◆ SpookStack

. ee “Basically the proof that I'not have ‘momunity _ Y cai have” never been a member, am not a Commun:st and never|have been held for perjury — | and I don’t expect to join up have been at anytime or any-| . te as ia under oath, stated that I and|just to find out who they are.” where is this. No investigative committee, no court, or any ether agency has ever come up with any evidence that I am or have been a Communist. “ Another thing—and this is important—is no one has ever accused me who didn’t do it with immunity. And there is -no exception to that. Marvin Grif- fin, who put out a smear sheet noting? ae a ehast thatte nau G,asior, Mo, Ch CLIT L Lill o now being used against Martin Lu ther King. made his- charges with immunity. He could not be held responsible for | libel charges. None of these people Benen eee de thane cnhearene whee VNdy¥e Gide Lee Cilla EES Wien they could be held for libel. I asked Marvin Griffin to make his charges when he could be held for libel, and he refused. I have asked each person who has called me a Communist, to make his charges outside im- lmunity, None have agreed to this. “On the other hand, before Sen. (Janes) Eastland’s { Highlander were never Commu- nistic. But newspapers, includ- ing -yours, weasel-word the thing. And I can't do anything about thai. But 7 just ignore it, The American people aren't that gullible.” Q—But what is the basis for these charges? . _A—Somebody, at some time, attended our meeting. There was a Communist in the meet- ing. And the charge is made. I have no way of knowing who is in the meeting. What I am con- cerned with is what I say and do and teach. “T don’t bother to ask you for your credentials because I just don’t care. You could fake them. I can’t. know so I just don’t bother. “T don’t know who the Com- Q-—What are your own per- sonal political convictions? A.—TI have always been a nat- ural democrat. I supported Es- tes Kefauver and the liberal wing of the Democratic Party in Tennessee. I was influenced’ by my religious background as well as reading and studying. Q—What political figure could you identify with the easiest? we AMI VAR LE LCE A—None. Q—Surely there could be someone in whom you find something that you admire po- litically? A—Well. I guess you could say Jefferson. It’s an inexact tie. But I admired his creativ- ity and imagination. Q—What do you see as the role of of government? ‘A-This business of state’s munists are. And there seemsirights just doesn't hold water. Miss.) commitiee where I aid et to be only one way to find out|It’s romantic and unrealistic. that I know of—join up. But 1 Rather I accept { fhe responsi-