New-York tribune., 1920-02-16
Two Suspended
Socialists Open
Guns on Sweet
Solomon and WaIdman in
Statement Allege All Evil
dence Was Gathered AZ.
ter Five We're Ousted
Elon r. Brown Assailed
Hillquit to Rcjoin Counsel.
for Defense When Trial
Is Resumed Tomorrow
Frlrn q Stat Corrsspondenf


ALBANY. Feb. 15.-With the mem-
bers of the Assembly Judiciary Com
rittee. before which the five Socialist
Assemblymen are being tried, at their
homes and the counsel for the prose-
cution also resting up over the week
end two of the oustcd men, Assembly
men Charles Solomon and Louis Wald-
man, had the field to themselves to-
night and took advantage of it.
On behalf of themselves and their
three ousted associates, Waldman and
Solomon issued a statement attacking
Elon R. Brown, foMer majority leader
of the Senate and of counsel to the
prosecution, and another faying
Speaker Thaddeus S. Sweet, who engi-
neered the custer.
The attack on Speaker Sweet follows:
"All of the evidence has been put
In by the prosecution. Their brief.
which is supposed to be the final word
on the question. has been submitted.
/: is noteworthy that not single wit
ness who has appeared for Sweet has
stated that his testimony was known
to any one prior to January 7, 1920,
when the Socialists were ousted.
Assail Sweets Methods
"Whatever may be the weight Of the
evidence submitted against us by these
witnesses, it is now manifest that
Speaker Sweet and his associates we're
not in possession of this evidence be-
fore our suspension.
"The record clearly shows that each
witness who has taken the stand for
the prosecution has stated that he or
she had not communicated his or her
alleged information until some time
after the action of the suspension by
the Assembly.
Throughout the brief there is not
sentence alleging that proof has been
adduced that we sought to effect the
realization of our doctrines by means
Of force or violence.
"At the opening of the trial our coun-
sel challenged the prosecution to sub
NIT evidence on the last point in their
resolution-namely that the five Social
lists belonged to a party which OBJ
structed the war, or even the produc-
ton Of munitions for the purpose Of
war.
1T is significant that counsel for the
prosecution has entirely omitted that
paragraph. 1t is obviously for the rea-
son that they had no evidence to sup
port II"
Charges Against Brown
The second statement of Solomon and
Waldman charges Senator Brown with
having written the brief of the prose-
cution. 1t reads:
Point eight of the brief thoroughly
expresses the spirit of the prosecution.
We understand this brief was prepared
by Elon R. Brown. If it was, it was
what might be expected from one
has been given over substantially to
the service of vested interests. He
presumes to lecture the Legislature on
loyalty.
His effort to browbeat the members
Of the Assembly by characterizing
their possible votes against Sweet is
disloyal. un-lawyer-like and un-Ameri
can. His conception of loyalty is not
the one held by the great masses of
the people of this state.
I'VE know Mr.. Browns standards of
loyalty are highly acceptable to the
protiteers Of men, women and children.
We know that in his eyes any one in
sisting upon human rights and tradi
~
loyal
The Brown brief recites that toler-
ance Of such a presence (the presence
Of the five Socialists) would involve
breach of their (meaning the other
members of the Leg slature) oath as
loyal men and Assemblymen.
Resume Trial Tomorrow
whoever heard Of lawyer coming
into case and saying to the court: IF
you do not sustain my side you are dis
loyal?' This is clear confession that
they have no case upon the merits.
They began with wholesale slander and
Misrepresentation of the five Assem-
blymen and wind up by attempting to
bulldoze the 145 members of the Assem-
bly, who ara to be judges in this case"
The trial will be resumed Tuesday.
Morris Hlllquit, of counsel for the So
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