The CHAIRMAN.  Mr. Bressler, hold up your right hand be sworn [sic].  Do you swear that the testimony you will give in this hearing shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so hel.p you God?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I do.
    Mr. MORRIS. How do you spell your name ?
     Mr. BRESSLER. Which one, the first or last ?
     Mr. MORRIS. Full name.
     Mr. BRESSLER. Joseph, J-o-s-e-p-h, Bressler, B-r-e-s-s-l-e-r.
     Mr. MORRIS. What is your address, Mr. Bressler?
      Mr. BRESSLER 15 Ludlum Place, Brooklyn, NY,

     Mr. MORRIS. What is your present occupation?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I am assistant professor of health and physical education at Brooklyn College.
     Mr. MORRIS. Is Brooklyn College a New York City college?
     Mr. BRESSLER. It is under the board of higher education, yes, sir.
     Mr. MORRIS. How long have you been teaching at Brooklyn College ?
     Mr. BRESSLER. 26 or 27 years.
     Mr. MORRIS. Where were you educated?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I was educated in New York City.
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Bressler, have you ever attended meetings of the Communist Party?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I object to that question and I refuse to answer it on the grounds that I consider this committee has no authority to ask me questions concerning my thoughts and my beliefs, my associations. I believe also that in asking these questions the committee itself is violating the Constitution, and I shall not be a party to such action.
     In addition, I think this is unwarranted interference with a State function. This is Federal interference with education, which is a local matter. In addition to that, I claim privilege under the fifth amendment to the Constitution.
     The CHAIRMAN. The Chair, of all your objections, only recognizes your objection under the fifth amendment of the Constitution.
     Mr. BRESSLER. You have no objection to my stating them and having them in the record?
     The CHAIRMAN. They are already in the record, but the committee will not recognize them and we overrule your objection to answer the questions on all the grounds stated with the exception of the fifth amendment to the Constitution.
     Mr. MORRIS. And by the fifth amendment to the Constitution, you mean, Mr. Bressler, that your answer would tend to incriminate you?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I mean I am not required to give testimony against myself.
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Bressler, have you been active in the New York Teachers Union?
     Mr. BRESSLER. Off and on; yes.
     Mr. MORRIS. Have you held office in that union?
     Mr. BRESSLER. Yes, I have.
     Mr. MoORRIS When did you last hold office in that union?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I am not entirely sure. I think it was 1949.
     Mr. MORRIS. What office did you have at that time?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I was vice president for the colleges.
     Mr. MORRIS. The vice president of the teachers union in charge of colleges?
     Mr. BRESSLER. The college chapter; yes.
     Mr. MORRIS. How many college teachers were under your administration while you held that position?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I can't be sure of the number because it fluctuated very considerably.
     Mr. MORRIS. Will you give us your best estimate?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I am not sure-300, 350.
     Mr. MORRIS. 350. Were you at that time a member of the Communist Party?

     Mr. BRESSLER. Again I refuse to answer this question on the same mind already stated.
     Mr. MORRIS. What is that, under the fifth amendment?
     Mr. BRESSLER. And all of the other grounds.
     Mr. MORRIS. Have you been active in an organization called the Artists Front to Win the War?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I don't know that I was active. I think I must have signed a call or something like that in connection with it. Would you tell me the date of that?
     Mr. MORRIS. That is in 1943 and 1944.
     Mr. BRESSLER. We were at war at that time, weren't we?
     Mr. MORRIS. That is right.
     Mr. BRESSLER. I think we wanted to win the war, didn't we?
     Mr. MORRIS. You are answering the question.
     Mr. BRESSLER,. I am answering the question.
     Mr. MORRIS. Were you active in that organization?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I don't know what you mean by "active." I don't think I was active in the sense of guiding it or making speeches or anything like that. I probably signed a call or letter that I received sponsoring this effort to help win the war; yes.
     Mr. MORRIS. Have you been active in the American Student Union?
     Mr. BRESSLER. No, sir; I don't think I ever have been in the American Student Union.
     Mr. MORRIS. Have you extended greetings to–
     Mr. BRESSLER. I want to qualify that. I don't recall having been active in the American Student Union. I was never a faculty adviser it to my knowledge. I have been teaching for 27 years, and I have had lots of students, and I can't be certain that my recollection is entirely accurate on the point unless you specify.
     Mr. MORRIS. Have you signed petitions in defense of Communist schools?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I don't know what you mean by "Communist schools." I did sign, I believe, a petition in defense of the Jefferson School of New York City at the time it was a school—well, it was built on very broad principles and it was a time during which there was coalition between our Government and many other governments, and coalitions, bipartisan and tripartisan policies, in the country. I believe that is the context within which I may have signed a petition connection with that school.
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Chairman, we have in the public record of the Internal Security Subcommittee a listing by the Attorney General that the Jefferson School is on the Attorney General's subversive list. That is already in our record, Mr. Chairman.
     The CHAIRMAN. I understand.
     Mr. MORRIS. Have you supported petitions of the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I don't have any specific recollection of that. Could you tell me what date or about what time?
     Mr. MORRIS. January 1943.
     Mr. BRESSLER. It is possible I may have signed something either personally or as secretary of the college chapter of the teachers union. don't have a record of the exact dates. I may very well have done that; yes.

