NOT WARRANTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20135, 3 January 1940, Page 7

NOT WARRANTED

DEPORTATION ORDER HARRY BRIDGES CASE DECISION OF JUDGE •‘VICTORY FOR LABOUR” (Reed. Jan. 3, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Jan. 1. The Secretary of Labour, Miss Frances Perkins announced that the evidence in the cases against Harry Bridges, the Australian-born labour leader does not warrant deportation. Bridges was found to be innocent of the charges of being a member of the communist party or Communist affiliation, on which the Federal Immigration Service sought to deport him to Australia. At the special trial the examiner, Judge Landis reported to. the Secretary of Labour, Miss Perkins, that Bridges’ aims are “energetically radical, but proof fails to establish that the methods he seeks to employ to realise them are other than those that the framework of democratic constitutional government permits.” The report had the effect of recommending the cancellation of the deportation order issued on March 2. 1939. The report by Judge Landis totalled 75,000 words, covering 152 printeo pages. It should be pointed out that Miss Perkins has the right to reject the judge’s finding and order the deportation of Bridges, but it is considered unlikely she will adopt this course. Nation-wide Interest The extraordinary publicity given to the finding in the case aroused nation-wide interest. The excitement was accentuated by one newspaper breaking the release date .of the report, causing an outcry and forcing Miss Perkins to advance the time permitting all papers to publish it. Bridges commented: “I am happy to learn that Judge Landis has not recommended’ my deportation from the country. I want to live in the United States as much as those who were luckily born here. I intend to continue to do whatever I can to improve the condition of the working class in the United States.”

Bridges announced that is becoming an American citizen. ‘‘l have long desired to become one,” he said. “Nbw the obstacles have been cleared away I will seek naturalisatibn at the earliest opportunity.” He added -that the tremendous significance of Judge Landis’ decision overshadowed his own feelings at the outcome. “1 was on trial but labour was the defendant,” he declared. ‘‘To the thousands of unionists' who raided me by time and money, I can best express appreciation by saying: ’lt is your victory’.”