Evening star., 1949-10-23
March on Capital
Planned by Reds 10
Urge Bail for II
BY the Assoeioted Press

By the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Oct. 22.-The
Communist Party threw it's high
powered propaganda machine into
top speed today in a drive to get
the II imprisoned red leaders out
on bail.
Rallies were scheduled, petitions
were circulated and party mem
bers and sympathizers were urged
to lombard President Truman
and Attorney General McGrath
with protest messages.
The Civil Rights Congress,
which has been listed as subver-
sive by the Attorney Generals
office, announced March on
Washington" would be held next
Thursday.
Delegates from 26 states. the
organization said, will demand
setting aside of "the fascist-like
sentencing of IL leaders of a
minority political party for their
ideas and teachings
10 Got Five Years.
Eugene Dennis, general secre-
tary of the Communist Party,
and nine other leaders were SEN
fenced yesterday to five years in
prison following their conviction
q week earlier on charges of con-
spring to advocate forcible over
throw of the United States Gov
eminent.
Another defendant, Rober
Thompson, drew a three-year
sentence. Each of the II was fined
$4,000 and Federal Judge Harold
r. Medina refused to free any of
them on bail pending their ap-
peals.
Meanwhile, two liberal organi-
cations also came out in favor
Of bail being granted the con-
yicted Red leaders.
ADA Urges Bail.
The Americans for Democratic
Action expressed belief that the II
should be released in bail until
there is a Supreme Court test of
the Smith Act. under which they
were convicted.
And the American Civil Liber-
ties Union, saying there was
grave doubt" about the constitu-
tionality of the act, likewise came
out in favor of bail for the i'm
prisoned men.
Appeals from the convictions
and sentencings were filed with
the U. S. Circuit of Appeals yes
terday, less than an hour after
Judge Medina pronounced SEN
tence. If the appeals are turned
down, the next step is appeal to
the Supreme Court.
First Opportunity to Rule.
Such a move would give the
high court its first opportunity to
rule on the constitutionality of
the 1910 Smith Act, which makes
it a crime to advocate overthrow
of the Government by violence.
Protests against the jailing of
the II leaders came swiftly from
Communist quarters throughout
the world. (
In Moscow the trade union
newspaper Trud called it a Judi
cial mockery of truth and con-
science"
The Chinese Communist leader,
Mao Tze-Tung. declared in a mes
sage to the New York Daily
Worker that "the present i'm
perialist government of the
United States has violated JUS
tice."
Second Week End in Jail.
The II Communist leaders spent
their second weekend in jail. They
have been confined in the Federal
House of Detention since they
were convicted a We c~> ycster-
day. Present plans are for them to
be sent to a Federal penitentiary
late next week unless one of the
various moves to free them is
successful.
Justice Department officials in
Washington said the 10 who drew
five-year prison terms would be
eligible for parole after serving 20
months, while Thompson, who re-
ceived only a three-year sentence
would qualify for parole at the end
of one year-providing they give
no further trouble.
There also was a possibility for
q further reduction in their prison
stay under the provision allowing
five days a month off for good
behavior.
But the department spokesman
pointed out that the final de-
termination on this matter still
lies in the future.
The convicted men, who face loss
of voting franchise and other
citizenship rights, would have to
make various moves to have those
rights restored at the expiration
of their sentences. Those who are
residents of New York State would
have to appeal to the governor
for restoration. In other cases
Federal action would be required.
Ban on Pieketing Courts
Still Awaits Senate Action
By the Assoeiotsd Press
Federal court picketing, like
that which occurred at the SEN
fencing of ii Communist leaders
in New York Friday, would be
banned under a proposal now
hanging fire in Congress.
Fines and jail sentences would
be provided where anyone par
-