     Mr. MORRIS. Do you remember that during the war the Soviet authorities executed two Polish labor leaders?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I don't remember that.
     Mr. MORRIS. You don't remember that?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I did not remember the last time I have been asked it. Since I was asked before, I know what the situation is. But as I say, I don't remember having signed that.
     Mr. MORRIS. Do you deny that, Mr. Bressler?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I don't know what you mean by denying it. It is not something I can deny. I have been asked this question recently. It is in this sense that I know about the incident, but I do not recollect signing such a thing back in 1942 or 1943. That is all I am saying. I may have done it in connection again with my duties as an officer of the teachers union. I may have done it as an individual. I simply do not recollect.
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Bressler, I offer you–
     Mr. BRESSLER. Just a moment, please. May I consult my attorney?
     The CHAIRMAN. You may.
     (The witness consulted his counsel.)
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Bressler, I offer you these two photostats, and ask you if you will examine them.
     Mr. BRESSLER. You don't expect me to read through all of this; do. you ?
     Mr. MORRIS. You don't have to read them. Just look at what they are, and notice the names of the people whose names appear there as having signed those statements.
     Mr. BRESSLER. Do you have a question in connection with that?
     Mr. MORRIS. Yes. Do you now recall that you signed a statement in connection with that particular execution?
     Mr. BRESSLER. Does it refer to the execution? I didn't read through it.
     Mr. MORRIS. What is this one, Mr. Bressler, The 100 Union Leaders Who Hit Anti-Soviet Smear.
     Mr. BRESSLER. My name is apparently here, but it is probable, as I said, in connection with–
     Mr. MORRIS. What are you reading from, Mr. Bressler?
     Mr. BRESSLER. This is page 2, Daily Worker, New York, Thursday, March 25, 1943.
     Mr. MORRIS. And that is a list of people who, according to the Daily Worker, hit the anti-Soviet smear which was involved in the Alter-Erlich case.
     Mr. BRESSLER. This is again–
     Mr. MORRIS. Do you know who Alter-Erlich were?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I do now; I didn't at that time.
     Mr. MORRIS. They were the Polish labor leaders who were executed by the Soviet?
     Mr. BRESSLER. Yes.
     Mr. MORRIS. Do you recall in the face of the evidence which is presented to you?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I am not denying anything in connection with this. I don't know what the fuss is you are making about it. I said I didn't recollect whether I signed it as an individual or signed it as an officer of the union. I don't know what it is all about.

