The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-10-18
EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTS IN THE CASE OF THE ExPUL-
REFERENDUM.

In accordance with state committee
referendum No 4, which carried, the fol
lowing being all the documents on file
in this office, pertaining to the expulsion
from the party of NJ. j. Kennedy, is
hereby published:
Letter from the secretary of Seattle
Fifth Ward:
Seattle, Wash, April %, 1912.
Frans Bostrom, Secy.,
Everett Wash
Comrade-At the last regular business
meeting, Comrade NJ J. Kennedy was sus-
pended for one year from said local for
ordering the police to our meeting to
preserve order as he admitted. This for
your information.
WILLARD PRICE,
Secy. Fifth Ward Local.
The following is the answer by the
state secretary
Willard Price, Secy. Local Fifth Ward,
Seattle, Wash.
Comrade II of the state CON
stitution (see the BALLOT gives the local
the power to exclude Objectionable mem
bers, provided certain specified regula-
tions are followed. There is no section
that gives the local the power to expel
or even suspend members FROM THE
PARTY without the sanction of the
state committee (the state executive com
mttee acting for the state committee)
The only exception in the case of sus-
pension is the constitutional supplement
pertaining to the circulation of defama-
tory rumOrs. Exclusion from the local
doesn't mean exclusion from the party.
In the case of Kennedy, if the local
wishes him suspended from the party, all
the evidence as it appears upon the min
utes of the meeting must be presented
before the executive committee, to show
that fair trial has taken place.
Special attention is called to the fact
that at least ten days must expire be-
tween the regular meeting at which the
charges were preferred and the meeting
at which sentence was rendered, and that
all paid up members must be notified in
the meantime, provided it is feasible to
obtain their actresses. | write this in
order that you may avoid troubles which
surely will come from irregular proceed
ings. Kindly keep this office posted on
what is done in this matter.
Yours for the revolution.
FRANS BOSTROM,
State Secretary.
Granite Hotel 1905 5th Ave,
Seattle, Wash, May 2, 1912.
To Frans Bostrom, State Secretary
Treasurer. Socialist Party of Washing
ton and Members of the State EXecu-
tive Committee:
Comrades-T wish to appeal against
the unconstitutional action of Local Fifth
Ward. Seattle S. P.-of which 7 am a
member in good standing-at a regular
meeting held April o. 1912, in suspend
inc me from membership in the local for
one year This action was taken in my
absence. without notice. without trial.
without notifying the members of the
local that such action was to be taken.
Such act or acts are in violation Of
section .. old constitution. and sections
II and l3, new constitution:
locals may by a majority vote ev-
clude Objectionable members. but such
exclusion shall take place at a meeting
decided upon at a regular local meeting.
not less than ten days previously and
all members paid mp To the first Of the
current month shall, I'm the meantime. be-
notified in writing. etc"
If a local has the power 10 suspend
one member for "a year AT q regular local
meeting 1t follows. logically that r.. the
local has the power to suspend ten
members 0r fifty members without n0ri-
ficltion, trial. or defence. iu their alb
Sence Take, for example. what hap
npnpi 90 me az the meeting NJ local
Fifth Ward 0u April %. 1912 when
Local Fifth Ward hv motion suspended
me for one year. 10 charges were filed
until near the close If tha meeting about