The New York herald., 1920-01-16
SECRET SERVICE
AIDS SWEET IN
CUSTER CASE
Evidence Collected Now in
Capitol Guarded by State
ConStables.
FINDS PRECEDENT
IN CONGRESS CASE
Mormon Member from Utah
Excluded at Beginning
of Session.
RUSH FOR HEARING
Trial VIII Be Held in the Assembly
Chamber and Extra Seats
RUSH FOR HEARING
Trial Viii Be Held in the Assembly
Chamber and Extra Seats
Are Provided.
ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD,

ESPECIAL DESPATCH 10 THE HERALD
ALBANY, y. Y, Thursday.-Secret Ser
vice forces OF the United States govern
ment have joined with the State in the
prosecution OF the five suspended Social
ist Assemblymen. Speaker Sweet made
known today when he was leaving FOR
New York for final conferences with Re-
publican leaders and lawyers who will
present the disloyalty charges to the
Judiciary Committee next Tuesday
Strongly reaffirning his stand, the
speaker asserted that he has in his DOS
session much evidence gathered by the
FEDERAL agents, and that the Socialists
must go unless they prove their oath Of
office TO this State transcends their allegi-
ance to tho radical party. He added that
he trial will be the fairest II is possible
to give. and justified the procedure which
has stirred widespread criticism.
The nature OF the evidence obtained was
not disclosed but the Speaker made II
clear the seats OF the Socialist members
would not have been challenged lad not
the officials been convinced that the con-
duct Of the five AssembIymen disqualified
them TO sit In a law making body.
Quantities of documents. letters and
papers have been turred over 20 the At
torney Generals staff, and the States at
torneys together with the federal agents
who have worked for months on the in
quiry, began sorting the evidence for
presentation TO the Judiciary COMMITTEES.
The staff has offices in the State Capitol.
where the papers are being guarded by
the State Constabulary.
Conference Here Today.
The Speaker will coDfe in New York
tomorrow with Attorney General Newton.
Glynn. Republican State chairman, the
counsel selected to assist the state, and
probably with other party leaders.
National politics has been injected into
tho controversy following Senator Miles
Poindexter's strong Endorsement of tho
Speakers action. Tho Senator's letter
caused much comment in the Capitol The
Interpretation given many OF the State
leaders was that some kind of defensive
combination has been made by the Sena-
tor and Speaker. the r. suit OF which might
find expression a few months hence. The
Speaker appeared to be amused by reports
that he might be a candidate for Vice
President with Senator Poindexter at the
head of the ticket and on loyalty issue.
Decision to make charges against the
Socialists was reached only after deep
study Of the subject" the Speaker said.
Taking up the question of precedent, the
Speaker said
THE remarks made in debate by GER
tain members OF the Assembly during
the sessions OF 1918 and 1919 upon legisla-
ton than pending pertaining TO the sue
cessful prosecution Of the war had at
tracted my attention. This attitude upor
their part. together with information
which came TO me from federal intelli-
gence officers led to the adoption Of the
resolution which created the Legisla tive
Committee known as the Lusk Investigat-
ing Committee. OF which l am ex-officio
n member. My observation Of these MEM
bers in legislative action. together with
evidence presented TO the Lusk commit
tee and other information. convinced me.
as II has others. that my duty to the State
and TO the nation demanded that before
these five members should be permitted
10 participate in the deliberations of the
Assembly their eligibility and quapfca-
tions so TO sit should be passed upon By
the Assembly. This decision was reached
after deep study Of the subject. and after
consultation with men whose adherence
to the doctrines OF true Americanism
cannot be questioned.
THE resolution introduced by Mr.. Ad-
Ter on the first day Of the session did not
expel these five members from their
seats IN the Assembly. 1t empowered the
Continued on PnGc Three, Col. FourJ