Case File 100-3291; January 31, 1944

Title: MANUEL CANTOR
Character of Case: INTERNAL SECURITY - C

Details: This investigation is being reopened upon advice from the Bureau to the effect that the subject was discharged from the United States Army on October 28, 1943.

The following article() relative to the subject appeared in the Trenton Evening Times on the dates indicated below:

September 19, 1940
CANTOR DEFENDS COMMUNISM HERE
Reds' Candidate Issues Slate

Manuel Cantor, of 534 East State Street, Communist candidate for governor of New Jersey, has issued a campaign statement as follows:

"In the past few days thousands of New Jersey voters have been receiving a flood of letter from Martin Dies (Editor's note: Chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities between 1937 and 1944). The letters are addressed to those who signed election petitions for the candidates of the Communist Party. Their purpose is to frighten and intimidate the signers into declaring that their signatures were obtained under false pretenses. The same procedure has been followed in other states, sometimes implemented with threats to publish, or actual publishing of the lists of signers....

....Every person who signed the Communist Party petitions had a perfect legal right to do so. He is subject to no penalties for his actions. He is under no obligation whatsoever to reply to Mr. Dies letter inviting him to perjure himself.

To: SAC, NEWARK; November 30, 1943

From: J. Edgar Hoover - Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Subject: MANUEL CANTOR, INTERNAL SECURITY - C

With reference to the above-captioned individual who is carried as a "key figure" by your office, the Bureau has recently been advised by the Military Intelligence Service the Cantor was discharged from the Army on October 28, 1943. His address is 36 Yard Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.

This case should be reopened and assigned for further attention in order to determine the present activities of this subject.

Memorandum for Hugh B. Cox, Assistant Attorney General and J. Edgar Hoover, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation; July 16, 1943.

Office of the Attorney General

After full re-consideration of these individual danger classifications, I am satisfied that they serve no useful purpose.... There is no statutory authorization or other present justification for keeping a "custodial detention" list of citizens. The Department fulfills its proper functions by investigating the activities of persons who may have violated the law. It is not aided in this work by classifying persons as to dangerousness.

Apart from these general considerations, it is now clear to me that this classification system is inherently unreliable. The evidence used for the purpose of making the classification was inadequate; the standards applied to the evidence for the purpose of making the classifications were defective; and finally, the notion that it is possible to make a valid determination as to how dangerous a person is in the abstract and without reference to time, environment, and other relevant circumstances, is impractical, unwise and dangerous.

....Accordingly, I direct that the classifications heretofore made should not be regarded as classifications of dangerousness or as a determination of fact in any sense.... A copy of this memorandum should be placed in the file of each person who has heretofore been given a classification. In addition, each card upon which a classification appears should be stamped with the following language:

"THIS CLASSIFICATION IS UNRELIABLE. IT IS HEREBY CANCELLED, AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A DETERMINATION OF DANGEROUSNESS OR OF ANY OTHER FACT. (SEE MEMORANDUM OF JULY 16, 1943 FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HUGH B. COX AND J. EDGAR HOOVER.)"

Francis Biddle
Attorney General

Army Service Forces: Headquarters Fourth Service Command. 6 November 1943

CONFIDENTIAL

SUBJECT: CANTOR, Manuel, Pvt. (36 Yard Ave, Trenton, N.J.)
To: Military Intelligence Service
War Department, Washington, D.C.

1. Reference is made to CI-R1 report re subject dated 23 August 1943, status of which was designated as "Pending."

2. Due to subject's discharge from the A.U.S. 28 October 1943, this case is considered closed and the field file has been forwarded to the Second Service Command, which is subject's place of residence.

Stacy Knoff
Colonol, G.S.C.
Director, Intelligence Division

Memorandum for the Officer in Charge: 31 August 1943

CONFIDENTIAL

Subject: Manuel Cantor, Pvt.
ASN 32484647
292nd Q.M. Refg. Co.
Camp Van Dorn, Miss.

Re: Interview with (REDACTED)
Commanding Officer, 292nd QM Refg. Co.
Camp Van Dorn, Miss.

On 21 August 1943, this Agent conducted an interview with (REDACTED), Commanding Officer of the 292nd QM Refg. Co., Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, in connection with the investigation of the Subject.

(REDACTED) had been previously interviewed relative to CANTOR, and reiterated his former statements and conclusions regarding the Subject. In (REDACTED)'s opinion, CANTOR is an outstanding soldier, above average in intelligence, and is an interesting person to hold a conversation with. During the time that CANTOR has been under (REDACTED) he has caused no trouble and is well regarded in his company.

According to (REDACTED), CANTOR at one time attempted to organize a singing club comprised of men who were interested in music in his company. This effort on the part of the Subject however, apparently met with little success due to insufficient number of men. This attempt on the part of the Subject appears to have been made purely from a personal liking for music, and with no intent to introduce any of his Communistic ideas into an organized group. Since that time, Subject has done nothing more along this line, and has given his Company Commander no reason to suspect him of ulterior motives, Subject's actions and speech have given him no reason to suspect him of being subversively inclined or disloyal to this country, according to Capt. Jones.

Alfred S. (illegible)
Agent, CIC

War Department: Military Intelligence Service. 23 August 1943.

CONFIDENTIAL

CI-R1 Report, 23 August 1943
Name: MANUEL CANTOR, Pvt.

