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_ 7” t * RY 10092 5857 wai { should - ‘pone how get access to this waterial. To this ROBESON is said to have repliel that he has contacts in the Library of Congress and will try to cot . this mterial and adopt it to the cause. At this point ROBESON told how he sang a simple version of “John Henry" at the Ford aeeting. He stated that all the listeners were very much impressed. It is to be noted that HUDSON remarked that "John Henry" Will become the battle song of the Party and observed that it will replace the religious angle of the Negro spiritual with the correct appeal for the masses. At this point, sccording Sd there was much laughing and joking about the "Star pangled er .* Later in the meeting it was suggested by the unidentified Negro that an autobiography be written about PAUL ROBESON setting forth his life of strife for the enlightenment of the Negro race. HUDSON thought that a full- sized book would not be wise inasmuch as it would have to portray the beliefs ROBESON has, and auch would probably prove unjust to the cause due to the feel- ing against the Party. It was agreed that a few articles setting forth the life of ROEESCK would suffice at this time. It was related that at this junction N WL BA A OA g KA gg ME Os 5 ety Fee FR 7 old; that they were living in New Jersey at the time, and RMOBESON practically . became an orphan from the death of his father. He stated that his father was bo /i born in North Carolina in 1843 and escaped from slavery at the age of fifteen via the underground system; that he went to Philadelphia, where he married a free Kegress. ROBESON said that his mother's family looked down on his father's people as they were a poor Carolina type that scratched out an existence after the Civil War. ROBESON stated, however, that after his father's death the Carolina branch were the people who practically kept him from starving by sending a meager assortment of foodstuffs to him. He explained that this and the Spanish trouble, coupled with the refugee struggle of Austria, influenced his present stand and caised him to see his duty to the struggling poor of his race as well as other races. sed that ROBESON re- marked something to the effec t% "Most people don't realise this, as they think of me as an all-American football player and a great and rich singer.® ROBESON also said that it might be a good idea to put this struggle of his life before the Negro people. According to this source of information, ROBESON is ‘eaid to have stated that most of that which he is going to do for the masses is ahead and will take place in the next two years. . a: that wnt0N Tak, sctive 7 menber of fhe Rational Library f the Commnist Party, contacted ALEXANDER "TRACHTENBERG and advised that she had a dinner party for PAUL ROBESON on March 23, 1942, at the Commodore Hotel, and that over one thousand people had attended. dvised that on the evening of March 23, 19. r of PAUL the“S sh Aid Committee at the in honor a Blitmore "Hotel, New York City, singer, aa TAR pecan, yee