Feb. 15 release--2 that Braden planned to make to the committee the next day when refusing to testify. The statement accused the committee of violating his rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constituion, guaranteeing freedom of speech, press, religion, association, and petition. Salley gave the statement to the committee, which then told Braden he could either answer all questions fully or not be required to testify at all. The chairman, Rep. William G. O'Neill of Ocala, hurled the usual charges at Braden. He shouted: "We will put in evidence that you are interested in agitation, stirring up sit-ins, and that you have no desire to improve the position of the Negro but to further the Communist cause." After conferring with Holt, Braden told the committee: "This is a somehat unusual procedure which you have set up. I disagree with what you have said. It is based on inaccuracies and false assumptions. I refuse to testify because you are violating my rights under the First Amendment." Braden and Holt then sat down in the front row at the hearing and listened to the spies describe their work. Mrs. Collins told of attending meetings of SCEF and other groups and of receiving literature and letters which she turned over to the committee. Salley said he attened a meeting in Orlando in March, 1960, at which a statewide committee was set up by persons and groups interested in civil rights and civil liberties. The inquisitors were especially concerned about a group set up in Tallahassee to alert people all over Florida against repressive legislation. Salley told how he spied on SCEF, the NAACP, and the Council on Human Relations. He also made reports on peace groups. One on occasion, he even took a three-hour tape recording, part of which was played for the investigating committee. Reporters later asked Braden if he and SCEF were concerned about spies and informers in the groups with which they work. Braden replied: "We never give it a thought. We are not doing anything subversive or unlawful. We take everybody at face value until they show that they are not what they say they are. We refuse to play into the hands of the segregationists by being suspicious of people. That's what they want us to do."