Original investigation was requested by the Director, Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Fourth Service Command, Atlanta, of MANUEL CANTOR, Pvt., by letter dated February 18, 1943, while subject was attached to Co. D, 11th Bn., Ft. Mclellan, Alabama, on the basis of the following information. Subject worked as a Communist organizer in Passaic, N.J. during the year 1939 and for three years was a party organizer in Mercer County, N.J. CANTOR also was the county secretary for the Communist Party and a member of the State Committee, working under (REDACTED), State Secretary of the Communist Party. In 1938, and 1942 the subject ran for Governor of the State of New Jersey, on the Communist Ticket....

Adverse Information:

1. CANTOR was organizer and secretary of the Communist Party of Trenton, N.J. (memo F).
2. CANTOR reads Communistic newspapers and Soviet literature.
3. CANTOR ran for Governor of New Jersey on the Communist ticket.
4. CANTOR was secretary of the Communist Party in Mercer County, N.J.
5. CANTOR favors Stalin over Trotskey.

Undeveloped Leads:
1. Subject's home address, 560 Perry St., Trenton, N.J. Other addresses listed as follows...
2. Subject attended grammer school, Clifton, N.J., high school, Clifton High, Clifton, N.J. (Memo F). Subject also graduated from Columbia University, New York City, N.Y. with B.A. degree. (Memo F) Subject graduated from the New Jersey Law School, Newark, N.J. in 1933 with LLB. (Memo F).
3. 1939-1943, subject employed by the Communist Party, P.O. Box, Newark, N.J. as secretary to William Norman.
1930-1938, subject employed by Montclair Plumbing Supply Co., Montclair, N.J.
1938-1939, Workers Educational Center, Passaic, N.J. as secretary. Non-renumerative.

Remarks and Conclusions:
Investigation at this station fails to reveal any evidence of subversive activity on the part of the Subject to date. He is regarded as an excellent soldier by the men of his company. However, in view of his background prior to entering the Army, and report emanating from Ft. Mclellan, Alabama, this Agent considers the Subject as potentially subversive. It may be that the Subject is concealing his Communistic ideas at the present time, with a view to later attempting to spread them when a more opportune time presents itself. It is the conclusion of this Agent that Subject is still interested in Communism, although there has been no indication to date of activities along this line at this station.

Recommendations:
By basic communication dated April 13, 1943, the Director, Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Fourth Service Command, Atlanta, Georgia, deemed the Subject as potentially subversive. It was also recommended that undeveloped leads be closed in view of the fact that information secured would in all probability be cumulative in value. This Agent concurs in the above and recommends that this case be disposed of according to present War Department policy, as expressed in WD ltr., dated 22 July, 1943. (NOTE: Two following lines blacked out.)

Mail Coverage Report, March 18, 1943 (cont).

Excerpt from a letter written to subject by (REDACTED), dated March 8, 1943:

We had a swell party for (REDACTED) who is now in the Army, and let me tell you that as far as his people are concerned, we have certainly "arrived." (REDACTED) kept holding back from making a speech until the last minute and then gave one of those five minute talks that carries all the power and deep conviction that comes only with understanding. Full of grammatical errors, a little hesitant for words, but nevertheless so forceful and utterly convincing. I was great, and we could have signed up half the people in the room if we had wanted to.

I had a conference with eight people from my last shop, the whole leadership, practically. (REDACTED) arranged it, but I had to sort of scare him into it. He acted only in sheer desperation, for he is so overwhelmed with the complexity of the problems that he can hardly talk coherently... As a matter of fact, the situation in most shops in Trenton is really alarming. Of course, we are all confident that American production will solve its difficulties eventually and do the job it must do....

Mail Coverage Report, March 18, 1943 (cont).

Letter 2/16/43, from (REDACTED)

Dear Manny:

I would be in Trenton before I'd write to you? Managed to get here early for a meeting on the youth org. with the Party people -- so got your address from (REDACTED) and here I am at last writing to you.

(REDACTED) who is looking fine and chipper, tells me that you wowed 'em on the rifle range -- 22 out of a possible 25! That's some shooting! I understand you are in line for a marksman medal. I know where you get that good eye and what accounts for your penetrating vision.

(REDACTED) goes to Jersey City tomorrow for his final physical. As matters look, it seems pretty certain he'll be accepted. He spent his last day officially on the job today and put in a full day's work getting a wee bit "itchy in the feet" along about 4:30 p.m. He got so impatient last night about 11:30 he went out and bought all his little items, toothpaste etc., even though he'll still have another week to arrange his personal affairs. I guess its hard just waiting around. We had a nice send off for him Saturday.

...My 4th brother was called up, leaving me the only one "out" so far, and from the looks of things it won't be long before I'll get my call. Expecting it momentarily. I have already begun to groom replacements and giving everything to make sure we have 300 more youngsters organized by May 30th. I feel we're going to do it and reach 1,000 by September.

You probably heard about (REDACTED) in New Guinea and how he led the attack to smash up Japanese pill boxes; every time they do "dirty work" (REDACTED) is sent and how his company officer commended him. It appeared in an AP dispatch. We're all mighty proud of him. You probably also learned that (REDACTED) was retained here to teach etc. While his whole unit was sent to combat duty.

... I'll cut it short with the observation that there is a growing feeling that the 2nd Front will soon be opened. Especially, when Hanson Baldwin of the N.Y. Times, who opposed it all throughout 1942, now comes out for it "immediately," "against the immediate threat of Nazism and the possible future menace of Communism" as he puts it. Interesting, eh? (REDACTED) and the baby are doing O.K. Best regards. If you can, drop me a line."