Evening star., 1942-05-29


that promote efficiency on the docks
He has even grown cool toward his
c. I. o. brother, John Lewis, on the
matter of isolationism and alto
gether, those here in the Govern
ment who have been troubled about
the Pacific Coast situation could
very well testify that so far as
Bridges is concerned, everything has
been fine lately.
Now comes the formal order to
deport Bridges, and it has produced
considerable puzzlement. For in
stance, if the case is considered on
Its merits, then one has only to turn
back and find that James Lands,
now director of civilian defense and
formerly dean of the Harvard Law
School, said after lengthy hearing
that Bridges wasn't a Communist or
affiliated with party that was ad-
vocating the overthrow of our sys-
tenn of Government. Even Judge
Charles B. Sears, formerly of the
Court of Appeals of New York State,
who, after subsequent hearing,
differed with Dean Lands, found
himself overruled by the Immigra-
ton Appeals Board. And now At
torney General Biddle disagrees with
Dean Lands and agrees with Judge
Sears and the deportation order has
been filed.
Strictly Legal Problem.
If the Browder case hadn't been
handled first and such widespread
publicity given by the President to
the releasing of the Communist
leader from prison, there probably
would not be today such Specula-
ton about the meaning of the order
to deport Bridges. 1t could be ar
gued that, having encountered an
unfavorable public opinion on the
one case, the administration is try
Ing to even up the score by deport-
ing Bridges. But such an explana-
tion would be attributing to the ad-
ministration a sort of political ap-
proach to what must be, after all,
a strictly legal problem. Is Bridges
subject to deportation and does the
evidence show it?
The administrative agencies have
acted and now it is up to the courts
to say on appeal whether the order
Is valid. The Supreme Court once
before found a loophole and let
Bridges off, and then Congress
changed the law and another set
of proceedings was begun.
If it be assumed that Browder
had been sufficiently punished for
his offense, then there was no need
for the President to discuss his COM
mutation of sentence at all. But the
fact that Mr.. Roosevelt took oc-
casion to tie up the Browder case
with national unity was regarded
widely as a desire to cement rela-
tions with Soviet Russia and to pro-
mote harmony among American left
wingers, some of whom prior to
Russia's entrance into the war were
rather anti-British and anti-Ally.
But If it is important to bear in
mind the effect of these American
Communist cases on relations with
Soviet Russia as we'll as on national
unity, then an explanation of why
Bridges wasn't given the same leni-
ent treatment as was accorded to
Browder may well be due.
Certainly if the Browder case
was a pat on the back for Russia,
the handling of the Bridges case
Is going to be construed by Com
munists as a stab in the back to the
Russian Communist party.
Long Fight Possible.
1t may be all explained to the
Communists, both here and abroad,
as Just a necessary bit Of f1nesse
because, it will be noted, the legal
proceedings on appeal can stretch
out for a long time further and
maybe the courts will find some
technical reason again for revers-
ing the process, as happened be-
fore.
There will be a deportation war
rant, a release on bond, a proceed
ing in the United States District
Court, an appeal then to the United
States Circuit Court of Appeals and
possibly later an appeal to the Su-
preme Court. These steps can be
delayed so that it might well be two
years or more before the final action
Is taken. When all that has hap
pened and Bridges has applied for
citizenship in the United States
and has been accepted, the pro-
ceedings themselves might be nuli-
fed. Much can happen in the next
two years and meanwhile Bridges
isn't likely soon to find himself
back in Australia, where he was
born.
Presumably while all this is 60
ing on. Bridges will be helping our
war effort for he is one of the most
influential labor leaders in the
country and is in control Of some
Of the most important labor or
ganizations on the West Coast.
Meanwhile, 1t is to be hoped that
the logic used in the Browder case
will not be realized. For If it really
hurts national unity to keep one
Communist leader In Jail, 1t could
be argued that 1t imperils national
unity to force another Communist
leader to leave the country.