     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Mandel, will you identify that photostat, please?
     Mr. MANDEL. This is a photostat of the Daily Worker of March 25, 1943, page 2, headed, "The 100 union leaders who hit anti-Soviet smear," and on this list is the name of Joseph Bressler.
     Mr. BRESSLER. What is the date of that?
     Mr. MANDEL. March 25, 1943.
     Mr. BRESSLER. At that time were we allies with the Soviet Union?
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Chairman, will that be introduced into the record?
     The CHAIRMAN. It will be made a part of the record, and marked the next exhibit.
     (The document referred to was marked "Exhibit No. 6," and is as follows:)

 EXHIBIT No. 6

 [From the Daily worker, New York, March 25, 1943, p. 2]

THE 100 UNION LEADERS WHO HIT ANTI-SOVIET SMEAR

     Here are the names of the 100 CIO and AFL trade union leaders, protesting the anti-Soviet campaign over the Alter-Erlich case:

Max Perlow, manager, Local 7GB, Furniture Workers Union.
Sol Kitain, business agent, Local 140, Furniture Workers.
Alex Sirota, manager, Local 140, Furniture Workers.
Abraham Zide, financial secretary, Local 76B, Furniture Workers.
S. Roth, business agent, Local 45B, Furniture Workers.
Adolph Rosenblum, secretary-treasurer, Barbers Union, Local 1.
Joseph Selly, president, American Communications Association.
Isidore Rosenberg, manager, Joint Council, United Shoe Workers Union.
Leo Sanders, business agent, Local 65, United Shoe Workers Union.
Arthur Osman, president, Local 65, Wholesale Workers Union.
Aaron Schneider, director of organization, Local 18, Book and Magazine Guild, UOPWA.
Eddie Meskin, organizer, Local 18, Book and Magazine Union, UOPWA.
Norma Aaronson, general organizer, Local 16, UOPWA.
Hy Dinerstein, administrator, Local 16, UOPWA.
Alex Millstone, president, Local 830, United Retail and Wholesale Employees.
Nathan Solomon, business representative, Local 830, United Retail and Wholesale       Employees.
Bernie Altman, business representative, Local 830, United Retail and Wholesale Employees.
Louis Basis, director of organization, Local 830, United Retail and Wholesale Employees.
Sam Nesin, business representative, Local 830, United Retail and Wholesale Employees.
Bernard Segal, president, Local 10, Social Service Employees, UOPWA.
Ann Berenholz, organizer, Local 19, Social Service Employees, UOPWA.
Benjamin Levy, organizer, Beauty Culturists Union, Local 551.
Malvina Freedman, secretary-treasurer, Beauty Culturists Union, Local 551.
Abraham Schenck, secretary-treasurer, Beauty Culturists Union, Local 15.
Emanuel Silverman, organizer, Local 30, Insurance Agents Union, UOPWA.
Sam Kaplan, national representative, United Office and Professional Workers of America.
Max Torchin, national representative, United Office and Professional Workers of America.
Frank Herbst, acting manager, Local 1, State, County and Municipal Workers.
Dorothy Flint, president, Local 1, State, County and Municipal Workers.
Godoff Elliott, vice president, Local 129, State, County and Municipal Workers.
M. Kleiner, president, Local 111, State, County and Municipal Workers.
Jack Bigel, organizer, Local 111, State, County and Municipal Workers.
Al Stearn, manager, Local 430, United Electrical and Radio Workers.
Jonas Rosenfield, president, Screen Publicists Guild. Local 114.
Gertrude Gelbin, secretary, Screen Publicists Guild, Local 114.

Evelyn Adler, war activities director, United Office and Professional Workers of America.
Leon Barney, director of insurance, UOPWA.
Joseph H. Levey, director of social service, UOPWA.
Anna Blanck, business manager, Local 2, United Retail and Wholesale Employees of America.
Ell Halpern, business agent, Local 2, United Retail and Wholesale Employees of America.
Marcella Loring, organizer, Local 18, United Retail and Wholesale Employees of America.
Wm. Goltz, organizer, Local 18, United Retail and Wholesale Employees of America.
Sadka Brown, business manager, Local 5, United Retail and Wholesale Employees of America.
Sam Lewis, business agent, Local 3, United Retail and Wholesale Employees of America.
A. Berknopf, secretary, Local 65, Wholesale Workers Union.
J. Taab, East-Side director, Local 65, Wholesale Workers Union.
Esther Ultz, East Side director, Local 65, Wholesale Workers Union.
Leo Bernstein, downtown director, Local 65, Wholesale Workers Union.
George Meisler, business manager, Local 1250, Department Store Empolyees Union.
M. Hedley Stone, treasurer, National Maritime Union.
Fur Workers Union: Ben Gold, Irving Potash, Joseph Winogradsky, Gus Hoptman, Sol Willin, Sam Resnick, William Wollner, Julius Fleiss, Murray Brown, Hyman Richman, Max Kochinsky, Saul Charkin, Harry Jaffe.
Joint Board Furriers and Dressers : Sam Burt, Morris Gumpel, Morris Cohen, Jack Ostrower.

