The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-03-27
FROM EDITORIAL COLUMNS
Why Four Years In Prison On a
Minor Charge?

MINOR Cnargt.
Earl Browder with known record of fighting the
structon of fascism with record of than thirty
in the labor and in the socialism,
prisoner in Atlanta penitenary where he serving
fourear sentence charge of technical passport violation
which seldom prosecuted by the
ecuted generally brings thirty to ninety day sentences often
suspended.
Yet attorney general had said that the Browder
did not involve question of moral urpude Criminal
anti-social conduct)!
Why then Browder indicted convicted and SEN
fenced to four years in prison and fined $4,000?
Facts Suppressed
The real facts the Browder hardly The
reported gloatngy his imprisonment either SHE'D
telling the facts or the facts which
Americans are entitled to know Indeed in one way or
other many have been led to believe that Earl Browder
was jailed for using false passport This not SO!
Facts Revealed
Earl Browder was not indicted or charged by the govern
ment with the false passport Many prominent Amer
leans have made careful study of the Browder On the
basis of the real facts found by them and regardless of
cal dagreemens with Mr. Browde they have united to
ask President Roosevelt to take executive action in the
and release him from Atlanta penitentiary.
Here are the plain facts in the Browder
In 1887 again in 1888 Earl Browder abroad
His passports were in his own name and in perfect order
These passports extension of the granted him by
the government in 1884 The 1884 passport also
feet order Mr. Browder abroad in the interests of his
political ideas He had travelled to Europe in support of the
Spanish people who fighting for their existence
against the nazacs invasion which proved to be the pre-
Jude Htlers declaration of against the civilized world
The passports were all perfectly legal
A Goat?
in the Fall of 1885, Earl Browder indicted ut
will be recalled that this period of intense antred
hysteria.)
What was Earl Browder indicted for?
The government claimed that in his application for the
1884 passport he had said none to the question had he
taken out passport before.
Earl Browder had taken passports many earlier
under pseudonym. This dark secret The govern
ment knew of this far back 1880 He had travelled
under pseudonym other prominent Americans had
done before him and since for the simple that would
have been dangerous for him had he travelled under his
through certain countries An example OF this is
his trip to China He to that country help the people
of China organize in their struggle for national freedom
The government knew all this, far back $780, and
did not consider this for prosecution.
What Price None?
of wilfu criminal and selfish misuse of
passports when prosecution has taken place. the government
obtained sentences rarely than ninety days. and
times little thirty days And often, these sentences
not imposed but suspended
But Earl Browder was indicted fined So 1000 and mprs
oned for four years NOT charge of having used false
passport but for that single word none the application
his 1884 passporto which, nativeborn American
fully entitled. And to top this off, remember
that the attorney has stated that the did not
golve moral turpitude
America for Browder
The utter disregard for traditional American justice in the
DroWder has shocked many prominent Americans The
tactic of prosecuting people for violations
and then handing long, cruel sentences rightly abhoed
~ all fair-minded human beings
injustice of Earl PROVIDERS long
throughout the world Leading citizens only
America are asking Trade unions
both heispheres asking President Roosevelt to take
executive action.
Justice and fair play they say the strongest link in the
hahn of national unity and good neighbor pocyrom Free
'rowder Bulletin.