April 17 was the big day for Beacon Hill anticommunists. The legislative program copied from Maryland's Ober Law by the Special Committee to curb Communism was up for consideration before the Committee on Constitutional Law. The latter committee was so impressed by the issue of Communism that it held the hearing in Gardiner Auditorium, anticipating a large crowd. But when the big day came, spectators filled only a third of the seats.

Undaunted by the small turnout, Chairman Sylvio Conte opened the hearing promptly at 10:45. Senator Philip G. Bowker, Chairman of the Special Committee, was the first speaker but a Senate roll-call grabbed him before he could say much. Vice-Chairman Representative Michael J. Batal took over.

"I have been Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Lawrence and the Chairman (Senator Bowker) was President of the Brookline Kiwanis Club. This proves that people interested in good government are behind this bill."

Referring to a section in the bill which refused bail to those indicted for subversion, Batal explained that:

"The purpose of this is that if a person is found guilty he could not perform any of his teaching duties. This would shut him up until he was found guilty."

He then turned to the part of the bill calling for a lawyers' oath. Representative Key, a member of the committee, started wrangling with Batal over the application of this point to out-of-state lawyers temporarily practicing in Massachusetts. "Oh, now wait a minute," said Batal, getting a little red in the face, "don't go off on that angle." "Oh, don't get into a panic," Key replied.

The questions petered out and Batal sat down, apologizing for taking so long. After representatives of the VFW and the American Legion had put themselves on record for "ANY bill to outlaw Communism," Representative Charles Iannello strode to the platform.

"I'm going to be a little bit prejudiced. I can't help it, it's in my blood. I think this is a good bill, but there is one thing Senator Bowker forgot, and that is the Hangman ... I'd take every Communist--and there's one right now," he shouted, pointing at Daniel Boone Schirmer, legislative agent of the Boston Communist Party who was sitting glumly in a corner, "--I'd take them all and hang them!"

When everybody laughed, Iannello said, "Mr. Chairman, when I spoke at your last hearing (on the McCarthy-Dorgan bill to outlaw the Communist Party), they booed me when I went out--me, a member of the General Court!"

The proponents had their last word at about three o'clock and the opposition began with Representative Putnam. He complained that there were no copies of the bill, saying "I don't know whether I'm for or against this bill; I haven't seen it." Representative Donlan shouted that the Committee had been unfairly accused. "I think you owe this Committee an apology!"

"Well, you won't get it," Putnam replied. Donlan went on, "You're just trying to pull a red herring across this Committee's path. Why are you up here if you don't know whether you're for this bill or not? Or are you doing this just as a front? I DON'T LIKE THESE SLURRING REMARKS!!"

Representative Good, another Committee member asked Putnam to define the term Witch-hunt.

"I'm an expert on that," replied Putnam. "My family was involved in the Salem witch-hunts. One of my ancestors, on my father's side, was the attorney who broke them up."

The opposition's biggest problem seemed to be over who was going to speak first. Toward the end of the hearing three people appeared at the platform simultaneously and glared at each other. "Who is the oldest?" asked a committee member. "Which one is a Democrat?" asked another. William C. Hardee, representing the ADA took the initiative. Obviously a Southerner, he said "I'm a Democrat, as you can tell from my accent." Representative Vaitses spoke up, "Judging from your accent you're not the same type of Democrat we have here." Faintly heard above the laughter was Chairman Conte advising Hardee "Aw, don't listen to that guy."

At five minutes to five Conte asked who still wanted to speak. Twenty hands shot up and people moved eagerly toward the platform. The Committee heard two more speakers and adjourned until next Tuesday.