Evening star., 1950-09-26
Registration Forms
Prepared for Reds,
Few Expected 10 Sign

Few Expected 10 Sign
Registration forms for Com
munist-action and Communist
front organizations and members
of Communication groups were
about ready for signing at the
Justice Department today, but few
| if any signerS were expected at
this time.
A spokesman for the Communist
Party in the District said Chair
man Roy H. Wood has announced
that the party and its members
here will not register under the
new Communist law. Ma
tional Communist. Party leaders
also have indicated they will re-
fuse to register, at least until
final court test of the law.
An official statement issued by
the Communist Party here today
described the law as "a legislative
blueprint for American fascism.
Called Completely Undemocratic.
"The Communist Party of the
District of Columbia win not reg
lister under this fascistic law" the
statement declared. "We will give
support to all who are working for
the repeal of this completely un-
democratic and unconstitutional
traveSty upon American freedom. I"
The forms being prepared by
the Justice Department will pro-
vide considerably more informa-
ton than the mere names of
organizations and officers, it was
learned. Under the law enacted
last week over President Truman's
veto, Communist groups and
fronts are supposed to register
within 80 days.
Because of provisions for hear
ing and determination by a sub
versive activities control board
yet to be appointed by the Presi-
dent, most Communists are be-
lieved likely to refuse to sign un-
til final decision not only by the
board but by the courts.
The registration statement will
contain the name of the Commu-
nfst-action or Communists front
organization, the address of its
principal Office and the name and
last-known address of each indi-
vidual who within the previous
IL months was an officer. The
functions of each Office also are to
be described.
Financial Information Sought,
The statement also is to provide
for information "of all moneys
received and expended, including
the sources from which received
and the purposes for which ex-
pended, by the organization" dur
ing the previous IL months.
communication organizations,
in registering. also are supposed
to give the name and last known
address of each person who was
member at any time during the
previous II months.
Justice Department officials ex-
planned that the law also will re-
quire the department to handle
annual reports" by organizations
that register. Such reports are
to be filed by February /.
Reports to Be Kept Up to Date.
They are to provide much the
same information as would be
contained in the original registra-
ton statement, but would have to
be kept up to date. In the case
Iof Communication groups, the
department is preparing regula-
tionS for the keeping of accurate
records" of names and addresses
of members.
Another job the department will
have to perform. it was explained,
will be to send a written notice to
every person listed as an officer or
member of an organization that
registers. That will give the per-
son an opportunity to deny, if he
wishes, that he is an officer or
member.
Registers of Communist-front
and Communication organiza-
tions are to be open to public in
spectiOn. department officials said
But the law provides that names
of persons listed as officers or
members need not be made public
for specified times, in some in
stances as long as six months. This
will enable the department to in
vestigate claims of erroneous list
ings.