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The mounting importance of Joe Strecker as a Reddish bug under the national microscope was further emphasized when, to defend him before the Supreme Court, up rose Lawyer Whitney North Seymour of the eminent Manhattan firm of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett. Mr. Seymour, a Republican libertarian, won freedom in 1937 for Red Angelo Herndon from Georgia's 71-year-old insurrection law. For Joe Strecker he argued that his case paralleled Herndon's, and that in view of the Communist Party's disclaimers, its members constitute no immediate menace such as the 1918-20 deportation law had in mind; and even if they did, Joe Strecker was no longer a member, hence harmless.
This week the Supreme Court's august decision on Joe Strecker is at least two weeks off. Meantime, he waited in Hot Springs, did a few odd jobs (carpentering, paperhanging).
*To protect himself financially against the U. S. going Red, Joe sold enough Armour & Co. 4% bonds to buy 2,200 rubles worth ($1,588) of U. S. S. R. bonds, paying (still) 7% gold.
† The Communist Party last week filed with the Supreme Court a brief again denying that it believes in, teaches, advises or advocates overthrowing the U. S. Government. As everyone knows, this statement reflects the policy adopted at the Third International's congress of 1935 at Moscow (which No. 1 U. S. Communist Earl Browder attended) exhorting Reds the world over to throw in their lot with liberals for the present, work with them in Popular Fronts until such time-as real Red revolutions become practicable.