The Coolidge examiner., 1940-06-27
Murdock Comments
Further on Bridges
Deportation Bill

House on June 18th, hardly suf-
flee to make the matter clear
Since so much interest exists con-
cerning this measure in Arizona,
no doubt the papers will be will
ing to give it further space. Just
as the final score of a football
game frequently does not tell the
whole story. so does the final vote
on a legislative bill frequently
leave much unexplained of the
motive prompting a vote.
Farmers and business men have
protested my vote, and | can well
understand why for do know
that many of my constituents
have lost heavily because of labor
troubles on the Pacific Coast. I
want those farmers and business
men TO know that I,hold no brief
for Harry Bridges or any other
man who has been responsible for
those losses. The Record will show
that in other matters my vote has
been consistently favorable to the
farmer and the business man, and
1t is not now inconsistent with
their interest in this instance.
An American Legion Post pro-
tests my vote implying cowardice
and an effort to shield undesirable
aliens. | want to tell you, brother.
if it took cowardice to cast that
vote. the dictionary will have to
be revised. Let me remind
Legionaires that among the hand
full of Congressman who voted as
| did on June 18th were such out
standing Legion men as Congress
man O'Neal of Kentucky, Con-
gressman lac of Southern Cali
fornia. and Republican Congress
man Miller of Connecticut. Was
the wheel chair Congressman from
Connecticut, Mr.. Miller. who prior
TO 1917 served In the Royal Air
Force of England before serving
with the American force, who lost
both limbs in the first World War
was that Congressman a fool or a
coward or a traitor in voting
against the Bridges Deportation
Bill? Please read his speech in
the Congressional Record for that
day.
There is no one who has a higher
regard for the American Legion,
its ideals and its detectives than
/ have, and in my judgment there
is no organization that is more
nearly pledged to maintaining con-
sttutional government and law
and order than is the Legion. Il
am. therefore, unable to under
stand why you would condemn a
member of Congress who has
taken an oath to support the Con-
stitution for casting a vote con-
sistent with that oath.
One constituent asked, What
would you do with a man like
Bridges?" l wired him, 1--WE want
Bridges deported in Constitutional
manner. which is possible" Ger
tainly We must protect ourselves
against undesirable aliens. Con-
siderable legislation and admin
istrative action have recently
come about to that end. | think it
terribly unfortunate that the De-
portation Bill of June 18th came
up just when and as it did. The
object can be and no doubt will be
done in a better way.
In the last few days administra-
tive jurisdiction has been taken
away from the Lebor Department,
where it was thought aliens were
given undue sympathy. and trans
ferred to the Department of
Justice. where it logically belongs.
I think our laws have been alto
gether too lax and inadequate with
regard to dangerous and undesir-
able aliens. Late on June 18th the
Senate passed a significant mea-
sure, which measure long before
had passed the House, to deal
properly with undesirable aliens
In fact. in May 1899 l voted for
two such measures, one of which
had been introduced by Judge
Hobbs of Alabama, one of the
most fearless men and ablest
lawyers in the House. Congress
man Hobbs made powerful
speech against the Bridges Bill on
June 18th and voter against it,
though he would like to deport
Bridges.
Was the vote against the
Bridges Bill prompted by those
with subversive leanings? How
ridiculous, Republican Congress-