Appeal of Earl Browder to the members of the C.P.U.S.A. de Browder, Earl - 1946

Quarto (12 x 9 inches / 350 x 228 mm), single sheet folded to create four pages. Printed on newsprint.

Yonkers, New York: Self-published, 1946. First Edition.

An appeal by former Communist Party USA General Secretary Earl Browder to the party membership, dated just days after his expulsion from the party. Printed at his own expense (there's even a coupon for sending in a donation),

Browder argues that he has faithfully followed the party line and denies he has engaged in factionalism or attempting to undermine the party's current leadership. He further states that he was given no opportunity to defend himself during a "trial" by the party's national board.

As far as Communists go, Browder (1891-1973) was actually fairly moderate compared with his left-wing nemesis, William Z. Foster. Among other things, Browder advocated cooperation with the Roosevelt and Truman administrations as well as with other progressive groups. But following the end of World War II, the Communist Party, following the Soviet line, adopted a much more confrontational policy toward the U.S. government and became even more radical and insular. Browder found himself odd man out.

OCLC lists only four institutional holdings: Yale, Williams, Hamilton, and Syracuse. No other copies in commerce. SCARCE.

CONDITION: Some darkening to paper, a few small nicks to the margins, old folds. A Very Good copy.