The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-10-18

bers who had been present at the early
part of the meeting had gone home-no
notification having been given that
charges were to be brought against any
members. During the early part of the
meeting, before the recess for paying
dues, eighty-five members were present
and voted. At the time these charges
We're presented, about ll:30 p. m, not
more than twenty five to thirty mem
bers were present, from all accounts that
can get from members present when |
was suspended for one year.
If the party is to be ruled by such
undemocratic tactics, then word democ-
racy should be stricken from the consti-
tuition of the socialist party of Washing
ton.
Comrade H. NJ. Wells and Comrade
Mrs. Kate Sadler are ineligible, as mem,
bers of the S. E. c., to decide on this
question of my suspension, as Comrade
Wells was chairman of the meeting when
this illegal act was committed, and I
have been informed that as a lawyer,
and member, he advised the members
present chat trial was not necessary
or notification of the members of the
local to be present at the meeting was
that the member charged be present
that the local could suspend member
if it saw fit to do So" This advice of
Comrade Wells was acted upon; that, as
chairman of the netting, Comrade Wells
was in full accord with all the acts that
took place at that meeting. As we'll
known lawyer of the socialist party his
advice had some influence on the meet
ing.
| am also informed that Mrs. Kate
Sadler voted to suspend me; therefore,
both of these comrades are ineligible to
decide in a case in the decision of which
they are already interested
Comrades, the one official communion
ton that l received-and that only by
request was a letter from Comrade
Price, recording secretary of the Fifth
Ward Local, which stated that:
"At the last regular meeting held on
April %, 1912, charges were preferred
against you in writing for ordering out
the police to keep order in the Fifth
Ward Local, and you were suspended for
one year from the Fifth Ward Local
(SignedD WILLARD PRICE.
Comrades, the questions for the mem
bers of the S. Z. c. to decide are:
!. Can a local suspend a member at a
regular local meeting where charges are
filed against such member, without a
trial?
?. Can a local suspend member at
n regular meeting where charges have
been preferred against him. without
notifying him to be present and defend
himself?
3, Can a local, at a regular local meet
ing, suspend a member for one year
without a notification 10 all financial
members to be present and due notice
been given2
If the decision Of your committee is
in the affirmatiye-and I don't expect
for one moment it viii be-a state of
chaos would then exist. At any local
meeting a majority of those present
cauld suspend the minority by trumping
mp some charges. and the majority could
suspend the entire minority conld
even go further and suspend all they. the
majority saw fit to suspend whether
present 0r absent. If the majority can
suspend without trial. then endless CON
fusion reius within the party.
One more point. ] want your COM
mittee to- decide. can a majority. at @
regular meeting eFade section rs. new
constitution.
"On the retirement ri state committee
man bv his local such disposal and cleo
ti0u of his successor shall take place at
q meeting decided upon M "a regular
meeting NOT LESS THAN TEN DAYS
previously and AN members in good
standing shall De- notified etc."
Can this section of the constitution BE-