Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-08
Browder's Speech
Raises Question
Of Communist Plot
Roosevelt Represented
As Believing Red Leader
Went Too Far
BY the Associated Press.

White House sources represented
President Roosevelt yesterday as be-
lievihg that Earl Browder had raised
question as to whether he and the
American Communist party were
conspiring against the American
Government.
To this question, made by persons
close to President Roosevelt on the
basis of a speech by Browder in
Boston Sunday night, the Commu-
mist leader retorted in New York:
Ct" The greatest danger for
the American people is the threat
to muzzle them, which Is contained
in the statement of the close friend
of the President"
Browder asserted it was mot
clear" whether the White House ex-
preston had been based on what I
actually said. or the forgery in the
New York Times and New York;
Herald Tribune, which constructed
a new speech for me which I did not
deliver"
Asked yesterday at a press con-
ference whether he had read the
Browder speech, the President said
he had seen only the headlines.
Issue Hinges on Phrase.
However, persons in a position to
interpret his views said it was diff
cult to draw a definite line between
the words quick transforms
used in the Browder speech in con-
nection with a transition to Social
ism in this country-and "revolu-
ton"
The Presidents close friend"
Browder said in a statement, sex
presses his perturbation about my
use of the pharse quick transition.
Thus, following the line of thought
of the Herald Tribune editorial Of
today. That is precisely the phrase
reported entirely out Of its context
by the New York Times and others,
although they had the exact text in
their hands. What I actually said
was as follows:
"'How can we explain the reac-
tionary hysteria that is gripping the
American bourgeoisie in fact (texD
of the imperialist war? They know
quite we'll that the conscious and
clear-headed movement for Social
ism in this country is still quite
small in relation to the whole pop
ulation.
"'Why, then, do they display such
fear of the Communist party which
heads this movement? The answer
is: Because they know quite well
the extremely precarious situation
of European capitalism. They know
that this war is placing the So
cialist revolution on the order of
the day there as practical ques-
ton.
No Forecast of Court Attitude.
They are preparing to come to
the rescue of their class brothers
in Europe against the rise of the
revolutionary working class. They
know that America itself, despite
the political backwardness as yet
OF our. working class, Is technically,
effectively, the country which is the
most ripe, the most prepared, for a
quick transition to Socialism, for
which it lacks only the understand
ing and the- viii of the masses to
that goal"
The Hyde Park sources repre-
sented Mr.. Roosevelt as feeling that
If it should be held that quick
transition" was the parlor term for
revolution, then Browder and his
party might be held guilty of con-
spiracy against the Government.
When there was brought up the
question as to what the courts
would hold, it went unanswered. Nor
was there any information as to
whether the United States Govern
ment was inquiring into the impli-
cations of the Browder speech for
the purpose of determining whether
any action should be taken against
him or the United States Com
munist party.
In Washington today, Mrs. Roose-
welt told her press conference she
did not think any one countenanced
activities of persons who openly ac-
knowledge first allegiance to for
eign governments. She added, how
ever, that this country should be
extremely careful not to curtail basic
liberties under which social changes
can lawfully be made.
Mrs. Roosevelt made those COM
ments when asked if she had read
the Bowder speech and whether she
considered the quick transaction"
he mentioned was the same as revo-
luton.
Mrs. Roosevelt said she thought
it was a mistake to try to decide
what somebody else meant by what
they said. She would much rather
ask the person what was meant, she
added, Unsteady of imagining what
he might mean.