New-York tribune., 1918-02-28

Steps Taken to End "Dis-
loyal" Talk by Social
ist Members
---------~
Stenographer to
Report Sessions
Lees Attack on War
Stamps Refuted by Di-
rector Allen

me seven SoClaiiSt aiUCfhci. WIN,
through their spokesman. hlgcrnon
Lee, denounced the war savings stamp
campaign a. meeting of the Board OF
Aldermen Tuesday, are not likely to
bc expelled from the board
While there was no abating yester-
dav of the feeling of the other NOM
bcrs of the board that drastic action
should be taken in the case of tho
TRAITORS" as the Socialists were called
at Tuesdays meeting, the aldermanic
COMMITTEES on Rules, after protractcd
conference, practically decided that
nothing could be done toward the eX-
pusion of The "reds.'
Acting Mayor Alfred L. Smith. who,
as President of the Board OF Aldermen,
holds that Office in the absence of
Mayor Hylan, called meeting of the
Committee on Rules in the Mayors Of
ice. The proceedings before the board
on Tuesday and the matter of expel-
ling the Socialist aldermen were thor
oughly discussed, but in view of the
fact that there was no official steno-
graphic report of Tuesdays proceed
ings the majority of the committee
men felt it would be inadvisable to take
summary action 1t was pointed out
that under the City Charter any mem
bcrs expelled by a two-thirds vote, as
provided. would have recourse to the
courts to review the action of the
board. and that probably. under the
circumstances, such action would not
be sustained by the courts.
There was no disposition on the part
OF the committeeman to make martyrs
of the Socialist members and create
situation which might easily lead to
Socialist demonstration if the courts re-
instated MIR. Lee or his associates. 1t
is likely, however, that resolution
will be introduced at the next meeting
Of the board to amend the rules so as
to provide for an official ;tenographer
st all the sessions.
Notice will probably be served on
The seven Socialists at the next meet
ing that any further "disloyai" or Gun
patriotic" remarks they may make will
become part of the official record and
sill become legal evidence against them
IN any future action the board may
take.
Alderman Lee took advantage of
The situation yesterday to issue another
statement of defiance of the Democratic
and Republican members Of the board.
There was nothing very interesting
10 me about yesterdays scene in the
Board of Aldermen" he said. "Of
course, knew it was coming sooner or
later. A number of the old party mem
bers who have been writhing over the
presence, of Socialists in the board had
prepared bombastic speeches of denun-
ciation, and they had to get them off
their chests.
This sort CT thing happens at least
to+
legislature where the Socialist party
gets presentation. 1t has ceased to
he novelty. We know quite we'll
what these gentlemen would like to ac-
oomplish. Just as the transgres sor
raises the cry of Stop thief!' to divert
suspicion from himself, so they wish
TO use the accusation of disloyalty
against us to distract public attention
from our efforts to procure useful leg
station and their own wilful neglect
of the peoples needs"
Answering the statements made nv AL
derman Lee at Tuesdays meeting during
the discussion of the resolution for the
formation OF the board into war say
ings society, Frederic ". Allen. state
director of war savings for greater
New York. said that the alderman's re-
marks were based upon "obvious ieno-
rance and misinformation."
' man Ice IS quoted as saying
that the war saving stamps are taH
on the poor said Mr. Allen. "Had Mr.
Lee, as a conscientious Socialist alder.
man, Informed himself of the aims anf
purposes OF the government in offerino
lhrltt and war savings stamps to tho
PUBIC, he would have realized that he
was doing great injustice to the peo.
pie of the district which he was clecte,
TO represent. The government. in Of.
fering these stamps, opened wide the
aoof 400 OF OF opportunity to all the people
not only to help in winning the var
but also through thrift and econo,n, ~
TO secure the benefit of their savings.
safely kept in the United States Treos.
ury-after the war" 'e"S
~saa;: Mf; Allen declared that, despite tn,
,sedltlous propaganda" the foreipr
language population. in which are in
cluded many Socialist groups. had re-
sponded fully as effectively az the na
o-born Americans to the war savins