Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-19
Earl Browder
Communication
Hit by PegIer
Freed 10 Quiet Clamor
Of Backers, Writer Says
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

of Earl Browder, chief OF
the Communist Party and one
of the foremost pro-Axis col
laborationists during the life of
Berlin-Moscow compact, estab-
fishes the principle that under
American justice today the poll
tics of criminal may be
weighed in his favor.
This is a political commuta-
ton as the White House state
ment admitted in the remark
that PROVIDERS liberation would
have "a tendency to promote
national unity"
That was equivalent to saying
that Browder was given his
freedom so as TO quiet the po-
litical clauor of his followers
who, incidentally, are all sworn
enemies of the form of govern
ment provided by the United
States Constitution.
PROVIDERS followers repre-
sented that because he was
Communist he received harsh
treatment at the hands Of the
federal court.
He was sentenced TO four
years and a fine OF $1,000 for
swearing falsely in an applica-
ton for an American passport
which he used to travel abroad
in the interests of a foreign
power which was, until June %.
last year. a silent partner of
Adolf Hitler in the war.
The conception that Browder
was punished. in part. for his
politics. received acknowledge
ment from a number OF genuine
Americans as distinguished from
Communist enemies OF the
American state, in its present
form. who enjoy American citi-
ZenShip.
The severity of the sentence
was cited in support Of this con-
tention and Wendell Willkie was
one of those who leaned toward
this belief.
DUT il is no more dangerous 10
- all liberty under law TO pun
ish a man for his political prin-
cipleS under a pretext OF law
than ii is to liberate a criminal
out of consideration for his poll
tics in response to the clamor Of
an organized following, however
large or small.
IL must be noted that the
White House statement concern
ing Browder's communication did
not admit that he was sentenced
for his politics.
On that score the statement
merely said the communication
would have a tendency 10. allay
any feeling which may exist in
some minds" that this was the
case.
But the observation that his
release would have "a tendency
to promote national unity does
admit that his political views
and political power were per-
mitted 10 intimidate American
justice.
Under this principle any pub
lie enemy serving a thoroughly
just and well-deserving term
might be released in response TO
a demand by an organized fol-
lowing.
As case in point. George
Browne. late president of one Of
the largest AFL unions and late
member OF William Green's cabi-
net. might be turned out OF
prison in response TO a demand
by his former colleagues in that
high body who have never had
the courage or civic decency 10
repudiate him. Instead of repudi-
ating him, Green and the rest of
the AFL cabinet merely failed
TO re-elect him and delayed even
that negative action until long
after his criminal character and
conduct were notorious and he
was on the point of conviction in
court.
Green and his cabinet might
demand Brownies release oSten-
Sibly in the name of 100000
members.
Brownies propaganda claimed
a following of only 100000.
pY AN interesting accident Of
~ telegraphic transmission the
Communists have been trapped
into a rather nasty attack on
Mr.. Willkie. whom they had
quoted in support Of their propa-
ganda campaign for Browder's
release.
Mr.. Willkie informed me that
he had made no public state
ment with reference TO Browder
and explained that the quotation
which was used for this purpose
was lifted from an article writ
ten a long time before.
Mr. Willkie then wrote: The
Free Browderites' have practi-
cally committed themselves 10
the immediate institution OF
Free Fritz Kuhn movement. A
logical suggestion would be that
these lovers Of liberty, free trial
and civil liberties. effect a
merger and dub this movement
Free Browder and Kuhn How
about il ?"
Mr.. Willkie wrote that but
that quotation marks fell off so