New-York tribune., 1920-02-07
Senator Thompson Charges
1t Is Used to Cover At
tempt to Control N. Y.
Republican Organization
'Ridiculous,'' - Sweet Says
Niagara Man Says Deal In
cludcs Support Of Speak
cr for Vice President
From d Staff Corrcsponden, 4,


that the trial of the five ousted Social
rst Assemblymen made good barrage
fire" to cover an attempt on the part
of Sweet and his advisers to control
the Republican party in the state.
Thompson characterized the trial as
a farce, and charged that the gag had
been applied in the Senate TO prevent
any attack being made on the pro-
ceedings by the members Of the upper
house who are opposed TO the further
continuance of the investigation be-
fore the Assembly judiciary Committee.
The majority leader OF the Senate,
j. Henry Walters, is friend Of
Speaker Sweet The two live here
together
Sweet, Senator Thompson charged,
was slated to be the vice pres identi al
nominee Sweet and his group. he
said further, were 10 pick the candi-
date for the Republican nomination Tor
Governor.
Alleges Hypocrisy
"The present situation in the As
sembly," he continued, only evi-
dences a desire TO prosecute people
of one race
He charged tina. those behind the
prosecution are hypocritical. and to
support this declared much has been
made of the Rand School by the Judi
ciary Committee and that counsel asso-
ciated with the trial have suppressed
the list Of financial supporters of the
Socialist school a list which contains
the name of one of the men proposed
by George A. Glynn, state chairman,
as delegate at-large to the Republi-
can National Convention.
For more than three weeks" said
Sopat0y 'ThOnDcOO .'fhn Senate has
been called regularly every day and no
business Whatever has been transacted
and one can be transacted except by
unanimous consent. A motion TO ad-
journ is made each day before the com
plete order of business provided by
the rules is gone through.
This, of course, prevents any one in
the Senate from making any allusions
whatever to the farce called a trial
now going on in the Assembly, which
is taking all the time of 200 members
of the Legislature, together with some
others, including paid lawyers who are
taken on as fast as they can be OBJ
tanned for the prosecution.
Usurpation of Power
"lf l49 Assemblymen are willing to
transfer all their power to one Speaker.
1t should not be precedent which will
bind the Senate, and don't know of
any reason why the Senate should de-
lay its duty on pending legislation, nor
why any Senator should fail to call
The attention OF the people to the OBJ
Vlous facts behind the present situa-
ton
Charges were made by the Speaker
OF the Assembly that five Socialist
members, whom nobody ever paid any
attention to before, were seeking to
overthrow the government of the
United States by force. Whereupon,
using the entire powers of the body
which have been given to him under
the rules just adopted, he removed the
llve members and told them, in effect.
that committee would be appointed
who would listen to their future at
tempt to prove their innocence.
".All protests have been unheeded
and the trial is going on with the
one person who made the original
charges IN possession of all the power
and all Of the machinery, Judge and
jury. SO lar, in justification of the
general charge of a conspiracy to over
throw the government by force he has
proved that the five members removed
are members of q pacitist organization
Turns Back on Old Principles
Since The time OF Abraham Lincoln
the Republican party has been looked
10 as the champion and defender of
human rights and the liberties of tho
people. The party management of late.
IN this state, however, apparently has
turned ITS back on the Constitution.
the BIZ OF Rights, the Declaration of
independence and the principles of
Lincoln: II seems to be mostly en-
gagged in attempts to think up new
schemes to annoy people. and II 1ooks
as though the trial of the Socialists
was staged for the purpose of distract.
ing the attention of the people
III there is anybody engaged either
directly or indirectly, to overthrow tho
government Of the United States of
,hls state, or any subdivision thereof
oy 1orce, they ought Immediately to he
put on trial, and statutes exist under
"hlch their opinions easily can be re-
stralned. The present situation in tho
Assembly, however, evidences a desire
10 prosecute only the people of ono
race, apparently, comparatively few of
Whom live IN this country. If onera-
tlons can be directed against +han,
alone the prosecutors are in no danger
and II we can be made to believe 80
we are in danger of having our homes
invaded by anarchists and Red enc
mics OF the government, then .Thad,
n"eet and his advisers, who assume
they are IN control of the Republican
party, can go on and announce the mol
ICY OF the party and use the machinery
70 take care of themselves.
Senator Thompson then pointed o,+
shat State Chairman Glynn has su'
hounced he has picked as deleoatas-
at-iarge to the Republican convent;nn
from tins state Elihu Root. W;ll;an,
ooyce thompson and Senator's Wads.
worth and Calder. He said +hat "aoS s.
these four were indorsed bv the A rr; =
mary in April they would 90 'Is to Pr. ~
convention under oblipst;ors e 4e
Speaker Sweet which wou]d rao; "
dent. resi-
If no other names 60 on the ha,,o+
then Republicans will not attend ths
primary next spring and the whole
thlng Will apparently be the voice of
the Republican party of New YorL
ana yet individual affiliated Republi,
with it. W 20
Il do not dislike any of these mo,
personally, but do not approve oY the
process" said Senator Thompson.
The transactions going on in ~.
assembly and the lack of business in
the Senate make good barrage fire to
cover these operations.
III the New York delegation has anv