Imperial Valley press., 1945-06-18
Highest Tribunal
Says Bridges
May Stay in U. 5.
(Continued From Page II

Continued From Page u
tain objectives which were wholly
legitimate" Douglas said. THE
link by which it is sought to tie
him to subversive activities is an ex-
ceedingly tenuous cne, if it may be
said to exist at ALL
OPINION OF MAJORITY
Concerning Bridges relationship
with the Marine Workers Indus
trial union, the majority said:
1T must be remembered that the
Marine Workers Industrial union
was not a sham or pretense. 1t
was a genuine union 1t was found
to have. and we assume it did have,
the illegitimate objective of over
throwing the government by force.
But it also had the objective Of
improving the lot of its members
in the normal trade union sense.
"One who ccoperated with it in
promoting its legitimate detectives
certainly could not by that fact
alone be said to sponsor or approve
of its general or unlawful object
ives.
But unless he also joined in
that overall program, he would not
be affiliated with the Communist
cause in the sense in which the
statute uses the term"
In conclusion, the majority opin-
ion said:
Since Harry Bridges had been
ordered deported on a misconstruc-
tion CT the term 'affiliation as
used in the statute and by reason
of an unfair hearing on the ques-
ton Of his membership in the
Communist party, his detention
under the warrant is unlawful"
MURPHY AIRS VIEWS
In a concurring opinion, Murphy
said the courts concern with the
case docs not halt with the fate
CT Harry Bridges, an alien whose
constitutional rights have been
grossly violated
"The significance of this case is
far reaching" Murphy said. THE
liberties of the 3,500,000 other aliens
in this nation are also at stake
Many of these aliens, like many of
our forebearers, were driven from
their original hcmelands by big
oted authorities who denied the ex-
istance of freedom and tolerance.
1T would be a dismal prospect
for them to discover that their
freedom in the United States is de-
pendent upon their conformity to
the popular notions of the moment.
''But they need not make that
discovery. The bill of rights be-
longs to them as we'll as to all
citizens"
DISSENTERS' VIEWS
Speaking for himself and JUS
tices Felix Frankflrter and Owen
Roberts, Chief Justice Harlan F.
Stone said in a dissenting opinion
"As we are of opinion that the
finding of Bridges membership in
the Communist party, standing
alone, supports the deportation or
der, and that the finding is support
ed by evidence. we deem it unneceS-
SdTy W COllSiucI OCllcI. COIlOCllIAOiIo
to which the courts opinion is prin-
cipally directed
THE evidence of membership is
of two kinds 1t consists of back
ground testimony of numerous wit
nesses, much of it uncontradicted,
which Judge Sears found to be true
and which showed that Bridges had
long and continuously associated
with Communists and Communist
party organizations, and had exhib-
tied a sympathetic attitude toward
the Communist party and its pro-
gram.
More important and decisive of
the issue now before us is evidence
concerning Bridges. Interviews with
two witnesses which, if true as to
either interview, showed that Bridg-
es. both by his words and conduct,
proved his membership in the par
ty."