New-York tribune., 1920-01-13
Bar Will Vote
On Aiding Fight
OF 'Ousted Five
Continued from page 4

Socialists might decide TO ask Tor an
adjournment when the Judiciary Com
mittee of the Assembly meets to-mor-
row morning.
Fear to Take Case
Mr.. Hughes said again yesterday
that he had nothing to say regarding
the desire Of many officials of the
Socialist party that he take charge of
their case. From cne attorney, whose
reputation as a constitutional lawyer
is widespread, it was learned that
non-Socialist lawyers who might be
glad to represent the organization for
the sake of the principles involved are
holding Off.
They fear, he explained. that the
Socialists may seek to make the hear
ing of the case of the excluded
Socialist representatives a trial of
Socialist party principles, instead of
merely the trial of a constitutional
themselves in a position where they
may seem to be defending Socialistic
doctrines with which they are posi-
lively out of sympathy.
Jacob Hillquit, when this phase of
the situation was called to his atten-
tion yesterday, said he believed there
was strong possibility, and he con-
sidered it desirable, that the Socialist
party be placed on trial, as we'll as the
Socialist representatives.
Students Sign Petition
Rand School students and other
habitues of Peoples House were elated
yesterday when given an opportunity
to sign petition condemning the ex-
pusion O. the Socialist representatives
and which bore at the, top the sig
Miss Ruth Morgan, Charles c. Bur-
lingham, r. Fulton Cutting, Robert
Grier Monroe, Samuel H. Ordway and
Herbert Parsons. An appeal for addi-
tIonal signatures preceded the petition
on circular distributed at Peoples
House yesterday 1t read as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned committee of
seven, feeling that the recent action of
the Assembly of this state in suspend
ing the FIVE Socialist members duly
elected to that body is inconsistent
with the principles of representative
government, urge you to permit the
use of your name in connection with
the following telegraphic appeal ad-
dressed to the Judiciary Committee of
the Assembly, which will within the
next few days determine whether thes,
FIVE members of the Assembly shall Re
fisouaifed:
Louis M. Martin, chairman Judicis ~
Committee Of Assembly, Albany,
while we recognize that the Assem-
bly, is the judge of the qualifications of
its members, we respectfully protest
against the disqualifi cation of men
duly elected to the Assembly because
of their beliefs, opinions or political
affiliations.
owe believe such action would be in
consistent with the principles of rep
resentative government and would es-
of any minority at the will of the ma
joritv.
This appeal has been sent to you
as one of 200 representative citizens of
New York City Please answer by re-
turn mail on the inclosed postcard"
Citizens Union Acts
The executive committee Of the Citi-
aens Union met yesterday and, after
various speakers had characterized the
suspension of the Socialist representa-
tives as "a lamentable blunder" because
it played into the hands of those who
are opposing lazy and order and are
urging the use Of bullets instead of
ballots" adopted this resolution:
"At largely attended meeting of
tie Citizens Union, held Yesterday, it
was the opinion of all those present
that the action Of the Speaker with
regard to the Socialist members was
lamentable blunder, because it played
into the hands Of those who are op-
posing law and order and are urging
the use Of bullets instead of ballots.
"The committee unanimously adopted
the following resolution, urging the re-
instatement of suspended Socialist As
semblymen:
Whereas. on January 8, 1920, the
Assembly Of the State of New York,
without notice or debate, adopted a
resolution suspending five Assembly,
men duly elected from the City of
New York; and
"Whereas, said action tends to
substitute the autocracy Of mob rule
Tor the orderly processes of repre-
sentative government,
"Now be it resolved, that the
Citizens Union urges the Assembly
to reconsider Immediately its action
and reinstate the suspended men,
bers, pending the consideration by
the Assembly of the charges against
them; and
BE it further resolved, that, con-
cedng the right of the Assembly to
pass on the qualifications Of it's own
members, the Citizens Union de-
plores the action of the Speaker of
the Assembly in rushing the reso-
luton of suspension through the AS
sembly without debate or delibera-
ton; and the Citizens Union further
deplores the suspension of the five
members without hearing or the op-
portunity to present their defense;
and
"Be it further resolved, that a
copy Of this preamble and these
resolutions be sent Immediately to
every Assemblyman from the City
Of New York and to the public
!, press"