The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-27
2 B0LSHEVISTS
IN LEGISLATURE
Assemblymen Claessens and
Solomon Court Inquiry
by That Body.
ELECTED AS SOCIALISTS
Lower House Adopts Senate
Resolution Providing for
Investigation.
ELECTED AS SOCIALISTS
sp.cfn, pe.pateh 10 TIE srx.

epcCtdt Detpdtch TO IKE SCH.
ALBANY, March 26.--Two Bolshevists
sit as members Of the.New York State
Assembly, and the legislative commit
tee that is to investigate the spread Of
this propaganda and devise check for
it may take UP the challenge one Of
them made to-day and investigate
them first.
The Assembly adopted to-day the
Walters resolution approved by the
Senate last week appropriating $780,
900 for the Bolsheviki investigating
committee, and It was during the de-
bate in the lower house that Assem-
blyman c. Solomon. Socialist, said:
IF you really want to investigate
Bolshevism. why waste your time and
tho Ststs's funds? You know there are
two Bolshevists In this chamber. Claes-
sens (the other Socialist from New
York; and myself. II you win get to-
sether and invite CIaesseps and myself
to appear before you we will tell you
all you could possibly gather as q re-
suit OF any investigation you may ufi-
dertake under this resolution"
In response to questions as to the use
Of force and whether or not he approved
OF its use to bring about the downfall
of what he called the "capitalistic gov
ernment," Assemblyman Solomon said /:
II deny that ! do not believe in force"
Tempers His Admission.
After the session Mr.. Solomon went
~
| tried to soften his statements by In
serting the words what Is loosely called
before the word force" and tempered
his admission that lie and Claessens are
BolshevilIi by inserting the words go
called" before the term.
In discussing the Bolsheviki investi-
CATION, J. Henry Walters, Republican
leader Of the Senate, who introduced
mer Court of Appeals Judge has been
asked to be counsel to the committee.
and II 10 believed that he referred to
Nathan Miller OF Syracuse.
| There was a long debate in the As.
sembly before the resolution was
| adopted and ten men voted against It
including the two Socialists. The others
were all Democratic. C. Johnson
Leninger, Lyons. McCae, Mclaughlin
| Mullen, ~ marc anu SCHWdD.
Republican Leader Adler said tina,
while the resolution did not define Dol
shevist" the resolution contemplates in
vestigation Of any one working to over
throw this Government"
! ANY man who will start q system
| which aims to undermine the Govern
ment Is a traitor and should be pun
ished." added Mr.. Adler.
CIaessens Gives His Views.
Free admission that the Bolshevist.
believe In getting their ends by the use
of force came from Mr.. Claessens. but he
said his views are those OF the Menshe-
Wiki or minority OF the Bolsheviks.
1--WE .6alieteAs7 the reconstruction OF
society and the change from competitive
capitalistic industry to the cooperative
commonwealth by peaceable means anc
by the use of the ballot and by progres,
In the organization of labor.
4 1.-THE Bolshevist says there is no use
of appealing to the men who are elected
TO the parliaments OF the world be
cause they become too much a part o
IT; parliamentary action is too slow. i
is only by direct action We can accom-
plish the overthrow OF the capitalist"
Later he admitted he Is beginning e
lose his enthusiasm" for an orderly
change In the Government
Mr.. Solomon in reply to a question
as to what he thinks Bolshevism meanl
said II Is "just a current way of desig
Mating universal social unrest"
Assemblyman Fertig of New Yorl
asked II Mr.. Solomon and his conrad,
are willing to overthrow organized gov
ernment by any means, force or other
wise, and Mr.. Solomon's answer wa
that my colleague and I are member
of this chamber and employing dul,
constituted legal means within constl
tutional limits"
Afterward he denied that he wa
against the use OF force for bringing
about the changes he desires.