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
were presented, about 1870 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. M. 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 |
have been informed that as a lawyer,
and a member, he advised the members
present "that trial was not necessary
or notification of the members of the
local to be present at the meeting was
not necessary-that it was not essential
that the member charged be present
that the local could suspend a 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.
I am also informed that Mrs. Kate
Sadler voted to suspend me; therefore,
both of these comrades are ineligible to
decide in case in the decision of which
they are already interested.
Comrades, the one official communica
tion that | 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.
(Signed) WILLARD PRICE.
Comrades the questions for the mem
bers of the S. Z. c. to decide are:
l. 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 a member at
a 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 member for one year
without a notification to all financial
members TO be present, and due notice
been given
II the decision Of your committee is
in the affirmative-ani 7 don't expect
for one moment II will be-a state OF
chaos would then exist AZ any local
meeting. majority Of those present
could suspend the minority by trumping
M some charges. and the majority could
suspend the entire minority ave. could
even 60 further and suspend all they. the
majority saw 1T ~ suspend whether
present 0r absent II the majority can
SUSPEND without trial. then eniles. CON
fusion reirns within the party.
One more point want vow COM
nitt.e ~ decide, can a majority. ~ a
regular meeting eVaie section -. new
constitution
On en- retirement ~ state committee
man ~ his local such disposal and cleo
ton - HE siece0a1r shsil take place n
meeting decided upon at regular
meeting Not IESS THAN TEN DAYS
Hfeyi1ueiv. ena an members boz good
standing shall Be ro-ire-- etc'
Can ;his -7e.ioa To-. She constitution ba