The New York herald., 1920-01-10
UNSEATING OF SOCIALISTS
! CAUSES WAVE OF PROTEST.;
REPUBLICAN, CHIEFS WORRIED

saS&K C4lOILS " CSt0pilSu WOIhInS GLASS
rule In their countries This statement,
which followed the overthrow of Tsarism
and Kaiserism. Is craftily construed to
Imply that our organization. which In
America participates in political cam
paigns and appeals to the suffrage of the
voters, is committed to force and violence
to accomplish its aims.
'@rhe Assembly resolution further as
serts that the Socialist party is committed
to the Moscow International and that the
latter is pledged to the violent overthrow
of organized government. The Socialist
party is not committed to any interna-
tional organization, and even II affiliated
with the Moscow International. this would
not commit it to violence This interna-
tional in its official statement leaves to
the affiliated national groups questions
of policy and methods, stating distinctly
that political action is perfectly consist
ent with such affiliaton."
Socialist PIedes.
"Our party pledge. which pledges men,
bers to be guided by the constitution and
platform Of the party. Is included as one
OF our crimes. In requiring this pledge
Of members, a pledge that has been a
qualification for membership for twenty
years, we have intended to guard against
political trading or compromise with
other political parties. To sign such
pledge is no more violation of the con-
stitution Of the United States than similar
pledges taken by members of the Masonic
Order. Knights of Columbus trade unions
or any other association of citizens.
1T is absurd and dishonest to contend,
as the third paragraph of the Assembly
resolution does. that there is something
illegal or criminal in the acceptance of
such pledge. Throughout the country
small chques OF politicians, bankers and
business men instruct and pledge repre-
sentatives Of the two dominent parties to
carry out certain policies, and there are
many cases of representatives who failed
TO obey these cliques and were retired to
private life.
mo offcial or member of the party has
ever received instructions in violation of
the state or federal constitution or in vio-
lation of any laws OF the State or nation.
The st. Louis resolution. now three
years old, is referred to in the hope of
Justify1ng the usurpation of the Assembly.
Inc Socialist party was opposed to the
war. and many other citizens were op-
posed to entering it. including members of
Congress.
IT is remarkable that the LEGISLATURE
waited until January, 1920, before taking
the action it has. We elected Socialists
TO the Assembly in 1917, 1918 and 1913.
our o1ticlai actions were public property
during these years.
we submit that it Is not within the
province OF one party. or two parties
acting together, to judge whether third
or fourth party is inimical to the interests
OF the United States and the people of the
State OF New York. Has the Republican
party ever submitted it's platform to ine
Democratic party for approval? Has the
Democratic party ever submitted it's plat
form to the Republican party for ap-
proval?
Called Outrageous Act.
"Our opponents. by their illegal unwar
ranted and outrageous act do their utmost
to destroy the peoples faith in the ballot
We have been advised over and over again
in recent years, Take your grievances to
the ballot box We have done so. AS the
voters responded to our educational ap-
peal and as our vote has increased, Demo-
Gratis and Republicans have combined
against US. We have accepted their coai-
tion in philosophical way. We have ac-
quiesced in the decisions of the voters
We have faced prejudice, misunderstand-
ing, and deliberate falsehood. We have
faced fusion of our enemies. Now, after
triumphing in number of districts over
all these obstacles we face the autocratic
ukase of desperate and anti-democratic
opposition which denies us the representa-
tion we and our constituents have won by
hard and bitter struggle.
''In the face of these facts we assert
that the dishonest motives of our oppo-
nents are apparent TO all decent, intelli-
gent and fair minded citizens. We protest
against this unparalleled outrage, and we
are entitled to the hearty active and unre-
served support of all persons, groups. as
sociations and organizations that believe
in decency, fair play, constitutional repre-
sentative government, and the Sacredness
of the ballot box.
I'VE demand that the Assembly imrne
diately revoke it's disgraceful and auto
cratic action. that it re-enfranchise the
thousands of voters who have by their
votes asserted that our party is not 'in-
imical' to the public welfare, and that
a republican form of government, guaran-
teed to each State by the federal consti-
tuition, be restored to the people of New
York State
Opposed to Violence.
Charles Solomon, one of the expelled
Assemblymen. characterized as untrue re-
ports from Albany that the expelled men
were under the impression the general
protest over their expulsion was due to a
general sympathy with their cause.
"My colleagues and have no delusions
on this score.'' he said. I'VE know that
the growing army OF men and women and
the newspapers who are condemning the
action OF the Legislature are not doing
50 because all of them were or suddenly
have become Socialists. We know they
are supporting our fight because they are
solicitous for the preservation OF demo-
cratic, representative government in our
country, the protection OF the rights OF
political minorities and the peaceful solu-
ton of the social problems that vex us.
And this Is the broad ground on which
we take our stand"
Both Mr.. Solomon and August Claes-
sens. another OF the expelled group, took
occasion several times during the day to
impress upon reporters that they did not
believe In violence. They declared they
believed in revolution, but revolution
through peaceful methods and not of the
variety practised by the Bolshevists. Com
munists and syndicalists of Central and
Eastern Europe.
Among the organizations that VIII par
ticipate in the conference at the Rand
School Monday night will be the Anal
gamated Clothing Workers OF America,
the International Ladies' Garment Work
ers. the Central Federal Union, the Com
mittee OF F'orty-eight and the American
Labor Party
The greatest blow to representative
government has been struck with the ac-
ton of Speaker Sweet in expelling the five
Socialist members from the Assembly
declared Milton Il. Loomis. assistant pro-