The Pittsburgh Press (September 19, 1944)
Browder: Lots of ‘Commies’
Washington (UP) –
Earl Browder, president of the Communist Political Association, asserted today that his organization has members not only in the AFL and CIO but also “in the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, Farmer-Labor Party, Chambers of Commerce, Elks, Kiwanis and ministerial associations.”
“And,” he told the House committee investigating campaign expenditures, “someday we hope to have members in Congress.”
Rep. Clarence Brown (R-OH) asked Browder if he “could” give the names of Communists active in the CIO Political Action Committee. Browder’s reply was: “I would not.”
Asked whether Joseph Curran, president of the National Maritime Union (CIO) were a Communist, Browder said:
Why don’t you ask him? Every citizen of the United States has a right to stand on his own feet in political life. No man should speak for another man’s politics.