The Communist Party found itself in that predicament. We were committed to support the measure, but we were determined to bring about its defeat. Consequently, we campaigned far and wide all over the State of Washington, explaining the measure in such a way as to convince the people that they should not vote for it.
At the same time we represented ourselves as campaigning for the measure.
And we did it so successfully that the measure was defeated. If we hadn’t of done it I am afraid it would have been adopted.
Mr. DENNETT. My counsel asked me who was the “we.”
I am referring to the Communist Party in that instance.
The leaders of the Washington Commonwealth Federation were terribly disturbed by the nature of the campaign that we were carrying on, that is, the Communists.
Mr. TAVENNER. I should think it would be a rather confusing campaign where the Communist Party, in order to defeat it, actually supported it.
Mr. DENNETT. That is true. It was very confusing to everyone, even to us at times.
Mr. TAVENNER. That is a very interesting thing. The Communist Party, in order to defeat this measure, went out and conducted a state-wide campaign in favor of it. But in order to accomplish its defeat, if I understand you correctly, the Communist Party so represented the issues that people would be bound to vote against it.
Mr. MOULDER. I understood the situation to be that because of Communist Party support of the measure, the public sentiment opposed it.
Mr. DENNETT. Not necessarily so, sir, because they didn’t know that we who were speaking were Communists. They thought we were representatives of the Washington Commonwealth Federation.
Mr. DENNETT. There is triple deception in this maneuver, which is rather hard to follow. I hope I have explained it.
Mr. TAVENNER. I am afraid that the point may not be absolutely clear in the record, and I want to be sure that it is clear:
If I understand you correctly, it was not the fact that the Communist Party was supporting this measure that caused its defeat.
Mr. DENNETT. You are correct, sir. That was not the reason. It was the way we, as disguised Communists, carried on the campaign, ostensibly for it, but, in fact, against it.
Mr. TAVENNER. In other words, your representations were of such a character as to make known the weaknesses in the bill; and a person would actually think you were supporting it.