Honolulu Record, August 26, 1948, vol. 1 no. 4, p. 1
An encyclopaedia salesman was discharged from his job because he had attended several sessions of the public hearing conducted by the Department of Public Instruction which is pursuing dismissal proceedings against Dr. and Mrs. John Reinecke.
The Reineckes were suspended from their teaching positions on charges of lacking the ideals of democracy because they are alleged Communists.
When informed of his dismissal by the manager of Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., the salesman, Allan Beekman, asked for the reason which caused his discharge.
He was told that some of his colleagues did not want to work with him because he was a "Communist." Mr. Beekman told the Honolulu Record he denied that he was one. He said his knowledge of Communism is limited. Practically all he knows is what he has heard at the hearing, particularly during Louis F. Budenz's cross examination by Attorney Richard Gladstein.
The manager of Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., according to Mr. Beekman, told him that only Communists would take the interest to go to the hearing.
Previously Mr. Beekman was reproached by this same manager for having written two letters to the Star-Bulletin, one of which was answered in the letter column by the editor. The topic dealt with was on the Japanese "race."
When Mr. Beekman defended his constitutional right to speak out, he was told by one of his colleagues that to insist on civil rights is a "Communist line."
Mr. Beekman has been with Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., since shortly after the war. During the war he worked for the navy intelligence service as interpreter since he is well-versed in Japanese. He has also worked as an investigator for the City and County Rent Control Office for four years. He is well-known locally as a writer, contributing articles to various publications.