The New York herald., 1920-01-09
MAY MEAN WAR ON
PARTY ORGANIZATION
SPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALl

ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HkKALD.I
ALBANY, y. Y, Thursday.-The AS
sembly's action in unseating five Socialis
members and demanding of them proc
Of their loyalty to the democratic form o.
government may be only the openinl
move in the States attack on the Socialis
party as now organized.
Legal advisers OF the state today spen
hours discussing whether the Legislature
has mower to disqualify Socialists from
holding public office. It was even sug
gested that the state might disfranchis'
the party If convicted of disloyal tenets
Members Of the Attorney Generals staff
doubted that the State could go so far
as TO legislate the party out of business
There Is little doubt that some means vii
,oe found TO put teeth into the law dealing
with disloyalty and radicalism and ex
tending the law TO include the various
shades Of radicalism,, under whatever
name they may exist.
The leaders are standing firmly behind
their resolution to unseat the Socialists
The Assembly action has started storm
of protest and approval covering the en-
tire state
The stage is being set for the trial. which
probably will begin next Wednesday
,ouis NJ. Martin. Assemblyman of oneida
arch foe of Bolshevists, will be chairman
of the Assembly Judiciary Committee
which will conduct the trial. The hearings
will be open and probably will last week
The Socialists are preparing TO make q
hitter fight. They gave notice today tha'
thew would demand the fullest freedom ii
defending themselves and were assured
their request would be met.
The Assembly's action, which was
.rr,,nr so suddenly II took the Legislature
OF it's feet, met today with almost unani-
nous Endorsement by members of both
houses.
The majority strongly indorse the action
Many saw they believe the charges should
h,ya been preferred first and the question
ns ,,nseating left for determination after
the trial The matter of procedure alone
Is disputed
n deyeloped today that the action was
not as precipitatc as appeared on the sur.
fare. Republican leaders had held severa
conferences going over evidence bearing on
,be subject and which Will be presented by
,ha state at the trial. The Lusk COMMITTEES
has rathered information regarding the ac.
tivities and doctrines of the Socialist party
. IN which the five members have pledged
/ loyalty All that has been laid before the
legislative leaders, who assert they are
certain of their ground When they have
presented their case, the leaders said
today. they are COnIluenl LndC lue puDu'
would in1orse their action in unseatine
first and then proceeding to trial
Members OF Committee.
The Judiciary Committee will be called
together on Tuesday 10 organize and pre-
pare for trial. Members of the committee
rlll be George II. Rowe. of Erie; James NJ
t,own. of Yates: Edmund p. jerks, o
Broomc: Edward A. Everett. of st. Law
renee: william W. Pellet. OF New York
Edward J. Wilson. OF Westchester Mau
rice Block, OF New York, and severa
others who will be named next Monday.
The majority of the committee are up
state Republicans, who are more hostile
10 socialism and radicalism than the law
makers from the metropolis. In the up
state districts all brands OF radcalisn
arc ciassed as one and as something tc
be avoided. Tho sentiment OF the com
mittee unauestionably Is not favorable tc
the Socialists nt tho start.
No action taken by the Legislature II
recent years has developed into such
sensation IN so few hours, The roarbacl
SypSatswued On rage Five, Col Three.l