The Lacuna

At the same time the movie industry, reacting to a persistent committee criticism that no anti-Communist pictures were being made, charged through its counsel, Paul V. McNutt, that suggestions concerning films to be made represented “one method of censorship” and did “violence to the principle of free speech.”

The committee chairman, Rep. J. Parnell Thomas, asserted that the committee would produce at coming sessions evidence that “at least 79” persons in Hollywood had been engaged in subversive activity. After a noon executive session the committee announced that it would present next week evidence of Communist espionage activities, with a surprise witness, in developing further testimony that confidential data on an Army supersonic plane had fallen into Communist hands through a Hollywood literary agent.

Mr. Taylor, arriving to appear at the afternoon session, was greeted with an audible “ah” by the spectators, mostly women, who filled the hearing chamber. Outside the chamber there was a mob scene as those unable to get in swirled and pushed against Capitol police. In his testimony he declared at one point, “I personally believe the Communist party should be outlawed. If I had my way they’d all be sent back to Russia.” When this drew loud applause from the audience, Chairman Thomas reprimanded the spectators and requested no further demonstrations.

Mr. Taylor asserted that there had been “more indications” of Communist activity in Hollywood in the past four or five years, but guarded and qualified his testimony when committee interrogators sought specific data on activities and individuals. He testified that, as a member of the Screen Actors Guild, he had come to believe that there were actors and actresses “who, if not Communists, are working awfully hard to be so” and whose philosophy and tactics seemed closely akin to the Communist party line. This group constituted what he called “a disrupting influence.” The handsome actor declared that the film, “Song of Russia,” was, in his view, Communist propaganda and that he had objected “strenuously” to playing in it. He added, however, that the industry at that time was producing a number of movies designed to strengthen the feeling of the American people toward Russia. Mr. Taylor asserted that he had not knowingly worked with a Communist and would not do so. After twenty-five minutes on the stand the handsome star made his departure, accompanied by applause and shouts of “Hurray for Robert Taylor” from a middle-aged woman wearing a red hat.

Members of the Committee asked M-G-M executive James K. McGuinness, who is in charge of scripts for the studio: Has the industry the will to make anti-Communist movies? Why haven’t they been made? Why couldn’t the studios produce such films and circulate them through schools, like the patriotic wartime pictures?

Representative Emanuel Celler, D. NY, attacked the inquiry as an act to make “all true Americans blush with shame.” “If Chairman Thomas sought to strike terror into the minds of the movie magnates, he succeeded. They were white-livered. One vital aspect of these antics must be kept in mind. Today it is the motion pictures. Tomorrow it may be the newspapers or the radio. The threat to civil liberties is a real one.”

October 31

I have learned from experience, make the cookies early. Children will come to the door dressed as hobgoblins. When the doorbell rang just after four o’clock, Mrs. Brown carried the plate to the door. But it was a man, clearly audible. I was in the kitchen mopping up after the afternoon’s baking. Flour covered everything like an early frost.

“No, he can’t,” she said, in a strained voice. “Mr. Shepherd is indisposed.” Her instincts for protecting her boss are unflappable.

“Are you the lady of the house?”

“I’m the stenographer.”

The badge startled her, and she can’t remember the name. FBI, that much she remembers. He’d come to ask Mr. Shepherd a few questions, but as he was unavailable, Mrs. Brown was duty-bound to answer them herself, insofar as she was able.

After it was all over and he left, she came in the dining room and put her head down on the table. I made a pot of coffee. Then, together, we remembered and wrote it down. To show Artie later.

“How long has he lived in this house?”

(She guessed about five years)

“No,” the man said. “Mr. Shepherd purchased this house October of 1943.”

“Then, my stars, why ask?”

“Has he got a mortgage?”

“If a person has a house he has got a mortgage. Evidently you have the details.”

“Where did he live before?”

“He let a room from Marian Bittle at her boarding house on the Black Mountain Highway. What they call the Tunnel Road.”

“And before he came to Asheville?”

“I’m sure I don’t know. I don’t think I can answer any more questions.”

“Well, you’ll have to try. Executive Order 9835.”

“What’s that?”

“It means you have to try. If the FBI is asking, you answer. Where did he get that car? That’s a pretty pricey car. Or was, in its day.”

“I believe the car belonged to his deceased father.”

“I noticed an empty Remy bottle in the trash. Is Mr. Shepherd a drinker?”

“I’m sure I don’t know. I think we’re finished. Mr. Shepherd’s lawyer might be the one to take this farther, if needs be.”

“Look, lady, don’t get sore. An investigation doesn’t necessarily mean he’s under suspicion. We’re conducting a field investigation.”

“Of what?”

“Just the usual.”

“You can’t tell me what it is you think Mr. Shepherd has done?”

“No, ma’am, we cannot.”

“But if he were here, you could tell him.”

“No, ma’am, we cannot tell the accused this kind of thing, for security considerations. Do you happen to know his income?”

“For goodness’ sake. He’s a writer. He couldn’t say himself what it’s going to be, month to month. Do you know what books people will buy next year?”

“Does he attend any meetings?”

“No.”

“Well, the neighbors said he does. They see him take the Haywood bus every Thursday. But on other days, only to the market or the newsstand.”

“Mr. Shepherd goes to the library on Thursdays.”