The Red Scare in Washington State

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Un-American Activities bill passes the Washington State Legislature on March 8, 1947.

On March 8, 1947, the Washington State Legislature passes House Concurrent Resolution No. 10 which creates a Joint Legislative Fact-finding Committee on Un-American Activities in the State of Washington. The committee is charged with investigating groups and individuals that “foment internal strife, discord and dissension; infiltrate and undermine the stability of our American institutions; confuse and mislead the people, and impede the normal progress of our state and nation either in war time or a peace time economy” (Session Laws). This resolution is passed during the "Red Scare," when many believe that Communists are infiltrating all levels of government.

The Resolution

The Resolution stated: “…These are times of public danger; subversive persons and groups are endangering our domestic unity, so as to leave us unprepared to meet aggression, and under cover of the protection afforded by the bill of rights these persons and groups seek to destroy our liberties and our freedom by force, threats and sabotage, and to subject us to the domination of foreign powers."

The resolution quoted J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation): "During the past five years American Communists have made their deepest inroads upon our national life. Their propaganda, skillfully designed and adroitly executed has been projected into practically every phase of our national life. The Communist influence has projected itself into some newspapers, books, radio and the screen, some churches, schools, colleges and even fraternal orders have been penetrated, not with the approval of the rank and file, but in spite of them…."

The resolution created a Joint Legislative Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities in the state of Washington which was to "investigate, ascertain, collate and appraise all facts concerning individuals, groups or organizations whose activities are such as to indicate a purpose to foment internal strife, discord and dissension; infiltrate and undermine the stability of our American institutions; confuse and mislead the people, and impede the normal progress of our state and nation either in war time or a peace time economy...."

The committee was to further investigate "the activities of groups and organizations whose membership includes persons who are communists, or any other organization known or suspected to be dominated or controlled by a foreign power, which activities affect the conduct of this state, the functioning of any state agency, unemployment relief and other forms of public assistance, educational institutions of this state supported in whole or in part by state funds, or any political program …” (Session Laws, 1947, p. 1378-1379).

Canwell and Stevens

On February 26, 1947, Representatives Albert F. Canwell of Spokane and Sydney A. Stevens of King County north of Seattle (Stevens was a 48-year old mattress and furniture dealer) introduced the Resolution to create the Un-American Activities committee of the Washington State House of Representatives. The resolution passed the House on March 3, 1947 (by a vote of 86 yes, 8 no, and 5 abstensions). Representatives from King County voted 20 yes, 2 no, and 2 abstensions. The Senate approved the resolution on March 8, 1947 (by a vote of 33 yes, 12 no, and 1 abstension). Senators from King County voted 6 yes and 6 no.

The Committee of Un-American Activities, also known as the Canwell Committee, formed. Albert Canwell served as chair and chief inquisitor. The Canwell Committee held many hearings during the spring and summer 1948 on the second floor of the Seattle Field Artillery Armory (In 1999 the Armory is the Seattle Center House on the Seattle Center grounds). They investigated the Building Service Employees’ Union, the Washington Pension Union, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and University of Washington faculty. Many individuals accused of being Communists lost their jobs. Organizations considered subversive were forced to close and disband.

The Red Scare

These investigations took place in context of a national post-World War II "Red Scare" in which, for the second time since the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, Communists were thought to have infiltrated and endangered American institutions. (The first "Red Scare" occurred in 1919.) The investigations paved the way for the Hollywood Blacklist and destroyed the careers of thousands of people, Communists and non-Communists alike. The process in the U.S. Senate unfolded after 1950 under the leadership of Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose name was attached to the period as the "McCarthy era" and a school of political action called "McCarthyism."

The First Amendment

"McCarthy Era" investigations have been looked back upon as hysterical "witch hunts" that disregarded the right of United States citizens to the freedom of speech provided by the First Amendment of the Constitution. The First Amendment reads: "Congress must not interfere with freedom of religion, speech or press, assembly, and petition. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Sources: Nancy Wick, “Seeing Red,” Columns: The University of Washington Alumni Magazine Vol. 17, No. 4 (December 1997), p. 16-21; Charles Gates, The First Century at the University of Washington: 1861-1961 (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1961), 197; Washington State Legislature, Session Laws of the State of Washington: Thirtieth Session Convened January 13, Adjourned March 13, 1947, (Olympia: State Printing Plant, 1947), 1378-1379; Washington State House of Representatives, House Journal of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Washington, Convened January 13, 1947: Adjourned March 13, 1947, (Olympia: State Printing Plant, 1947), 449, 572-573; Washington State Senate, Senate Journal of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Washington ... Convened January 13, 1947, Adjourned March 13, 1947, (Olympia: State Printing Plant, 1947), 661; Joint Rules, Rules of the Senate and Rules of the House of the State Legislature of Washington Session of 1947 (Olympia: State Printing Plant, 1974).

University of Washington declared on March 3, 1948 to have more than 150 Communists or sympathizers.

