The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-01-10
BRIDGES NO COMMUNIST, Lands
FINDS, PERKINS ACTION AWAITED

! WASHINGTON-(F Final actor
by Secretary OF Labor Frances Per
kins on the deportation warrant sworr
out against Harry Bridges, California
CLIO director, was awaited here after
i James M. Lands, dean of the Har
ward Law School, reported he could
find no evidence that Bridges was {
member of the communist party OF
affiliated to that organization
| Miss Perkins was expected to an.
nounce her decision in the matter
shortly while foes of Bridges turned
| to the converting congress in the hope
that action would be taken there tc
behalf of the west coast longshore
men.
Lands, in 152-page printed report
covering in detail the II weeks OF
hearings over which he presided, made
caustic comments concerning the wit
nesses produced by the government
His findings were based on the con-
Trajectory and obviously false evil
dence given by these witnesses
Harper Knowles, chairman of the
radical research committee of the
American Legion, was designated by
Lands as one of the principal figures
in the attempt to deport Bridges.
Knowles committee, Lands found,
chad close working relations with the
army, the navy, the state bureau of
criminal identification, police depart
ments, sheriff's offices, the State
Peace Officers Association, immigra-
ton inspectors, private detective
agencies, manufacturers, labor and in
dustrial associations, farmers protec-
tive associations, chambers of COM
merce, and civic, fraternal and other
veterans groups Knowles also
had intimate contacts with the Indus
trial Association of San Francisco and
the Associated Farmers"
Landis goes on to say, "There is
abundant evidence that the work of
Knowles committee came perilously
close to that of those organizations
whose sole effort is to combat mill
tant unionism.
''The spread of unionism was
watched with concern, particularly its
spread into the unorganized agricul-
tural areas of the state. A close diff
ferentiation was not always made be-
tween labor agitators and those truly
engaged in subversive activities.
Indeed, the close alliances that ex-
listed between Knowles committee
and the powerful employer associa-
lions lead to the conclusion that
Knowles, whether Willingly or I'm
Willingly, was frequently made the
tool of their policies"
Knowles was one of the principal
witnesses before the special house
allegedly investigating I'M
American activities headed by Rep.
Martin Dies 3D., Tex). He spoke at
that time as an official of the Asso-
ciated Farmers, now being investi-
gated by the senate civil liberties
Capt. John J. Keegan, chief of de-
.ectives in Portland, another of the
chief witnesses against Bridges, also
came in for caustic description by
lands. ITO question the testimony
If such significant law enforcement !
official as Keegan is a serious matter
)ut the conclusion is unacceptable that |
lis testimony is far from reliable" |
Iandis declared.
"As will be seen, not only was
respect for an oath negligi- !
lie but he was again and again forced
ither to alter his original story or to
make its hollowness patent by the
rudeness of his subsequent explana-
ions," he added
Maj. Laurence A. Miner of the Ore
ION national guard reserves, Lands
aid, "can best be dismissed as self
confessed Liar, man who has adj
tried tWice-once successful
y-to make falsehood parade as
ruth"
John l.. Leech, another of the wit
lesses against Bridges, was described
s. the victim of verbal hemophilia"
nd was scratched off as a tool of
Knowles and extremely susceptible to
suggestion"
Of Bridges, who was the chief wit
ess for his own case, Lands said,
Bridges own statement of his polit-
cal belief and disbeliefs is important.
was given not only without reserve