New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-06
BERCER TO ASK HOUSE
TO |MPEACH j. S. JUDGE
wisconsin Member Will Urge
Action Against Hanford, Who
Barred Socialist as Citizen.
HELP FROM WICKERSHAM
Attorney General, Advising Re-
opening of Case, Says Gross
Injustice Has Been Done
TO Oleson."

washington Juno Encouraged by a
80 from Attorney General Wickersham,
'....,,,ending the reopeniug Of the case
,..riving Leonard Oleson, ot Seattle Of
..srin because h. was Socialist.
p.n-esentative Berger. Of Wisconsin, to-
~, d.clarAd his intention Of urging i'm
.oobn,ent proceedings against United
s,ot.s District Judge Hanford. who de-
cjded the issue
representative Berger averred he would
-a,cise his prerogative as "a member Of
A.. House and would call up as matter
% sracial privilege q resolution for the i'm
o.br,er+ Of Judge Hauford. Berger laid
s.fore the President and the Attorney
General copy Of tho record in the Oleson
- and to-day he received Il letter from
~ Uickersham saving that gross injus-
ice had been done to Mr.. Oleson.'
blossoms certificate of naturalization was
cancelled by Judge Hanford on testimony
rat Olesou subscribed 10 the principles Of
the Socialist party.
The form Of impeachment will BE- unusual
., the House Under tine Constitution a
r,er,her can rise in his place and impeach
. ,pdss II is a question Of highest priv
an IF the resolution is adopted the Judi
5sr,- Committee l. charged with preparing
,be case for presentation 10 the Senate.
Mr. Berger bases his view that an I'M
rs.chrept action will succeed on the fol-
lowing letter from Attorney General Wick
orshau received after the Representative
had cslled on him in the matter:
The Hon. Victor Berger. House OF Repre-
AZ, near Mr.. Pereer-Aftcr YOU left yes
,.r5a,- found upon investigation that tho
Jansrtment had already caused inquiries
IN be- made into the case OF Whl'n !Vu
spoks ~ me namely, the proceeding In the
Hestcru District Of Washington 10 cancer
~ decentralization certificate of Leonard
Olsson. and upon examining the report
fnnnd that tho proceeding was initiated at
The instance Of one of the local ofhcials OF
~ Oena rtrnsut Of Commerce and LABOR
nd ed brought bv the District Attorney with
o,t n-eviouS communication with this de-
nsrtnoeut | found. moreover, that no re-
nort had been taken on tn" trial OF IN" l"7-
ijr,orv of the witnesses, and that the coun-
ii Tor NJ OlcSou had requested that the
deere be opened i'm order To snahie nun
- make a record. ! hay. instructed the
fI,itad states Attorney 10 facilitate MIN
!, averv way within his power toward the
onerire Of the decree and the securing or
nfV trial or. failing that. of sn appeal L"
the Circuit Court OF Appeals.
,t,or1sy that upon the facts stated 10y
TvSzs Hanford IN his decision, the depart
,,srt was Of the opinion that gross IN
,,stice had been done 10 Mr.. Oleson IN can
ceiling his certificate Of NATURALIZATION
i''' GEORGE ". WICKERsHAM
The House NAV not take action on Repre-
sentative Bereer's resolution Of impeach-
,,An, ~ this time. - was reported today
postponing it until tn" ncN' session OF con
rress.
Seattle. June SAMUEL Sadler. who con-
t-rsd With Representative Victor Berger
N Indianapolis relative to proceedings
arains- Judge Hanford, and who is mem
ar Of the committee appointed by the So
oi.us- National Committee TO collect eNi-
dence against Judge Hanford, said to-day
hat Attorney General Understands deci-
sion would not affect the proposed impeaoh-
ment proceedings.
The socialist party. said Sadler held that
uanford's decision IN the Oleson case was
,he elimination Of long line OF decisions
against workingmon. 4 great mass meet
,,1 ,s 10 be held here soon 20 denolhce
Hanford, sadler asserted
The action Of Judge e.. u. Hdniord' OF
the United states Court OF Washington III
srrull,ng the citizenship Of Leonard Ole
.on ~ Seattle. aroused Il storm OF cr'u-
,,srr from Socialists and others, particu-
lsrlv on the Pacific Coast.
" h's decision Judge Hanford SAID ne
,nnulled Oleson's citizenship papers De-
esusa he admitted he is a Socialist a ire
ouenter OF assemblages Of Socialists IL
which he participates as speaker adNo-
eating a propa ganda for radical changes
IN the Constitution OF the country ana De-
cause he entertained those views at the
Sne he applied for his Naturalization pa
psrs more than two years ago.
Probably this is the first case IN the MS
tory Of the country In which man C''l-
,ensh}p has been revoked by court pro-
cedure because Of his political afhliation.
Judge Hanford has been on the feoerdl
bench since the admission Of Washington
as state. A year ago he issued a blahke'
Injunction prohibiting the people OF RAINIER
VALLEY from refusing to tender more thah
nickel fare within the city limits Oh
Seattle on the Seattle. Rcnton & Southerh
ears. although the State Supreme |oui
already had decided the matter III FAVOR u
the people
Judge Hanford attempted 10 BLOCK the
recall Of ex-Mayor Gil Of Seattle, on inc
ground that the Council did not INCLUDE inc
cost Of the election about 10 be held IN the
regular ludzet passed months before Inv