AFL UNIONS

William Albertson, Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 16.
Louis Weinstock, secretary-treasurer, Painters District Council 9.
Sam Bogorod, president, Painters Union Local 905.
Morris Gainor, assistant secretary, Painters District Council 9.
I. Schnurman, general organizer, Painters District Council.
Gertrude Lane, general organizer, Hotel and Club Employees 6.
Hugo DeWald, business agent, Local 623, Amalgamated Butchers of America.
Jos. Cohen, Amalgamated Butchers of America.
Leon Sverdlove, organizer, International Jewelry Workers, Local 1.
Julius Umans, executive board member, Jewelry Workers, Local 1.
I. Eisenman, delegate, Central Trades Council, Jewelry Workers, Local 1.
I. Kahn, trustee, International Jewelry Workers, Local 1.
Oscar Spindler, manager, Local 579, Bakery and Confectionery Workers.
Max Kaplan, business agent, Local 579, Bakery and Confectionery Workers.
Mr. Altman, business agent, Local 164, Bakery and Confectionery Workers.
Hyman Shenker, business agent, Local 50, Bakery and Confectionery Workers.
Abe Gordon, business agent, ILGWU.
Isidore Kaufman, business agent, ILGWU.
N. Kersh, business agent, ILGWU.
M. Moskowitz, business agent, ILGWU.
L. Mandelbaum, business agent, ILGWU.
Arnold Symes, business agent, ILGWU.
Barnet Cooper, business agent, ILGWU.
Mr. Kaplan, business agent, ILGWU.
Herman Gaffer, business agent, Pocketbook Workers Union.
Johnnie Goodman, secretary treasurer, Local 144, Building Service Employees.
Sidney Pudell, general organizer, Local 144, Pocketbook Workers Union. Larry Schnall, business agent, Local 144, Pocketbook Workers Union.
Joseph Bressler, secretary, New York College Teachers Union.
Henrietta Friedman, treasurer, New York College Teachers Union.
M. Schappes, member of board, New York College Teachers Union.

     Mr. MORRIS. Do you know Morris Schappes?
     Mr. BRESSLER. Yes, I did know him.
     Mr. MORRIS. Were you active in his defense at the time of his trial? Mr. BRESSLER. I was a member of the defense committee, yes.

     Mr. MORRIS. Are you presently a member of the Communist Party?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I have already refused to answer a similar question.
     Mr. MORRIS. Will you answer that question?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I will again refuse to answer on the same grounds already stated.
     Mr. MORRIS. Have you ever run for public office?
     Mr. BRESSLER. You mean political office?
     Mr. MORRIS. Political office.
     Mr. BRESSLER. No, I don't think so.
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Bressler, will you tell us who Morris Schappes is?
     Mr. BRESSLER. He was a teacher of English at City College who said he was a Communist in 1940 or 1941, and was discharged from his position at school. I joined his defense committee because I felt that this was a matter to be judged by the school authorities, and he should not simply be fired summarily for his action.
     Mr. MORRIS. Were you in the Communist Party at that time?
     Mr. BRESSLER. I have already answered a similar question. I again object to the question and refuse to answer on the same grounds.
     Mr. MORRIS. Did you ever meet in a secret Communist meeting with Morris Schappes?
     Mr. BRESSLER. Again I refuse to answer that on the ground already given.
     Mr. MORRIS. I have no more questions, Mr. Chairman.
     The CHAIRMAN. Any further questions? If not, the witness will be excused.
     Call the next witness.
     Mr. MORRIS. Mr. Hyman Gold.
     The CHAIRMAN. Hold up your right hand and be sworn. Do you swear that the testimony you will give in this hearing shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
     Mr. GOLD. I do.