NOT GROUND FOR DEPORTATION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 173, 19 April 1939, Page 11

NOT GROUND FOR DEPORTATION

Former Membership Of Communist Party WASHINGTON, April 17. The Supreme Court ruled in the famous Strecker case, which is expected to set a precedent for the case of the Australian labour leader, Harry Bridges, that former membership of the Communist Barty of itself is not sufficient ground for the deportation of an unnaturalized alien. The Court did not rule whether an alien still belonging to the Communist or any other party advocating the overthrow of the’ United States Government by force could be deported*. The decision, from which Judges Butler and Reynolds dissented, ordered Strecker to be discharged from the deportation proceedings, and it is expected that the proceedings which; were pending against Bridges will now be dropped. The outcome of the present case has been expected to settle the fate of Bridges. This Australian-born labour leader has never admitted membership of the Communist Party, but the conservative faction of organized Labour alleges that he belongs to. it. In the case now determined an avowed member of the Communist Party was involved. Miss Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labour, was advised by her legal experts to await the outcome of the Court’s consideration of the issue because of conflicting decisions in the circuit courts.