New-York tribune., 1918-07-01
Unfairness Is Charged in
Praising Socialist Members
of State Legislature
On Patriotic Grounds
Secretary Walter T. Arndt
Replies That No "Indorse-
ment" Was Given

Assemblyman Abram Ellenbogen, o.
the new 7th Assembly District, Man
haitian, further criticised the Citizens
Union yesterday in letter to Walter
/. Arndt. secretary of the union. Mr.
Arndt had replied to a previous letter
of the Assemblyman, in which the latte,
censured the union for commencing
the work of the Socialist members OF
the Legislature. Assem- blyman Ellen.
bogen is one of the Republican whose
legislative record was commended by
1 the Citizens Union.
The letter follows in part:
Your letter does not meet my
criticism of the Citizens Union.
indicated specific instances of un.
patriotic measures introduced by So
clallsts. You say that, if any member
of the Legislature introduced any such
measure the Citizens Union woulc
regard that as sufficient reason TO,
refusing it's Endorsement You
actually Endorsed those Socialists who
introduced a resolution to Congress
against the war, bills to abolish the
reserve state militia, the state police
and to establish public school peace
propaganda.
"This glaring inconsistency is fur
ther reflected in your statement that
members whose attitude on matters of
patriotic Importance may be indefensi-
Bile can still be entitled to the in
dorsement of the Citizens Union
provided they make excellent voting
records on municipal affairs
This is precisely what | condemn
IN the Citizens Union, especially when
America is prepared to sacrifice the
lives of millions of her sons. MUM
cipal matters must be subordinate tc
the larger affairs of state and nation.
when the Citizens Union leaves tc
other bodies the right to criticise the
patriotism of legislators. it removes
itself from the field of patriotism
It's opinions are thus no longer entitled
to respect
dlsloyal | should have had them ex-
evidence to have justified that course
would have hailed them before the
bar of the House. Without that
evidence | forebore martyrizing these
Socialists. thus precluding their appeal
to an emotional and deluded constitu-
ency. The Citizens Union comedies
much to patriotism in approving the
proposition of the expulsion of traitors
from the Legislature
assuming the Citizens Union to be
hostile to the proposed un-American
socialistic legislation, | charge it with
being unfair in cxtravagantly praisinp
the Socialists WHO did nothing, while
1T condemns Republicans and Demo
Gratis as reactonaries simply because
they differed from it on fundamental
principles"
In reply to Mr. Ellenbogen's second
letter MIR. Arndt last night said the
Assemblyman was wrong in saying the
Citizens Union ACTUALLY indorsed'
any Socialist legislator. He pointed
out that the report of the unions com.
mittee on legislation characterizing the
record and votes of member of the
Legislature was mot an Endorsement
of that member for reelection" He said
he was surprised at Mr.. Ellenbogen's
passive attitude toward the Socialists
in the Legislature in not having them
expelled. He added that the Assembly
was the judge of its own memberships,
and that it did not require legal proof
that the Socialists were traitors to
make their expulsion just.nable.