On March 24, 1948, in a Spokane speech, State Senator Thomas H. Bienz, a Democrat, declares that at least 150 of the approximately 700 University of Washington faculty members are Communists. Senator Bienz is a member of the recently created Joint Legislative Fact-finding Committee on Un-American Activities in the State of Washington. The committee, chaired by Albert Canwell and often called the Canwell Committee, investigated Communist infiltration in various state organizations.

Senator Bienz was quoted as saying, “… [T]he investigations of the Canwell committee will show that there are Communist professors in the University of Washington. We will show there are probably not less than 150 on the faculty who are Communists or sympathizers with the Communist party.”

He held up a portfolio bulging with Communist publications issued in the United States and stated there were 5,000,000 Communists or people who follow the Communist line in the United States. He said, “That is a lot more than there were in Russia when they took over that country. … Stalin intends to conquer the world and the United States. … Are we going to heed this warning in time?” (Spokesman-Review)

The Canwell Committee decided to investigate 11 of the 150 University of Washington “Communist professors.” The 11 faculty members were sent subpoenas and required to attend the Un-American Activities Committee hearings for questioning.

After the Canwell Committee reported their findings, the University of Washington investigated further and held closed hearings. On January 22, 1949 Dr. Raymond B. Allen, University President, dismissed three professors: Herbert Phillips (Philosophy), Joe Butterworth (Old English Literature), and Ralph Gundlach (Social psychologist) and required others to take loyalty oaths.

Sources: “Bienz Sees Reds Strong at U.W.” The Spokesman-Review, (Spokane) March 25, 1948, Sec.1, p. 1; Nancy Wick “Seeing Red,” Columns: The University of Washington Alumni Magazine, Vol. 17, No. 4 (December 1997), p. 16-21.

Many Are Called, Few Give Information

Following is a list of faculty members who testified before the Canwell Committee. Also given is their specialty and a brief statement of what each tenured professor said to the Committee.

Professor Maude Beal (English) admitted to formerly being a member of the Communist Party but refused to name other members.

Professor Joe Butterworth (Old English), a member of the faculty since 1929, refused to answer any questions and was cited by the Committee for contempt.

Professor Joseph Cohen (Sociology) denied ever being a member of the Communist Party.

Professor Harold Eby stated that he was formerly a member of the Communist Party but refused to divulge the names of any other members.

Professor Garland Ethel admitted his former membership in the Communist Party but refused to divulge the names of other members.

Professor Ralph Gundlach (Social psychologist) refused to answer any questions with the statement: “No legislative committee has the right to ask about one’s personal beliefs and associations” (Seeing Red, 18). The Committee cited him for contempt.

Professor Melville Jacobs (Anthropology) stated he was once a member of the Communist Party but did not give out any other names.

Professor Angelo Pelligrini admitted that he was once a member of the Communist Party but refused to name other members.

Professor Herbert Phillips (Philosophy), who had taught at the UW since 1920, refused to answer any questions and was cited by the Canwell Committee for contempt.

Professor Melvin Rader (Philosophy) denied membership in the Communist Party.

Professor Sophus Winther (English) admitted to being a member of the Communist Party for one year and named other colleagues who were also members of the Communist Party.

Whom to Dismiss?

The report of the Un-American Activities Committee was sent to the University of Washington and the 11-member Tenure Committee of the Faculty Senate convened to decide what action to take. After six weeks of closed hearings the Tenure Committee, in a 7 to 4 vote, recommended to President Allen the dismissal of Professor Gundlach. The committee decided that Dr. Gundlach should be terminated because of a statement he made which they considered a lie. Professor Gundlach said to President Allen, "No one can prove I’m a Communist, and I cannot prove that I am not" (Seeing Red). The Tenure Committee recommended not to fire the other 10 faculty members.

On Janurary 22, 1949, the University of Washington President accepted the committee’s decision on Professor Grundlach but overruled the Tenure Committee and fired two other faculty members. President Allen stated that Professors Phillips and Butterworth should be dismissed for two main reasons: they refused the answer questions before the Canwell Committee and there was sufficient evidence that they were Communists. In addition, President Allen retained Professors Eby, Ethel, and Jacobs on the condition that they sign a loyalty affidavit that stated they were not members of the Communist Party.

Guilt By Association

Some University of Washington faculty members immediately objected. One hundred and three professors signed an open letter to the University of Washington Board of Trustees that stated the firings were based on guilt by association. The letter also declared that faculty morale and the University’s reputation was damaged. But the rest of the faculty members, numbering 600 remained silent. The UW Board of Trustees approved the firings.

The Fallout

The three dismissed faculty members never taught again. Grundlach worked as a clinical psychologist until he retired and moved to London. Phillips, 56 years old at the time of the hearings, found jobs as a laborer. Butterworth, unable to find a job, went on welfare and died destitute in 1970.

The University of Washington was one of the first colleges in the United States to fire suspected Communist faculty members. The firings set a national precedent and many faculty members thought to be Communists and other “political undesirables” lost their college positions.

Sources: “Bienz Sees Reds Strong at U.W.” The Spokesman-Review, (Spokane) March 25, 1948, Sec. 1, p. 1; Nancy Wick “Seeing Red,” Columns: The University of Washington Alumni Magazine, Vol. 17, No 4 (December 1997), p. 16-21.