New-York tribune., 1920-03-31
Bartholomew Politics

Bartholomew Politics
If the Assembly follows the advice
Of it's Judiciary Committee in recon-
mending the expulsion Of the Social
lists New York will have unique
distinction among the states and in
the world at large.
1t will be the only governmental
jurisdiction wherein Socialist is
adjudged unfit to sit in a law-making
assembly though duly chosen. In
New York City are Socialist alder
men whose Office titles are unchal-
lenged. Socialist mayors have not
only been inducted into Office but
have served their terms. In many
state legislatures are Socialists, and
from time to time Socialists have
served in Congress, with no one
dreaming Of excluding them as such.
Throughout the world Socialists
are conspicuous in public life. The
Prime Minister of France is So
cialist and the Prime Minister of
Great Britain has often been ac-
cused Of being one. In Italy, Switz-
crland, Belgium, Holland, all the
countries of Scandinavia, not to
speak of France and Great Britain,
Socialists are numerous and influen-
tial in parliaments.
New York may we'll consider how
she will enjoy the skunk cabbage
garland Speaker Sweet would place
on her brow. Time was, in the days
of thumbscrews, when Catholics as
such were excluded from public life
in Protestant countries, and Protes-
tants as such were excluded in Cath
olic countries. There were test oaths
and rancorous hates that led to St.
Bartholomew massacres and Gordon
House riots. The institutions of this
country were fashioned with the ex-
press purpose of forbidding such
things. 1t was not conceived of as
possible that any representative
body would so abuse it's discretion as
to bring them back. What Speaker
Sweet purposes to do is to put New
York in a pillory of shame. His
proposal, all things considered, is the
most fundamentally medieval of any
in the political history Of this
country.
Consider the implications. If a
Socialist, because he is one, may moi
sit in the Assembly he may not holo
any office. We must 20 through
every branch Of the public service
and throw out every one who votes
or has voted the Socialist ticket. Go.
ing step further, we must not al
.ow the Socialist party place on tn.
official ballot; going still further, we
must Jail every one who is a membe,
OF the Socialist party. The Swee'
doctrine is preposterous-as unwist
as it is immoral, as impracticable as
1t is un-American.
1t is silly to hold microscopic in
quest on the contents of particula1
Socialist platforms to get a founda
ton for imputing guilt. Many earl,
democrats were inferentially mixet
up with Aaron Burr's conspiracy
Federallsts carried their oppositio,
to the War of 1912 to the verge O.
treason. Abraham Lincoln opposed
the pro-slavery war with Mexico. ant
so did the ancestors of many of tn,
gentlemen who sit in the present As
sembly at Albany. The early Re
pupilcans were not keen about en-
forcing the fugitive slave law, ant
while the Democrats Of the Soutl
fought the government the Northern
Democrats In 1864 adopted defeat
ist platform which denounced tn,
war as a failure. Of course. tn.
Socialists were wrong in 1917. Thei,
party made a fool of itself, but wha,
party can deny similar folly?
Any person who advocates over.
throw OF the government by force |:
personally guilty and should not be
a lawmaker; but guilt is not to be
deduced from far-fetched differences
Personal guilt not having been estab
lished against the Socialists, their
expulsion would be a crime against
o1r fnafit,at{orc