New-York tribune., 1920-05-20
Smith VetOes
Lusk Bills; Calls
Them Vicious
Legislation Meant to Curb
Radicals Denounced by
Governor as Robbing the
People of Their Rights
Is Aimed at Socialists
Bills We're Forced Through
by Sweet to Prevent Re-
turn of the Ousted Five

ALBANY, May 19.-The Sweet-Lusk-
DAILY repressive bills were vetoed TO-DAY
by Governor Smith. One of the bills
would have given the Appellate Divi-
sion of the Albany district power to
dlsenfranchise any citizen or group of
citizens who held political, religious
social or economic views different from
those ente"tcined by three of the
Judges of the Albany district
Another would have given the Board
OF Regents power to close any private
school of non sectarian character. So
sweeping was this measure that the
secret orders of non-sectarian orrani-
zatlon, such as the Masons, would be
SUBJECT to its provisions.
another measure would REQUIRE all
teachers in public and non-sectarian
schoois to prove their loyalty Through
TWO OF the bills Speaker Sweet hoped
TO outlaw the Socialist party in this
state and prevent the return to the
Assemblymen.
Police Bureau Created
sui another of the Sweet-Lusk-Dalv
group would hayefcreated bureau of
secret pollce in the office of the State
A1Vorhey General. Any member Of this
proposed force under the bill couid
have subpnnaed any citizen at anv
hour of the day or nj ght and subiectnd
hlm to a third degree.
lheSe pllls were jammed through in
the closing days of the session h.,
Swee: and his group that dominated
both houses of the Legislature.
IN vetoing the bills Governor Smith
declared that. though they were osten-
slbiy intended to curb radical devclon.
ment' they went wide of their marx,
ana would, IN reality tend to enhance
the evils of ultra radicalsm and de-
piIVe the people of their constitution
Unpopular political minorities wou,J
be elevated to political martvrdom ba
declared. if the bill giving the Appel-
late DIVISION of Albany power to strike
from the ballot candidates of anv
party was put on the statute books
Inc measure giving the regents
power to prohibit the teachinp of anv
subject which in their Judgment woui1
be lnlmlcal to the public interest WAS
characterized by the Governor as
VICIOUS IN its fundamental principlcs
because IT would create an intellectua |
tyranny. : &c |
One Branded Unjust
ne Governor branded as unjust the
olil providing for loyalty tests for
school teachers, because it discrimi-
mates against teachers as a class. cur
tails their freedom of thought and de-
prlves them of their legal right of lust
critIcIsm of existing institutions.
lradltlonal adherence of free
people to all kinds of spies and secret
police was violated, the Governor
found. in the bill creating secret
service bureau in the Attorney Cen
erals Office.
The Governor also vetoed the Sweet
Lusk- DAILY bill amending the legislati e
la" by requiring members of the
Legislature to take their oath of office
before the bar Of the House, as well as
one pre- ding for the exclusion of per
sons OF undesirable" politics from
public o"ce.
IN se2arate messages accompanying
each We o Governor Smith stated his
reason or disapproving the bills. On
the d enfranchisement bill he said:
This bill would place upon one par
tlcular Appellate Division of the Su-
(Continted cd on paae ten)