New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-08
MOVES TO |MPEACH JUDGE !
Beruer Starts Proceedings
Against Hanford.
CALLS DECISIONS CORRUPT
House Directs Committee to In
vestigate Barring of Socialist
from Citizenship.

Washington, June Representative Ber-
GER the Socialist member from Milwaukee,
to-day began impeachment proceedings
against Federal Judge Hanford, Of Seattle,
who recently deprived Leonard OLSON, OF
that city, OF his citizenship because he was
Socialist.
Representative Berger charged Judge
Hanford with high crimes and misde-
meanors, long series OF corrupt and I'M
lawful decisions, and being an haoituai
drunkard." He asked that the Judiciary
Committee investigate.
The Department OF Justice Is already as
ssting Olsson's attempt TO have Judge
Hanfords decision reopened. The House
adopted Mr.. Berger's resolution directing
the Judiciary Committee to investigate.
Seattle. June limited States Judge Cor
nelius Hanford presided over a civil trial IN
his court to-day. He refused to discuss the
impeachment proceedings against him III
Washington. except to say he would answer
every charge against him.
lie Will hold court In Tacoma next
Wednesday and 1t is expected he then VIII
rule on the petition Of United States Attor-
ney McLaren for a reopening OF the suit
Instituted by the District Attorneys once
for annulment of the citizenship papers Oh
Leonard OLSON, a suit which on May 10
was decided against OLSON
on January 10, 1910, in Tacoma, Wash,
Leonard OLSON, aged thirty-three years,
a Scandinavian, was granted citizenship
papers.
on September q, 1910. John Speed Smith,
a naturalization examiner. filed In the
United States Attorneys office in Seattle
an affidavit setting forth that OLSON, ap-
pearinz as q witness for a petitioner Tor
naturalization in the Superior Court, OF
Pierce County, had stated in open court,
September r. 1912, that he himself was not
attached to the principles OF the Consttu-
ton Of the United States; that he believed
in radically changing It and that at the
time he was admitted to citizenship he was
not attached TO the principles OF the Con-
stitution.
The District Attorneys Office therefore
filed in the court Of United States Judge
George Donworth, who has since resigned
a suit TO annul Olsson's citizenship papers
OLSON denied the charges against HIM
on examination he said he thought our
present form Of government ought to be
abolished and an industrial democracy sub
stituted for H. He admitted belonging TO
the Socialist Labor Party and the Indus
trial Workers OF the World, but denied he
was an anarchist.
Judge Hanford said in his decision that
OLSON had admitted he was a Socialist
and held that the evidence introduced In
Olsson's behalf proved that the party with
which he Is affiliated has for its main OBJ
iect the elimination OF property rights I'm
this country
Judge Hanford aroused a storm OF pro-
test during the recall campaign OF 1910
against Mayor Gill by issuing an injunc-
ton forbiddng the recall election as con-
fscatory upon taxpayers
H. the summer OF 1910. on petition OF All
sustus Peabody, OF Chicago as trustee 70:
the bondholders Of the Seattle, Renfon *
Southern Railway. Judge Hanford enJolned
the railway company from failing to collect
"a l0-cent fare The citizens Of the Rainier
valley district OF Seattle had been fighting
for a scent fare, and Judge Hanford's de-
cisIon led TO a great mass meeting on the
night of Angus; %. at which Judge Han
ford was denounced for his decision in the
Renton Railway case, for other decisions
and for alleged intemperance.
Nine Of the speakers at the mass meeting
we're arrested for contempt OF court. but
federal grand jury refused TO indict them
Jmueachrrent petitions circulated In Seat
lie and forwarded TO Washington, gave as
reasons for demanding Judge Hanford re-
moval his decisions and personal habits