Evening star., 1939-10-23

Committee on Un-American Ac-
tivities issued statement this
afternoon declaring he would ask
David A. Pine. United States at
torney for the District, to prose-
cute for violation of the Ameri-
can registration laws the Com
munist party, the German Amer
ican Bund and "all organizations
controlled by them, If the State
and Justice Departments con-
tinue to delay" the prosecution.
BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct. 23.-Earl Brow
der, secretary of the Communist
party in the United States, was in
dicted by a Federal grand jury
today on charge of false applica-
ton for passport.
Mr.. Browder was taken into GUS
tody Immediately and arraigned
before Federal Judge William Bondy.
He pleaded innocent and was held in
$4,000 bail. No date was set for a
hearing.
The true bill was returned to Fed
eral Judge Francis G.. Caffey, who
Immediately recessed the grand jury
for two hours.
The Communist leader testified
September 6 before the Dies Com
mittee investigating un-American
activities that he had travelled in
Europe within the last two years on
passport bearing fictitious name.
At the time Of his appearance he
declined to disclose the name ne
had used, standing on his constitu-
tional right that such testimony
might incriminate him.
He also testified other party
members had travelled in Europe
under fictitious passports because of
the danger of using their real names
since they were acknowledged Com
munistS.
The indictment returned today
contained two counts. each charging
false application for a passport and
the use Of such passport.
Charges Two Names Used.
The indictment said Browder ap-
piled for passport on April 80, 1887,
using the name of George Morris.
He also obtained one February Is,
1888, using the name of Nicholas
Dozenberg.
The maximum penalty on convic-
ton is fine of $4,000 and a five
year prison term, or both, on each
count.
Browder arrived at the Federal
Building shortly after the indict-
ment was returned and was not
aware OF the grand jurys action
until two detectives seized him in
a corridor. He appeared surprised
and angry.
The action of the Federal ALL
thorities against Browder. a for
mer candidate for the presidency
on the Communist party ticket.
followed a widening investigation
into fraudulent passport ring. It
grew out of the notorious Robin
son-Rubens passport fraud cause
Records of World Tourists. Inc
whose treasurer is Alexander Trach-
tenberg, member of the Communist
party's Governing Committee, have
been seized by Federal agents. it
was learned, and a guard put over
the companys Offices here.
New York newspapers said the
Federal grand jury had issued sub
poenas for other individuals and
groups in its investigation of pass
port mills organized to facilitate
the travel abroad by Communist
foreign spies with fraudulent and
forged documents.
United States Attorney John T.
Cahill declined to comment on re-
ports several persons already had
been taken into custody on secret
indictments. Communist party off,
cials, normally easily reached, were
unavailable by telephone.
The undercover inquiry was dis
closed last night with an announce
ment by the Department of Justice
in Washington that it expected
some decisive action in a few
hours" against Browder.
Thomas Attacks Murphy.
The announcement came shortly
after the Republican National Com
mittee issued an attack on Attorney
General Frank Murphy by Repre-
sentative j. Parnell Thomas, Re-
publican, of New Jersey, a member
OF the Dies Committee Investigating
Un-American Activities.
Recalling that Browder admitted
before the Dies committee that he
had used a falsified passport, Mr..
Thomas accused the Attorney Gen.
eral of being strangely Indifferent
and listless" and said he owes an
(See PASSPORTS, Page A-l2)