Maritime Labor leader a communist charged before House Committee. Washington, D.C., Oct. 24. Harper Knowles, Oakland, Calif., Chairman of the radical research committee of the American Legion, today told the House Committee investigating Un-American activities, that Harry Bridges, West Coast labor leader, has been declared by communist publications to be a member of the waterfront section of the communist party. He charged that Bridges, as head of a group of militant leaders known as "Equality Hall" group "commenced the agitation that brought about the San Francisco general strike and chaos to maritime industry"