?

Mr. O’Connell. I don’t think I would be able to say whether he was actually in the position at that time. I can’t recall. I remember at the time that he asked me about the grant they were closing out, they were terminating this Seattle Labor School and they had borrowed money from particularly various labor union members about the town. I remember I think it was either Frank or Fred Carlson to whom they owed money and other people, I can’t remember precisely who they were now, but anyway the representations made to me in connection with the grant were they were trying to close out the labor school and pay off their debts and pay I think back salaries that were owed to Mr. Daschbach and to some others there, I don’t know who.

Mr. Tavenner. Was John Daschbach known to you to be a member of the Communist Party?

Mr. O’Connell. I never knew John Daschbach was a member of the Communist Party.

Mr. Tavenner. Had you heard that he was a member of the Communist Party?

Mr. O’Connell. I had never heard that he was a member of the Communist Party. I actually, my first, I think the first time I met Mr. Daschbach was in Spokane and I think he was attending Gonzaga University, a Jesuit university in Spokane, and as far as I knew personally, I didn’t know he was a Communist, didn’t know whether he was or was not.