Last Wednesday at 10:00 o'clock in the morning, Room 480 in the State House was mobbed. This was the place where the Committee on Constitutional Law held its hearing on House Bill 426, the Dorgan-McCarthy hardy perennial to outlaw the Communist Party in Massachusetts.

The spectators were mostly Progressives, Professional Liberals and Communists, but there were some old discards, too. They blocked the aisles and doors completely.

When the last committee members finally got through, the affirmative opened a keynote speech by co-author Paul A. McCarthy. In the name of "a mandate which literally screams for action," McCarthy poured out the arguments which a good dozen of his followers were to repeat for the next two hours. He explained that the Communists were rats, and that something had to be done. ". . . SHAME on those who oppose this bill," he ended, "Shame on the supposed Americans who support these vipers who destroy our homes and families."

The audience tittered, then returned to discussing their own ideas among themselves. Representative Glynn perked up their interest, though, with three huge photographs. One of them showed a group of men standing in a doorway, and another showed a group of men walking down the street. These men, according to Glynn, were Communists who entered his district at election time. "They always hid their faces from photographers," a trait which the Representative's mother had warned him against. "Here," said Glynn, pointing to the third picture, "is the same group with different faces." Ignoring the laughter, Representative Glynn ended his testimony by shouting "Anything in Bill 426 I am against!" "For, you're for," howled the spectators, as Glynn left through the back door.

Then organizer McCarthy quickly introduced the "Paul Revere of the fight against Communism," co-author Thomas H. Dorgan. "The Founding Fathers never anticipated an international conspiracy," announced Dorgan, "and Communism is an international conspiracy." "We know that," said the Chairman, vainly trying to get back on the subject, "but how can we stop it?" On this the committee men started wrangling among themselves.

The gavel banged, and Dorgan started reading a book on America written by a priest. When a committee member suggested that present sedition laws were more effective than 11. 426, Dorgan waited with exaggerated patience and then, at the same point where he left off and in the same tone of voice, began reading anew.

Just then someone in the audience asked if this was a public meeting. "It is," said the Chairman warily. "It is not!" replied the questioner, "Hundreds of people want to speak. We can't speak." "Out of order," said the Chairman. "Out of order? Have a cop put me out." The Chairman complied. "I'm a citizen," said the citizen. "Yeah, he's a citizen," took up the crowd; so the Chairman let him stay.

With Dorgan and the insurrectionist finally seated, the inquiry started off again. The next speaker called for "celebrating the evacuation of the redcoats with the evacuation of the Reds themselves." At that point this reporter had to evacuate himself, for an old lady captured his seat and forced him into the crowded and noisy hall.

Next Monday: The Opposition